He had travelled to North Wales intending to drive the course opening zero car, but when the number one seed for the Rali Adfer Coedwigoedd Cymru (Welsh Forest Restoration Rally) didn’t show, Damian Cole accepted an invitation to take part in the first Covid-19 compliant trial forest rally in Wales in 2020.
Co-driven by Jamie Edwards and with tyres made for durability and not speed, Damian took his road-rally spec Escort Mk2 to ninth place overall.
Four motor clubs – North Wales Car Club, Clwyd Vale Motor Club, Bala & District Motor Club and Harlech & District Motor Club – came together to organise this first Covid-19 compliant event in Wales, held on the privately-owned Gorsedd Barn forest, high up on the Denbigh Moors; a stone’s throw away from Lake Brenig and the famous Wales Rally GB Power Stage.
Heavy overnight rain had made conditions extremely wet and muddy, yet Damian never put a foot wrong all day in the slippery conditions – beating many more high-powerful and four-wheel drive cars along the way.
“It had been 308 days since the last forest rally in Wales, so it was important to come and support this event and prove to the authorities that rallying can adhere to Covid-19 guidelines and run safely,” said Damian.
Track and trace screening confirmed that no coronavirus causes where recorded as a result on the rallying taking place.