Beaton and Thorburn begin Rally GB quest
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
PAUL Beaton begins the first stage of his Rally GB test today with a test-run of the Welsh circuit.
Preparations have been hectic but he and driver Euan Thorburn have managed to purchase race-ready Ford Fiesta from Finland to compete in the rally — despite not selling their old car.
Drakies co-driver Beaton and Thorburn have financed the purchase out of their own pocket after interest on their old Ford Focus fell through and sponsorship was not forthcoming.
Thorburn picked the car up in Finland last week and brought it back on to the United Kingdom, where a team of engineers will work on it to ensure everything is clear for the beginning of the rally on Friday.
The pair will take a recce of the course today, where they are able to drive round and make their own notes for when the race begins.
"It’s been a bit hectic. Euan went over to Helsinki and hired a car to drive down to the docks to meet the guys to buy the car. He then spent three or four days on a boat to bring it back," said Beaton.
"They stripped all the stickers off it on the way back. The good news is it’s of the right specification to race in the World Rally Championship. Our guys will work on it now and ensure it’s ready for Friday."
Life has been busy on and off the track for Beaton, who started a new job with Cairn Housing on Monday after running his own electrical contracting business.
Paperwork for the rally, which takes place near Deeside in North Wales, will be completed on Thursday before a shakedown stage where teams can test their setups for the race. It is a three-day event which will conclude on Sunday.
Beaton remains hopeful of selling the Focus, which is too old to race in the event.
"There’s still a fair amount of interest, from places like Belgium and Portugal which is dependent on guys selling their cars," he said.
"The only problem we’ve got is that people might want to buy something a bit newer."
