2006 Baja GB - 18-20 Aug 06

Posted: August 21, 2006 10:15 PM

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IAN ROCHELLE AND LEE EDMONDSON TAKE VICTORIES IN INAUGURAL BAJA GB
National category win for Caerphilly's Hugh Haines;
Doncaster's Matt Lee sees off the Quad challenge

Bridgnorth's Ian Rochelle and Cannock's Lee Edmondson clinched victory in the car and motorcycle categories of the inaugural Baja GB, Britain's all-new candidate for the FIA International Cup for Bajas.

Caerphilly's Hugh Haines and co-driver Peter Phillips won the National category in their Bowler Wildcat 200 and Doncaster's Matt Lee was classified as the leading Quad rider after two days of action in the rain-soaked Radnor forest complex in Mid-Wales.

"This was a fantastic event and it feels great to become the first ever winner of the Baja GB," said Rochelle, who led from start to finish with co-driver Amanda Garratley. "There was no doubt that we would enter this event. You only have to look at the entry list to see that people have made the effort to support the hard work of the organisers. We, as competitors, all want the Baja to succeed. I am sure that those people who did not enter will wish that they had been in at the start of this new chapter in British motorsport."

"Amazing to win," said Rochelle. "This was totally unexpected. Myself and Amanda was winning the Hill Rallies at the moment and we have the same crew supporting us on this. We are gaining confidence in the UK, but need a little more experience before we feel we will be a threat on the continent. The stages were phenomenal. I can't praise the organisers enough for all their efforts and those early starts this week."

"I didn't even know what a Baja or a road book was," said Edmondson. "When I realised there were arrows I was much happier. I was amazed to win. My brother asked me to enter to give as much support as possible to motorsport in this country. I had so much fun. I enjoyed every bit of it, fast or slow or just getting muddy!"

Competitors tackled three selective sections in Radnor forest on Sunday. Rookie Cannock-based rider Lee Edmondson began the final leg with a commanding lead of 12m 23s in the motorcycle category and he won his fourth successive selective on Sunday morning, with a time of 31m 12s through the Shepherd's Well section. The British Under-23 enduro rider suffered a scare in parc ferme when his bike failed to start, but he was soon into a flying pace and extended his advantage over Turkey-based Chris Pascoe to 16m 01s.

Stephen Malone maintained third place and Newcastle's Brian Eland and Heathfield's Clive Town for fourth and fifth. Mat Lee extended his lead over Quad rivals Daniel Upton and Matt Harrison, although he only beat Upton by five seconds in the fourth timed test.

Edmondson collected his fifth fastest time in SSS5 to extend his advantage to 18m 46s, but there was a frantic battle for the minor places behind second-placed Pascoe. Eland passed Malone to take third place and Heathfield's Clive Town closed to within one second of fourth place by setting the third fastest time. Lee maintained his Quad lead and ninth place overall, despite a puncture.

A mere 38.30 km stood between Edmondson and a stunning Baja victory on the nimble 250 KTM and the youngster was again fastest in the final section to record victory by the margin of 20m 48s. Wilmslow's Malone set the second fastest time to confirm third overall behind Pascoe, with Eland and Town completing the top five.

11th-placed Lee confirmed victory in the Quad category over Daniel Upton and Matthew Harrison, despite struggling in appalling conditions over the closing kilometres, but Richmond's Paul Blezard punctured and slipped further behind the leading pack, as Nick Plumb pedalled the unwieldy BMW 1150 into 14th place and Patsy Quick was the leading female rider in a fine ninth position.

Bridgnorth's Ian Rochelle headed into the fifth selective with an 8m 16s lead over Norway's Ivar Tollefsen and extended his overall lead to 9m 16s with a mere two sections remaining. Michael Jones maintained third position, but Chepstow's Richard Hopkins took the second fastest time and displaced Cannock's Derrick Edmondson to take fourth overall by 25s.

Hopkins set the fastest time on the penultimate selective to move menacingly close to third-placed Michael Jones, as Rochelle erred on the side of caution to set the fifth fastest time and head into the final section with a 11m 46s lead over Tollefsen.

