IN THE BEGINNING...

Since Rally Preparation Services was conceived in 2007, the business has grown steadily, and now has a staff of 19 truly conscientious car fanatics. Working as a team, they ensure that everything proceeds efficiently, and that every client receives personal service. It’s all about meticulous attention to detail.

Each member contributes unique individual skills, so that together Rally Preparation Services offers a formidable resource for anyone who wants their vintage or classic vehicle prepared and maintained to the highest possible standards, whether they are entering the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge, or a local historic vehicle rally, or taking a European tour.

FOUNDER, SIMON AYRIS...

Simon is the founder of Rally Preparation Services and the man behind the UK’s very first long-distance endurance rally car preparation workshop, specialising solely in classic and vintage rally car preparation. With around 25 years’ professional experience in the motor trade, Simon is passionate about rallying and has travelled all over the world as both a competitor and as a mechanic/support for some of the world’s biggest and toughest events.

TRACY EASON

Business Manager & Bookkeeper

Tracy joined the company in 2014 and is the Business manager at Rally Preparation Services. Working closely with Simon, Tracy looks after clients and manages their accounts on a daily basis. She knows exactly where every car is in the workshop schedule all of the time. She basically keeps the boys in order!

SVETA AYRIS

Office Manager

Simon’s wife Sveta keeps a firm hand on the company admin and internal processing – and Simon! She contributes a wealth of experience gained looking after the accounts of International hotels and top-line companies. All things relating to admin are kept under Sveta’s wing as well as liaising with European contacts.

LEWIS AYRIS

IT and E-Commerce

Heading up all the IT and e-commerce for Rally Preparation Services, Lewis looks after everything the company needs internally on these fronts. After studying business at Abingdon & Witney College, Lewis joined RPS in a full time role in June 2016, after years working between his studies. Lewis was given the task of supplying the event tracking facility for the 2016 Peking to Paris which was an international resounding success.

MILLIE-JANE AYRIS

Administrative Support

Millie-Jane juggles a very busy College Course where she is studying acting and drama at the same time as her duties at RPS. In a supportive role for the management team she is always found quietly working away in the background pushing buttons or sorting things through but as soon as some eye candy is in the workshop she is there – having quite an eye for a good classic or vintage car when she see’s one.

EMILY HORROX

ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT

Emily joined RPS in April 2017 and now spends her days working in our very busy office supporting Tracy and Simon along with the whole team, dealing with everything that comes her way efficiently. Very often the voice at the end of the phone when people call in Emily can always provide the answer to the question. Emily loves all the cars we work with and being a bit of a petrol head too it means all of what we ask of her all makes sense!

GARY PICKARD

Senior Technician/Supervisor

Gary is one of the most experienced members of the Rally Preparation Services team, graduating from apprentice mechanic to workshop manager before moving on in search of more challenging projects. Gary has worked on many events at home and abroad, from classic car rallies to World Championship events ¬– so he understands the importance of meticulous preparation.

BEN HARRIS

Classic Car Technician / Supervisor

Having fully trained from youth into adulthood at Oselli Classic & Sports Cars, Ben came to the Rally Preparation Services team looking for a unique way forward. He knows his way around classic cars better than most, having cut his teeth on everything British and worked on longer distance endurance events within the UK. He has truly exceptional skills and restores classic cars to an exemplary standard.

JOSHUA HORNSBY

Classic Car Technician

Josh joined Rally Preparation Services straight from school, having applied for a job as a technician while still studying for his exams – with the proviso that he didn’t want to work on boring modern cars! Since then, Josh has used his understanding of classic and vintage cars to maintain the exceptionally high standards that our clients have come to expect.

STEVE HOLLAND

Classic Car Technician

After many years as a full time fireman looking after a fleet of appliances, Steve started working for Rally Preparation Services in the summer of 2014. Now responsible for building and preparing rally cars for our clients, Steve has also found himself travelling into Europe looking after clients when they are on events and supporting the rally organisers.

ANDREW SEWELL

Classic Car Technician

Andrew has been building rally cars for many years. Being a very active member of the local motor clubs and national rallying scene Andrew has seen it all. After a few years teaching at Bicester College, Andrew joined the Rally Preparation Services team when he felt the time was right to get back building cars.

IAN HENDRY

Restoration Specialist

Ian came to RPS looking for something different. Having been in the industry for a good number of years restoring vintage cars of all marques including Bentleys, Rolls Royce’s and many more Ian’s own passion for American cars also brought him to our door. Working alongside all of the team in the workshop he brings a wealth of expertise having already restored and looked after an American vintage car collection. Before the restoration business Ian spent well over ten years with Oxford Scientific Films as an engineer.

BROOKE MATTHEWS

Classic Car Technician

Brooke found his way onto the Rally Preparation Services team after being recommended to RPS from within the trade. Working alongside Ben, his fabrication and build skills are second to none and his skills have grown since he joined the team at the end of 2014.

PETER TURNER

Head Technician

Peter is our new car expert. Having a wealth of experience with modern cars especially Subaru and Isuzu, coming from a local main dealer. Peter looks after our more modern car requirements from servicing and maintenance to fault diagnosis using all the interrogations needed on more modern vehicles. Peter can from time to time find his work changing from new to old depending how busy things get and loves the challenge either way.

MAX ROGERS

Mechanic

Max joined the company in January 2017 also coming from a main dealer background and works closely with Peter on the more modern cars turning his hand to most things with ease. Max is support for Pete Turner and the two are very adept at turning cars through the workshop easily.

CHRIS TERRY

Parts Department

Our very own Parts Dept guru. Chris joined us at the latter end of 2016 after relocating locally. With many years running parts departments Chris has proved to us yet again just how small the world is as he is shipping goods globally all the time. Our busy online shop and web sales mean he is always picking packing and posting and nothing is a problem.

SIMON FIELDS

Body Technician

Simon is our own bodywork technician for Rally Preparation Services. He joined RPS in 2015 looking for a fresh challenge after many years in a local bodyshop. Simon looks after all of the in-house component painting, welding and many other duties tirelessly every day. As with all the members, he plays a vital role within the Rally Preparation Services team

DAVID ROUGET

Driver

Dave is the man behind the wheel, collecting and delivering cars and parts. Dave has a lifelong interest in classic cars and rallying and is a regular competitor. He joined the Rally Preparation Services team after many years as a Warrant Officer in the RAF.

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