Short Phil

Phil Short was born in Morley, Yorkshire on 9th June 1945.

He was educated at Leeds Grammar School and Leeds University, where he obtained a degree in Classics (Latin, Greek, Ancient History and Roman-British Archaeology). While at University he developed an interest in the sport of Rallying and afterwards went to work in the Dunlop Racing Tyre Division in Birmingham. Returning to Yorkshire, he established a van hire business (Trans-Hire) in Bradford, which after 10 years he sold to a bigger concern, but during this period he was able to develop his rally career, with wins on the Circuit of Ireland with Jack Tordoff (Porsche Carrera RS) and Galway & Ulster Rallies with John Taylor (Ford Escort RS), as well as taking the UK National titles in 1975 & ’76 with George Hill and Tony Drummond (Ford Escorts), and ’82 with Malcolm Patrick (Opel Ascona). Phil became a fully professional co-driver during the 1980s, with contracts with Ford, Audi, Austin-Rover and Toyota. He sat alongside some of the sport’s greatest world champions – Bjorn Waldegaard, Hannu Mikkola and Walter Rohrl – as well as guiding Pentti Airikkala to a win on the Mintex Rally and David Llewellin on numerous rallies in 1989 & ‘90. He took the British Open Championship with David in 1989 & ’90, and 3rd in the European Championship in 1987, in which year he also won the Cyprus Rally, his final tally of International wins reaching 17 in all. In 1990 Phil turned his hand to Team Management and has had very successful spells with Audi, Toyota, Mitsubishi and Ford. In his time in rally management he has notched up no less than 77 WRC victories, 9 Drivers’ titles (Vatanen, Blomqvist, Sainz, Kankkunen, Auriol and Makinen (4)) and 7 Manufacturers’ titles (Audi (2), Toyota (2), Mitsubishi and Ford (2)) – a feat unmatched in the sport of rallying. He has written 2 books on motor sport & articles for motor magazines, and one year organised the route of the Lombard RAC Rally. He is also an MSA-registered Steward. He has recently been working for the FIA, supervising the Pirelli Star Driver programme for promising young WRC drivers. He competes on Sprints and Hillclimbs, previously with a very quick Mini with which he won the Longton Northern Speed Championship outright in 2006 and for the past 3 years has competed with success in a 400 bhp Audi S2 Coupe Quattro, followed by a Honda S2000 sports car. He also has a rare Audi Sport Quattro as one of his ‘toys’. His favourite sports are Cricket & Rugby. Phil lives in Ilkley, West Yorkshire with his wife Lyn and has two sons, one of whom is a professional cameraman & photographer on the current World Rally Championship.