such a professional team during 2010. I feel with the experience and knowledge of the team and the quality of the machinery I will be able to compete at the highest level.” What of the Phase One Endurance racing team? Formed in 1985 by Russell Benney and Martin Prout, its first race was the Bol d’Or of that year; qualifying in 80th and last position, the engine was re-built three times before the race, in which a quite commendable 42nd position was achieved. From little acorns great oak trees grow – victory at the Spa round of 1993, a rare one, indeed, for a privateer team, culminating in being joint world champions that year, with outright championships being secured in 2000 and then again in 2003. What are Russell Benney’s thoughts about his new recruit? “At the TT Carl is considered to be amongst the very best of the privateers and since his debut in 1997 he has achieved a host of top eight results, culminating in last year’s fifth place, and that on a superstock bike! It is the team’s intention to improve on the top ten results it achieved in the 2008 TT with Steve Plater, 8th in the Superstock and Michael Dunlop 10th in the Senior. Carl’s experience is just what the team needs to hoist itself into the top six positions that it is aiming for in 2010.” Fine machinery available for the two big classes, but Carl will have entries in all races, so…Benney continues, “for the other races we shall build new machinery to Carl’s requirements and for that part of the project we are seeking interest from partners who may wish to be involved. Shortly after the announcement of Carl’s involvement with Phase One came the news that his team mate will be high profile newcomer of last year, Ben Wylie. This will be a fine opportunity for Ben, riding such competitive machinery and having such a fine mentor as Carl to assist him on his ‘TT learning curve’. Riding for a professional outfit means a change in approach to the season for Carl, a thirty-nine year old panel beater from Burscough in Lancashire, with a trip to the continent in March for a testing session at Albacete in Spain. With machines set up he should be ready for the up-and-coming road racing season, in which there might be a bonus. “I am to concentrate on the principle road racers – the NW200, TT and UGP – as yet, I have no mainland short circuit plans, but there might well be chance of picking up a ride in a continental endurance race with Phase One. My partner, Debbie and our daughter Michaela, who are fully behind me in my racing are as excited as me about the season ahead” A short drive from his Burscough home, then the mere matter of a four hour boat journey to Douglas harbour meant that the Isle of Man was easily accessible for a young Carl. “Yes, and the TT was something I have loved since I was a boy going there as a spectator with my Dad; I have been every year since as long I can remember and for me that was the principle influence on my chosen hobby. I started racing in 1995 taking part in club competitions, had my first visit at the MGP in the same year and have never looked back.” No time wasted in turning to the roads then, so how did he get on with his first forage on the Mountain Course? On a Yamaha he took 6th in the Junior Newcomers, following this up with 21st in the Senior later in the week, with average speeds of 106mph and 103mph respectively. Steady improvement the following year – 8th Junior and 13th Senior, with race averages of 109mph+. In those days, dual entries could be made with MGP competitors allowed starts in the Production TT. Alas it was a dnf in the 1997 June event, but after 7th and 11th positions in that year’s Manx Carl decided to take the full time leap to the TT for the following year. Safe increasing lap speeds saw Carl gradually move up the finishing order, culminating with some consistent high placings in 2000…11th Production, 10th Senior and 8th in the Formula One, that memorable race won by Joey Dunlop, Carl mixing it with the top road racers of the day. Foot & mouth put paid to the following year’s meeting, but the name, Rennie did not appear in the race programme when racing returned after a year’s absence. “Well, I compete at TT along with two seasons at British Superbikes in the Privateers’ Cup - 2000 / 2001. I then stopped racing for a couple of years due to funding and not wanting to give the bank my house!” A return to the Mountain Course in 2005 with normal service resumed, a top six place soon appearing on the Rennie CV. The 2e2 sponsored Senior of ’06 was the race in question with Carl headed home only by McGuinness, Donald, Anstey, Lougher and Martin – good company indeed…plus a 122mph race average. One of the most consistent finishers in recent TT history, Carl has completed the distance in seventeen out of twenty starts since returning from his self-imposed exile. Seventh overall in the inaugural TT Solo Championship of 2009, and that included a retirement on his Suzuki in the Relentless Supersport Race 1, what are his thoughts in the build up to this year’s event? “The Superbike races will be contested by the usual faces, but John McGuiness is still my favourite, although there are probably six to eight riders closing in and if everything is set right on the day any of them could win. Oh, and I hope to be in the middle of them. Specifically, another name which comes to mind is Michael Dunlop; he won the second 600 race at the TT in 2009 and has to be a star of the future, if he isn’t already.” One or two innovations are currently afoot at the TT. A new pit lane procedure, not experimental, but obligatory, was initiated at the recent MGP, whereby the ‘stop box’ has been erased with a speed limit being the order of the day. Does this concern Carl? “Controlled speeds will certainly make the pit lane a safer place. For me it would be better to be allocated one of the pits at the top end because the quicker you get in the pit the better – fill up, make any adjustments and maintain the moment as I head for the top of Bray Hill.” Qualification procedures have also been adjusted; rather than a standard speed and time for which to aim, solo competitors have to achieve a time at least within 115% of that of the third fastest. Will that cause a problem? “I don’t think it will have any great  effect on the majority of the field. I will just do the same as always, getting the bikes to do what I want them to do, then put in some decent lap times. For the guys further down the field and the newcomers it might be a bit of a problem, but I would say relax and stay calm and if you need any help or advice just ask, there are plenty of former and current riders who will be more than happy to assist.” It seems likely that there will a second TTXGP, now termed ZeroTT, for ‘electric machines’ at TT ’10. Is the new recruit to the Phase One smitten with the idea of such a race? “I know that in the future that this is the way it’s going to be, but at the moment because of the quality and reliability of the machines combined with the nature and distance of the TT course I personally don’t think it is suitable.” So, Carl can probably live without the ‘electric bikes’, but that’s not his overriding  opinion…“the TT is the greatest road race in the world, a fantastic course offering a challenge you will not find anywhere else. It’s great to see increased media involvement, promoting it to widen the viewing arena. The TT has had its fair share of bad publicity but at the end of the day no one makes us do it, it’s what we love and want to do. By the time you read this, our man from Burscough will have successfully set up his bikes – R1 Superbike, R1 Superstock and R6 Supersport – during his early season trip to the sun in preparation of fulfilling his dream of mixing it with the world’s best road racers around the world’s toughest circuit to secure that well-deserved podium position. Few would bet against him achieving his dream – good luck, Carl.