2007 BAJA GB - 17-19 Aug 07

Posted: August 27, 2007 4:49 PM

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CZECH DRIVER MIROSLAV ZAPLETAL TAKES SHOCK BAJA GB VICTORY
The Czech crew of Miroslav Zapletal and Miroslav Janacek clinched a shock victory in Baja GB 2007, round three of the FIA International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, in Builth Wells, mid-Wales, on Sunday.

The Mitsubishi Pajero crew hit the front for the first time after the sixth stage, when defending Baja champion Marc Blazquez stopped with mechanical problems. The Czech came under pressure from FIA Baja Cup leader Boris Gadasin over the closing stages, but held on to take a memorable win in the rain-soaked mid-Wales forests. The result means that runner-up Gadasin is now the favourite to clinch a maiden Baja title in Portugal in October at the wheel of his Overdrive Nissan Navara.

"It was a nice event, but the stages were so very different to what we are used to in mainland Europe and they were very slippery," said Zapletal.

Spaniard Blazquez began the sixth stage on Sunday morning with a 2m 32s outright lead over Zapletal, as the Nissan man continued his push towards a third Baja title in as many years. But the Spaniard's championship dream met an untimely end in the damp Hafren forests, when he stopped with reported transmission trouble and handed the overall lead to Zapletal.

Gadasin duly beat his Czech rival by 14 seconds in the stage, but the Mitsubishi driver maintained a 5m 26s lead over the Russian heading into the final two stages. Slovakia's Josef Sykora, who had spent around 30 minutes in a ditch on Saturday following a navigational error, set the third fastest time in SS6, but eventually stopped with a broken halfshaft in the subsequent Tarenig stage.

The battle for T2 honours had swung in favour of Spaniard Francesco Termens. He trailed Qatar's Sheikh Hamed Bin Eid Al-Thani at the end of the second day, but scorched into third overall and a commanding T2 lead through the sixth stage, where both Italy's Franco Grigoletto and Spaniard Jose-Manual Garcia hit mechanical trouble.

The pendulum swung back into Al-Thani's court in stage seven through Tarenig, when Termens stopped for around 10 minutes with mechanical problems. Gadasin set the fastest time but the Russian could only take 1m 37s out of Zapletal's advantage and the Czech headed into the final Sweet Lamb stage with a 3m 49s lead. Al-Thani moved up to third overall, as Termens slipped behind Dutchman Toni Van Deijne into fifth place.

Those final kilometres through the damp and rutted mid-Wales forests confirmed that Zapletal became the first ever winner of an FIA Baja event in the UK. Gadasin consolidated second overall with the fastest time on the final stage to reduce the Czech's winning margin to 2m 54s, while Qatar's Al-Thani confirmed the T2 title with a superb third place.

"This is a fantastic result for me," said Al-Thani. "It has been a really enjoyable event. My team have done a great job. Now I can go to Portugal, maybe in a T1 car, and try and take a top overall result. But that will not be easy against the competition there."

Van Deijne and Termens completed the top five, Cheptow's Richard Hopkins finished sixth in his Land Rover Discovery and Richard Hayward, from Newport in Gwent, was a distant ninth. Last year's winner Ian Rochelle, from Bridgnorth, had been the first retirement on Friday evening with a broken propshaft.

Llandrindod Wells-based Graham Middleton was the sensation of the opening two days in his Rally Raid F350 and was hoping to head into the final leg 40 seconds behind leader Blazquez. But FIA technical officials carried out a weight check on several cars in Builth Wells on Saturday evening and Middleton's new car was deemed to be substantially underweight. There was no alternative but to exclude the former British national champion from the event.

Dan Lofthouse took a commanding lead into the final day of Y Rali Bryn Cymru and extended his advantage to 30m 03s by winning the sixth stage. He confirmed the win through the final Tarenig stage, as Frazer Williams and Middleton Stoney's Henry Webster completed the podium places.

Llanidloes rider Rowan Jones headed into the final three stages with a commanding 7m 45s advantage over Cannock's Derrick Edmondson in the motorcycle category, with Craig Bounds in third and Daniel Upton a class of his own in the quad field in fourth place. Burntwood's defending champion Lee Edmondson, Bournemouth's Ray Watton, Neath's Nick Plumb, Castletown's Kieran Clotworthy and Ashley Wood had retired on Saturday.

Jones extended his lead to 8m 09s through the penultimate 60.31 km Sweet Lamb stage, as Derrick Edmondson held on to second overall and Bounds clung to third. The Welshman duly confirmed victory in Tarenig, although Edmondson set his first fastest time to reduce the Llanidloes rider's winning margin to 7m 56s.

