It was quite a season for Arron Newby in 2023 as he pitched himself into the most competitive gravel championship in the UK. Ultimately, he finished runner-up to double champion Elliot Payne and his determination was rewarded by being voted as Motorsport News National Rally Driver of the Year.
“I can’t thank everyone enough for voting for me,” said Newby when told of his success. “It feels really special having the public behind me.” He was quick to acknowledge the quality of the other drivers in the top 10 and admitted that he’d have been chuffed to finish in the top half of the voting.
Clearly, his adaption to gravel after a decade spent largely on sealed surfaces has grabbed everyone’s attention.
This unassuming 29-year-old from Carnforth in Lancashire has been rallying for 13 years, but this year it all stepped up a gear when he took a Skoda Fabia R5 into the BTRDA Rally Series. It was his first serious gravel programme.
The level of competition against Elliot Payne, Matthew Hirst and Russ Thompson, in particular, was ferocious yet it was a tremendously
