We spent the afternoon with Kelan Watkins, a really inspiring rally navigator/ co-driver who helped driver Joe Duffy to a clear win. Kelan suffers with Haemophilia A, a blood condition which negatively affects the way his blood clots, which can lead to excessive bleeding. You may not be alone in questioning Kelans choice of sport, with doctors warning against any Motorsport activity; although it doesn’t dampen Kelans passion for Motorsport. “I’d rather something happen to me knowing that I did it, rather than regretting that I never did it” – Kelan’s all-in approach is what drew us to him and his excitment for the sport really shines through. Kelan does take precautions though, doubling his medication dosage before events and notifying the marshals and ambulance crews before he steps foot in any car. It is something Kelan has lived with all his life and he’s been self medicating using a needle from a young age – there’s a cool calm and collected sense about Kelan; some would say, perfect material for a rally navigator!” With two years of co-driving experience already under his belt, Kelan brought his usual focus and precision to the cockpit. “We’ve got Matt in the C2 to watch out for, Matt is a quick driver and the car is rapid too” he said early on, highlighting the friendly rivalry between Joe Duffy.
The day’s stages showcased Joe and Kelans improving form. In the perimeter section, where grass and tight jumps posed challenges, Kelan’s precise calls kept the car steady. “We stayed committed, especially around the jump,” he reflected. “It was clean and controlled.”
One moment of excitement came when the car stepped out slightly on a fast section. “We had a little drift there, it wasn’t planned, but we recovered well.” By the end of the stage, the team had posted consistent times and gained much needed time to make up for a poorer first stage.
Behind the scenes, Kelan’s preparation was as meticulous as his navigation – he puts in the work which helps pull things together on the day. Kelan is also a driver, building his own rally car slowly with his dad. But, being a driver also means he can visualise the course, “it’s all in the detail, all this builds into the calm approach, keeping Joe relaxed is the main thing”.
As the day wrapped up, the mood in the paddock was upbeat. “We’re getting faster, and it’s all coming together,” Kelan said. With a solid afternoon, Joe and Kelan win the class by over 15 seconds.
We’re looking forward to seeing more of Kelan both navigating and driving his own rally build next year.
Cheers Kelan – you were awesome!