Tollefsen beat Rochelle by 14s in the final section, but the Shropshire driver did enough to preserve overall victory in the first ever Baja by the margin of 11m 32s. Tollefsen confirmed second overall, but Hopkins was unable to catch Jones, despite setting a second successive fastest time on the final selective. Edmondson and Northern Ireland's David Johnston completd the top six.

Caerphilly's Hugh Haines had dominated the National category over the opening four selective sections in his Bowler Wildcat and the winner of the recent Baja de France edged a further 2m 50s clear of Raymond Kempster's Milner Pro Truck in the fifth selective. Hinckley's Ryan Cooke was unable to restart after sustaining terminal clutch problems following the fourth selective on Saturday afternoon. His demise promoted Lee Mansfield's Range Rover into third overall.

Haines set the fastest time in the final selective to take victory in the National category by 13m 36s from Kempster, with Mansfield in third overall.

The brainchild of officials at Marches 4x4 Ltd, Britain's first ever official candidate event for the FIA International Cup for Bajas received the full backing of the Motor Sports Association (MSA), the Forestry Commission Wales, the Welsh Assembly Government and Andrew Davies, the Welsh Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks. An extensive highlight programme will be shown on Sky Sports television in the coming weeks.

Baja GB 2006 - Final positions

Baja GB T1-T2 Cars - after SSS7 (top 6)
1. Ian Rochelle/Amanda Garratley (Bowler Wildcat 200) 4h 34m 24s
2. Ivar Tollefsen/Quin Evans (Bowler Wildcat) 4h 45m 56s
3. Michael Jones/Paul Round (Rally Raid UK Desert Warrior) 4h 49m 24s
4. Richard Hopkins/Gary Torosyan (Land Rover Discovery) 4h 49m 59s
5. Derrick Edmondson/Neil Ruffle (Range Rover Desert Warrior) 4h 51m 51s
6. David Johnston/Tim Hamilton (Bowler Wildcat 200) 4h 54m 00s

Baja GB National Cars - after SSS7 (top 6)
1. Hugh Haines/Peter Phillips (Bowler Wildcat 200) 4h 23m 46s
2. Ray Kempster/Ivan Dudley (Milner Pro Truck) 4h 37m 22s
3. Lee Mansfield/Paul Slack (Range Rover) 4h 50m 53s
4. Glen McKeith/Caroline Smith (Land Rover Warrior) 5h 06m 37s
5. Roland Marlow/John Cockburn (Land Rover) 5h 14m 05s
6. Jeremy Fearn/Martin Gould (Bowler Wildcat 100) 5h 23m 54s

Baja GB Bikes - after SSS6 (top 10) 1. Lee Edmondson (KTM F-250 EXC) 3h 36m 07s
2. Chris Pascoe (KTM 525) 3h 56m 55s
3. Stephen Malone (KTM 525) 3h 57m 04s
4. Brian Eland (KTM BCE) 3h 57m 15s
5. Clive Town (KTM 525) 3h 57m 31s
6. Adam Evans (KTM MXC 525) 4h 12m 59s
7. Ian Myers (KTM 525) 4h 14m 44s
8. Jon Mackeen (KTM 525 EXC) 4h 16m 38s
9. Patsy Quick (KTM 525) 4h 26m 17s
10. Darren Duesbury (KTM 600 Rally) 4h 29m 48s

Baja GB Quads - after SSS6
1. (11th) Matt Lee (Yamaha Raptor) 4h 35m 30s
2. (12th) Daniel Upton (Bombardier DS 650) 4h 49m 31s
3. (15th) Matt Harrison (Bombardier DS 650) 4h 56m 28s

Full Results and times:
North East Rally Services

Event Website:
Baja GB

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PRE EVENT NEWS

• INAUGURAL BAJA GB GETS UNDERWAY IN LLANDRINDOD WELLS NEXT FRIDAY EVENING.
• Spectator Information.
• Leading Entries.
• NORWEGIAN DUO SET TO TACKLE BAJA GB IN POWERFUL BOWLER WILDCATS
• DAKAR STAR PATSY QUICK ENTERS INAUGURAL BAJA GB
  Bahrain's National Champion Hassan Al-Sadadi eyes Baja outing;
  Shipton-on-Stour's Richard George set for quad encounter
• BAJA DE FRANCE WINNER AND FORMER BRITISH NATIONAL RALLY CHAMPION ENTER BAJA GB
  New Baja GB to be shown on Sky Sports network;
  Motorcycle and quad regulations announced
• BAJA GB ORGANISERS FLOODED WITH ENQUIRIES FOR NEW-LOOK BAJA GB
  Route finalised for ground-breaking new event in August
  New ACU affiliation confirms bikes and quads section
• WALES SET TO HOST FIRST EVER UK BAJA
  Exciting new Baja set to debut in August 2006;
  UK set to join ranks of world Baja organisers

