Newhey navigator ready for new rally season

Joe Cruttenden will be navigating a Volkswagen Lupo in this year's BTRDA Rally First Championship.

18-year old rally navigator Joe Cruttenden, from Newhey, will contest this year's BTRDA Rally First Championship, as well as selected Enlish Championship rounds, as he continues his rise through the sport.

Cruttenden has teamed up with another 18 year old, Matt Griffin from Blackburn, to contest this year’s championship and the pair will be competing in a bright yellow Volkswagen Lupo built by Shropshire based Rallyschool.co.uk.

The youngster said: "I am really looking forward to this year’s events. I competed with Matt in a couple of events last year and we jelled well and enjoyed rallying together. The car this year is a newly-built Lupo, and having done a few test days in it, it is a very quick little car. We believe we will have to work hard to be competitive in what is looking to be a well-supported championship, with rounds throughout the year using some of the UK’s most famous forest circuits."

The first round will be the Wyedean Rally on 7 February, which will be based at Chepstow racecourse, using the roads within the Forest of Dean.

"I first competed in this event two years ago: it was my first forest rally and thanks to all the snow that year it was very eventful! This year I think could be similar but the main thing is that we have a good run," said Cruttenden.

Immediately after the event, Joe will be rushing back up to Manchester to receive the ANWC championship awards he won in 2008.