Wright to start title defence on Wyedean Forest rally

Rally driver David Wright, from Bentham, will start his season next weekend on the Team GMF Wyedean Forest rally, the opening round of the 2010 BTRDA rally championship.

Wright, who won the BTRDA title in 2009, is aiming to kick off his year with a good result after battling through the snow on last years event.

“The conditions last year were very difficult and it was a relief to finish. It was a decent start to a fantastic season though,” said Wright.

“We’re hoping to take some outright event wins this year, it will be tough to beat the World Rally cars but we’ll be on maximum attack from the start.”

Wright and co-driver Michael Wilkinson will start the season in the same Giles Philips Motorsport prepared Mitsubishi Evo 9 as last year with support from Drenth, Kumho Tyres, Proflex and Grove Hill Garage.

“We’ve made a few tweaks but it’s pretty much the same car. Hopefully we’ll have a new car ready in time for the Somerset Stages in April which should be lighter and have a bit more power.”

The Wyedean Forest rally is based at Chepstow racecourse and will feature 45 miles of competitive action in and around the Forest of Dean, more information can be found on www.wyedeanrally.com.

Saab team formed for Roger Albert Clark Rally

A squad of Saabs will tackle the 2010 Roger Albert Clark Rally in celebration of Saab legend Eric Carlsson winning the 1960 RAC Rally in a two-stroke Saab 96.

Inspired by Saab enthusiast Jim Valentine, at least four Saabs will be on the start list when the Roger Albert Clark Rally starts on 25 November. If all goes to plan, Carlsson and his 1960 co-driver Stuart Turner will be there to see the cars away, 50 years on from their famous victory on the rally that is now re-created by the Roger Albert Clark.

Valentine has been a loyal supporter of the event in his two-stroke Saab 96 and is now encouraging other Saab owners to commit to the event. Three others have confirmed plans to enter and Valentine reckons there could be as many as eight cars if everyone who has expressed an interest in competing is able to finalise plans. In the first four cars Nick Pinkett and Patrice Wattine in early two-strokes and Richard Simpson in a later V4-engined 96 will join Valentine in the team.

The 1960 event marked the first of a hat-trick of victories for Carlsson, who earned the nick-name of 'Pa Taket' for his ability to roll a Saab and carry on undeterred. 'Pa Taket' translates from Swedish to 'on the roof'.

"There may never be a finer moment for Saabs to put on a bit of a show," said Valentine. "I'm looking forward to a gathering of people who use their Saabs for rallying and it would be a fantastic achievement to get all the cars to the finish. It's going to be fabulous; the RAC is the most fun I have ever had rallying."

To maintain the Saab theme, Valentine hopes to have as many of the entries as possible supported by a Saab estate car running as a management vehicle.

For more details about the Roger Albert Clark Rally, and its support rallies, please visit www.rogeralbertclarkrally.org

Early details announced for 2010 Roger Albert Clark Rally

Colin Heppenstall, rally manager for the Roger Albert Clark Rally, has announced the date and early route details of the 2010 event, the seventh running of the event that re-creates the RAC Rallies of the 1960s and 1970s.

First details of the 2010 rally include a late November date and two overnight halts in Carlisle, but the start venue and first day's route will not be announced until early June.

The date has been confirmed as 26-29 November, which is later in the month than before to avoid a clash with Rally GB. Saturday and Sunday nights will be spent in Carlisle, which is also the venue for the finish on Monday.

"We'll announce the start venue and opening legs when we release the regulations at the Chatsworth Rally Show on 5/6 June," said Heppenstall. "We're planning an increase in forest mileage and want to run some longer stages." Current plans include a 13/14-mile stage in the Ae and Hope House complex and a 20-mile stage in Kielder to finish the rally in style. A long stage in Kershope is likely, as the rally will again spend Sunday and Monday in the Scottish borders and Kielder.

