Roger Albert Clark - 2-5 Dec 11

Best Ever RAC Rally Finish For Perez

Posted: July 5, 2012 12:04 PM

Kick Energy rally driver Steve Perez claimed a career best eighth place on the event following the conclusion of the 2011 Roger Albert Clark Rally in Carlisle today.

Along with Welsh co driver Paul Spooner, the Chesterfield ace completed the final stage in their BTR-prepared Lancia Stratos, setting third fastest time in the process, as heavy snow caused havoc on the final day of the four-day marathon and caused the final stage of the event to be cancelled.

Tenth overnight and following problems in the fog and darkness of yesterday evening, the 2003 British Historic, 2004 National ANCRO and 2010 BTRDA champion was confident of a good showing on today's final two tests in Kershope and with conditions prevailing which were similar to last year, Perez upped the pace on the snow-bound tracks to climb into eighth place on the leaderboard and claim a class victory in the process.

However, any hopes of further progression were halted as organisers had to cancel the second run through Kershope due to delays and in order to keep on schedule for the ceremonial finish in Carlisle this afternoon but despite this Perez had done enough to claim a class victory.

The result sees Steve, a staunch supporter of the event, record his best ever RAC Rally finish having contested every event since its inauguration by De Lacy Motor Club in 2004. On the very first event in a Porsche 911, Steve retired in Kielder forest late on when in contention for fifth place. 2005 saw him make his debut in the Lancia but retired after SS10 but claimed an 18th place finish in the iconic Italian car in 2006.

Another retirement, this time after only four stages heralded the end of his 2007 campaign but a tenth place was achieved in 2008 followed by 20th in 2009 and 17th in last year's ice and snow.

The finish ramp in Carlisle concluded a mammoth two weeks of rallying for Steve who returned home after the gruelling Kenya Airways East African Classic Safari Rally, whereby he finished fifth in the Kick Rally Team Datsun, to contest the RAC Rally within 48 hours.

"What a fortnight! Fifth in the Safari Rally and now a top eight on the RAC Rally, I'm absolutely shattered but delighted. We have gone from mud, dust and sand and 34 degrees to ice, snow and rain and minus zero temperatures in two different cars on two different continents in two different weeks! I've learned so much about driving and today was difficult although I was disappointed we didn't get to do the final stage as we may have finished higher. To be the first non Ford home is a remarkable achievement and all credit to the BTR team who have done another fantastic job on both events. Thanks to the fans, marshals and to the organisers too for another wonderful event, I have now had all my cars immobilised and been told I'm not allowed to do anything for the next two months!"

Welsh legend Gwyndaf Evans and co driver John Millington won the event in their Ford Escort whereby Evans became the first driver to win the event twice.

IMPRESSIVE ROGER ALBERT CLARK WIN FOR NEW PIRELLI GM6 TYRE

Posted: July 5, 2012 12:03 PM

Pirelli continued its run of success in motorsport in 2011 when Gwyndaf Evans claimed victory on the Roger Albert Clark Rally, one of the highlights of the historic rallying calendar.

Evans, who was driving a Viking Motorsport-prepared Ford Escort RS1800 alongside navigator John Millington, led the demanding event from start to finish to give Pirelli’s new GM6 tyre a maiden win in demanding weather conditions.

Welshman Evans, a former British rally champion faced rain, sleet, snow and ice but the superior grip and stability provided by the Pirelli GM6 tyre meant he was able to take a commanding victory by almost eight minutes.

A number of other drivers also switched to Pirelli tyres for the first time, achieving results that surpassed their expectations thanks to the grip offered by the Italian rubber.

Pirelli developed the GM6 tyre, which is based on its ultra-successful KM pattern, specifically for historic rallying by creating a 13-inch version for historic-specification cars such as the Mk2 Escort. The tyre pattern is designed to bite through mud and grime to grip the solid road surface below, while the tyre blocks provide enhanced cornering stability.

