8:48 am, February 10, 2011
A CAR dealer receptionist during the week, Sara Williams has a secret second life – on the UK’s rally stages!
The 21-year-old might work in a car dealership during the day, but wrestling a Group-N spec Subaru Impreza on challenging rally stages is where her hobby lies.
The youngster has already impressed the UK rally community by finishing fourth in the Rally GB national rally in Wales in November.
‘I have been travelling in rally cars from an early age and started co-driving for my dad at age sixteen,’ says Williams. ‘We went on to win an overall rally in Pembrey Wales the following year, and I was hooked; not only that, but I decided then that I wanted to be in the driving seat.
‘After some experience on Tarmac I competed on gravel stages for the first time in 2009 and this was also my first year in a Subaru four-wheel-drive car, so to finish just of the podium the following year was a great boost for my confidence, and proof that I had made the right decision to pursue driving.’
However, Williams is no one trip pony – she’ll be will competing in this season’s first major UK rally event – the GMF Wyedean rally based in and around the Forest of Dean stages that surround Chepstow race course – this weekend.
Williams has also interested the motor component manufacturing and distributor firm Klarius QH. The company has signed the 21-year-old youngster for the first half of the rally season.
Annette Forster, Klarius group marketing director, said: ‘There are several reasons for our sponsorship commitment to Sara, not least that I have experienced her driving on a rally stage from the co-driver’s seat, and it’s obvious that she has the talent.
‘Klarius as an organisation has consistently won business and market share by improving communication, service and support, in order to do this we have challenged conventions and worked hard to do things differently. Sara is a great example of someone who is also challenging motor racing conventions, and showing how a clear positive attitude can result in success.’
Williams adds: Sara’s comment on the car and the rally, ‘I have to say a massive thank you to the Klarius Group for backing me this season, the Klarius has been fantastic. We have fully tested the car, it looks really good and it feels great, and I am really looking forward to this season’s racing.
‘Hopefully we will get some good results with the improved performance and reliability from this year’s car as we are also fitting some Klarius Group supplied parts including QH belts and suspension components.’
