Jackson hoping for a 'Swift' Woodpecker Rally

Matthew Jackson has been chosen by Peter Smith as the next prize driver to get the chance to get behind the wheel of an M-Sport developed Ford Fiesta R2 on a round of the BTRDA Rally series, the Woodpecker Rally. Matthew will be the fifth driver in the year to get a chance to get behind the wheel of the car in a vision to get young drivers into more modern machinery.

‘I am extremely grateful for the opportunity from Peter, Swift Group, Greenlight Sports & Entertainment and ME Rallysport. We have been working hard over the past few years to improve our knowledge and experience of events around the UK and I now feel we have been rewarded with this fantastic opportunity. For a long time now, I have been eager to get behind the wheel of an R2 car to see what we can do in more modern machinery against some stiff competition’.

The number of rally outings have been limited in the recent times due to Matthew studying for a master’s degree part time alongside work, limiting free time to prepare to the required standard for an event. However, on the last outing in the well-known 1400cc Nissan Micra, Matthew was holding battling for the class lead before mechanical failure put the crew onto the side-lines.

The Woodpecker Rally will see approximately 120 cars tackle 45 competitive stages miles based out of Ludlow on Saturday 1st September. The stages themselves post a mix of tight and technical sections followed by some very fast and flowing sections stretching through the marches and into Wales, a real driving challenge and one Matthew is relishing in the Ford Fiesta.

For more information on the Woodpecker Rally, please visit: www.woodpecker-rally.co.uk

Matthew would like to pass his sincere thanks to:

Swift Group - www.swiftgroup.co.uk,

Greenlight Sports & Entertainment -www.greenlightsports.com,

ME Rallysport / Matt Edwards –www.merallydrive.com

Peter Smith

Photo courtesy of Black Mountains Media