Britain's Hugh Haines tackles a Radnor forest stage
during a recent Y Rali Bryn Cymru.
The new Baja GB 2006 will be the first forest-type Baja in the world.

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15/08/06
INAUGURAL BAJA GB GETS UNDERWAY IN LLANDRINDOD WELLS NEXT FRIDAY EVENING
Norwegian, French and Bahraini teams face British Baja contingent;
Britain's leading quad and bike entrants prepare for Baja GB

The Baja GB 2006, Britain's inaugural entry into international Baja-type rallying, gets underway from Llandrindod Wells in Mid-Wales on Friday, (August 18th), with an impressive line-up of cars, bikes and quads set to tackle up to seven selective special stages in the nearby Radnor Forest complex on Saturday, August 19th and Sunday, August 20th.

The brainchild of officials at Marches 4x4 Ltd, Britain's first ever official candidate event for the FIA International Cup for Bajas has the full backing of the Motor Sports Association (MSA), the Forestry Commission Wales, the Welsh Assembly Government and Andrew Davies, the Welsh Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks.

"Britain is an important market for automobiles and an event like the Baja GB has been a long time coming," said Derek Ledger, FIA Vice President-Sport and Chairman of the FIA Cross-Country Rally Commission. "We, at the FIA, wish the event every success and hope that it becomes an important and integral part of the Cross-Country calendar."

There will be two classes in the car category, with drivers in T1 and T2 models eligible for the International section and other drivers running in the National class.

One of a number of late entries came from the French duo of Nicolas Gibon and Marc-Antoine Lenud in a 4.9-litre Bowler Wildcat. The Le Havre driver has tackled the Dakar Rally on several occasions and rounds of the FIA Cross-Country Rally World Cup. Norwegians Nick and Ivar Tollefsen and regular Middle East rally driver Hassan Al-Sadadi, from Bahrain, also head the foreign contingent in a trio of powerful Bowler Wildcats.

They face competition from the likes of Burntwood's Derrick Edmondson (Desert Warrior), Northern Ireland's David Johnston (Bowler Wildcat), Banwell's Nick Tidboald (Bowler Wildcat), Cheshire's Michael Jones (Desert Warrior) and Chepstow's Richard Hopkins in a Land Rover Discovery.

Bridgnorth's Ian Rochelle wheels out his Bowler Wildcat, while Teignmouth's Frazer Williams, Derbyshire's Jeremy Fearn, recent Baja de France winner Hugh Haines and Chipping Campden's Mike Jones are confident of reaching the podium. Both Matlock's Trevor Milner and Chipping Norton's Ray Kempster have entered a pair of powerful Milner Pro Trucks, with Somerset's Pete Rowe, Leeds-based Glen McKeith and Hinckley's Ryan Cooke at the wheel of a trio of Land Rover derivatives.

Regular international cross-country riders Clive Town, Patsy Quick, Stephen Malone and Ian Myers head the motorcycle contingent, while Richmond-based journalist Paul Blezard intends to compete on his KTM 450 EXC, with which he competed in Libya back in February 2006.

Quick and Town completed the punishing Dakar Rally for the first time this season, while Newcastle-based Myers and Wilmslow's Malone are no strangers to foreign events. Bournemouth's Ray Watton is the sole non-KTM entrant, while the Austrian manufacturer is also represented by Burnopfield's Brian Eland, Tadcaster's Darren Duesbury and Sherborne's David Dickinson.

With a new affiliation to the ACU, Baja GB is also open to quad riders. Shipston-on-Stour rider Richard George rides a Honda and faces a dual Bombardier challenge from Lepton's Mat Harrison and Wimborne's Daniel Upton. Doncaster's Matt Lee looks set to ride a Yamaha Raptor.

