Paul Woodford buckles up for WRC action on the Jim Clark
In his role as TV Presenter for the popular Sky TV series Special Stage, Paul gets all the hard jobs, such as sitting alongside rally champions in World Rally Cars, for example...
As part of Production Company MCVideo's coverage of the 2011 Jim Clark National Rally for the Special Stage TV series, presenter Paul Woodford realised a lifelong ambition as he got strapped into reigning REIS MSA Asphalt Rally Champion Damian Cole's Ford Focus World Rally Car for the shakedown stage.
Available to teams as a pre-rally test, the shakedown stage is a true reflection of the type of closed road rally stages that make up the legendary Jim Clark Rally. As he travelled at speeds of up to 140mph in a rally super car worth more than most houses, Paul introduced the rally to hundreds of thousands of rally fans tuning into the programme. As Paul explains, it was a thrilling spectacle, from both sides of the camera:
"As I say in the feature, I've never been down a country road that fast, and I have to say I got a first hand look at what made Damian Cole the 2010 National Tarmac Rally Champion. The car is incredible, with pace and dynamics unlike anything I've ever experienced before, and even on a shakedown stage without pace notes Cole piloted the car superbly, with lightening fast reactions and stomach-twitching commitment over the blind crests. We said before the feature that we wanted Damian to demonstrate the pace and excitement that comes with sitting in one of these amazing rally cars, and I'd to think we succeeded in relaying that to a television audience, most of whom will never get the opportunity to ride - as I did shotgun - with a national champion in a World Rally Car."
The third round of the REIS MSA Asphalt Rally Championship, the Jim Clark Rally eventually saw Damian Cole take victory after an intense battle throughout both days of competition. Here at Teamwoodspeed, we'd like to say Paul gave the championship leader some presenter luck, but we have to say we think it takes a lot more than luck to take home the silverware at this level of the sport.
The programme, including Paul's feature in the World Rally Car can be viewed by clicking HERE.
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