Bounds filled the final podium place and Upton was a fine fourth on the leading quad. Seventeen-year-old Yorkshire rookie Naomi Ridley finished her first Baja in 16th position on a Yamaha Raptor.

Baja GB - Positions after leg 3 (unofficial @ 13.40 hrs)
1 Miroslav Zapletal (CZ)/Miroslav Janacek (CZ) Mitsubishi Pajero 5h 42m 50s
2 Boris Gadasin (RU)/Alexander Mironenko (RU) Nissan Navara 5h 45m 44s
3 Hamad Bin Eid Al Thani (QA)/George Saryan (AUS) Mitsubishi Pajero 6h 08m 34s
4 Toni Van Deijne (NL)Wouter Rosegaar (NL) Mitsubishi L200 6h 10m 50s
5 Francesco Termens (E)/Jordi Vilalta (E) Mitsubishi Montero 6h 19m 31s
6 Richard Hopkins (GB)/Gary Toroysan (GB) Land Rover Discovery 6h 23m 23s
7 Zdenek Porizek (CZ)/Premysl Korejz (CZ) Mitsubishi Pajero 6h 34m 05s
8 Vincent Thijs (B)/Johan Bude (B) Mitsubishi Pajero 7h 15m 36s
9 Richard Hayward (GB)/Quin Evans (GB) Bowler Wildcat 16h 06m 32s
10 Piotr Beaupre (PL)/Jacek Lisicki (PL) Bowler Wildcat 200 26h 08m 30s
11 Andrea Spinelli (I)/Monica Buonamano (I) Mitsubishi Pajero 41h 33m 14s

Y Rali Bryn Cymru (National 'A' Rally) - Positions after leg 3:
1 Dan Lofthouse (GB)/Simon Kerfoot (GB) Lofthouse Proto LD4 4h 50m 02s
2 Frazer Williams (GB)/Dave Thomas (GB) QT Special 4600 5h 22m 09s
3 Henry Webster (GB)/Sarah Suter (GB) Land Rover Discovery 5h 22m 40s
4 Mike Moran (GB)/Richard Suter (GB) Bowler Wildcat 100 5h 41m 14s
5 Ben Gott (GB)/Chris Hammond (GB) TMC DB MII 5h 43m 17s
6 Glen McKeith (GB)/Caroline Smith (GB) Land Rover Freelander 6h 11m 09s
7 Richard Corking (GB)/Quentin Baum (GB) Land Rover 3M Special 9h 26m 47s
8 starters, 7 finishers

Baja GB Bikes/Quads* - Positions after leg 3:
1 Rowan Jones (Yamaha 450) 4h 27m 21s
2 Derrick Edmondson (KTM EXC-R) 4h 35m 17s
3 Craig Bounds (BMW X Challenge) 4h 41m 14s
4 Daniel Upton (Bombardier Renegade) 5h 10m 57s*
5 Clive Town (KTM 525 Rallye) 5h 13m 03s
6 Adam Evans (KTM 520 MXC) 5h 17m 04s
7 Lee Walters (BMW 650) 5h 19m 36s
8 Paul Howard (KTM 525 MC) 5h 28m 36s
9 Andrew Barlow (KTM 450 EXC) 5h 29m 34s
10 Steve Holland (KTM Enduro 450) 5h 31m 14s
11 Gordon McPherson (KTM 450 EXC) 5h 32m 07s
12 Chris Bickerton (KTM 525MXC) 5h 40m 28s
13 David Dickinson (KTM 525 XC) 5h 47m 03s
14 Mark Calzoni (Yamaha Raptor) 5h 51m 39s*
15 Lee Peck (KTM) 5h 53m 57s
16 Naomi Ridley (Yamaha Raptor) 6h 03m 24s*
17 Laurence Barber (KTM 525) 6h 16m 45s
18 Paul Blezard (KTM 450) 6h 21m 52s
19 Tony Brooks (Honda XR400R) 6h 34m 56s
20 Neil Tanner (Sherco 4.5i 450) 6h 46m 18s
21 Patsy Quick (KTM 950 Super Enduro) 6h 46m 49s
26 starters, 21 finishers