"Many people have put many hours into making this event possible and it is with great pride that we will run Britain's first-ever Baja next weekend," said Chris Tomley, Chairman of the MSA's Cross-Country Committee and Clerk of the Course for Baja GB 2006. "We all hope that this event will become an integral part of the British motorsport calendar and will continue to grow in stature over the coming years."

The event will be recorded by a film crew from Pit Lane Productions in London and the footage will be shown in an extensive highlight programme on Sky Sports television's World Motorsport programme.

After a ceremonial start by The Lake in Llandrindod Wells on Friday evening from 19.00 hrs, where competitors will be flagged away by the Mayor of Llandrindod Wells, Councillor Tony Phillips, and Lembit Opik MP, quads and bikes will leave the first control at 07.00 hrs on Saturday, August 19th and will be followed by the international and national category cars.

Quads and bikes will tackle the forest stage three times on Saturday, while cars will tackle four laps. On Sunday, August 20th, quads and bikes will tackle two laps and cars will be offered three, with the official finish taking place in the Bleddfa service park from 16.00 hrs.

Spectator information
1. Fishpools - Point one can be found on the A488 between Crossgates and Monaughty. Access will be signposted and is on OS map 148 - 188 682. Follow the track into the woods and marshals will direct you to parking areas. Action throughout Saturday and Sunday.

2. Kinnerton - Point can be found by turning off the B4372 at Kinnerton and following the single track into the woods. The entrance is on OS map 148 - 235 642. Marshals will be on hand to direct you into parking areas. Action throughout Saturday and Sunday.

3. Rally HQ/Service Park - The Baja GB rally headquarters is at Nant-y-corddi, two miles on the Bleddfa side of Monaughty on the A488. Leave the road on OS map 148 - 225 680.

Leading entries (unseeded)
Cars - Hassan Al-Sadadi/TBA Bahrain Bowler Wildcat
Nicolas Gibon/Marc-Antoine Lenud Le Havre Bowler Wildcat
Nick Tollefsen/Ben Gott Oslo, Norway Bowler Wildcat
Ivar Tollefsen/Quin Evans Oslo, Norway Bowler Wildcat
David Johnston/Tim Hamilton Northern Ireland Bowler Wildcat
Hugh Haines/TBA Caerphilly Bowler Wildcat
Derrick Edmondson/Neil Ruffle Burntwood Range Rover Desert Warrior
Frazer Williams/Dave Thomas Teignmouth Land Rover
Jeremy Fearn/Martin Gould Derbyshire Bowler Wildcat
Peter Rowe/Quentin Wright Somerset Land Rover
Ray Kempster/Ivan Dudley Chipping Norton Milner Pro Truck
Mike Jones/Rick Spurgeon Chipping Camden Land Rover
Ian Rochelle/TBA Bridgnorth Land Rover
Glenn McKeith/Caroline Smith Leeds Land Rover Freelander Warrior
Nick Tidboald/Philip Peak Banwell Bowler Wildcat
Ryan Cooke/Chris Cooke Hinckley Land Rover Defender
Michael Jones/Paul Round Betchton Desert Warrior
Richard Hopkins/Gary Torosyan Chepstow Land Rover Discovery
Trevor Milner/Andrew Lees Matlock Miner Pro Truck

Bikes
Patsy Quick Heathfield KTM 660 Rally
Clive Town Heathfield KTM 660 Rally
Paul Blezard Richmond KTM 450 EXC
Ian Myers Newcastle-upon-Tyne KTM
Stephen Malone Wilmslow KTM
Darren Duesbury Tadcaster KTM 660 Rally
Ray Watton Winton Honda
Brian Eland Burnopfield KTM BCE
David Dickinson Sherborne KTM 525XC

Quads
Richard George Shipston-on-Stour Honda
Daniel Upton Wimborne Bombardier
Matt Harrison Lepton Bombardier
Matt Lee Doncaster Yamaha Raptor

Further details:

Baja GB

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09/08/06
NORWEGIAN DUO SET TO TACKLE BAJA GB IN POWERFUL BOWLER WILDCATS
Norwegian drivers Ivar and Nick Tollefsen will take part in next weekend's inaugural Baja GB, a candidate round for the FIA International Cup for Bajas, in a pair of powerful Bowler Wildcats. The pair are the latest international drivers to enter the exciting new event, which takes place in Radnor Forest on August 19th-20th.