Carl Naylor, Pirelli Tyre UK’s motorsport manager, said:
“The Roger Albert Clark Rally might be one of the most popular events on the motorsport calendar but it’s also one of the toughest due to the demanding forest stages and challenging weather conditions. We’re delighted the Pirelli GM6 tyre provided the grip, stability and durability Gwyndaf Evans needed to claim a dominant win. Our congratulations to him and all the team at Viking Motorsport, as well as all the other competitors running on Pirelli tyres. It was brilliant to see so many people delighted with their results and we’ve received a huge amount of positive feedback about the new tyre.”

The Roger Albert Clark Rally recreates the spirit of the RAC Rally that now exists as Rally GB, Britain’s round of the World Rally Championship. It also pays tribute to Roger Clark, possibly the UK’s greatest rallying talent before the emergence of legends such as Colin McRae and Richard Burns in the 1990s.

This year’s event, which started in Duncombe Park in Yorkshire on Friday evening and finished in Carlisle on Monday afternoon, took crews through forest stages in Yorkshire, Cumbria and Scotland over a distance of 950 miles. There were 24 special stages in total covering 170 miles.

Another driver to use the new tyre was Keith Robathan, who finished sixth overall and won the European FIA class in a Mk2 Escort.
“The excellent wear rate meant that the performance of the tyre was consistent from start to finish even on the longest stages,” he said. We did not have any punctures at all, which underlines the strength of the tyres, and we managed to set good times even in the snow and ice.”

The new Pirelli GM6 tyres were also praised for their durability and value. Ford driver Bob Bean commented:
“These are the best tyres I have ever used on gravel and the wear rate is minimal. I have an Escort that I can’t normally afford to put tyres on, but these new Pirelli tyres make it very much more affordable.”

Results

Posted: July 5, 2012 11:58 AM

Roger Albert Clark - 2-5 Dec 11 - FULL RESULTS (ALL EVENTS) Zip File

Results on Line
Results by: Tynemouth Computer Services Rally Results
Rally Website: Roger Albert Clark Rally Motor Club

SOL RALLY BARBADOS BACKS ‘ROGER ALBERT CLARK’

Posted: November 28, 2011 10:04 AM

he Barbados Rally Club (BRC) has made an early start on its International promotion for Sol Rally Barbados 2012 (June 9/10) by announcing that the winners of next month’s Roger Albert Clark Rally, Britain’s most demanding historic event, will receive an expenses-paid trip, valued at US $9,000 (around £5,600), to compete in the Caribbean’s biggest annual motor sport international.

The prize includes free entry to Sol RB12 and the previous weekend's Shell V-Power King of the Hill 'shakedown' and free shipping for the rally car on the Geest Line. The driver and co-driver will enjoy free return flights on Virgin Atlantic, accommodation for 14 nights at the Divi Southwinds Beach Resort Rally HQ, and a rental vehicle for the duration, which can double as a service barge for the two weekends.

Colin Heppenstall, Rally Manager of the Roger Albert Clark, said:
“We are pleased to partner with the Barbados Rally Club, and I am looking forward to working with them. It is an excellent prize, which I’m sure will find a worthy winner.”

Sol Rally Barbados Chairman Barry Gale said:
“The Roger Albert Clark is an iconic event that attracts the pick of the crop in historic rallying circles, many of whom are already familiar with our event. Having heard of the incredible lengths that Colin and his team went to last year to keep the event running in some of the worst weather in living memory, I just hope the winners will not be disappointed that the rallying mix in Barbados offers sun, sea, sand and special stages . . . but no snow!”

There is already a link between the two events, as both are rounds of the G-WRC – Gentleman's World Rally Class - an informal competition between island regular Steve Perez and fellow historic rallying enthusiasts, South African Geoff Bell and Britain’s Andrew Siddall. After visiting Spain, Barbados, Belgium and Sweden, the Roger Albert Clark (December 2-5) will host the final showdown, back-to-back with the previous weekend’s East African Safari Classic.