Full Results
Baja GB

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PRE EVENT NEWS

• FORMER BRITISH CHAMPION ALISTER MCRAE SET TO DEBUT NEW MCRAE ENDURO RALLY CAR AS BAJA GB COURSE CAR
• RUSSIAN CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDER AND ITALIAN BAJA WINNER BORIS GADASIN ENTERS BAJA GB 2007
• International entries roll in...
• DEFENDING CHAMPION IAN ROCHELLE CLAIMS FIRST OFFICIAL ENTRY FOR AUGUST'S BAJA GB
• ENTRIES OPEN FOR 2007 BAJA GB AS REGULATIONS APPROVED BY FIA
• BAJA GB ORGANISERS CONFIRM FINISHING TOUCHES TO PHASE TWO OF ROUTE IMPROVEMENTS ARE NEARING COMPLETION
• BAJA GB 2007 SET TO BENEFIT FROM £100,000 INVESTMENT IN FORESTRY ROAD IMPROVEMENTS AND TRACK UPGRADES
• BAJA WALES LIMITED FINALISE REGULATIONS FOR BRITAIN'S FIRST FIA BAJA
• BAJA WALES LIMITED ANNOUNCES RUNNING OF NEW-LOOK BAJA GB IN AUGUST 2007
• Event Details
• BAJA GB SET TO JOIN 2007 FIA INTERNATIONAL CUP FOR BAJAS

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07/08/07
FORMER BRITISH CHAMPION ALISTER MCRAE SET TO DEBUT NEW MCRAE ENDURO RALLY CAR AS BAJA GB COURSE CAR
Former British Rally Champion and regular international rally driver Alister McRae will give the brand new McRae Enduro rally car its first public competitive appearance as course car for Baja GB on August 17th-19th.

The car has just undergone a couple of shakedown tests in Essex and both Alister and father Jimmy - a five-times British Rally Champion - were delighted with its potential.

"I am extremely pleased about the reliability from the start," said Alister McRae. "To come up with a new design concept and for it to run faultlessly is just quite remarkable. Between us we clocked up 550 km of rough surface testing without any major failures.

"Every change we made to the spring and damper settings gave improvements and even better driver feed back. I then pushed very hard for the rest of the test and nothing broke - a testament to our engineer Peter Bennett and the rest of the team. I'm now looking forward to Baja GB."

The international entry will be bolstered by a pair of 3.2-litre Mitsubishi Pajeros entered in the T1 category. Porizek Zdenek and Koresz Preemysl will line-up alongside Hungarian team mates Zapletal Miroslav and Janecek Miloslav. Dutchman Woulter Rosegaar will also take part in the Baja at the wheel of a Team Van Deijne Mitsubishi L200 Club Cab 4WD.

Regular off-road competitors have entered the national category: Matlock's Trevor Milner and co-driver Andrew Lees will tackle the National 'A' event in their Milner R45 Protruck and Penketh's Mike Moran will have Richard Suter reading the notes in his powerful Bowler Wildcat 100. They will be joined by Chris Hammond/Ben Gott, Andrew Graham with an Allisport entry and Glen McKeith alongside co-driver Caroline Smith in a Land Rover Freelander.
Scottish Hillrally winner Dan Lofthouse is also set to enter the National 'A' event.

Local motorcycle racer Rowan Jones will be flying the Welsh flag with pride. The Llanidloes-based rider lives a stone's throw away from Sweet Lamb and will take part in the Baja on his Yamaha 450 in Class B1. He will be joined on the entry list by the Isle of Man's Kieran Clotworthy: the Castletown rider will take part in a KTM 450 entered in the B1 category.

Huddersfield's Matt Harrison will be hoping to improve on the third place he achieved in the quad category in last year's Baja, when he lines up at the start in Builth Wells on Friday, August 17th. But last year's Doncaster-based winner Matt Lee stands in his way and is sure to push him to the limit on his Yamaha Raptor.

This year's Baja GB has the full backing of the Welsh Assembly Motorsport Initiative, the Forestry Commission Wales and the Motor Sports Association (MSA).

Baja GB

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02/08/07
RUSSIAN CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDER AND ITALIAN BAJA WINNER BORIS GADASIN ENTERS BAJA GB 2007
Italian, Belgian and Spanish crews set to tackle this month's Baja GB;
Defending champion Edmondson, Eland and Bickerton top early motorcycle entry;
Baja GB organisers cancel tracking system due to lack of GSM coverage

The Russian crew of Boris Gadasin and Alexander Mironenko, winners of this year's Italian Baja, have entered Baja GB 2007, which takes place in mid-Wales on August 17th-19th.

The Nissan Navara crew are chasing a maiden FIA International Cup for Bajas title after winning the Italian round of the series and retiring during leg three of the recent Baja Spain Aragon. A points-scoring finish in Wales, followed by a top result on the final round in Portugal in October, could well catapult the Russian crew to a maiden FIA title, as Mitsubishi's Stéphane Peterhansel - the winner of the recent Spanish round of the series - will not be present in Wales or Portugal.

Gadasin will drive the Nissan that Scotsman Colin McRae used in the Transiberico Rally, although the Belgian Overdrive Team car, which runs under the management of former FIA Group N World Rally Champion and former Nissan factory driver Grégoire de Mevius, will be fitted with a new engine for the Welsh event. The Russian also finished 31st overall in this year's Transiberico Rally, the opening round of the FIA Cross-Country Rallies World Cup, at the helm of a Proto Dessoude.