The Bowler Wildcat is one of the most competitive non-factory cars available in world Cross-Country rallying and the Scandinavian pair will be co-driven by Grassington's Quin Evans and Farnham's Ben Gott.

Forty-five-year-old Iver is a World Record-breaking arctic explorer and has tackled the Dakar Rally on several occasions. He has already taken part in the Patagonia-Atacama, Tunisia and Morocco rallies this season with a Bowler Wildcat.

Also featuring on the car entry list - which is open to drivers of homologated T1 and T2 cars or competitors entered in a separate National category - are Leeds-based driver Glen McKeith and his female co-driver Caroline Smith. They will line-up in a Land Rover Freelander Warrior.

The Leicestershire pairing of Ryan and Chris Cooke have also entered the event and the Hinckley driver wheels out a Land Rover Defender. The Cooke duo will be up against Cheshire's Michael Jones and Paul Round in a Desert Warrior and Banwell's Nick Tidboald and co-driver Philip Peak in a Bowler Wildcat 200.

The event is also open to bike and quad riders and Essex-based Clive Town is one of the latest additions to the two-wheel entry with his KTM. The Heathfield driver has tackled the Dakar Rally on several occasions and finished this year's event, riding alongside another Baja entrant, Patsy Quick.

Town will be hoping to add an outright Baja win to his role of honour, but he faces a strong line-up, including new entrant Brian Eland, from Burnopfield near Newcastle, on a KTM, Wilmslow's experienced Stephen Malone on a KTM and Bournemouth's Ray Watton on a four-stroke Honda.

The latest entrant in the quad category is Daniel Upton, from Wimbourne in Dorset, riding a Bombardier, although event organisers are expecting a late flood of entries in the bike and quad categories.

"There are just three more days to go before entries close and I am hoping that those competitors who were considering placing an entry act fast to avoid missing out on Britain's first ever entry into international Baja-type rallying," said Chris Tomley, Chairman of the MSA's Cross-Country Committee and Clerk of the Course for Baja GB 2006.

Baja GB has the full backing of the Motor Sports Association (MSA), the Forestry Commission Wales, the Welsh Assembly Government and Andrew Davies, the Welsh Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks.

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25/07/06
DAKAR STAR PATSY QUICK ENTERS INAUGURAL BAJA GB
Bahrain's National Champion Hassan Al-Sadadi eyes Baja outing;
Shipton-on-Stour's Richard George set for quad encounter

Patsy Quick, a regular rider in the gruelling Dakar Rally, is one of the leading motorcycle enduro names to enter the inaugural Baja GB, a candidate round for the FIA Baja Championship, which takes place in mid Wales on August 18th-20th.

Quick has been a regular rider in the world's toughest enduro rally in recent seasons and finished the event for the first time in January this year after several attempts, one of which almost cost the plucky Patsy her life in 2003. She had successfully navigated her way through the tricky deserts of Tunisia and Libya and was heading towards the finish of the event in Sharm-El-Sheikh, when she crashed heavily before the Siwa bivouac in Egypt and had to be airlifted to the bivouac.

Emergency surgery followed to remove her ruptured spleen, but the brave Patsy was soon back in the saddle and riding competitively on events like the Dakar and Qatar Baja. She should be one of the favourites for a maiden Baja success when the three-day event gets underway from Llandrindod Wells at 18.30 hrs on Friday, August 18th.

"Now that the regulations have been finalised for the bike and quad categories, we have received a terrific response for more information about the event," said Chris Tomley, Chairman of the MSA's Cross-Country Committee and Clerk of the Course for Baja GB 2006. "We have extended the entry deadline to August 10th for bikes and quads and are hoping that we will get a late rush for entries after the popular summer holiday fortnight in the UK."

One of the first entrants in the quad category is the Shipston-on-Stour rider Richard George at the helm of his 450 cc Honda quad. The Warwickshire rider is keen to pick up the award for the leading quad runner after two legs and six tricky special stages in the Radnor forest complex on Saturday, August 19th and Sunday, August 20th.

