Gravel Notes - Rallying News

Today marks the first of a new series of Gravel Notes podcasts devoted to rally video games. To kick off this series I’m joined by expert gaming journalist Thomas Harrison-Lord from the excellent team at Traxion.gg to discuss a new rally game that has sneaked under the radar and has turned out to be an absolute gem. Early this year Super Woden Rally Edge, developed by indie creator ViJuDA, was launched on PC at a cost of only 11 pounds and has quickly gained high praise. This top down arcade racer is a real a love letter to rallying featuring cars that portray the spectrum of the WRC’s classic machinery and some excellent classic rally environments to drive them through against the clock. It’s one if those games that on the face of is quite simple, its not a ultra realistic simulation, but incredibly addictive with its career gameplay. 

Joining us for the first episode of a new era for Gravel Notes is Hyundai Motorsport co-driver and WRC3 and WRC2 champion navigator Enni Mälkönen. After a brief dalliance in the WRC top flight calling notes for Sami Pajari in 2024, Mälkönen has returned to the top tier this year, joining Esapekka Lappi for a part-time programme, piloting the third factory Hyundai.The first of those rounds arrived at Rally Sweden recently, where its was clear to see how much it meant to Enni as she realised a dream of competing at the top level again. The beaming smiles every time the TV coverage jumped onboard the #4 Hyundai have made Enni a bit of a internet sensation since.To find out a bit more behind the smiles I sat down with Enni before she jetted off to Safari Rally Kenya for a chat exploring her career to date. 

Welcome back it has been quite a while since our last post but I’m pleased to say that we are back after a bit of a rebrand. So what can you expect from the new look Gravel Notes? We will still be bringing you interviews and analysis from the WRC, but there will be a lot more what I like to call rally culture content. Its a bit niche and nerdy but I hope that there will be something of interest for you rally fans out there to enjoy and get involved in. So how can you keep up to date with Gravel Notes? The podcast will be available from your chosen podcast provider and own YouTube. ut we also have brand new flashy website gravelnotes.com designed by a good friend of mine Adam Piggot. I’ve got to say big thanks to Adam for his hard work in getting this project off the ground and for the stunning new Gravel Notes podcast artwork which I think really captures perfectly what we are trying to achieve.

Two titans of the British rallying scene are the latest guests to join us on the Gravel Notes podcast. Gwyndaf Evans lit up the stages in the 1980s and 1990s winning the British Rally Championship in 1996 driving a Ford Escort RS2000 before going on to finish a championship runner on four occasions. His son Elfyn has since developed into a regular World Rally Championship title contender with eight WRC wins under his belt. The factory Toyota Gazoo Racing driver is firmly in the fight for the 2024 crown. Autosport’s WRC reporter Tom Howard sits down with Gwyndaf and Elfyn to understand how they have put Welsh rallying on the map, what traits the father and son share and how they are working together on the WRC stages.

Few wore their heart on the sleeve and entertained like Petter Solberg, which earned him legions of fans and the nickname Mr Hollywood. More than two decades on from winning the 2003 World Rally Championship title the much-loved Norwegian remains a force in the rallying scene. But what is it like to be Petter Solberg - the showman? Autosport’s WRC reporter Tom Howard and rally journalist Luke Barry find out how defying his parents earned him his first national success, his WRC dream team and discover some of the hidden challenges he’s overcome.