Meanwhile, membership of the Roger Albert Clark Rally Motor Club is now over 300 and continues to grow. Membership renewals will be due in May.

For more details about the Roger Albert Clark Rally, and its support rallies, please visit www.rogeralbertclarkrally.org

Cristofaro and Moore triumph at Teesside

Nick Cristofaro and Janice Moore took their second victory in as many weekends with a dominant performance at the Teesside Autodrome F1000 rally where they claimed fastest time on seven of the events ten stages to top the leaderboard.

After their win in the Hall Trophy Junior Rally hopes were high for another good result at the Teesside event where the Formula 1000 Junior drivers (aged 14-16) would compete on the same stages as the Senior F1000 crews.

Cristofaro and Moore got off to a fast start in their Nissan Micra, setting the quickest time on each of the first four stages of the event. Not only were they quicker than the other Junior crews, they also beat all the Seniors.

"We had a brilliant start, picking up where we left off last weekend," said Moore.

"We had no problems and Nick drove very well, pulling out a lead of 12 seconds over the second placed crew."

A couple of seconds were lost on the fifth stage as the Micra understeered into the stage merge and went off but the crew were back at the top of the leaderboard for stage six.

Two further fastest times in the last four stages saw Cristofaro and Moore take victory by 19 seconds from fellow Junior driver Ashley Slights.

"It’s a great way to end the season, we finished third in the championship but it’s a shame we had two retirements earlier in the year as Nick would’ve been in with a chance of winning it."

"Nick is hoping to do the championship again next season if he can get enough support, please contact Nick or myself via www.janicemoorerallying.co.uk if you can offer any help at all, financial or otherwise."

The event was Janice’s last of 2009. With 14 stage events completed this year, including most of the British Rally Championship, 2009 has been one of the best rallying years in Janice's co-driving career and she will be back out on the stages in 2010.

Cristofaro and Moore take victory at Blyton

Formula 1000 Junior rally driver Nick Cristofaro and co-driver Janice Moore emerged victorious from a very close battle at the Hall Trophy rally last weekend. The event, which was held at Blyton in Lincolnshire, saw Cristofaro and Moore take the win by just four seconds from Cameron Davies.

Heavy rain in the days before the rally meant that parts of the tarmac course were underwater and with the cars required to use normal road tyres the opening pair of stages proved very tricky as the crew battled to keep their Nissan Micra on the stage. After two stages they were in third place overall.

Conditions did not improve on the next two stages, a very heavy downpour making the tarmac treacherous. A few slides in the wet and problems with the wipers saw the Micra crew drop to fourth place.

"The opening stages were very slippery and it was a bit nerve-racking hitting the standing water with road tyres on the car", said Moore.

"We set some decent times though and although we had a few moments in the wet we were pleased to be fourth early on."

The sun shone for the next few stages and on a drying course Cristofaro and Moore increased their pace, setting five consecutive fastest stage times to move into the joint lead of the event after stage 9 with Ashley Slights in his Toyota Yaris.

Cristofaro and Moore moved into the outright lead in stage 10, setting a time five seconds faster than Slights. Despite a late charge from Cameron Davies they held on to take the win by four seconds after twelve stages.

"Nick did brilliantly to set five fastest times in a row, the stage wasn’t as wet as earlier but there were still some very tricky parts to negotiate."

"We retired from the lead on our first two events together so it’s especially pleasing to take the victory. Competition in the F1000 Junior class is very close and every second is vital."

"I really believe Nick could progress far in rallying if he gets the right support, he doesn't have the financial backing or any rallying in the family like most of the other juniors. If you would like to talk about helping out or sponsorship opportunities please contact Nick or myself via http://www.janicemoorerallying.co.uk or come and say hi at the next round....every little helps!"

Cristofaro currently lies 3rd in the F1000 junior championship and he and Moore will contest the final round of the F1000 Junior championship next weekend at the Teeside Autodrome near Middlesborough.