The organising team are also waiting for final confirmation that the former Bahrain national rally champion Hassan Al-Sadadi will enter the event in a hired T1 or T2 car. Al-Sadadi has been a regular competitor in rounds of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship and the UAE Desert Challenge - a round of the FIA Cross-Country Rally World Cup - and is frantically trying to piece together a deal to run a competitive car on the Baja GB.

"I am trying to finalise a deal to obtain support from the Bahrain Federation here in Manama," said Al-Sadadi. "This event really appeals to me." The Manama businessman is better known to UK viewers of Sky Sport's World Motorsport programme as the driver of the stricken Land Rover used in the opening title sequence to the programme for several years. The Baja GB will, of course, be covered by World Motorsport and shown on the Sky Sports network.

Also confirming their intention to contest the inaugural Baja GB are the Northern Ireland crew of David Johnston and Tim Hamilton in a diesel-engined Bowler Wildcat 300 and Ray and Vonnie Kempster, from Chipping Norton in the Cotswolds, at the wheel of a Milner Protruck.

They will be joined on the entry list by the son and father duo of Ryan and Chris Cooke. The Leicestershire duo, from Burbage near Hinckley, intend to use a powerful 5.2-litre Land Rover in the Radnor forest complex. Avon will also be represented on the entry list by Bristol's Nic Tidboald at the wheel of a Bowler Wildcat, while Derbyshire's Jeremy Fearn, from Beeley, should be a sight to behold in his powerful Bowler Wildcat 300.

The event has the full backing of the Motor Sports Association (MSA), the Forestry Commission Wales, the Welsh Assembly Government and Andrew Davies, the Welsh Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks.

Regulations and entry information for the motorcycle, quad and car categories are available from the Baja GB office, 31 Market Street, Newtown, Powys, Wales, SY16 2PG, Tel: + 44 1686 626641, Fax: + 44 1686 626218, e-mail: secretary@BajaGB.co.uk and www.BajaGB.co.uk.

Entries for the car category close on Friday, July 28th, although bike and quad entrants have until August 10th to register their entry with event officials.

Baja GB

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13/07/06
BAJA DE FRANCE WINNER AND FORMER BRITISH NATIONAL RALLY CHAMPION ENTER BAJA GB
New Baja GB to be shown on Sky Sports network;
Motorcycle and quad regulations announced

Recent Baja de France winner Hugh Haines and former British National Rally Champion Graham Middleton are two of the first competitors to enter the inaugural Baja GB, Britain's all-new candidate event for the FIA Baja Championship, which takes place in mid Wales on August 18th-20th.

Caerphilly-based Haines has just returned from beating a strong contingent of European drivers in the punishing Baja de France for the second successive season and will be one of the favourites for success in the three-day Baja GB, which is based in Llandrindod Wells and will be centred around the Radnor forest complex.

Haines intends to drive a powerful Bowler Wildcat, a V8-engined four-wheel drive car which regularly sees action on world famous events such as the Dakar Rally and Moroccan and Tunisian events in North Africa.

Joining Haines on the car entry list will be the experienced Llandrindod Wells driver Graham Middleton, a former winner of the coveted British National Rally Championship and a regular competitor on special stage rallies in the UK. Middleton is keen to show his support for the exciting new Baja event and is hoping to hire a competitive T1 class car for the August showdown.

T1 category vehicles, such as the Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution, Nissan Pick-Up and the Volkswagen Race Touareg have dominated long distance events in Africa, South America and the Middle East in recent years and Middleton is hoping to become the very first winner of the Baja GB.

The event is also open to motorcycle and quad entrants and officials at the Baja GB office have now finalised the regulations and opened the entry for enduro and quad riders. Several of Britain's leading Dakar stars and enduro riders have pledged to support this new event and potential entrants are being encouraged to contact the organisers to confirm their entries as soon as possible, with entries due to close on Friday, July 28th.

A major boost to the marketing appeal of the new event is the support from Sky Sports' World Motorsport programme. Pit Lane Productions has agreed to send a film crew to cover the event in detail on behalf of Britain's leading sports network and a comprehensive highlight programme will be shown on the Sky Sports network on several occasions shortly after the event.

