Name: Karen Watts (Kaz)

Age: 36

Marital Status: Married to Martin

Children: Luke, Aged 6 who is Andrew Burtons Biggest Fan!! And Chloe, aged 4 she is not remotely interested in rallying

Occupation: Retail Manageress of Gibson's The Forest Trading Post.

First Rally: Newton Abbot Stages 2005

Website: www.kazrallying.co.uk

Mobile No: 07966 902106

E mail address: katmart@tiscali.co.uk

Sponsors: Cartork (Ireland) and Gibson's The Forest Trading Post (Coalway, Coleford, Gloucestershire), Martin Watts Building Services.

Karen Watts is one of Britain's Busiest Lady Co-Drivers, there is not many weekends when the Forest Of Dean's Fastest Lady is not competing.
It is hardly surprising Karen got into rallying as her Dad Philip Turley has been Clerk of the Course of the Wyedean Forest Stages for the last 33 years and Mum Lilian was Secretary of the Event for many years.
Karen can remember going rallying at a very young age with her parents, "I suppose being in a car seat as a baby was good practice for now" joked Karen After many years of marshalling/Safety Radio on events, also for the last 20 years helping with set up and signing on for the Wyedean (even if she's competing the next day).

Karen took the plunge and Co-Drove for Nigel Jenkins in his Nova, on the 2005 Newton Abbot Stages, but it wasn't a happy experience as a big accident put them both in Hospital for a good few hours "I was airlifted to Hospital but thankfully I was ok, the boys joke that I only wanted a ride in a helicopter".
Undeterred Karen teamed up with Liz Skinner in June 2006, They competed on rounds of the BTRDA Championship in Liz's Nissan Micra and they finished 2nd in Class A5 and picked a few trophies up along the way "2006 was a great year" I gained so much experience, and we had a great laugh although Liz is not rallying now, I still keep in contact with her, Liz got married recently and now has a baby girl.

2007 has to be Karen's best year to date, teaming up with Rising Star Carwyn Harries in the Suzuki Ignis netted 12th Overall 1st in Class on the Red Kite Stages, although another retirement on her home rally, a snowy Wyedean, followed with Carwyn leaving for pastures new in Australia.
Karen Co-drove Tim "High Heels" Rodgers to 1st in class N3 on the Quinton , took Overall victory first time out with Andrew Bowen on the Swansea Bay Clubman Rally in his powerful Escort G3, this followed with an invitation to co-drive for Damian Cole in the Ex-works Accent WRC on the Neath Valley Stages, finishing 3rd Overall, she then picked up various class awards for the remainder of 2007 with Andrew Bowen. " 2007 was a very good year for me, to win Swansea Bay was special and to sit next to Damian on Neath Valley in a WRC Car was an awesome experience".

For 2008 Karen again is very busy with Rallies Co-Driving for Andrew Bowen G3, Alun Roberts Peugeot 206 and sitting in with a few other drivers throughout the year, but is always open to offers to do any events. I just love my rallying, Paul Willetts and Cliff Simmons have been a great help to me, teaching me to be a well organised and professional in my approach and its paid off. Just recently Karen and Alun Roberts competed on Severn Valley winning their Class by 3 mins and finishing 28th Overall.
Another great result for Karen was Rally of the Midlands with Darren Pinchin from Cheltenham in his Proton Satria and finished with a 1st in class BRC Championship

I would like to say a big thank you to my husband Martin for all his support , and my sponsors, who without them I could not go rallying, and to all the drivers I've sat with, I've enjoyed every minute .

Karen is also heavily involved with the activities of Forest of Dean Motor Club, being on the committee and always involved in club activities. Karen has entered a lot of events, considering she has only been rallying for 3 years, winning a good variety of trophies along the way.
So what does the future hold "well, I will continue as long as I can, although the cost of rallying is rising all the time. Luckily, I have had great support from people around me, although more help with sponsorship would be really useful" as for ambitions "Finishing and perhaps winning a trophy on the Wyedean my home rally would be special".

Special thanks to Martin, my family and friends, Ian & Siobhan of Cartork (Ireland) and Chris Gibson of Gibson's the Forest Trading Post. Chris also looks after my website and Paul Willetts who has been there for me from the start and for helping me on each event.