Perez, who finished 17th last year, will drive his Lancia Stratos, while Siddall, who was 12th, will be aiming for back-to-back class wins in the Ford Escort MkI, in which he also had a debut class win on Sol RB11. Bell (Escort MkII) is new to the Roger Albert Clark.

Among more than 60 entries already received are the winning crews from the past two years: in 2010, Belgium’s Stefaan Stouff and Joris Erard (Escort MkI) prevented Gwyndaf Evans and John Millington claiming two consecutive wins. Third last year were Andrew Haddon and Mark Crisp in the famous ex-Ari Vatanen MkII DKP 191T.



From Wales to the Caribbean . . . via Dubai and Spain!

Adding four more names to the list of international first-timers entered for Sol Rally Barbados 2012, the Bettinson brothers from Wales are busy preparing cars specifically for the event . . . at their A2B Garage premises in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

Younger brother Lloyd (21), who saw TV coverage of the Caribbean’s biggest annual motor sport international on Sky Sports, is currently re-shelling a former Renault Clio Cup race car, while Gareth (27) is building a Ford Escort MkII from the ground up. Both cars will be sponsored by A2B Garage and Motor Sport Wheels Dubai.

Both started rallying in Wales, Gareth in a Talbot Sunbeam in 2005 before moving to MkII Escorts; his recent competition experience, however, has been racing a BMW M1 at Yas Marina, the venue for last weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and Dubai Autodrome. Gareth says:
“Over the last few years I have been competing on the track, due to lack of rallying in the UAE. We hope to have the new car completed in our workshops before year-end, to give us a few months testing and set-up time.” Adding even more International flavour to their trip to the Caribbean, Gareth’s Welsh co-driver, marine service engineer Edwin Venville, now lives in Spain.

Although Lloyd only started competing last year, in a Peugeot 106XSi, he has already claimed a hillclimb record in the rally car class and been the best young driver on a National B road rally. Completing the Welsh quartet is co-driver Christian Coleman.

Rally Barbados

CROFT CIRCUIT PREPARES TO WELCOME WORLD CLASS RALLY

Posted: November 27, 2011 8:40 PM

There is now little more than a week to go before the Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire plays host to one of the world’s premier events for historic rally cars – the superb Roger Albert Clark Rally – on Saturday 3 December.

The R.A.C, named after Seventies British rallying great Roger Clark, recreates the Lombard RAC Rallies of old and a time which many believe were motor rallying’s glory years. For tens of thousands of enthusiasts the charismatic event has become an annual road trip as they follow its route – this year from Friday 2 to Monday 5 December – and competitive timed stages in North Yorkshire, Northumberland, Dumfries & Galloway and Cumbria. Furthermore, it is traditional for many public to stop and wave to the crews as they pass along main roads en route to each stage.

Two of those spectacular stages – along with a major service area that will enable the fans to get a close-up look at the cars as they are worked on – will be held at Croft Circuit, just outside Darlington on the Saturday (3 Dec).

The competing cars will start to arrive at Croft as drivers and their navigators ‘clock in’ to the service area from 3.32pm. The two stages – each a ‘double run’ of the full Croft race track – will commence at 4.10pm and then 4.24pm. It means spectators will see the cars pass four times with the enticing prospect of two or three ‘live on stage’ at the same time.

Tickets will cost just £10 (payable on the gate) with FREE admission for children aged 15 and under. For more information visit the new-look Croft Circuit website www.croftcircuit.co.uk or call the Circuit Office on 01325 721815.

The 70-strong entry is full of iconic Sixties, Seventies and Eighties models of car with Lancia Stratos, Lancia Fulvia, Saab 96, Talbot Sunbeam, Hillman Avenger, Porsche 911s, plus Ford Escort MKIs and MKIIs all listed.

