The entry for this year’s Roger Albert Clark Rally (28-30 November) is shaping up to be one of the most competitive and cosmopolitan in the event’s history, with a raft of potential winners and eleven overseas entries already placed.
With a month to go until the event starts from a new rally HQ in Sunderland, entries for the main event have already passed the 40-mark and continue to arrive at a steady rate. The overseas entry includes drivers from Holland, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Austria and Belgium, with more expected.
Leading entries for the historic event include the rapid Ford Escort Mk2s of Matthew Robinson, Seamus O’Connell, Paul Griffiths, Guy Woodcock and event newcomer Rudi Lancaster, while Chris Browne heads the Escort Mk1 entry. Entries are expected from at least another eight likely front-runners.
A major feature of this year’s rally is the strength of the overseas entry, which is topped by reigning Swedish historic champion Martin Hagman (26) in his Ford Escort RS1800. He will be co-driven by his father Jan on his first foray to the UK.
In the Open Rally, the Escort Mk2s of former winners Martyn Hawkswell and Dave Hemingway will line-up against the Escort of Barry Stevenson-Wheeler for what promises to be an excellent contest.
Meanwhile, the battle among the oldest cars in Category 1 (pre ’68) has just warmed up with an entry for Paul Mankin in his Lotus Cortina. He will take on the similar car of veteran Bob Bean, who has an unrivalled record of competing on this event and the original RAC Rally. Jim Valentine and Stephen Higgins head the typically strong Saab entry in their pair of two-stroke 96s.
Dutchman Mark Schmidt will be part of a four-car team from Holland in his glorious Category 1 Austin Healey 3000. The orange Healey will tackle the event for the third time and Schmidt says that his ambition this year is simply to finish after two non-finishes in previous attempts. Making just as impressive sight in the forests will be the 1964 Ford Falcon of Swedish driver Per Garansson.
Entries are also open for the two support events. The Peregrine Print Rally will start in Sunderland and cover 53 stage miles on Saturday, while the Clubman’s Rally will be based in central Kielder and cover 49 stage miles on Sunday. With a £100 discount for crews entering both rallies, the overall package offers 102 forest stage miles for £800.
A range of fabulous stages await competitors on the 2014 Roger Albert Clark Rally (28-30 November) when the event has a completely new look with Sunderland as the host city.
Rally manager Colin Heppenstall has just completed a major route survey and says that he was greatly impressed with the condition of the stages in and around the Kielder complex. “The quality of stages is very, very good,” said Heppenstall.
With the rally start, finish and HQ all based in Sunderland, the route will take in several stages that are completely new to the event in a total competitive route of up to 190 stage miles.
The final leg on Sunday (30 November) starts and finishes with a 12-mile stage in Harwood, which has not been used on the event since the inaugural rally in 2004. The stage has not been used for any rallying for several years and Heppenstall says it has been completely re-graded. “Harwood is a beautiful stage and is very fast in places.”
Other stages on the Sunday leg, including Redesdale and Ogre Hill, are in superb condition while Falstone will offer a 15-mile challenge as it returns to the rally for the first time since 2009. Redesdale has never been used on the Roger Albert Clark Rally and Ogre Hill has not been used since the 2004 event; both stages are seldom used for rallying.
Saturday’s stages are in fine order including those in the main Kielder block, while Kershope and Ash Park recently won rave reviews from competitors on the DMACK Carlisle Stages.
Two visits to Hamsterley, on Friday evening and Saturday morning, will use the best roads in the complex with only 200m of road being used on both visits. “We’ve got two good routes in Hamsterley using only the ‘A’ class roads,” said Heppenstall.
Event regulations are due to be published shortly.
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