Drivers and codrivers who are more widely known for something other than motorsport

[WRCStan]

An off-season Christmas Quiz type thread maybe, who are the drivers and co-drivers who are probably more famous to the average person for doing something else. Personally, not interested in (eg) Raikkonnens and Rossis, motorsportists who switched disciplines but maybe that is interesting to others.

Inspired by this:


Did you know that Vivian Campell from Def Leppard is a rally driver? :)

Kicking off with Charalambos "Bambos" Charalambous (https://www.ewrc-results.com/profile/2582-bambos-charalambous/). British backbench MP since 2017 for the now governing Labour party, been rallying longer though. Much like to be expected of a politician, doesn't seem to see many rallies through. Got almost TikTok famous for the Speaker in the House of Commons calling out his name. I can't find an example video though.

[kure91]

Two names for start: Adam Malysz (https://www.ewrc-results.com/profile/370372-adam-malysz/) as for the ost of people known for ski-jumping
And not forget David Nalbandian (https://www.ewrc-results.com/profile/65832-david-nalbandian/), who is IMO well better know as a tennis player

[pedro16]

Tom Boonen (https://www.ewrc-results.com/profile/322702-tom-boonen/), cyclist - World Champion, 4x Roubaix winner, 3x Tour of Flanders winner

[atsiotras79]

Daniele Massaro, Italian football star

Giorgos Amoutzas, 2024 Greek Rally Champion, Actor

[atsiotras79]

Ismo Leikola, Finnish/Global 😊 Stand Up Comedian

[Jarek Z]

I think that popular English actor Idris Elba is a rally driver too:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0252961/?ref_=tt_ov_1_1
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4947102/?ref_=tt_ov_srs
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5861428/

Here you can see him driving together with Sebastien Ogier, preparing for the Circuit of Ireland:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqW2Mt_ol9M

But I can't find him at ewrc-results. Is it him?
https://www.ewrc-results.com/profile/94845-idrissa-elba/

[Jarek Z]

Santiago Canizares, the famous Spanish goalkeeper for such clubs as Real Madrid and Valencia, is a rally driver, too:
https://www.ewrc-results.com/profile/17334-santiago-canizares/

https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/blta8be0d17ef851d37/02b47305369dd6fb2c09f125a1865eb3467b572e.jpg?auto= webp&format=pjpg&width=1920&quality=60

[skarderud]

Gunde Swan (swedish) and Thomas Alsgaard (norwegian), both crosscountry skiing

I also wonder Lasse Kjus, alpine downhill skiier did some rallies.

Sent fra min SM-S901B via Tapatalk

[WRCStan]

And not forget David Nalbandian (https://www.ewrc-results.com/profile/65832-david-nalbandian/), who is IMO well better know as a tennis player

Heard of him from past Wimbledons, did not know this side to him.


Ismo Leikola, Finnish/Global �� Stand Up Comedian

Just watched a set on YT, obviously a likable chap!


But I can't find him at ewrc-results. Is it him?
https://www.ewrc-results.com/profile/94845-idrissa-elba/

It will be, don't think his driving career took off but he did a documentary featuring Louise Cook and Ari Vatanen too, is/was a rally fan. He's permanently labelled as the next James Bond.

[WRCStan]

Seems to be a lot of crossovers from winter sports. Amy Williams (https://www.ewrc-results.com/coprofile/70348-amy-williams/) did a few co-drives, she IS one of only a handful of Winter Olympic individual gold medallists for GB. Also a presenter of The Gadget Show.

[Jarek Z]

Luc Alphand is obvious, isn't he?

https://cdn.prgloo.com/media/7458ee309bad489d846ed4f957b59f1f?width=591&height=334

https://news.eonenergy.com/news/from-the-slopes-to-the-fast-lane-luc-alphand-on-passion-racing-and-sustainability

https://www.ewrc-results.com/profile/105993-luc-alphand/

[WRCStan]

Dave Mirra (https://www.ewrc-results.com/profile/9659-dave-mirra/) - I'm not mad into BMX but when I was a youth I had a demo of his game, and it lasted as long as the Sublime song before you had to restart the whole thing, which is why this song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O36W_iOblGM) is both great and forever ingrained in my head.

