My name is James Rudd and I am a 14 year old junior rally driver from Whitgift. I compete in the British Junior 1000 Rally Championship in a 1 litre, 65bhp Nissan Micra k11, which has been upgraded the most it can be within the regulations set by the organisers.
I first got involved in rallying when I was 8 by helping my dad service for Pete Gunson and Jonny Haynes. Since then I have worked on Porsches, Lotus, Ford, Saab as well as many more. When I was 11 I got my first car (Ford Ka) and ever since then I have loved every minute I have behind the wheel of a car. In July 2018 we bought my rally car (Nissan Micra) from an ex-junior competitor and started the long process of servicing the Micra ready for the 2019 season. In November 2018 I passed my bars test which meant when I turned 14 in the April of 2019 I could be awarded my license to allow me to compete.
My first rally was on the 12th May 2019 at Melbourne (York) where me and the team finished 8th out of 14 competitors.
My next rally was on the 16th June 2019 at Caerwent military base where we finished 12th out of 17 competitors. My third rally of the season was at wethersfield M.O.D base where we finished 16th out of 18 competitors. My final rally of the year unfortunately finished early as me and my co-driver crashed into a curb on the first stage.
After every rally the car is checked and any parts which are damaged or have come to the end of there working life are replaced to minimise the chance of a part failing on an event