He will be joined on the Baja GB entry list by the Italian crew of Andrea Spinelli and Monica Buonamono, who will compete in a 3.2-litre Mitsubishi Pajero in the T2 category. Fellow Italians Guiseppe Fornasa and Enso De Michelis will take part in a Fornsari RR 450.

The Belgian crew of Vincent Thijs and Johan Bude bolster the international contingent at the wheel of a Mitsubishi Pajero and Spanish championship contenders Francesc Rodrigues Termens and co-driver Jordi Vilalta Casas will take part in a 3.2-litre Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero entered in the T2 category.

Middleton Stoney-based off-road enthusiast Henry Webster and co-driver Sarah Suter, the Chepstow-based daughter of the chairman of the Baja GB organising committee Chris Tomley, will take part in the National 'A' category in a Friesian Racing Land Rover Discovery. Webster is a member of the organising team for BORC events and recently tackled the Scottish Hill Rally.

Last year's motorcycle champion Lee Edmondson had intended to tackle a Junior European Championship round in Finland over Baja weekend, but the Cannock-based youngster has confirmed that he will defend his two-wheel crown in the saddle of a four-stroke Honda CRFX 250. "I couldn't resist coming back to defend the title and lining up against my brother on his new KTM," admitted Lee. "It would be nice to win back-to-back Bajas."

Other entries received this week in the motorcycle category include Newcastle's Brian Eland at the helm of his KTM LC4 Enduro in Class B2, Telford computer worker Chris Bickerton on a KTM 525 MXC, Oxford's Paul Howard on a KTM 525 MXC and Macclesfield's Laurence Barber on a KTM 525.

Ulverston's Tony Brooks (Honda XR400 R), Caister-on-Sea's Neil Tanner (Sherco 450) and Abingdon's Lee Peck (KTM 400) have registered in Class B1. Both Peck and Howard are entered under the Team Desert Trax banner.

In 2006, the quad category was fiercely contested and the first three entrants in this year's Baja GB are Daniel Upton, 17-year-old rookie Naomi Ridley and Bradford's Mark Calzoni. Upton finished 12th overall in the motorcycle category in 2006 and second of the quads behind winner Matt Lee, although Upton is convinced that he can take his Bombardier Renegade to quad success on this occasion. Ridley is the daughter of off-road and hill rally enthusiast Russell Ridley and rides a Yamaha Raptor on her first Baja outing. Calzoni rides a Yamaha Raptor 700.

Event officials have confirmed that the Sporttraxx tracking system will not be used this year, because the mid-Wales forest area offers poor GSM reception which is vital for the accurate use of the technology. Competitors will therefore be issued with road books only and do not need to acquire tracking units from event officials.

This year's Baja GB has the full backing of the Welsh Assembly Motorsport Initiative, the Forestry Commission Wales and the Motor Sports Association (MSA).

Baja GB

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27/07/07
Polish and Slovakian teams claim first international entries;
Cannock's Derrick Edmondson set to debut KTM's new 530 EXC-RS;
Baja GB organisers plan special spectator viewing and access points

Qatar's Sheikh Hamed Bin Eid Al-Thani, the 1993 FIA Middle East rally champion, is planning to tackle next month's Baja GB, an event which will mark his competition debut in the UK.

Al-Thani is a regular competitor in European Baja-type rallies and Middle East events like the UAE Desert Challenge and Qatar Baja and looks set to tackle the third round of the FIA International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas in mid-Wales between August 17th and August 19th at the wheel of either his own Nissan Pathfinder or a hired 4x4 from an Italian team.

Doha-based Al-Thani has tackled numerous desert-type events in his illustrious career, but the Baja outing with Australian co-driver George Sayrak will be his first forest-type rally outing. He has already taken part in the Baja Italy and Baja Spain this season and is a regular competitor in the UAE national rally series. The Qatari finished ninth overall in Italy and 16th in Spain at the wheel of a Technosport-run Nissan Patrol.

Poland's 47-year-old Piotr Beaupre and co-driver Jacek Lisicki were the first international team to enter this year's Baja GB. The Krakow-based driver will use a Bowler Wildcat 200 on his first visit to a motorsport event in the UK. Other early international entrants are 47-year-old Jozef Sýkora and his 24-year-old co-driver Mazek Sýkora. The Slovakian pair from Zlaté Moravce have entered a 4.0-litre petrol-engined Mitsubishi Pajero under the Matador Motorsport banner.