"Baja GB is a brand new and exciting entry into Cross-Country rallying and it was obvious that we should support the event at its inception," said World Motorsport's Executive Producer Andrew Marriott of Pit Lane Productions, a veteran of Formula One, DTM and WRC television coverage. "Our programme delves deep into many aspects of world motor sport and we are excited by the prospect of the new Baja GB in Wales and what may develop from this event in the future."

"We have now finalised the route and are working flat out to make sure that all aspects of event safety and logistics are in hand," said Chris Tomley, Chairman of the MSA's Cross-Country Committee and Clerk of the Course for Baja GB 2006.

"Baja GB is a totally new concept. We are starting an exciting new chapter in the history of British motorsport. I ask all competitors to support us as best they can to ensure that we have a successful first event and lay the foundations to a golden future of Baja races and Cross-Country rallying in the UK."

The event will be based at the Montpellier Hotel in Llandrindod Wells and kicks off with a ceremonial start at The Lake in Llandrindod Wells at 19.00 hrs on Friday, August 18th. Two days of competition over a route of 320 kms will follow in the nearby Radnor forest complex, with the inaugural Baja GB finishing at 16.00 hrs on Sunday, August 20th.

The proposed event has the full backing of the Motor Sports Association (MSA), the Forestry Commission Wales, the Welsh Assembly Government and Andrew Davies, the Welsh Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks.

Regulations and entry information for the motorcycle, quad and car categories are available from the Baja GB office, 31 Market Street, Newtown, Powys, Wales, SY16 2PG,
Tel: + 44 1686 626641, Fax: + 44 1686 626218,
e-mail: secretary@BajaGB.co.uk.

Regulations and event information can also be downloaded from

Baja GB

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13/06/06
BAJA GB ORGANISERS FLOODED WITH ENQUIRIES FOR NEW-LOOK BAJA GB
Route finalised for ground-breaking new event in August
New ACU affiliation confirms bikes and quads section

With just over two months to go before Britain's first ever Baja-type event gets underway from Llandrindod Wells in mid-Wales, the organising team of the Baja GB 2006 at Baja Wales Ltd have been flooded with enquiries from prospective competitors, media and spectators alike.

Event regulations have now been approved by the MSA and submitted to the FIA for final clarification and event officials are putting the finishing touches to the three-day event, which gets underway with a ceremonial start at The Lake in Llandrindod Wells at 19.00 hrs on Friday, August 18th and finishes on Sunday, August 20th at 16.00 hrs after approximately 320 km of competitive action in the mid-Welsh forests.

The experienced Malcolm Neill has been appointed as Rally Director to offer his expertise to the organising team. The Ulsterman was a former Clerk of the Course of the Circuit of Ireland and RAC rallies in the UK and has worked as a motorsport consultant in recent years to bolster successful WRC bids by Mexico and Turkey and as Clerk of the Course of the Qatar Baja and Qatar International Rally.

Cars complying with FIA T1 and T2 homologation requirements will be eligible to compete in the main international event, but there will also be a National section for cars complying with the regulations for the Matador Tyres MSA British Off-Road Championship.

In addition to a total number of 55 starters in the car category, Baja GB has now become affiliated to the ACU and there will be a separate Bike and Quad section, restricted to a maximum number of 35 starters for the first year. Entries officially close on Friday, July 28th.

"We have been inundated with enquiries from regular off-road competitors, motorcycle and quad entrants and international drivers," said Chris Tomley, Chairman of the MSA's Off-Road Committee and Clerk of the Course of Baja GB 2006.

"The response from the motorcycle and enduro fraternity has been very encouraging and several of Britain's top riders, who take part in the Dakar Rally, have expressed a desire to take part. Car manufacturers are also interested and several leading British rally drivers are contemplating taking part in an event of this type for the first time. Britain is a major market for off-road vehicles and I am sure that the likes of Nissan, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Honda, BMW and Volkswagen will be attracted to this type of exciting new marketing opportunity in the near future. We look forward to seeing everyone in Llandrindod Wells."

Practising the route for the Baja will be strictly forbidden, although event officials have laid on a challenging route consisting of seven selective sections. International competitors will tackle four selectives during leg one on Saturday, August 19th (approximately 200 km) and a further three on Sunday, August 20th (120 km). National entrants will be permitted three selective sections during leg one and two on the final day.

