Robin Phillips Set For Easter Rally Comeback!

Image: RallyPics.org

Robin Phillips, the 2000 Northern Ireland Rally Champion, is set to make a surprise return to the stages this Easter!

The Saintfield driver has entered the Triton Showers Easter Stages Rally in a DGM hired Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 and will be navigated by his 19-year-old daughter Laura.

It was almost 13 years ago that Robin clinched the N.I. title aboard a Toyota Celica after a year long battle with Denis Biggerstaff’s Metro 6R4. That was to be the pinnacle of Phillips’ rally success, although he later competed in selected events with a Toyota Corolla WRC.

His last competitive outing was at the 2004 Tour of the Sperrins but any hopes of quashing the rally ‘bug’ have been dashed by his “motorsport mad” daughter.

“I have a 19-year-old daughter who is mad about motorsport,” Phillips told RallyForums.com. “We did sweeper at the Mourne Rally last year in a Citroen DS3 and she loved it. So I promised her we’d do a rally together.”

“The Easter Stages is close by so it suits fairly well. I’m hiring a car from Davy Greer but I’m dreading to see the speed the guys go nowadays. When you stand and watch Group N cars it doesn’t look like they’re going that quick but it’s a different story inside the car!”

As for future events, Robin doesn’t have any solid plans, commenting: “I don’t really know…I’m just taking it one step at a time.”

We get the feeling his daughter might have something to say about that!