Among the top names are 2010’s and 2009’s respective winners, Belgium’s Stefan Stouf and Gwyndaf Evans (also a former British Rally Champion), plus newly-crowned back-to-back British Historic Rally Champion David Stokes. Also watch for Phil Collins – himself another top ex-name from the British Rally Championship and co-driven, notably, by Nicky Grist who navigated Finland’s Juha Kankkunen to the 1993 World Rally Championship title and who then went on to form a six-year partnership with the legendary Colin McRae in the WRC.

More locally, Beverley’s Guy Smith – the winner of the world-famous Le Mans 24 Hours sportscar race in 2003 – is also entered as are Tim Pearcey (Harrogate), Tim Mason (Bradford), Steve Perez (Chesterfield), Charlie Taylor (Northallerton) and Dave Hemingway (South Elmsall). All are among the UK’s top historic rally drivers, while numerous others from the North East region are also on the entry list.

After dazzling regional and national TV, print, radio and on-line media during a preview event at Croft earlier this week, Smith, who these days commutes to America to race sportscars, commented: “Croft will make for a very exciting addition to the R.A.C Rally’s route and it’s great to see it included in such a prestigious event – one thing I really like about this event is the interaction between the drivers and the public. This is also the only stage we face on asphalt as all the other stages are on gravel tracks in the forests so I hope, with my circuit racing background, I can put in some quick times. But it’s something of a star-studded entry list and getting near the top ten times just at Croft will be quite an achievement.”

Another of those to entertain the media this week was Taylor, who has twice previously finished fourth outright on the R.A.C. He said: “It’s very important that Croft, which is home to motor sport in the North East, is part of the R.A.C route. I think it’s going to make for a really spectacular stage for the public, particularly with the views from the spectator banking – they overlook the first few corners and I expect there to be a lot of sideways action through there.”

Reigning Historic Rally Champion Stokes, a Ford team-mate to Roger Clark in the Seventies, was also present for the media preview having set off at 4.00am from his home in Gloucestershire to meet the media! He added: “Croft makes it that bit more accessible and convenient for the public at large to come and see what the fuss is all about with proper viewing and catering facilities. We’ll be hitting some serious speeds here and with the great noise these cars make and the fact we’ll have the headlights on at dusk it’ll make for a really magical atmosphere.”

Seeded Entry List

Posted: November 24, 2011 5:20 PM

Available at:

Roger Albert Clark Rally Motor Club

Evans confirmed for Roger Albert Clark Rally

Posted: November 9, 2011 8:50 PM

Gwyndaf Evans has been confirmed as a leading entry for the 2011 Roger Albert Clark Rally and will once again drive a Ford Escort Mk2 from Viking Motorsport on the event that starts in Yorkshire on Friday 2 December.

Evans and co-driver John Millington will bid to repeat their overall victory on the 2009 Roger Albert Clark. Success would give Millington a record-setting third victory as he partnered Malcolm Wilson to a win on the 2008 event. No other driver or co-driver has yet to win the event more than once it its seven-year story so far.

This will be Evans’ third attempt at the rally and in 2010 he fought back to finish second after dropping a lot of time in the deep snow of Friday night and Saturday.

Evans and Millington will drive for the Viking team headed by Phil Mills and will use the Escort Mk2 that was freshly prepared when they drove it on the 2010 event. Since then, the car has only done one other rally, the Colin McRae Forest Stages with Stig Blomqvist at the wheel.

For Mills and his crew the Roger Albert will come straight after they compete on the East African Safari Classic Rally with Escort Mk2s for Blomqvist and John Lloyd. Mills says that the drastic change in temperature and jet leg should not be a problem. “The RAC is such a great event that it will pull us along,” he said, shortly before flying to Africa.

Event Time Table updated

Posted: November 2, 2011 11:13 AM

Available at:

Roger Albert Clark Rally Motor Club

Entries Received

Posted: September 21, 2011 4:25 PM

Available at:

www.rogeralbertclarkrally.org/RAC_2011/2011_Entries.htm

Stouf plots Roger Albert Clark Rally defence

Posted: September 21, 2011 4:22 PM

Belgians Stefaan Stouf and Joris Erard have unveiled plans to defend their 2010 victory when this year's Roger Albert Clark Rally starts in Yorkshire on Friday 2 December.
Traditionally, Stouf has used his Ford Escort Mk1 on British gravel rallies and has kept his Ford Escort Mk2 for asphalt events in Belgium. However, the move to encourage FIA specification cars into the Roger Albert helped persuade Stouf to enter the more powerful Mk2 for the challenging 2-5 December event.

