WRC
Hammond: Rally drivers operate in three dimensions
TV personality Richard Hammond emerged from a co-drive with Josh McErlean describing rally drivers as operating "in three dimensions rather than two" – and with a newfound appreciation for the WRC.
The former BBC Top Gear host joined McErlean for a high-speed ride through Secto Rally Finland’s shakedown on Thursday, an experience that left him captivated by both the technical complexity of rally driving and the passionate Finnish rally culture.
"I've been out in rally cars before, but actually at this level of driver and machine and stage – it's what I knew it would be," Hammond explained. Drawing on his experience as a helicopter pilot, he was struck by the interconnected nature of every input. "These guys drive in three dimensions rather than two on a circuit. Every control input requires a compensatory input around the rest."
What fascinated Hammond most was McErlean's forward-thinking approach to each corner.
Hammond joined M-Sport Ford driver Josh McErlean at Secto Rally Finland
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"The setup for a turn – I can see it coming up, and he picks the time, the moment at which to get the car in the right attitude. He's picking whether the suspension should be loaded or unloaded, or unloading when the turn begins, and what that will do to the grip and authority of the wheels to make the turn."
Beyond the technical aspects, Hammond was equally impressed by Secto Rally Finland's cultural significance. The event's takeover of Jyväskylä particularly caught his attention: "You can just sense the love of it in the place. The fact that they take over the whole city – I love that. The alarm call for the city is these [cars] warming up.
“Apparently, something like 25,000 people turned out to watch the shakedown. That's 25,000 people coming out to watch you make sure your stuff works. That tells you everything you need to know about the deep-rooted passion for this sport."
For the Brit, the experience highlighted the WRC's broader importance in an increasingly automated world.
“There is a newfound enthusiasm growing amongst all of us for these cars, in whatever form,” he said. “These things (cars) enable you to lead your life – they're the most important thing we've ever created. People who never would have considered themselves car enthusiasts are soon discovering that they actually are and always were, because they have a natural affection. This machine moves us physically; therefore it moves us emotionally."
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McErlean was impressed with his celebrity passenger's contribution. "He did the timecard perfectly," the driver noted, while Hammond added: “We had a connection going on. He couldn't have done it without me – though he won't tell you that!"
The WRC experience has already sparked concrete plans. Hammond and his daughter Izzy – who is also attending the rally and enjoyed a co-drive with Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux – are now discussing club-level rallying.
"We are talking about seriously doing some rally school stuff," Hammond revealed. "What I would love us to do is get a little clubman level car – a [Ford Escort] RS2000 or [Peugeot] 205 GTI – and get that done for club-spec rally."
Secto Rally Finland, the FIA World Rally Championship’s ninth round, is now underway. Competitors face 20 high-speed forest stages totalling more than 300km before Sunday afternoon’s finish.
