'Hughes in Focus for VK Ford chance'

Colwyn Bay's Simon Hughes is celebrating after being chosen as the inaugural winner of the VK Sprinters Cup, a special prize awarded as part of the 2006 Ford Fiesta Sporting Trophy. Hughes has been rewarded for being the fastest driver in the championship, setting 19 fastest special stage times during the course of the year.  As a reward, Vodka Kick boss Steve Perez will entrust Simon with his own 2005 specification Ford Focus WRC05 for a rally in the New Year.

23 year old Hughes is likely to contest the Red Kite Stages in January after the prize was announced at the recent awards night for the popular single make championship for identical Ford Fiesta ST150's. Based in Llandovery in South Wales, the event is normally an icy start to the year and the 2006 rally had to be shortened due to high amounts of snow and ice on the forest roads.

MSA British Rally Elite Academy member Simon was delighted with the surprise announcement, and is already looking forward to trying the car at a brief test session before the event. Simon is no stranger to the forests of Crychan and the surrounding area, so he heads to the rally confident that he can put in a performance worthy of the prize:

"What a fantastic opportunity!" said Simon. "I knew I'd set the most number of fastest times this year, so I'm delighted that Steve has had the confidence to offer me the prize of his car for one event. It's only 12 months ago that the car was the cutting edge of technology at World Rally Championship level, so this really is a rare opportunity to sample such an up to date car. I've been fortunate to have driven a Skoda Octavia WRC before, but this is in a totally different league. I've already seen the drivers manual that comes with the car and the amount of settings and switches on the car have to be seen to be believed! It isn't confirmed that we'll contest the Red Kite Stages just yet, so it will either be that event on the Wyedean Rally I think. I'm not bothered if there is snow, ice or anything else on the ground! I just can't wait to try the car out, and then hopefully I can put in a good performance on the event to thank Steve Perez and Vodka Kick for such a generous prize. Finally, I'd like to thank Furrows for Ford in Shropshire for their season long support. It was through the backing that we received from them that we were able to get into the position to win this prize in the first place".

Hughes's tally of 19 stage wins was nearly double that of his closest rival. The young Welshman's season was blighted by frustrating mechanical failures at times, but when things went well for Simon he was able to convert his pace into rally winning results. Hughes will be co-driven in the Ford Focus WRC by Berwickshire's Claire Mole. The pair will look to start the 2007 season as they left 2006 - standing on the top step of the podium thanks to Steve Perez and the VK Ford team.

Follow the Ford Fiesta SportingTrophy online at www.fiestasportingtrophy.co.uk or for the World Series, visit www.fiestasportingtrophy.com