[htr]

Nicolas Vouilloz (born 8 February 1976) is a French professional mountain biker and former professional rally driver. Nicolas Vouilloz is undoubtedly the most successful downhiller at World Championships. 7 Elite Men's DH World Championships are his and he wrapped up his illustrious downhill career with back-to-back wins in 2001 and 2002. On top of that, he won 16 World Cup downhill races. There's a reason he earned the nickname "The Alien."


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Vouilloz

[Steve Boyd]

And then there are rally drivers with famous actor brothers called Rupert:

James Grint (https://www.ewrc-results.com/profile/17678-james-grint/) brother of Rupert Grint (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rupert_Grint)

Simon Everett (https://www.ewrc-results.com/profile/22669-simon-everett/) brother of Rupert Everett (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rupert_Everett)

[atsiotras79]

Another Greek actor, Alkis Kourkoulos, has done a few rallies with a Mitsubishi…

https://www.ewrc-results.com/profile/21850-alkis-kourkoulos/

[TWRC]

Norbert Rózsa, Olympic Gold Medalist in 1996 in swimming, was a regular co-driver in Hungary during the early 2000s.

[Jewy46]

Stephen Roche, 1987 Tour de France winner.

Did a lot of rallying in France, Belgium, the UK and Ireland in the late 80s/early 90s, as well as Monte Carlo WRC in the 1994.

https://www.ewrc-results.com/profile/7025-stephen-roche/

[Fast Eddie WRC]

André Villas-Boas, the former manager of Chelsea and Tottenham, who stepped away from football to compete in the Dakar Rally and Rally Portugal.

[Jarek Z]

Well known Czech driver Erik Cais was a downhill mountain bike World Cup racer before injury ended his career.

https://www.biker.sk/wp-content/uploads/old/uploads/17/articles/3115/mg2527-988x556.jpg

https://www.fiaerc.com/en/drivers/erik-cais-2025-10-03

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1dvrlCmi9M

https://www.ewrc-results.com/profile/171652-erik-cais/

[saco0o]

brandon semenuk multi time rally america champ is also a really accomplished freestyle/mountainbiker

travis pastrana, also multi time rally champ is known by his motocross/supercross and freestyle stuff on xgames. tbf most of 32-40year olders have no idea he is a rally racer

[WRCStan]

I didn't yet mention Konnie Huq (https://www.ewrc-results.com/coprofile/1797-konnie-huq/) who I recall did some codrives as part of presenting duties for Blue Peter, a children's BBC TV show running since 1960s. Her husband Charlie Brooker created Black Mirror, I think it went international on Netflix, and her sister is also a Labour MP funnily enough.

[WRCStan]

Lorenzo Bertelli (https://www.ewrc-results.com/profile/10226-lorenzo-bertelli/) - spacesuit salesman (https://www.ft.com/content/da9fc2d8-97cb-48be-af38-53435de02e96)

[Jarek Z]

Michał Sołowow, a Polish billionaire businessman and one of the richest people in Poland, started a rally career in 2001 and reached some very good results, including second place in the European Rally Championship:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micha%C5%82_So%C5%82owow

https://v.wpimg.pl/NTUyLmpwYTU0GzpeXwxsIHdDbgQZVWJ2IFt2T19AdmAtViECHh I3eiIJLwkeWT44ehBjBV9Gd2Z6Fj4UF0R4Y2BMfkMaByl2KA

[WRCStan]

Jay Kay, singer from Jamiroquai. Virtual Insanity, Cosmic Girl etc. Massive petrolhead owns hundreds of cars. Here's footage of him (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Dob3ye7Vlg) doing a Majorca classic rally. Detail of his car, driven in 2020 (https://www.donedeal.co.uk/vintagecars-for-sale/1987-bmw-e30-m3-competition-pack-ex-jay-kay/39489708?modal=gallery) also here (https://heromotorcompany.co.uk/jay-kay-rallies-around/), I couldn't find him on eWRC unless he's using a pseudonym and gone under the radar.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wuN8SNDu62o/maxresdefault.jpg

[Jarek Z]

Oh, I didn't know that Jamiroquai singer was such a petrolhead. That explains why the "Cosmic Girl" video is full of Ferraris ;)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-NvQ6VJYtE

[WRCStan]

Yeah definitely into sports and supercars. Ferraris - had a green La Ferrari, a purple F355 etc... and this logo for an album cover

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/3e/27/d7/3e27d7e9e7e000e0d4bc8f289da0f10c.jpg

Turns up to a lot of car meets too, I've seen him out and about. Can't remember what in though.

