Meet Ignition Motorsport, the Newbury team taking on the British Rally Championship
A NEWBURY rally team is competing in the 2025 British Rally Championship.
The Ignition Motorsport Rally Team is based on Newbury’s Turnpike Industrial estate, and launched their 2025 campaign at Podium Place last week.
Michael Jenkins and Colin Minton are the men behind the wheel of two rally-grade Ford Fiestas.
Well known motorsport commentator Andrew Coley is also involved, taking on the role of team principal.
“My parents brought me a remote control car when I was about 12-years-old,” said Jenkins.
“It was Richard Burns’ Subaru Impreza. He won the World Rally Championship in that car the same year.
“I was immediately hooked on rallying. My dad and I travelled all over to watch rallying.
“I saw the cars sliding through the forest and thought, ‘I want to do that’.”
Jenkins has been on the scene for a while, gaining experience in a number of series.
“My first competitive event was in 2012,” he said.
“I brought a Peugeot 205 and Colin from Ignition helped me convert it into a rally car.
“After a couple of years I got married, had kids, bought a house and took a long break from the sport.
“Seven years later I decided to come back and have another go.”
Jenkins wants this to be a team which puts fans first.
Grateful for the support they have received so far, the team is searching for further sponsorship.
“We’re trying to make the team ‘from the fans, for the fans’,” he said.
“We don’t have huge budgets like our competition, so we’re really at the clubman level.
“The British Rally Championship gives us the opportunity to compete against the very best.
“That’s what I love most about rallying, anybody can get a car and start a team.
“It’s like walking off the street and playing in a Premiership football match.
“We’re hoping to run some competitions throughout the year for fans, marshals and organisers – without them we couldn’t go rallying.”
Round One was the East Riding Stages Rally, held in Beverley, Yorkshire.
Ignition nominated the all female crew of Meghan O’Kane and Nikki Addison as point scorers, who came home with a class victory.
Jenkins took second place, while Minton battled to third.
Not a bad start, then.
They’ll also be joined by a multi-time British Rally champion for round two, to be announced at a later date.
“He really likes the idea behind the team,” he said.
“He’s really keen to be involved, which is really cool.
“I’m hoping to get some tips from him!”
To get involved, follow them on Instagram at @ignition_motorsport_rally_team, where Jenkins can also be found at @rallymike
