Member Article

Young rally driver appeals for business help

A young rally driving champion from Durham may have to abandon his sporting dreams due to a lack of sponsorship.

Chris Anderson, 22, is now appealing to businesses to help him raise £40,000 sponsorship money for next season’s championships, starting in January.

Wilkinson Maintenance, where Chris is a manager, has already pledged to continue to support him, but he needs additional financial assistance to continue.

Chris, who started out as an apprentice at Durham-based Wilkinson Maintenance, has had an eventful career so far.

He achieved his personal best only last season, and also won the John Horton Motorsport Management Star Performer award after taking second place overall in the Tyneside Stages as well as two outright wins and a third place during the season.

Chris beat off national rally drivers to achieve his second maximum score this year in the championship and is the first driver ever to manage this feat.

Chris, and his co-driver Chris Thirling, have also clinched overall second place in their Wilkinson Maintenance sponsored Ford Fiesta at The North of England Tarmac Rally Championship.

Chris said: “Rally driving is something I love and I would like to take it further by entering more championships.

“It’s been my passion for many years and I’d really love to be able to continue competing, but without the full amount of sponsorship, it will be impossible.

“I’d like to appeal to businesses and organisations who could possibly boost the level of sponsorship I need to continue rally driving into next year.”

Stuart Anderson said: “Chris has had sponsorship for the last three years, even in tough times for the economy, and he and his co-driver are really going from strength to strength.

“The team most recently achieved first in class just missing out on first place overall through a string of bad luck which meant he didn’t finish his last two events after leading the Championship all season.

“It would be a real shame if Chris had to abandon his rally driving hopes due to a lack of funding. The support will help the team continue into next year and hopefully beyond.”

To support Chris, please contact Stuart Anderson at stuart@wilkinsonmaintenance.co.uk, or call 0191 386 9749.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .