Martin Holmes 1940 - 2020
Remarkably, the evergreen Martin Holmes, who died in June at the age of 80 following a long battle with cancer, had been an integral part of the sport in many front-line roles since the 1950s. First and foremost, as a navigator and co-driver, but also as a meticulously accurate Journalist, and Photographer, racking-up his amazing attendance at 500 World Rally Championship events during his successful career.
Starting in the sport as a university student, Holmes became a leading light at the Sutton and Cheam motor club as its newsletter editor and also began sending rally reports to Motoring News and Autosport during the Sixties. As a co-driver, he reached the WRC alongside Andy Dawson, Pentti Airikkala, Ove Andersson and Jean Ragnotti, as part of several front-running works teams.
Holmes published the first of his many books in 1975 and his prodigious literary output was one of his greatest legacies with the Holmes-anchored annual World Rallying yearbooks covering every international and domestic series worldwide in minute depth and detail. This element relied upon his unique network of journalists, event organisers and team members to ensure accuracy.
Martin was a member of the Guild of Motoring Writers, winning several prestigious awards for his work and also a longtime member and supporter of the International Rally Drivers Club.
As the numbers at his funeral were severely restricted due to the Coronavirus pandemic, friends were invited to get into their vehicles at 1.00 pm on the 1st of July (the time of his funeral) and rev the engine in his memory. There will be a memorial service when the current crisis controls are relaxed. We send our sincerest condolences to his family and many friends throughout the sport.
27th July, 2020