Tom Cave
Rally Germany 2014
|
|
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality |
 British |
| Born |
16 November 1991 Aberdyfi, Wales, UK |
| World Rally Championship record | |
| Active years | 2008 – present |
| Teams | Proton Motorsports |
| Rallies | 19 |
| Championships | 0 |
| Rally wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Stage wins | 0 |
| Total points | 0 |
| First rally | 2008 Rally GB |
Thomas Cave (born 16 November 1991) is a British rally driver. He is the son of club rally driver Peter Cave and his ambition is to become the next British champion in the FIA World Rally Championship. He is the UK's first minor international rally driver and achieved his international rally licence, issued in Latvia, at the age of 16.
Tom first began driving at the age of eight, when he took to the wheel of a car on private ground. However, it was when he was 13 that his father bought him a motorcycle-engined, rear wheel-drive buggy and it was this that would push his development forward at a huge rate.
He continued his development at the Martin Rowe Ice Driving School in Norway. Under the tutelage of the former FIA Production car World Rally Champion, Tom's car control skills and the beginnings of the additional experience, such as pace notes, began to take shape.
At the beginning of 2007, he teamed-up with former WRC co-driver Gemma Price and the pair headed to Latvia, where drivers can compete in genuine rallies from the age of just 14 years.
He spent 2007 competing in the Latvian RallySprint Championship at the wheel of an MG ZR. In 2008, he stepped up to a Group N Ford Fiesta ST, the same specification as used in the various one-make series around the world, including as a support series for the WRC.
He contested the Latvian Rally Championship that year but as the focus of his year was on his GCSE exams, was forced to miss several events. However, he secured his international rally licence and went on to make his WRC debut on the UK round of the WRC, Wales Rally GB at the end of the year.
Following further guidance and mentoring from Rowe, Tom and Gemma eventually won their class on the event, N3, by 15 minutes. In the run-up to the event, Tom was exposed to a flurry of media interest, as the event began just 18 days after his 17th birthday and he needed a full UK driving licence to compete.
As he returned home from the driving test, there were live TV news crews from Sky News, BBC News and ITV waiting for him. He also carried out live radio interviews with Radio 1,2,3,4 and 5 Live as he tore up his 'L’ plates. This meant that he would be the youngest-ever driver to compete in the UK round of the WRC.
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Wikipedia