"We are doing the Trackrod Rally this weekend as a shakedown on gravel for the Mk2 and it is also good practice on the Yorkshire stages for the RAC," said Stouf, who famously won the 2010 Roger Albert Clark Rally when deep snow and ice hit the four-day event.

"We have not driven the Mk2 on gravel before, but we hope that we have now got it reliable," he added after recently finishing third overall on the Tour of Flanders.

2011 Roger Albert Clark Rally support events unveiled

Posted: August 30, 2011 11:38 AM

Four individual rallies will support the 2011 Roger Albert Clark Rally, (2-5 December and will offer some of the most cost effective forest rallying in Britain this season. With most forest events now costing around £10 per mile, the four RAC support events will all be under that mark and three of them are priced at under £9 per mile. If three crews from the same club get together, the entry fee on three of the rallies will be less than £8 per mile.

The support rallies all offer competitors a chance to be part of what many people call the best rally of the season, but without the time and financial commitment of contesting the overall rally. The support events also offer a local rally for competitors based in Yorkshire, South-West Scotland and the Scottish borders/Cumbria.

“I have tried to make the support events as user friendly as I can with as compact a route as possible at a very affordable cost,” said Rally Manager Colin Heppenstall. “To make it even more attractive, I am offering a special team rate on three of the rallies for those who can put together a three-car team.”

The four support events for the 2011 Roger Albert Clark Rally are:

The Kall Kwik Bradford Rally
42 stage miles; entry free £400 (cost per mile £9.60)
Based at the Duncombe Park headquarters, the Kall Kwik Bradford Rally will take in classic Yorkshire forest tests as well as the spectator stage at Duncombe Park. The first car will start at 10pm Friday for a night stage in Dalby, re-start at 10am Saturday and finish at 4.30pm on Saturday.

The De Lacy Night Rally
22 stage miles; entry fee £200 (Cost per mile £8.99)
For a club team of three cars the total entry fee is £500 (£7.49 per mile) The De Lacy Night Rally runs completely in the dark of Friday evening, starting at 7pm and finishing at 11pm after 22 stage miles in Dalby and Duncombe Park. Two runs through a nine-mile stage in Dalby are at the core of this rally.

The Clubman’s Rally
47 stage miles; entry fee £400 (cost per mile £8.51)

For a club team of three cars the total entry fee is £1,100 (£7.80 per mile) Based at Dumfries, the Clubman’s Rally runs through Sunday over stages in Ae, Twiglees and Heath Hall with centralised servicing. The rally starts at 11am on Sunday and finishes at 7pm.

The Kershope Challenge
35 stage miles; entry fee £300 (Cost per mile £8.56)
For a club team of three cars the total entry fee is £800 (£7.61 per mile) The Kershope Challenge runs on Monday morning and has 35 stage miles and just three road miles from its base at the Ash Park service area. The rally covers two runs of the fabulous 17.5-mile Kershope stage, which is in excellent condition. The rally starts at 9am and finishes at 12 noon.

Roger Albert Clark Rally Motor Club

Regulations published for the 2011 Roger Albert Clark Rally

Posted: June 29, 2011 4:56 PM

With just over five months to go before the 2011 Roger Albert Clark Rally, (2-5 December, the event regulations have been published and entries are now open for the eighth running of this must-do event in the historic rallying calendar.

The event, which has a new start venue for 2011 at Duncombe Park in Yorkshire, offers 170 stage miles over 24 special stages for an early entry fee of £1,850. Rally manager Colin Heppenstall is targeting an entry of 100 cars this year, which would set a new record for the rally.