Welshman Richard Hopkins and co-driver Gary Torosyan were the second British crew to enter the international event in their T1 Land Rover Discovery. Hopkins, from Chepstow, finished fourth in the inaugural Baja GB last August and was also 29th overall in this year's Baja Italy. Meanwhile, the first entrant in the National 'A' category is Richard Corking at the wheel of a Land Rover 3M Racer.

Cannock's Derrick Edmondson and co-driver Neil Ruffle finished fifth overall in the inaugural Baja GB at the wheel of a Range Rover Desert Warrior and the Midlander returns to mid-Wales action next month riding KTM's new 530 EXC-RS in the motorcycle category. Motor cycle dealer Edmondson has taken part in the Dakar Rally on a motorcycle in the past and tackled a recent UAE Desert Challenge on four wheels.

"The bike will arrive the week before the Baja, so I won't really have time to ride it beforehand," said Edmondson. "I have not ridden a bike since June last year, so the Baja will be a wake-up call. My brother Lee won the bike event last year, so I will be going to try and repeat that win. He has chosen to compete in a round of the European Junior Enduro Championship that weekend, rather than go head-to-head with his older brother!"

Chris Tomley, chairman of the organising committee of Baja GB, has just returned from visiting the Baja Spain Aragon. "Everyone was really enthusiastic about our event and we have been staggered by the interest shown in our new round of the championship from all over Europe."

This year's Baja GB has the full backing of the Welsh Assembly Motorsport Initiative, the Forestry Commission Wales and the Motor Sports Association (MSA).

Spectator information will be available shortly and specially prepared vantage points will be provided with easy access and car parking facilities. There will be three vantage points close to the service area in Sweet Lamb, where competitors pass twice on each stage.

Officials are also arranging a spectator point close to the Llanidloes to Machynlleth road, via Staylittle, to the north of Hafren forest. There will be three vantage points here, including the steep Dragon's Back climb. There will be further spectator access at The Arch in Myherin and two further viewing points.

All these areas will have catering and toilet facilities. Cars and bikes will be competing on alternate stages at the same time, so there should be continuous action throughout both Saturday, August 18th and Sunday, August 19th.

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20/07/07
DEFENDING CHAMPION IAN ROCHELLE CLAIMS FIRST OFFICIAL ENTRY FOR AUGUST'S BAJA GB
The 2006 Baja GB champion Ian Rochelle claimed the first official entry for the 2007 Baja GB, after regulations for both the car and motorcycle categories for the August event were posted on the event's official website this week. The third round of the FIA International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas takes place in mid-Wales between August 17th and August 19th.

Rochelle, from Bridgnorth in Shropshire, is keen to defend his Baja crown at the wheel of the powerful Bowler Wildcat 200 in which he tackled this year's Dakar Rally. Engine problems forced him out of the world's premier off-road rally after several days in January, but Rochelle is looking forward to locking horns with European competitors tackling this year's International Baja Cup.

Baja GB organisers have confirmed that there will be four classes available for bike and quad competitors under the jurisdiction of clerk of the course Mark Vaughan and ACU steward John Collins.

Two-wheel riders can enter Class B1 for four-stroke engines up to 450cc or Class B2 for bikes over 450cc. Quad riders will be entered in Class D, while Class A will be open to two-stroke competitors. All bike and quad entrants must hold an ACU or SACU licence, although European FMN riders are eligible and British riders will be able to purchase one-event ACU licences for £15.

Quad and motorcycle runners will tackle four special stages in Tarenig and Sweet Lamb forests on Saturday, August 18th and two stages on Sunday. They will not tackle the super special stage in Radnor on Friday evening, but will take part in the ceremonial start at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells on Friday afternoon from 16.30hrs.

"We have set the entry fee for bikes and quads at £200 and that provides riders with excellent value for money and motorsport competition over prime forest tracks in mid-Wales," said Chris Tomley, chairman of the organising committee, who heads a small delegation visiting the Baja Spain, round two of the FIA International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, this weekend.

This year's National Motorsport Week falls between August 11th and 19th and Baja GB is the major off-road event in the UK that weekend. The Week is an initiative from The Motorsport Industry Association (MIA) to promote the excitement of motorsport to new audiences. Further details are available from www.nationalmotorsportweek.co.uk. Organisers of National Motorsport Week will be working with radio, television and media to promote events taking place in the UK during the nine days of motorsport activities.

This year's Baja GB has the full backing of the Welsh Assembly Motorsport Initiative, the Forestry Commission Wales and the Motor Sports Association (MSA).

Baja GB

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13/07/07
ENTRIES OPEN FOR 2007 BAJA GB AS REGULATIONS APPROVED BY FIA
Bikers Brian Eland, David Dickinson and Jon Mackeen among host of enquiries;
Portuguese rally teams join numerous quad and bike riders bidding for entries

Officials at Baja Wales Limited have confirmed that entries are now open for the car, motorcycle and quad categories of Britain's first ever round of the 2007 FIA International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, which takes place in mid-Wales on August 17th-19th.

