A successful amateur rallying team made up of personnel from RAF Marham in Norfolk is set to compete in one of the world’s most challenging motorsport events.
The RAF Typhoon Rally Team is considered to be one of the most well-known amateur teams in the UK, and has been accepted to race with internationally renowned rally drivers at the Wales Rally GB.
The team – which Adrian Flux Insurance is among the sponsors – is based at the West Norfolk airbase and consists of engineers who work on RAF aircraft during the day.
Outside the workplace, they use these transferable skills to make sure their Subaru Impreza can withstand the stresses and strains of intense rally driving.
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Chief Technician Christopher Daykin
Chief Technician Christopher Daykin, The Typhoon Team’s driver and deputy manager, said: “Adrian Flux Insurance has been one of our team’s sponsors for the last 10 years now and the company’s support has helped us progress significantly.
“To earn the opportunity to compete in the Wales Rally GB with some of the best rallying teams in the world is an outstanding achievement for us. I’ve been competing in amateur rallying for 16 years now, and this is definitely going to be the highlight of my rallying career.”
Craig Darwin, Owners Club Manager from Adrian Flux Insurance, said: “It has been a pleasure to sponsor The Typhoon Team and watch them go from strength to strength over the last decade. The opportunity to compete in the Wales Rally GB is a very exciting milestone, and we wish them the best of luck in this high-profile motorsport event.”
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RAF Typhoon Rally Team in front of the RAF Marham gate guard Left to Right: Adrian Flux Craig Darwin and RAF members (front row) CT Chris Daykin, Cpl Guy Bentley, SAC(T) James Hollis; Back Row SAC(T) Lewis Lawes, SAC(T) Ben Church.
The 1994 Subaru Impreza is an iconic rallying car and the team have been testing its capabilities and practising their skills on the tank tracks at the Muckleburgh Military Museum on the North Norfolk coast.
It is heavily modified in just about every area for the sole purpose of competing in motorsport. The engine is a race-standard 2L turbo charge that produces 280 HP – this is 50 HP more than original car’s output.
Local youngsters were also offered the opportunity to carry out minor maintenance work on the vehicle when it was recently taken to the Open Road West Norfolk workshop on the Hardwick Industrial Estate in King’s Lynn. The specialist charity offers young people experience of working with cars, including automotive training which can lead to achieving professionally recognised qualifications.
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The RAF Typhoons testing the car at Muckleburgh.
Chief Technician Daykin added: “It was a unique opportunity for these youngsters to take a closer look at the inner workings of a rallying vehicle and carry out some basic maintenance. They also changed a brake pads on the car for us and did a superb job on it. Off the back of this, we invited one of the students to join us at our practice session in Muckleburgh.”
The team’s sponsors are: The Royal Air Force, Adrian Flux Insurance, Kumho Tyres and Lifeline.
Read more about Adrian Flux’s Rally Car Insurance.
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