Among the entries expected is a strong contingent of European competitors. To make it easier for them to compete, approval has been granted for them to run with FIA Historic Technical Passports only, rather than needing to acquire a UK rally log book and MSA Historic Vehicle Identification Forms. Such cars will run in a separate class within the overall rally.

Another new class will cater for Formula 1000 crews. Following interest from prospective crews, a special class has been added to the Open Rally and these cars will be allowed to run at the head of the main field with the category one historic cars.

To help competitors and spectators plan for the event, a Rally Guide has been produced and can now be viewed at the event?s official website. For more details about the Roger Albert Clark Rally, and its support rallies, please visit

Roger Albert Clark Rally Motor Club

Overseas Packages Available

Posted: June 27, 2011 3:18 PM

The organisers of the Roger Albert Clark Rally are always keen to encourage crews from outside mainland UK to take part in the event and Rally Manager, Colin Heppenstall has confirmed that he is currently discussing participation in the 2011 event with a number of overseas crews.
In order to make it easier to fund an entry given the higher costs involved in bring a car and crew to the event from overseas, Colin has agreed to make available 'Foreign Crew' packages.
Packages will be available for crews from Mainland Europe as well as from Ireland and Isle of Man

More Details available on the event website:

Roger Albert Clark Rally Motor Club

Regulations/Entry Form & Event Guide now available

Posted: June 27, 2011 3:13 PM

Available from:

Roger Albert Clark Rally Motor Club

Provisional Route Maps and Timetable

Posted: June 8, 2011 5:11 PM

Available on the event website:

Roger Albert Clark Rally Motor Club

‘WORLD CLASS’ R.A.C RALLY COMES TO CROFT CIRCUIT IN 2011

Posted: May 31, 2011 3:17 PM

Croft Circuit is delighted to announce a fourth major event to its list of fixtures in 2011 – a stage of the Roger Albert Clark Rally, among the world’s most exciting and evocative historic car rallies, on Saturday 3 December.

Some 150 iconic cars competition rally cars from the Sixties and Seventies will descend on Croft near Darlington for its competitive timed stage which is likely to be one of the best attended on the hugely popular R.A.C’s four-day route.

The event, born in 2004, is named in honour of the late Roger Clark MBE, a maverick household name in the Seventies thanks to his heroic exploits behind the wheel of Ford Escort rally cars (indeed he was to rallying what James Hunt and Barry Sheene were to Formula 1 and 500cc motorcycle racing). The R.A.C has appeared before at Croft (the last time being in 2006) and the stage will add a unique challenge for drivers as it will be the only asphalt test on the whole of the four-day event – the remaining competitive timed mileage will all be held on gravel stages through forests.

Crews will tackle two ‘double runs’ through the Croft stage during the afternoon of Saturday 3 December. Furthermore, the circuit’s vast race paddock will act as a Service Park – enabling the public to get a close-up look at the cars that wowed millions of public on the legendary RAC rallies of old as they are worked on by teams’ mechanics. This will also offer enthusiasts a golden opportunity for photos and autographs with the star drivers. Timings and ticketing information will be announced soon.

Top makes and models of car from the day (including up to 1981) such as MKI and MKII Ford Escorts, Vauxhall Chevettes, Opel Asconas, Mini Coopers, Saab 96s, Porsche 911s, Renault 5 Turbo and even the odd and very rare Lancia Stratos and Fulvia are among the expected entries on this year’s R.A.C. As in recent years, a growing number of overseas crews from countries such as Belgium, France and Germany are also anticipated.

Croft is already blessed with two superbly-run club level rallies, the Christmas Stages and Jack Frost events (organised by the Darlington & District and Northallerton Automobile clubs respectively) and the region generally is steeped in rallying folklore. But a stage of the ‘Roger Albert’ is a real jewel in the crown to add to the circuit’s three other high-profile events in 2011: MCE Insurance British Superbikes (13-15 May), Dunlop British Touring Cars (18-19 June) and the two-day Nostalgia Weekend historic festival (6-7 August).

