Rallyday 2005 @ Castle Combe Circuit - (Sat) 13 Aug 05

Posted: August 19, 2005 4:29 AM

Richard attended the event to witness some of his original rally cars being driven on the event's Feature Rally Stage by some of his closest rallying friends, including Mark Higgins, Martin Rowe and Colin McRae. Richard was then driven around the circuit for a lap of honour by co-driver Robert Reid, to cheers of support and applause from the thousands of attending spectators.

Adding to the list of World Rally Champions at Rallyday was Colin McRae, driving alongside brother Alister; together they delighted the crowds with terrific driving displays of car control in their own Mk2 Escorts.

Despite wet conditions, the Rallyday crowd's enthusiasm could not be dampened, as they were treated to the UK's first live appearance of the Mitsubishi Lancer WRC05, in the hands of Mitsubishi Motor Sports WRC driver Gigi Galli.

1979 World Rally Champion Bjorn Waldegard was reunited with two of the Porsche 911s he originally campaigned in the 1970s and he joined Pentti Airikkala and Tony Mason to reminisce about their glory days of rallying.

Fans of Group B rally cars were treated to a fantastic action display of original ex-works cars, including Lancia 037s, Ford RS200s, MG Metro 6R4s, Renault 5 Maxis and Peugeot 205 Turbo 16s.

David Llewellin, alongside Phil Short, drove Audi UK's awesome quattro S1 E2 in spectacular fashion, along with four other immaculate ex-works quattros. In addition, a 75-strong parade of original quattro turbos helped to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the car which revolutionised rallying in the 1980s.

The star-studded event also included Gwyndaf Evans, Jonny Milner, Phil Mills, Michael Park and Phil Collins, while the action was complimented by feature demonstrations from the world of Rally Raid and Rallycross, stunning driving displays from Russ Swift and live commentary by TV personalities Jon Desborough and Tony Mason.

Packed with more action, celebrities, original works rally cars and larger crowds than ever before, Rallyday 2005 confirmed its status as the UK's premier rally car show.

More photos:

Rally Car Day (Castle Combe)

---

PRE EVENT NEWS

• MITSUBISHI WRC DRIVER GIGI GALLI TO STAR AT RALLYDAY 2005
• FLYING SCOTSMEN TO STAR AT RALLYDAY 2005
• THE RICHARD BURNS COLLECTION - IN ACTION
• RALLY STARS GATHER FOR RALLYDAY 2005
• Audi quattro celebration at Rallyday 2005
• TICKETS AND MORE INFORMATION

---

14/07/05
MITSUBISHI WRC DRIVER GIGI GALLI TO STAR AT RALLYDAY 2005
Mitsubishi Motor Sports have just confirmed that their star driver and their newest World Rally Car will both take part in Rallyday 2005 at Castle Combe Circuit on Saturday 13 August.

Gigi Galli (from the World Championship team) will give the Mitsubishi Lancer WRC05 its first live UK demonstration in front of an estimated 10,000 rally fans.

He will be joined by Colin and Alister McRae driving Mk2 Ford Escorts; several former World and British Rally Champions, including Bjorn Waldegard, David Llewellin, Gwyndaf Evans, Jonny Milner and Pentti Airikkala; star co-drivers like Phil Mills (2003 World Champion with Petter Solberg), Michael Park (co-driver for Markko Martin) and Phil Short (British Open Rally Champion); and, of course, a selection of Richard Burns' original rally cars, driven through the feature rally stage by some of his friends.

A record number of 100 Audi quattros will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the four-wheel drive car which changed forever the face of world rallying.

At least five original ex-works quattro rally cars will be seen at Rallyday 2005, including the very first rally quattro, the car which Hannu Mikkola used as a course car on the 1981 Algarve Rally.

There will be exclusive interviews on the main stage with David Llewellin and Phil Short, both successful members of the Audi UK team in the 1980s.

Over two dozen of the most exciting rally cars from the Group B era will be giving demonstration runs on the Castle Combe special stage. The immaculately restored cars from Slowly Sideways include MG Metro 6R4, Lancia Rally 037, Porsche 911 SCRS, Fiat 131 Abarth, Nissan 240RS, Renault Maxi 5 Turbo, Peugeot 205 Turbo 16, Ford RS200 and Vauxhall Chevette HSR.

Other highlights include precision driving displays by British Autotest Champions Russ Swift and Paul Swift, some seriously fast four-wheel drive cars from the British Rallycross SuperSeries and live commentary throughout the day by Jon Desborough and Tony Mason.

With a host of activities and attractions on track and throughout the paddock, Rallyday 2005 continues to build on its successful formula of bringing the excitement of rallying past and present to everyone in an open and accessible environment.

