L. MathekaManchester City trialist-turned rally star chasing back-to-back Safari victories
Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 09.03.26. | 09:09
Kenya marks not only the start of his WRC2 campaign but also the beginning of a new partnership, as the Brit makes the switch from Škoda to Toyota machinery
Footballer-turned-rally driver Gus Greensmith will embrace a fresh challenge as he gets to grips with the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 after three years behind the wheel of the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, chasing the WRC2 title.
Greensmith gave up a potential football career with English Premier League champions Manchester City for motorsport. He started off as a goalkeeper from seven until about 12 and then gave that up for the four wheels and an engine.
This year's Safari Rally, set for Thursday, 12 to Sunday, 15 March in Naivasha, marks Greensmith’s first start of the season, and he will be hoping to dominate, just as he did last year.
“We have had three good years with Škoda, and I enjoyed them, and I had some very good success, but I think it was about time for a change,” said Greensmith.
“So far, all of the testing has gone well, and it is definitely a trickier car to drive than the Škoda. The Škoda is a very well-adapted car for everyone to jump into, but after the third day of testing, I was becoming pretty happy.”
While Greensmith admits the Toyota presents a new challenge, the strengths of the car have already become clear after his initial mileage. The former M-Sport Ford driver is confident he will quickly settle into his new office.
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“The philosophy [of the car] is very different from the Škoda, so it is a very different way of driving, especially compared to my driving style. But Toyota have been great to work with, and we went through an extensive test plan. They explained the philosophy of the car and adapted it to a few things I like. By the end of the test, I was feeling very comfortable in the car. I think the front end of the car is incredibly strong, and that was the thing I had to adjust to the most. How quickly it pulls you into the line is really impressive," the driver offered.
He believes he will understand the car more as the season goes on, but knows Kenya is not really about out-and-out performance in the car: "It needs a bit of mitigation for the conditions."
Greensmith expects his WRC2 program to follow a similar pattern to last year but has hinted he may add a couple more fast rallies. For now, however, the focus is on starting strongly at Safari Rally, an event where he has claimed WRC2 victory in each of the past two editions.
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“I’m feeling good but we will have to see how it goes. Kenya can either be brilliant or a disaster. The last two years haven’t been too bad for me, so I’m hoping to be on the better side,” he added.
“I think the rougher rallies have always been my strongest area as a driver. Kenya is probably the roughest of the lot. You need a bit of sympathy and to understand where the car can go, and you need to be able to push the car as close to the limit as possible without taking it too far. It is something that works well for me, and it is why I like to start my season in Kenya - and the place is incredible as well.”
Additional information by WRC.com.