Organisers in Newtown have been flooded with enquiries from all over Europe for entries for the three-day event, with numerous quad and motorcycle riders keen to join car competitors in both the FIA T1 and T2 categories and drivers entering the Y Rali Bryn Cymru or National 'A' rally.

Several motorcyclists who tackled the inaugural Baja GB last August have already expressed their desire to return to the expanded 2007 Baja GB, which will take place in the Welsh forests of Tarenig, Myherin and Hafren.

Newcastle's Brian Eland was one of the pace-setters in 2006 and finished fourth overall. He looks likely to be joined on the motorcycle entry by the likes of Daniel Upton, Jon Mackeen (eighth in 2006), David Dickinson, Richmond's Paul Blezzard and Patsy Quick, all of whom are keen to return to mid-Wales forest action. Isle of Man-based Kieran Clotworthy, Andy Greenwood, Chris Bursell and Alan Bromiley have also been in contact with the organisers in connection with securing an early entry.

In the car category, Ed Cobley has already expressed an interest in competing with a powerful Bowler Wildcat, while Germany's Tino Schmidt and a host of Portuguese teams have enquired about entries, including Francesca Termens and Fernando Esperto.

"The regulations have now been approved by the FIA and everything is full steam ahead," said Chris Tomley, chairman of the organising committee. "We have an exciting and challenging route and many enquiries for entries to chase up over the next few days."

The event will start from 15.45 hrs at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells on Friday, August 17th. Cars will then tackle a 10.00km timed super special stage in nearby Radnor forest from 16.38hrs.

This year's Baja GB has the full backing of the Welsh Assembly Motorsport Initiative, the Forestry Commission Wales and the Motor Sports Association (MSA).

Foreign competitors wanting to obtain discounted rates on logistics, ferries and travel should contact Abergavenny's David Higgs, Allsports Logistics, Tel: +44 (0) 1873 850 025, Fax: + 44 (0) 1873 858 513, E-mail: daihiggs@aol.com

Entry forms and regulations will be available on the Event website from Monday, July 16th.

Baja GB

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28/06/07
BAJA GB ORGANISERS CONFIRM FINISHING TOUCHES TO PHASE TWO OF ROUTE IMPROVEMENTS ARE NEARING COMPLETION
Official event start switches to Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells;
Defending FIA Baja champion Marc Blasquez confirms Baja GB interest

Officials at Baja Wales Limited have confirmed that the finishing touches are now in progress for the second phase of route improvements in Myherin forest for August's Baja GB 2007, Britain's first ever international Baja-type motorsport event. The event will be the third round of the 2007 FIA International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas and takes place on August 17th-19th.

Around £100,000 has been invested to upgrade and improve tracks in the Hafren, Tarenig and Myherin forest areas of mid-Wales and event organisers are delighted with the improvements. All three forests will form the route for the August event, which organisers hope will attract a capacity entry of international T1 and T2 cars, quads, bikes and non-homologated cars running in a separate national rally.

"Forestry Commission Wales staff have been working very hard to upgrade the tracks and ensure that we have a challenging route," said Chris Tomley, chairman of the organising committee. "There are just a few hundred metres still to complete. Each of the forests feature some A-grade forestry roads, off-road sections with inclines and steep descents and some virgin territory that was sourced from aerial surveillance of the area and should add variety to the route.

"We are also working on finalising special spectator points to allow people to access specific places with excellent car parking and on-event catering facilities. For example, there should be two points in Hafren forest, spectator access to the Arch in Myherin and the Bowl in Sweet Lamb."

Event regulations are currently with FIA officials for final approval, but Baja GB organisers have confirmed that the event will start from 15.45 hrs at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells on Friday, August 17th. Cars will then tackle a 10.00km timed super special stage in nearby Radnor forest from 16.38hrs. Bike and quad competitors will not tackle the Radnor section.

Entrants will be held in an overnight parc ferme in Builth Wells, before the action switches to the forests of mid-Wales on Saturday and Sunday. Two runs through a 60.97km Sweet Lamb and 54.64 Tarenig special are planned for cars on Saturday, with bike and quad entrants tackling their own similar event schedule. Servicing will be centralised over the weekend at Sweet Lamb.

Sunday, August 19th features two runs through the Sweet Lamb section for cars and one pass through the Tarenig stage. Bikes and quads will again tackle their own event schedule. After a final regrouping in Builth Wells, the podium finish for cars will take place from 15.56hrs.

In a compact route of 625.82km, Baja GB officials have laid on 413.02 competitive kilometres for the international car field. This year's Baja GB has the full backing of the Welsh Assembly Motorsport Initiative, the Forestry Commission Wales and the Motor Sports Association (MSA).

