Tuesday 24 January 2012

Kumho deal sees Wright return to BTRDA series

Bentham’s David Wright will compete in the BTRDA rally championship this year after agreeing a sponsorship deal with Kumho Tyres.

Wright, who won the BTRDA championship title in 2009, will use the same Mitsubishi Evo 9 that he competed in last year. The GPM-prepared car will, in addition to Kumho, be supported by Proflex, Drenth, Grove Hill Garage and York Brewery.

“It’s great to have the sponsors on board to help support a full championship campaign, I am very grateful for their help” commented Wright. “After winning the Grizedale Stages at the end of last year I am confident that we will go well in the BTRDA championship although we will be up against some tough competition in our class.”

“After narrowly missing out on the class championship last year we’ll be going all out to win it this year. We’ve done a couple of updates on the car since Grizedale so I think we should have the pace to be near the top of the leaderboard.”

Wright’s season will kick-off with the opening championship round, the Chepstow-based Wyedean rally on 11th February.

Malcolm Wilson rally regs available

Regulations for this year's Malcolm Wilson rally are now available from the event website, www.malcolmwilson.co.uk.

The rally will have a similar route to last year, taking in stages such as Comb, Wythop and Grizedale. The event is round 2 of the BTRDA championship and it will take place on Saturday 3rd March 2012.

Wednesday 11 January 2012

Rally2Raise to receive support from the Saltire Rally Club

The Rally2Raise charity project has had some good news to kick off 2012 with its selection to receive support from the Saltire Rally Club.

The project, founded by rally competitor Rachel Medich, aims to use rallying to raise funds and awareness of four causes: the Nystagmus Network, the Joanne Bingley Memorial Foundation for post natal depression, Cancer Research UK and the MS Society. Rachel and her fellow team members will be undertaking a number of fundraising events throughout 2012 both on and off the stages with the first rally event of the year scheduled to be the Edradour Saltire Classic Rally in March where she will run as course car in her Clark Motorsport-supported Nissan Micra.

"I am very happy that the Saltire Rally Club have selected Rally2Raise as their chosen charitable cause for 2012," said Rachel. "Their Saltire Classic Rally will be the first time I have used my car on an event and I cannot wait for the rally to take place."

"We have had a good start to the project with a cake and cookie sale at the Mull Rally and a fundraising calendar. We’re aiming to build on that in 2012 and raise plenty of funds and awareness for our four charities."

Colin Wallace of the Saltire Rally Club commented: "We are delighted to support Rally2Raise, the four charities it is aiding are all very worthy and to wrap these causes into one support mechanism through rallying is superb."

The Edradour Saltire Classic Rally will take place on Sunday 4th March 2012 with a 95 mile route in the Scottish Highlands including 18 special tests and four regularities. Further information can be obtained from www.saltireclassicrally.co.uk.

Please visit www.rally2raise.co.uk for more information on Rally2Raise including how to make a donation online.

2012 Rally Isle of Man receives green light

Rally Isle of Man, the Island’s premier four-wheeled motorsport event, will take place in 2012.

September 21st and 22nd are the planned dates, organisers have confirmed this week.

Much has been happening behind the scenes since the cancellation of last year’s edition, not least significant personnel changes.

The former Board of Directors of Rally Isle of Man Limited have chosen to retire in their entirety. As a result a new Board were elected immediately prior to Christmas; Chris Boyde, John Gill, Robert Graham and David Thompson. All have been part of the event organising team for many years and have a breadth of rallying experience.

Mr Gill is the new Chairman. “We have big shoes to fill, there’s no doubt about that!” he admits. ”On behalf of the new Directors I must place on record our appreciation of the work of our predecessors. Between them Brian Walton, Roger Barrs, David Gawne and Les Postlethwaite have played a huge part in making this event the revered spectacle it is. We are fortunate that they have all offered to continue to support us where possible.”

In addition the organising team has been strengthened with Robert Fagg, Kris Killip and Adam Warburton taking on new roles alongside Wendy Fargher.

“It is right foot firmly down”, confirms Gill. “We have accepted an approach from the British Historic Rally Championship promoters to form the final round of their Water End Properties Asphalt Cup, and we are also delighted to be joining forces with Druidale Motor Club to host the Duke Stages event that forms a round of the highly competitive Eurocars Motorsport Manx Rally Championship.”

Historic Rally Isle of Man will fall at the heart of the event, but running with the Duke Stages will be a National B status event that will be all-inclusive…there will be classes for all MSA eligible rally cars from 1000cc right through to WRC.

“We want everyone to get back to enjoying tackling the best rally roads in the world. Names like Druidale, The Mines, Curraghs and St Marks are famous because of this event, and we hope to welcome competitors, officials and spectators old and new alike to enjoy the thrill and challenge of this unique event.”

Druidale Motor Club Chairman Kris Killip is also pleased with the outcome. “The Duke Stages has been running for over a decade and both the club and our sponsor are delighted to partner our premier event with the re-birth of Rally Isle of Man, especially with the amazing heritage it has. Hopefully it is the start of a very successful association.”

The new Board also has an eye on the future. “There is a rapidly changing situation in international and national rallying”, admits Gill. “Along with our partners, including the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company and the Isle of Man Government’s Department of Economic Development, we are looking to create an enduring future for the event up to and beyond next years 50th anniversary. We are actively considering all options and ideas and would welcome approaches from those within the sport who may want to be a part of that.”

Further details of this September’s event will be announced shortly. For now though put the dates 21st-22nd September in your diary, Rally Isle of Man is back!

Racecourse to host Pirelli Rally Village

The Pirelli International Rally is already one of Cumbria’s a major sporting attractions, bringing motorsport enthusiasts from across the UK thronging into Carlisle to enjoy the high octane, thrill a minute action and now the event organisers are planning a major expansion by creating a “Rally Village” at Carlisle Racecourse where the event is based.

There will be a host of attractions for the public to enjoy including a multitude of trade stands plus all sorts of car displays including historic, modified and “Drifters”, and there will be lots of “Hands On” opportunities including the famous Pirelli rally car simulator which gives a virtual experience of driving over one of the rallies many off road “Special Stages”.

The Rally Village will be a “Must See” curtain raiser before the action gets under way and car enthusiasts of all ages will have the opportunity to get a close up view of all the competing rally cars and crews, take photographs and collect autographs. There will be a host of exhibitions and trade stands plus “Public Participation” opportunities in addition to the unique Pirelli Rally Simulator. The rally service area and the spectacular champagne spraying finish ceremony will all be happening at the same location and spectators can take advantage of the racecourses superb facilities to enjoy a grandstand view of all the action.

The Pirelli International Rally Village promises to be a major part of the weekends all action activities with something for car enthusiasts of all ages to enjoy before heading off to see the cars in action on the high speed forest stages. Admission to the show will be free and there are ample car parking facilities at the Carlisle Racecourse venue where there are superb restaurant, bar and catering facilities which will be available over the rally weekend.