[Rallyper]

The late Chris Rea was a big fan of motorsport. Nothing new I suppose. He also did som racing with hirstoric car. And he was also a close friend to Ari Vatanen.

[traxx]

I couldn't find him on eWRC unless he's using a pseudonym and gone under the radar.

https://ewrc-results.com/profile/231651-jay-kay?

[WRCStan]

https://ewrc-results.com/profile/231651-jay-kay?

Ah! Thanks. Does he make the list lol. I'll say yes if he's on eWRC. :)

[WRCStan]

The late Chris Rea was a big fan of motorsport. Nothing new I suppose. He also did som racing with hirstoric car. And he was also a close friend to Ari Vatanen.

IIRC, @KiwiWRCfan once said they were housemates. Not been able to verify that myself.

Edit: verified - https://www.politico.eu/article/profile-rallying-to-a-new-cause-ari-vatanen/


"Also, there can’t be many members who have featured on a pop star’s album but one track on Chris Rea’s Auberge CD is named after Vatanen’s autobiography. The pair have been friends since the days in the early 1980s when they shared a house in the UK."

[Jarek Z]

Max Verstappen won't be one the sportsmen that switched to rallying. He doesn't want to do it - "I find it impressive, I think it’s really cool. But I just think about if I make a mistake and I hit that tree, the tree is not moving. (...) That for me is like my limit, that’s something I don’t want to do. It’s too high of a risk":
https://dirtfish.com/rally/would-max-verstappen-ever-go-rallying/

His father, Jos, is currently third in Rally van Haspengouw, the first round of Belgian rally championship:
https://ewrc-results.com/event/97510-rally-van-haspengouw-2026/results/533003

[deephouse]

He is afraid, interesting.

[WRCStan]

Jo Bamford (https://ewrc-results.com/profile/403687-jo-bamford)? Grandson of Joseph Cyril Bamford who started JCB diggers. Heir to the multi-billion pound fortune, friend of Tories and BoJo, owns a bus manufacturer and is in the hydrogen space. Found one possible rally entry on ewrc but as he also races I think it is him. So that's slightly interesting.

[Jarek Z]

French racing driver Pierre Ragues:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Ragues
switches to rallying:
https://www.autohebdof1.com/news/rally/erc/Pierre-Ragues-changes-his-horizons-and-aims-for-the-RC.html

[COD]

Teemu Selänne, famous NHL hockey player has done Rally Finland couple of times (even in WRC Corolla) and some national rallies

[Kenneth]

Max Verstappen won't be one the sportsmen that switched to rallying. He doesn't want to do it - "I find it impressive, I think it’s really cool. But I just think about if I make a mistake and I hit that tree, the tree is not moving. (...) That for me is like my limit, that’s something I don’t want to do. It’s too high of a risk":
https://dirtfish.com/rally/would-max-verstappen-ever-go-rallying/

His father, Jos, is currently third in Rally van Haspengouw, the first round of Belgian rally championship:
https://ewrc-results.com/event/97510-rally-van-haspengouw-2026/results/533003

Not surprising, Max have a wife and kids and unlike his father, he actuality likes them lol

[imskln]

Aavo Pikkuus, estonian olympic gold medalist and world champion in road cycling, was quite successful in national rallies after retiring from cycling
https://ewrc-results.com/profile/28588-aavo-pikkuus

[Jarek Z]

Vivian Campbell from Def Leppard took part in Rally in the 100 Acre Wood 2026, the second round of American championship last weekend. Unfortunately, he rolled his Mitsubishi Mirage RS on stage 7:
https://ewrc-results.com/entryinfo/98147-rally-in-the-100-acre-wood-2026/4655464

https://magazyngitarzysta.pl/i/images/5/5/3/d2FjPTc0OXgxLjU=_src_114553-Vivian-Campbell.jpg

[Rallyper]

One of Norway´s most famous cross country skiers was driving Gr N car in Rally Finland early 2000s. Forgot his name...

[PLuto]

One of Norway´s most famous cross country skiers was driving Gr N car in Rally Finland early 2000s. Forgot his name...

I think it was Thomas Alsgaard.