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 Winning over the fierce Championship battle between Toshihiro Arai, Martin Rowe is the new Champion of this year's FIA Production Car World Rally Championship. Little is known of his background and profile, so, who is Martin Rowe ? How did he come this far ? Martin started his motorsport career early in life. At the age of five he had his first taste of motorised 'wheels', participating in off-road motorcycle trials. He was Isle of Man Schoolboy Champion at the age of 14yrs. When he was 16 years old he passed his Manx motorcycle and driving test on consecutive days ! Martin's first rally was in April 1990, which inspired him to pursue his chosen career. |
 Photo : N.Kobayashi Word : Subaru Motorsports Magagine |
In 1991, Martin's first full season of Rallying he won the Manx Stage Rally Championship in a Mk II Escort. 1992 took Martin off the Isle of Man in his quest for success through Rallying. He competed in the highly competitive one make championship, the Peugeot Challenge, taking the Group 'N' 1600cc Championship after only six of the ten rounds. A result which attracted the attention of the Shell Scholarship committee.
Martin earned himself the opportunity to pilot a Group 'N' Escort Cosworth in the National Championship Rally series. Martin rose to the challenge and repaid Shell's faith by being the youngest driver and only driver ever to win the Manx National Rally outright in a Group 'N' category car.
1994 saw Martin drive the same Shell Group 'N' Escort Cosworth in the Mobil 1 Top gear British Rally Championship, again living up to his calm, competent reputation he took third over-all and won group 'N' in the series. In November Martin once again drove a Peugeot, making his World Championship debut for a works team in the celebrated Network Q RAC Rally. Martin's Formula 2, Peugeot 306 was completed only hours before the start of the gruelling event but this did not hamper his efforts to finish 14th over-all and fifth in the Formula 2 class. During 1995 Martin piloted the Works Total Team Peugeot 306 in the British Rally Championship. This year did not bear any fruits for Martin as the car suffered a repetitive engine problem, causing many retirements. This was very frustrating for Martin as he was either setting fastest times or leading events, when the problems struck. There was a shock withdrawal from the Peugeot Factory Team prior to the RAC Rally announcing that there would be no drive for Martin in 1996. This was very late in the year to gain contracts with other Manufacturer's Teams, leading to a quiet '96 season for Martin. 
With motorsport thick in his blood Martin gained more employment as a motorsport instructor teaching others at rally schools and racing schools, and also giving driving demonstrations for various Manufacturer's.Martin was working on events with different Manufacturer's teams assisting other drivers during events and keeping up good relationships with all teams. This lead to a drive for the Volkswagon Factory Team on the Manx International Rally, the last round of the Top Gear Mobil 1 British Rally Championship. After twelve months out of competition there was immense pressure on Martin to do a good job for the Team but also to get his name back into the press and Rally world. He did just this, he finished 4th overall and 2nd in the Formula 2 class. This was the perfect result. The best result the Volkswagon Team had for over twelve months, it also clinched VW 3rd place in the manufacturer's championship leading to masses of publicity for the team and for Martin, putting his face back into the public eye. After this impressive drive the Renault works team snapped him up. This led to the start of a winning partnership. This season, after having to slow down on two of the five events to let his team mate past Martin finished second overall in the British Rally Championship and won the last event. 
1998 Martin dominated the British Rally Championship, leading from start to finish, winning four out of six events gaining Renault their first title, they won the Drivers, Co-drivers and Manufacturers Championships.
The team also competed in three rounds of the World Rally Championship. In 1999 the Renault team won the Formula two category in the World Rally Championship, Impressive drives from Martin including second place finishes in Finland, Australia and Great Britain secured the title for Renault in a close battle with Hyundai. Unfortunately in the British Championship Martin finished only third due to mechanical problems. Martin's impressive driving style and amiable personality make him the perfect ambassador for any Rally Team. He is promotable and presentable and has gained much experience while climbing the ladder to World level. He is determined not to stop there ! |
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