London based Kiwi Andrew Smith is looking forward to spring in New Zealand

October in New Zealand means crisp mornings and fantastic roads to go rallying. Here is Andrew's build up to the beckoning gravel.

Andrew Smith is co-driver for Craig Marshall in the Marshall family Peugeot on the Silver Fern Marathon Rally.

The mid 1980s found Andrew Smith doing as many rallies in the Auckland area as his modest apprentice mechanic wage would provide. The first event was 1985 Woodhill, in a decrepit Mini. He remembers being slightly miffed that the stage mileage had been cut back for some reason to 110 km! The car changed to a very standard 1972 Corolla which was much more fun than the Mini with a best place of 32nd in the Hella Lights national rally 1987. In between the limited driving he found time to help build and prepare other cars.

Co driving was confined to some rally sprints and the ( co driving ) story finished down a bank, in a stream, on the Pukekohe Car Club rally 1987.

After working for a Formula Pacific team in January 1988, Andrew, like many Kiwis before him, took the plunge to seek his fortune in Europe, doing something motorsport related.  After leaving with out anything specific in mind he found in August 1988 he was working for TTE on their world rally championship program. This was during a period of Toyota expansion and working as a mechanic meant occasionally sitting beside great drivers whilst testing. Highlights were runs with Waldegard, Snijers, Eriksson, and Blomquist over classic rally stages. Monte Carlo recce, Safari testing, and 1000 Lakes tests were all part of the WRC schedule.  After a spell with Toyota, and then Nissan rally teams he was living in the UK and has been there ever since.

In the early 1990s data acquisition was emerging as an affordable technology. Since then Andrew has been working with data logging in all forms of motorsport, from karts to F3000, Formula Fords to world superbikes.  During that time engine management also developed and now Andrew’s company Dataspares specialise in both data acquisition and engine management. Manufacturers Seat and Renault contract Dataspares to look after their one make Cupra and UK Formula Renault championships.

In 2005 Andrew was working alongside Mark Parsons on the Seat Cupra championship. Late in the UK season Mark announced that his co –driver had backed out for the forthcoming Targa event – was any one interested ? It was a long shot for a UK based Parsons but Andrew accepted the challenge, having last co-driven nearly 20 years before.

The 2005 Targa finished after 3 days and 2 gearboxes, but relit the fire for Andrew. 2006 saw him co driving with Nick Marshall in the Silver Fern rally to finish 31st, quickly followed by Targa finishing 98th.

2007 was spent co driving in the UK. The single venue events in the UK were a shock due to their limited mileage and no route book but provided experience of new discipline. There were also events in Wales on gravel and tarmac.

2008 was more active with the target of enough signatures to qualify for an international licence being the goal. This has meant more single venue events and runs in famous Welsh forests on the Swansea Bay and Mid Wales rallies.

After establishing a relationship with Marshall Motorsport in 2006 Andrew is back for more with the 2008 Silver Fern rally, with a change of driver to Craig Marshall.
Andrews comments " Marshall Motorsport turn out a really well prepared, safe car. This time the car has a bit more speed built in, but worst of all, I will no doubt be asked to give an opinion on the relative skills of Nick and Craig ! Mike Marshall's infectious enthusiasm holds the team together when things get tough, and he is always pushing us to get the most out of the car. "

Then enthusing about the event “The organisers put on a really fabulous rally last time, and have tried to improve it for 2008. The roads in New Zealand are just fantastic but Kiwis don't seem to realise it ! Being able to close roads, and have decent length stages aren't available to organisers every where. For me, this makes Silver Fern and Targa really good value events. On top of that,  New Zealand in spring time is pretty hard to beat. "



Events last 3 years

Event Location Driver Car                    
2005 Targa NZ Mark Parsons Torana XU1 DNF
2006 Silver Fern NZ Nick Marshall Peugeot 206 Gti 31
2006  Targa NZ Chris Simpson Honda Integra 98
2007  Twyford SV England Simon Phillips Peugeot 205 1.4 36
Neath Valley Wales Martin Harries Peugeot 205  1.9 39
Mewla Rally Wales Peter Donnachie Subaru Impreza 52
2008  Down Ampney SV England Scott Faulkner Peugeot 205  1.6 31
4 Counties SV England Abi Mahmood Nissan Micra kit car 16 / 1st class A
Abingdon SV England Abi Mahmood Nissan Micra kit car 27 /1st Class A
Mid Wales Wales Martin Harries Peugeot 205 1.9 93
Azimighur SV England Abi Mahmood Nissan Micra kit car 31 / 2nd class A
Fat Albert SV England Abi Mahmood Nissan Micra kit car 31 / 2nd class A
Swansea Bay Club Wales Martin Harries Peugeot 205 1.9 23
Wugging  SV England Abi Mahmood Nissan Micra kit car DNF

For more information contact on :

Work ph  +44 208 463 9222
Work fax  +44 208 463 9333

rally@dataspares.com

7 Sept 2008 for Dataspares Acquisition Ltd and Motodata Ltd