Details on Tickets below:

---

29/06/05
FLYING SCOTSMEN TO STAR AT RALLYDAY 2005
Colin and Alister McRae will headline the UK's premier rally car show at Castle Combe Circuit on Saturday 13 August. The famous rally driving brothers will be demonstrating their Mk2 Ford Escorts throughout the event, giving spectators the unique opportunity to witness them on track together - great news for the many fans who believe that the golden age of rallying was all about rear-wheel drive cars with more power than grip!



Joining them in action will be a number of former World and British Rally Champions, including Bjorn Waldegard, David Llewellin, Gwyndaf Evans, Jonny Milner and Pentti Airikkala.

Star co-drivers will include Phil Mills (2003 World Rally Champion with Petter Solberg), Michael Park (current Peugeot WRC co-driver for Markko Martin) and Phil Short (British Open Rally Champion).

---

THE RICHARD BURNS COLLECTION - IN ACTION
A selection of Richard's original rally cars, which span his journey from clubman to World Champion, have been meticulously restored and will be driven through the feature rally stage by some of his rallying friends. Cars range from an early Peugeot 205GTi to a more recent, full-specification 206WRC and include the Subaru Impreza World Rally Car which Richard and Robert Reid used to win the 2001 World Rally Championship.

Other highlights at the event will include precision driving displays by British Autotest Champions Russ Swift and Paul Swift; commentary by Jon Desborough and Tony Mason; and a display of over 75 Audi quattro cars to celebrate the rallying icon's 25th anniversary.

With a host of activities and attractions on track and throughout the paddock, Rallyday 2005 continues to build on its successful formula of bringing the excitement of rallying past and present to everyone in an open and accessible environment.

More details on the event website:

Rally Car Day (Castle Combe)

---

03/06/05
RALLY STARS GATHER FOR RALLYDAY 2005
Former World Rally Champion Bjorn Waldegard will be the latest in a long line of star drivers at Rallyday 2005, taking place at the Castle Combe Circuit in Wiltshire on Saturday 13 August.

The Swedish driver, winner of 16 World Championship events, will be reunited with two of his original factory rally cars: a Porsche 911 and a Fiat 131 Abarth.

Both these iconic rear-wheel drive cars will be part of what is anticipated to be the largest selection of original ex-works supercars ever seen in action since the 1980s. Examples will include Peugeot 205 Turbo 16, MG Metro 6R4, Audi quattro, Ford RS200, Renault 5 Maxi Turbo, and Lancia 037 - so this year's Rallyday Feature Stage is sure to be a huge crowd pleaser!

Helping to celebrate 25 years of the Audi quattro, the car which changed the face of international rallying, will be David Llewellin and Phil Short, who won numerous international rallies together and were British Champions in both 1979 and 1980.

To keep the 10,000 or more spectators entertained and in touch with all the Rallyday activities, rallying commentator Tony Mason (who won the 1972 RAC Rally with Roger Clark) will be joined by Jon Desborough, host of today's popular ITV World Rally Championship programmes.

---

Audi quattro celebration at Rallyday 2005
The 5th Rallyday takes place at Castle Combe Circuit in Wiltshire on Saturday 13 August.

Rallyday 2005 celebrates 25 years of the Audi quattro, with a breath-taking selection of ex-factory and private examples of the car that changed the face of international rallying.

Almost 10,000 spectators attended Rallyday in 2004, which included the debut of the innovative "Raid on Castle Combe", where Colin McRae lead a cavalcade of desert racers over the normally tranquil circuit infield in a Dakar prepared Nissan Pickup. This feature, which proved very popular with the spectators and Rally Raid teams, will be expanded further for 2005 giving visitors more opportunity to see these incredible machines in action.

As for the rest of Rallyday 2005, the main content will follow the same successful formula as before, combining famous rally drivers with some of the world's best-loved and most exciting rally cars, both past and present.

---

TICKETS AND MORE INFORMATION
Entry tickets and track sessions can now be booked online at the Rallyday website.

Advance tickets cost just £10 each (children £2), while track sessions are £20. Trade pitches start from £100+VAT for a 5-metre frontage.

Based at one of Britain's most spectator-friendly and accessible motor sport venues, the 5th Rallyday will once again follow the successful formula of uniting famous rally drivers with some of the world's best-loved and most exciting rally cars, offering a mixture of action on the track and in the paddock, with activities and attractions to suit everyone interested in rallying.

For further details and booking information, please visit the website

Rally Car Day (Castle Combe)

or call 0845 127 2559. (+44 845 127 2559)