Phil Short, FIA Junior WRC Sporting Supervisor, to retire
After over a decade of service to WRC’s various young driver championships, Phil Short, FIA Junior WRC Championship Sporting Supervisor, will retire at the end of the season.
Short has been a cornerstone of FIA Junior WRC and its various guises for 11 years, providing essential guidance to over 100 young drivers including the likes of Ott Tänak, Elfyn Evans, Hayden Paddon, Craig Breen, Pontus Tidemand and Gus Greensmith.
His experience in international rallying extends to almost half a century and has made him one of the most knowledgeable members of the sport. Starting in 1970 he had a successful international co-driving career, claiming 17 international victories, before moving onto team management. Seeing even greater success as a team manager for various marques, including Ford and M-Sport, Short supervised nine world drivers’ titles and seven manufacturers’ championships.
Aside from his role as a co-driver and team manager, he has also acted as an advisor, supervisor and steward. He will leave his current position at the end of Wales Rally GB 2019, the final round of 2019 FIA Junior WRC in October.
Maciej Woda, FIA Junior WRC Championship Manager, said: “On behalf of everybody at FIA Junior WRC Championship and M-Sport Poland, I would like to extend a huge thanks to Phil for his unrivalled dedication to Junior WRC and it’s different forms in the last 11 years. Phil has been there for so many talented young rally drivers and co-drivers, offering them crucial advice and guidance at the start of their careers. Some of these drivers have gone on, or are certainly on their way, to incredible success in international rallying and Phil is definitely owed thanks for that.
“His eye for detail and almost infinite knowledge bank that he has developed through his experience in a variety of roles throughout his career will be greatly missed in the Junior WRC service park along with his never-ending kindness and good humour. Phil, I certainly hope to see you at a rally or two next year and in future years and please know that you are always welcome in Junior WRC or at M-Sport Poland.”
Phil Short, FIA Junior WRC Sporting Supervisor, said: “For the past 11 years I have supervised the young driver championships on WRC –including Junior WRC, working for FIA, M-Sport and M-Sport Poland. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work with a good number of very talented young drivers. I calculate well over 100 promising drivers, not to mention a similar number of talented co-drivers, have passed through my hands over those 11 years. I always take pleasure in seeing those guys & girls obtain the success they deserve – in whatever theatre of the sport – in subsequent years. I don’t claim to have ‘discovered’ these prodigious talents, but I hope I have been instrumental in giving them help, advice, guidance and support along the way.
“My mind is very much a rallying one, and I feel I may still have something to offer, while hopefully doing something not quite as stressful as supervising 14 enthusiastic young drivers and their dedicated co-drivers. It has been my pleasure to work with senior FIA Officials, WRC Event Organisers, Teams, Tyre & other suppliers, Sponsors, TV, Radio & Print Media and all the other enthusiastic people involved in the sport of rallying. I hope our paths will cross again before too long.”