It has already attracted keen interest from a two-car team from Nissan Spain, with the defending FIA International Cup for Bajas champion, Marc Blasquez, confirming his intention to participate in Britain's first ever event of this status. Blasquez won the championship in both 2005 and 2006 and is planning to tackle Baja GB at the wheel of a T1 Nissan Navara, alongside Spanish team mate Alexandre Re in a T1 Nissan Pathfinder.

Entries should officially open at the start of July, although event officials admit that they have been inundated with enquiries from as far afield as Poland, Russia, Portugal, the UAE, Qatar, France, Norway, Hungary, Belgium and the Isle of Man.

More Details:

Baja GB

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31/05/07
BAJA GB 2007 SET TO BENEFIT FROM £100,000 INVESTMENT IN FORESTRY ROAD IMPROVEMENTS AND TRACK UPGRADES
Phase one of competitive sections completed in Hafren forest in mid-Wales;
Second phase in Myherin and Tarenig set for mid-June completion;
Massive interest shown in Baja GB from foreign crews;
FIA appoints Baja GB officials from Finland, Bahrain, Jordan and France

Baja GB 2007 will benefit from £100,000 worth of investment in road construction and improvements in the Hafren, Myherin and Tarenig forests of mid-Wales. Britain's first ever international Baja-type motorsport event is the third round of the FIA International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas and takes place over the weekend of August 17th-19th.

Officials at Baja Wales Limited have now confirmed that the first phase of improvements to the Hafren forest selective section has been completed, providing a near-60km special stage through some of the Forestry Commission's prime Welsh forestry. Parts of the route have been used on previous RAC rallies, although the new Baja stage will feature a challenging and daunting new ascent and new bridge section.

This Hafren (Severn in Welsh) stage takes place in the shadow of Plynlimon, the official source of the River Severn, Britain's longest river. The upper reaches of the Severn meander through the middle of the Hafren forest en route through Mid-Wales and the Midlands and on to an eventual entry into the Bristol Channel.

"We are delighted to report that the first crucial phase of improvements in Hafren forest have been completed," said Chris Tomley, chairman of the organising committee. "Over the coming days we will be carrying out passes through the forest to pinpoint specific spectator access points, points of interest for the media and places to position safety and medical crews over the Baja weekend."

The second phase of route improvements involves the upgrading and extending of a planned special stage in Myherin and Tarenig to the south of the A44 trunk road, near Llangurig. This project is set for completion towards the end of June and will eventually give Baja GB organisers the benefit of a superb 55km special stage through the heart of the upper reaches of the Wye Valley.

"The road-building programme and improvements being made to the forest stages are a major boost to the future potential of Baja GB and other motorsport events in mid-Wales," said rally director John Horton. "By specifically developing the roads in these three adjacent forests this event will deliver the greatest concentration of competitive sections with very little mileage on the public road."

These two special stages will be repeated and used on Saturday, August 18th and Sunday, August 19th, but the competitive action is set to get underway with a timed super special stage in Radnor forest on Friday, August 17th.

The Radnor super special will use approximately 10km of the special stage used during the inaugural Baja GB in 2006. Overall special stage distance will be in the region of 420km over the three days.

Although event officials have yet to formally accept entries for the August event, interest from both car and motorcycle competitors has been exceptional. Organisers have already received enquiries from as far afield as Dubai, Russia, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany and France.

Meanwhile, the sport's governing body, the FIA, has confirmed that officials from Finland, Jordan, Bahrain and France have been appointed to assess Britain's first ever FIA-status Baja event.

This year's Baja GB has the full backing of the Welsh Assembly Motorsport Initiative, the Forestry Commission Wales and the Motor Sports Association (MSA). It is open to cars complying to both FIA T1 and T2 regulations, although there will also be a national class for non-homologated vehicles. Officials will also be running a separate event for motorcycle competitors under the auspices of the Auto Cycle Union (ACU) Bikesport GB.

Foreign competitors wanting to obtain discounted rates on logistics, ferries and travel should contact Abergavenny-based David Higgs, Allsports Logistics,
Tel: +44 (0) 1873 850 025, Fax: + 44 (0) 1873 858 513,
E-mail: daihiggs@aol.com

Officials, media and competitors wishing to reserve accommodation for Baja weekend should contact Mrs Yolanda Jaquet,
Tel: 01982 560732, E-mail: bajabooking@btinternet.com.

Regulations will be available from www.BajaWales.com by mid-June. Entry fees for competitors in both the Baja GB and Y Rali Bryn Cymru will be £1,200, while fees for motorcycle competitors will be £200. Further entry information is available from Wendy Tomley (E-mail wt@BajaWales.com).

