Image: 

Peachland, BC, Canada — Canadian rally driver Mark Jennings-Bates teams up with Dakar veteran Mick Extance next week in the UK to get an introduction to the vehicle they will be driving in the 2011 Dakar for the Bowler-Offroad team.

Jennings-Bates who has been active in the Canadian rally scene since 2005 has teamed up with Dakar veteran, Extance for his latest adventure, the Dakar Rally in 2011. Extance, who is the highest placed Briton in the Dakar and holds numerous records from his several attempts so far has agreed to co-drive for the team, something that Jennings-Bates feels is critical to their success. “As far as I am concerned, the person in that co-drivers seat is driving the car as much as any driver. Without complete cooperation between the driver and the co-driver and an instinctual understanding of how each other works, the optimal speeds for each day of the event can never be attained. As Derek Ringer, WRC co-driver once stated, driving fast in rally is the easiest thing to do! Finishing and placing high is not easy. I am really excited that Mick has agreed to share his wisdom of this prestigious event and work with us” said Jennings-Bates.

With the Bowler factory team offering the duo a seat in their factory Nemesis for 2011, they are now free to focus on their in-car relationship, which starts with a training day in Derbyshire on July 5th. The media are welcome to attend and interviews will be available with driver and co-driver as well as team principal, Drew Bowler.

All the action will be captured by Antares Media, who will producing a two-part documentary on
their challenge. It will also have full multi-platform support giving glimpses of progress not only
in training for the Dakar and the race itself but the other "challenge" the drivers have set
themselves!

Entering the Dakar 2011 is not enough for Mark and Mick. They have decided to highlight the
plight of people on this planet who do not have ready access to clean water and sanitation. Every 15 seconds a child dies because of lack of this problem. The number of people in this situation is staggering as at the last count it stood at two billion, six hundred thousand! "Our goal is to raise $4m for FeViva and JustADrop charities to help alleviate these problems" added Leesa Beeson, the teams publicist.

VISIT THE WRS FORUMS AND DISCUSS – Click Here

End

Source: Bowler Media, Courtesy of Rally4Life.org
Image Copyrights: Bowler Media
Photo: Canadian rally driver Mark Jennings-Bates teams up with Dakar veteran Mick Extance next week in the UK to get an introduction to the vehicle they will be driving in the 2011 Dakar for the Bowler-Offroad team

Back to Main Page - World Rally Sport