Published on Tuesday 11 October 2011 09:35 : www.newsletter.co.uk

 

THE former Production World Rally Champion Niall McShea MBE is relishing the chance to drive for Skoda Red Bull Rally Team China in the final round of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship.

McShea partnered by regular co-driver Marshall Clarke has already competed on two events for the Skoda Red Bull Rally Team China in a Skoda Octavia.

The team and car is new to the championship and is currently under development as the Fermanagh pair have only competed in two rallies together but the great news is that the team is progressing very nicely.

On the previous event, located 1500km west of Beijing, McShea suffered a technical glitch while in second overall and was unable to complete the first day of the rally.However, the Chinese Rally Championship is a little different in that every round is contested over two days with points being awarded for each day as well as the overall event.

In saying that, McShea had to drive like a demon as the Skoda Red Bull Rally Team China Octavia is in the A6 class (two-wheel drive) while the majority of rivals are in the N4 class (four-wheel drive). The team worked extremely hard to find and resolve the technical problems of the first day and restarted on the second day. Fired-up after the disappointment of the first day, McShea finished third overall narrowly missing second place by two seconds.

McShea said: “The Skoda Red Bull Rally Team China worked brilliantly to find and resolve the technical glitch that prevented us from starting on the first day.“The stages were fast flowing roads and you could really get into the groove. I was really happy to achieve a podium for the team.”