Home Interviews Interview with Rory Bryant – Scottish Motor Sports

Interview with Rory Bryant – Scottish Motor Sports

As part of our quest to get closer to motor sport in Scotland we’ve been interviewing Rory Bryant who isn’t just a talented Scottish driver, he’s also National Development Officer for Scottish Motor Sports. We’re planning to talk to him more about that in the future so if you’ve got questions for Rory on what SMS is doing then please get in touch with us.

Rory Bryant

 

In the mean time we wanted find out more about how and why Rory got into racing.

1. What is your first memory of watching motor racing?

None of my family were ever involved in motorsport but my Grandparents were F1 fans and would have the Formula 1 on the TV religiously. I thought it was boring at first until one day, I was forced to watch it because of the weather outside… and from then I was hooked!

 

 2. Do you remember the first time that you raced? What was it in?

My first racing experiences were in karting. I began at a pretty modest level in an indoor karting championship at Raceland, near Edinburgh… from memory I finished the day 2nd but also managed to familiarise myself with the circuits tyre walls quite well!

 

3. What achievement are you most proud of to date?

I’ve won races in every type of car I have ever raced, which is an achievement I am proud of but if I was to single one win out, it would have to be winning the European round of the British GT4 Championship at Zandvoort (Holland) last year. My team had a fraction of the budget and resource that our competitors had and up until that point in the season we had had terrible luck, so it was nice to win at that level against all the odds.

podium

4. What’s been your worst moment when racing?

When my door fell off at Brands Hatch last year (insert Michael Caine jokes here?) ! It got a lot of publicity but for all the wrong reasons!

 

 5. What is your ultimate ambition within the sport?

Ultimately I’d love to race at Le Mans. I think GT racing offers the best career prospects for drivers at the moment but having said that Touring cars are a big passion of mine too and if the opportunity ever arose I’d jump at the chance to race in BTCC!

 

6. Who is your favourite Scottish racing driver?

Allan McNish

 

7. Do you find that it’s difficult to get sponsors with being based in Scotland?

I think it is difficult full stop. For sure the nucleus of tracks down south may make motor racing sponsorship more appealing/relevant to English companies but I don’t believe being based in Scotland makes it massively more difficult. I rely solely on sponsorship to fund my racing and I have to say it is the hardest part of my racing career by far, which can be frustrating. However, I have been fortunate to be supported by some loyal Scottish sponsors who I think realise the commercial benefits of motorsport sponsorship but also just enjoy being involved in what is a very dynamic and exciting sport.

 

8. What advice would you give to someone who is looking to get into racing?

Hopefully information and entry into motorsport full stop will become more accessible through the work I am currently doing with Scottish Motor Sports (SMS) at the moment. However, right now I would suggest doing some research to make sure that you are going to choose a championship / car that is suitable to both your experience and budget. I would recommend speaking to the MSA who will be able to put you in contact with your local motorsport club and they will be able to offer advice on opportunities and what is best for you. If you haven’t done so already it would also be worth getting some track time through track days or driver experience days at your local circuit.

 

 9. Tell us a bit more about your current racing car?

At present, I have not got a drive confirmed for this year yet but the car I raced last year was a Ginetta G50, GT4. Handling wise, it’s a very nicely balanced car to drive and it’s reasonably quick with a 3.5litre engine producing around 450bhp.

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10. What is your current favourite road car?

Aston Martin DBS

 

11. What is your favourite racing circuit?

Brands Hatch GP circuit

 

12.   This question is from Olie, he’s like the TT equivalent of Chris Harris; Can I try your car?

Sure… Although, I never own the cars I race, so I would say that! It may be possible, depending on what it is I’m racing so keep in touch.

 

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I think everyone reading this will be very interested to see what Rory can achieve at Scottish Motor Sports as we all know that racing in Scotland could do with more investment, more publicity and more support for future world class drivers. If TartanTarmac can help then all the better! As I mentioned at the start of the article, if you want to help or find out more then please get in touch with us or Rory.

Although TartanTarmac is still a fledgling website with a small following, there’s already plenty of forum members that I haven’t met in person, and what I can guarantee is that all of them would love to drive that Ginetta G50! The quicker Rory gets back in a car and gives us a shot, the better!

As always, give us your comments over on the forums

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