Jason Pritchard
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09/06/2012 by admin

Pritchard on track as he begins preparation for Germany

Jason Pritchard hopes that a test drive in Wales this weekend will give him valuable time behind the wheel and therefore an edge when he competes in his first overseas FIA World Rally Championship at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland next week.

The 23-year-old Welshman began his preparations for his trip to Germany yesterday (Wednesday 10th August) as he drove his North Road Garage backed Subaru Impreza for the first time since an accident at the GEKO Ypres in Belgium which resulted in a broken collarbone and a fractured wrist – something he didn’t realise until weeks after the meet – after the shakedown Jason explained his delight at being back behind the wheel:

“It’s been a tough few weeks and it felt fantastic to be in the car again, I span out during the rally in Belgium but managed to get the car back out of a ditch before completing the Rally. I was determined to finish the race and this determination meant I didn’t realise the full extent of my injuries, it was only a couple of weeks later and after consultation at the hospital that I found out I’d fractured my wrist and broken my collarbone!”

Jason, who was extremely pleased with the shakedown and how the car performed, is driving at the Walters Arena in Wales this weekend to get more seat time ahead of his journey out to Germany which begins on Tuesday. He will be making his first appearance overseas at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland which begins on August 18th and preparation is crucial ahead of the rally:

“We had a successful shakedown with the car today, testing some different brake settings so I’m prepared for any situation I might encounter, I’ll be getting some valuable seat time in Wales this weekend and then we start our journey out to Germany on Tuesday, leaving us plenty of time for travel.”

Rallye Deutschland has the honour of being the first world championship event of the 2011 season to take place on asphalt, although it’s an asphalt rally like no other with all three days of the event held on different types of sealed surfaces.

One of the highlights of Rallye Deutschland in recent seasons is the inclusion of the Circus Maximus superspecial stage, which runs through the centre of Trier, Germany’s oldest city and Jason is fully aware of the challenge such a prestigious rally will hold:

“It’s going to be a testing challenge,” he says. “I know there are some very fast sections and as always it will require 100 per cent concentration if I’m to achieve anything from the rally. I can’t wait to get out there and to say I’m excited about the challenge is an understatement, I’m confident of a finish and a clean run.”