The event will be based at the Montpellier Hotel in Llandrindod Wells and there will be a centralised service park and media centre in nearby Crossgates. Scrutineering, marking and sealing will take place between 11.30 hrs and 16.30 hrs on Friday, August 18th in Crossgates, prior to the ceremonial start at 19.00 hrs.

The proposed event has the full backing of the Motor Sports Association (MSA), the Forestry Commission, the Welsh Development Agency (WDA), the Welsh Assembly Government and Andrew Davies, the Welsh Minister for Economic Development and Transport.

More Details:

Baja GB

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25/03/06
WALES SET TO HOST FIRST EVER UK BAJA
Marches 4x4 Motorsport Management Ltd has gained permission from the Motor Sports Association (MSA) and motorsport's world governing body, the FIA, to run Britain's first ever Baja-type event in August 2006.

The proposed event has the full backing of the Motor Sports Association (MSA), the Forestry Commission, the Welsh Development Agency (WDA), the Welsh Assembly Government and Andrew Davies, the Welsh Minister for Economic Development and Transport.

The ground-breaking new Baja will comply with the guidelines laid down by the FIA for Baja-type rallies and event officials are hopeful that Baja GB 2006 may become a round of the FIA International Cup for Bajas as early as 2007. It will take place in Mid-Wales on August 18th-20th and will be open to cars complying with T1 and T2 homologation categories. Officials have also been granted a special dispensation to permit international competitors to take part.

There will also be a National status event running behind the main Baja and officials are looking at the possibility and practicality of running a motorcycle category. Cars and bikes are commonplace on other international FIA Baja events in Qatar, Portugal, Greece, Italy and Spain.

"This is a very exciting breakthrough and major news for the entire sport of off-road motorsport in the United Kingdom," said Chris Tomley, Chairman of the MSA's Off-Road Committee and founder member of Marches 4x4 Motorsport Management Ltd.

"We are hopeful that the event will be observed by the FIA and granted a slot in the 2007 international calendar. Baja GB 2006 will be the first forest-type Baja in the world calendar and we are confident that it will attract a strong entry from the outset."

"This is excellent news for UK motorsport," said Colin Hilton, Chief Executive of the MSA. "Baja GB 2006 will bring a dynamic new form of motorsport to this country and we would be delighted if the event were to become included on the world calendar. Although we currently have few competitors on the Baja international stage, the UK is well represented by manufacturers at the top of the sport. This new event will give the UK competitors a welcome opportunity to compete on home soil and it should stimulate further interest in this exciting sport."

Officials are currently working on the format for the three-day event, which will begin with scrutineering, documentation, a ceremonial start and a timed Prologue stage on Friday, August 18th. The timetable will continue with several loops of a testing special stage in the Forestry Commission's Radnor forest in Mid-Wales on Saturday, August 19th and Sunday, August 20th. Event officials are looking for around 180 competitive miles over the two days in the Radnor forest complex.

"This is a very exciting development," said Derek Ledger, FIA Commissioner for Cross-Country Rallies. "A Baja event in the UK would be welcomed by the FIA. Great Britain is an important market for the automotive industry and I am sure that manufacturers would like to see a round of the Baja Cup running here in the future.

"The Dakar Rally is one of the most famous events in the world calendar, but hasn't really captured the imagination of the British public. Running a Baja in the UK would be a major step towards increasing the popularity of one of the fastest growing sports in the world."

Mitsubishi has won the gruelling Dakar Rally for the last six years and the Japanese manufacturer's Team Director Dominique Serieys greeted the news favourably. "Britain is an important market for several manufacturers and we would all like to see the sport given more coverage. I see this as very positive and am sure that it will be a success."

Marches 4x4 Motorsport Management Ltd was founded in 2000 by four off-road enthusiasts, as a way of promoting and running the MSA British Off Road Championship. After the onset of 'Foot and Mouth' disease in 2001, officials went on to run the 2002 MSA British Off Road Championship.

Marches 4x4 also runs two National Hillrally Championship rounds, Y Rali Bryn Cymru and The Hillrally. Most of the "Marches Team" are involved with other events, providing radio control, safety radio, course cars, course closing cars, stage commanders, Clerks of the Course, event safety officers, etc.

Further details to be available shortly on:

Baja GB