Inverness rally driver Thomas Gray in contention for British Championship drive
Scottish junior rally champion Thomas Gray is on the shortlist for a position in Vauxhall’s junior rally team in next year’s championship.
Gray was the top driver under the age of 25 during the 2015 season, despite his 1300cc Toyota Yaris being one of the less powerful cars on the grid. He also took the top spot in Class Two, which is for cars under 1450cc.
The 19-year-old is eagerly awaiting a call from Vauxhall to find out if he will be invited for a test drive in their 2016 championship car, the Adam, after applying for the vacancy. However, an initial stumbling block is the requirement for each driver to bring £50,000 of their own sponsorship money to the table.
Vauxhall have a budget of £250,000 for the two junior drivers they will employ next season and each driver’s sponsorship package will guarantee them a seat for the year. The team also intends to run two senior drivers in the main championship.
A former Fortrose Academy pupil, Gray is eager to make the most of his opportunity and is on the lookout for sponsors.
“The British Championships is probably bigger than the European one, so it’s a big opportunity for me,” said the plant operator, who works for M. M. Miller on Carsegate Road in Inverness.
“It’s very rare for someone my age to be selected. What I’ve achieved in my first full season takes some people five or six years to achieve.”
The British Rally Championship runs from March to September and includes the Jim Clark and RSAC rallies, both of which take place in Scotland.
If Gray is successful in applying for the role, which he saw on Facebook, he will compete in the seven rallies on the race calendar and have a dedicated team to support him in his competitive debut.
In the past, funding has come from friends and family to help Gray’s career and he has acted as his own mechanic for some rallies.
His prize for winning the junior section this year was a spot on the start line for National Rally section of Rally GB, a stage on the World Rally Championship calendar. Alongside co-driver David Wilson, Gray posted impressive times in the early stages of the rally but was beset by car problems in the latter stages. He went off on stage 17 in his Proton Patria, bought for the rally, and was forced to retire just two stages before the end.
“It was still a great experience and we showed we had pace in the car,” said Gray, of Bogroy near Tore. “We got a good day out of it.”
He has fared much better on the domestic circuit, claiming three junior wins on the way to the title. He was also the top Class Two car at the Snowman Rally in Inverness.
His love of motorsport started with the two-wheeled variety with motorbike trials, before he started rally driving two years ago.
“I’ve been interested in motorsport from a young age,” said Gray. “I’m the only one in my family to do it and this was my first full season in the car.”
Like many burgeoning UK drivers, he looks up to Colin McRae as an inspiration and met the late Subaru and Citroen racer’s father Jimmy at the Scottish Rally Championships end of season awards dinner.
“Everyone wants to be like Colin and he is definitely someone to look up to,” added Gray. “Jimmy presented me with my awards last Saturday, which was great.”
n If you would be interested in sponsoring Thomas, get in touch with him on 07902 704607.