Scotland’s cricket team may not be at the top of the World game but Uddingston’s Stuart Loudon has just returned from his second World Rally Championship podium of 2014 and is now preparing for his next challenge to become an all-rounder sitting beside England cricket star, Graeme Swann. Swann took 255 test wickets during his career.
Swann, who has an interest in cars but has never competed on a rally before has entered a Fiesta R2 on Britain’s round of the World Rally Championship, Wales Rally GB. It really is in at the deep end for the right-arm off spinner when he tackles the National element of the UK star event as part of a programme for BT Sport, where he is a brand ambassador. Yesterday, (Tuesday 4th November) was the first day that Swann got to drive the Castol, WRC and Michelin backed Fiesta on gravel, only 9 days before the flags drops for the start of Wales Rally GB.
Stuart spent the day teaching his new driver just what a pace-note is, what they mean and just what to listen for, “we are using a 1-6 pace note system on Rally GB, where 6 is fast and 1 is the slowest corner. So today was getting Graeme to listen to what each call means. It was also for him to spend time with David Higgins (multiple USA Rally Champion) to learn how the car reacts on the stages and how he influences that.”
This week has seen the start of the steep learning curve for the cricketer. Monday was spent at an airfield just learning about the car. This was actually the first time the England star had ever sat in a rally car. His tutor then was M-Sport WRC star, Elfyn Evans who demonstrated just how to control and set the car up for different corners. When Swann tried it, he ended up throwing a googly as they ended up on the grass at the side of the runway.
“He’s not lacking in confidence,” says Stuart, “my job will be to get him through the stages, to watch his driving and make sure he doesn’t’ get carried away with it. But then as the rally goes on we can pick up the pace and the most important thing is to make sure he enjoys it. We are not there to be a night watchman of the rally world.”
How the retired cricketer, turned TV pundit and Tunnock’s biscuit engineer get on will be captured on camera for an hour long broadcast on BT Sport later in the year. In the car Stuart may be the most experienced but outside the car he is the one needing coaching. “This having a camera follow you everywhere and presenters looking for comments as soon as you get to service is all new to me. I hope that Graeme can give me some pointers and maybe I can retire from this co-driving lark and become a TV presenter?”
Whatever happens the crew are there to perform to their best on the National section of Wales Rally GB. What they don’t want is loads of sledging about the stage times from the other competitors and to bowl more of a yorker.
Wales Rally GB gets underway with a Ceremonial Start and Autograph session on Thursday 13th November, Eirias Stadium, Colwyn Bay. Full event details are available on www.walesrallygb.com
Friday 14th November – National Rally
09.44 – four special stages totalling 45.29 miles
Saturday 15th November – National Rally
09.57 – five special stages totalling 35.98 miles
Sunday 16th November – National Rally
12.03 – four special stages totalling 15.70 miles
Look out for Graeme Swann/Stuart Loudon Ford Fiesta R2 – car number 277
Cricketing terms:
Diddley Dobbly – bowler of limited skill
All-rounder – adept at bowling and batting
Googly – deceptive spinning delivery by a leg spin bowler
Night watchman – a lower order batsman sent in when the light is dimming to play out the remaining overs.
Sledging – verbal abuse
Yorker – A perfectly pitched fast Yorker is almost impossible to keep out
Follow Stuart on:
Website – www.stuartloudon.co.uk
Twitter – @stu_loudon
Facebook – Stuart Loudon
