Wright suffers 'Dean disappointment

Bentham-based rally driver David Wright had a disappointing start to his 2010 rally season when he suffered an early retirement on the Team GMF Wyedean Forest rally in his Giles Philips Motorsport Mitsubishi Evo 9.

Wright and co-driver Michael Wilkinson started the event, which took place in and around the Forest of Dean, with high hopes of a top result to get Wright’s BTRDA rally championship defence off to a good start.

The opening stage of the event, Mailscot, saw Wright take 8th place despite bending his steering after hitting a rock.

“We made a steady start on the first stage and it was going well but sadly we arrived at a corner to find a large rock on the track right on the line we were committed to taking,” said Wright.

“There was no time to alter our line and we hit the rock with the right hand wheel. Unfortunately the impact bent the steering which cost us some time.”

The rally moved to the popular Serridge forest for stage two and it was here that Wright’s event ended.

“We were on the pace in Serridge but part way through the car leaked oil onto the turbo which forced us out.”

“It was a disappointing end as it looked like we could get a good result but that’s the way rallying goes sometimes. Hopefully we can make up for it on the next event. I’d like to thank Kumho Tyres, Proflex, Drenth and Grove Hill Garage for their support.”

Wright will return to the stages in early March for round two of the BTRDA championship, the Malcolm Wilson rally in Cumbria.

Image courtesy Chris Huish

Britpart British Cross Country Championship gears up for 2010

Preparations for the 2010 Britpart MSA British Cross Country Championship (BCCC) are well underway with dates for all six rounds finalised and continued sponsorship secured from Britpart, the leading independent wholesaler of parts and accessories for Land Rover vehicles.

The championship organisers, Marches 4x4 Motorsport Management, have planned a championship encompassing rounds in England, Scotland and Wales. It is hoped that two new venues will feature in 2010.

The 2009 championship was well received by the competing crews, including Whitworth’s Phil Ibbotson, a Britpart BCCC regular who drives a BMW M3-engined Metro 6R4 replica.

"There was a good variety of events and courses. The championship is great fun, the competition is good, the timing is excellent and all the members of the organising team do their utmost to make the events run as smoothly as possible."

Bob Seaman, who won the Trophy class of the 2009 championship in his Milner R4, was another who was pleased with his season.

"I thoroughly enjoyed all the events, the courses give you a bit of everything from very fast tracks, where the top guys can make up a lot of time, to tight and tricky technical parts which need a lot of skill and precision. The organisation is excellent and I’ll be back again in 2010."

Runner-up in the 2009 championship Dan Lofthouse also enjoyed the variety of courses on offer.

"We had everything from the fast flowing tracks at Sweet Lamb to the rough and wet course at Driffield. The mileage at all the events means we get good value for money for our entry fee."

"I enjoyed the good social atmosphere too, there’s a marquee at each round with hot food and drinks and, with everyone staying on site, it’s great to be able to share the stories from the day with other competitors and marshals."

The six events in 2010 will each offer 80-100 miles of competitive action spread over two days. Anyone with a National A or B licence can enter the championship and there are several classes ranging from fairly standard production vehicles to purpose-built specials.

2010 also sees the launch of the Britpart Freelander Challenge, a seven round championship for standard Land Rover Freelanders which will run over four rounds of the Britpart BCCC, a hill rally and two stage rallies.

More information on the Britpart BCCC and Freelander Challenge can be obtained from www.marches4x4.com.

Britpart MSA British Cross Country Championship 2010 Dates

Round 1 17/18 April
Round 2 15/16 May
Round 3 12/13 June
Round 4 31 July/1 August
Round 5 18/19 September
Round 6 16/17 October

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