“We are absolutely delighted to announce that the R.A.C is back at Croft in 2011,” commented Croft Circuit Manager Tracey Morley. “There’s a real magic and fascination about these cars with their truly iconic shapes and terrific engine notes – let alone the spectacle of seeing them being driven sideways on the limit. It is little wonder the R.A.C enjoys such a huge following both here in the UK and abroad and it will not be a surprise to hear quite a few European accents chattering away on our spectator banks here at Croft on 3 December.

“The Sixties and Seventies were both golden ages for rallying and very often the old RAC rallies would include a stage at a race circuit as part of their route. This fits in perfectly with that spirit and with two double runs on the day in daylight hours, excellent permanent viewing facilities and the added attraction of a major Service Park to get even closer to these special cars, the crowds will really get their money’s worth.

“This is a fantastic event for the circuit, the public and the region as a whole to savour and we look forward to it with great enthusiasm.”

Colin Hepenstall, R.A.C Rally Manager, said:
“For some time now I have wanted to bring this rally back to Croft, with its superb facilities for both the competitors and spectators. We should be able to give everyone a fantastic experience. My thanks go to the Circuit for their hard work in making this possible and I look forward to working with them on this.”

Croft’s stage of the R.A.C follows opening event action on Friday night and Saturday morning in the forests of North Yorkshire. After Croft, the crews will move on to other highly demanding tests in forests and across moorland in North Yorks, the Borders, Cumbria and Dumfries before finishing on the Monday afternoon (5 December). Full details of the event’s route and stages are expected to be announced this coming Wednesday 11 May.

Route announced for 2011 Roger Albert Clark Rally

Posted: May 11, 2011 8:08 PM

A new start venue at Duncombe Park, a return to Croft circuit and two twenty-mile stages are the key features of the provisional route for this year’s Roger Albert Clark Rally, (2-5 December).

As well as hosting a spectator-friendly 2.5-mile stage to be run twice on Friday evening and twice on Saturday, Duncombe Park near Hemlsley will also act as the new headquarters for the rally, with scrutineering and documentation during Friday 2 December.

Rally manager Colin Heppenstall says that he wants to finish the 2011 event with a big bang and is planning two runs through a marathon 20-miler in Kershope on the final morning of the rally, Monday 5 December.

“I wanted a real challenge at the end of the rally,” said Heppenstall, who has planned a service halt at Carlisle in between the two long stages in Kershope forest. “The return to Croft is another excellent development and we expect the first cars to arrive there at around 3pm on Sunday.” As well as a pair of stages, Croft will host a major service halt in a family-friendly environment and rejoins the route in favour of Oliver’s Mount.

The rally will include two runs at a nine-mile stage in Dalby forest in the dark of Friday evening (2 December), as well as two stages through Duncombe Park.

Total stage mileage is currently around 170, but Heppenstall has plans to add further stages if negotiations with a key title sponsor prove fruitful. Interest from overseas crews is already running ahead of the 2010 event and Heppenstall is targeting a record-breaking 100-car field.

Provisional route

Friday December 2
SS1 Duncombe Park 1
SS2 Dalby 1
SS3 Duncombe Park 2
SS4 Dalby 2

Saturday December 3
SS5 Langdale 1
SS6 Gale Rigg 1
SS7 Duncombe Park 3
SS8 Duncombe Park 4
SS9 Langdale 2
SS10 Gale Rigg 2
SS11 Croft 1
SS12 Croft 2
SS13 Hamsterley
SS14 Shepherdshield

Sunday December 4
SS15 Ae 1
SS16 Twiglees 1
SS17 Heathhall 1
SS18 Ae 2
SS19 Heathhall 2
SS20 Twiglees 2
SS21 Newcastleton 1
SS22 Newcastleton 2

Monday December 5
SS23 Kershope 1
SS24 Kershope 2

Event Website

Posted: May 11, 2011 8:07 PM

Roger Albert Clark Rally Motor Club