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08/05/07
BAJA WALES LIMITED FINALISE REGULATIONS FOR BRITAIN'S FIRST FIA BAJA

Forestry Commission Wales prepare forest tracks for exciting Baja GB;
Massive interest shown in Britain's exciting new motorsport event;
New Italian tracking system in place to track competitors in August

Officials at Baja Wales Limited are now finalising the regulations for this year's Baja GB 2007, Britain's first ever international Baja-type motorsport event, which will form the third round of the 2007 FIA International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas on August 17th-19th.

Officials have now confirmed that the 2007 Baja - which ran for the first time as a candidate event in August last year - will have the full backing of the Welsh Assembly Motorsport Initiative and the Forestry Commission Wales, in addition to the Motor Sports Association (MSA).

Members of the organising team, including Clerk of the Course Chris Tomley and Marketing Director Selwyn Kendrick, have been working with the Forestry Commission in recent days to finalise an exciting and challenging route through the Hafren and Myherin forest complexes, with a centralised service park at nearby Sweet Lamb. The rally headquarters and media centre will be located in fully-equipped offices within the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells.

"Due to the enthusiastic support of the Welsh Assembly Government for the event, Forestry Commission engineers have been busy working on a new link road and other route improvements," said Chris Tomley.

"We are working with the Commission's forest managers to ensure these improvements will accrue for the long term benefit of, not only other national and club level motor sport events, including bike events, but also for the many other users of the forests from walkers and horse riders through to dog sledge racing teams."

Andrew Kellitt has been working to finalise the route timetable and road books for the Baja, which has already attracted considerable interest from international competitors, keen to join what the organisers hope will be a bumper entry of cars, quads and bikes in August.

Chris Tomley headed a small group who visited the Baja Italy in Pordenone, round one of the FIA International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, on a fact-finding mission and was impressed with the feedback and support he received for Baja GB. He has already received enquiries from the Tibau Team, Promotech, Bowler and competitors from the Middle East keen to take part in the event.

Following discussions with Wolfgang Schindele in Pordenone, Baja GB looks set to use an exciting and technologically-advanced Sporttraxx tracking system. This will improve safety on the event and enable rally control to keep track of all competitors.

Baja GB 2007 is open to cars complying to both FIA T1 and T2 regulations, although there will also be a separate event running over the same weekend for motorcycle competitors under the auspices of the Auto Cycle Union (ACU) Bikesport GB.

"Regulations for both cars and bikes are being finalised at the present and the interest from competitors in both categories has been amazing," added Tomley. "We expect to have a large number of foreign entries and have just appointed a hotel accommodation manager to deal just with accommodation, as this is the height of the Welsh holiday season and we want to ensure everyone wanting accommodation finds it easily. Her details will be published in the regulations and rally guide."

Baja GB

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05/03/07
BAJA WALES LIMITED ANNOUNCES RUNNING OF NEW-LOOK BAJA GB IN AUGUST 2007
Baja Wales Limited have officially announced the Baja GB 2007, Britain’s first ever international Baja-type motorsport event, which will form the third round of the 2007 FIA International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas. The exciting new Baja takes place on August 17th-19th.

Existing Baja GB organisers have appointed the experienced Andrew Kellitt as deputy clerk of the course and John Horton as rally director. Kellitt has worked with the Motor Sports Association (MSA) on numerous rallying projects and is Wales Rally GB event co-ordinator and deputy clerk of the course. Horton was rally director for the 1992 Hill Rally and is currently a member of the management team for both Wales Rally GB and the British Grand Prix.

Baja GB has received the full backing of the MSA, the Forestry Commission Wales and the Welsh Assembly Motorsport Initiative.

Baja Wales Limited promoted the inaugural Baja GB in August 2006 and a modified and improved event now takes its place in the prestigious four-round championship alongside Bajas in Italy, Spain and Portugal.

"The new Baja GB is a real leap forward for British motorsport and represents a major stepping stone for future drivers to be able to take part in major international events like the Dakar Rally," said Colin Hilton, chief executive of the MSA. “Wales Rally GB has been extremely successful in recent years and I am sure that Baja GB will follow in its international footsteps.”

Baja GB 2007 will be open to cars complying to both FIA T1 and T2 regulations, although there will also be a separate event running over the same weekend for motorcycle competitors under the auspices of the Auto Cycle Union (ACU) Bikesport GB.

Cars not complying to T1 and T2 regulations will be permitted to take part in a new National A event running alongside Baja GB. This will be called Y Rali Bryn Cymru, which has until now had its own regular slot in the British off-road calendar. The event last ran in May 2006 and was organised by Marches 4x4 Motorsport Management.

“After discussions with the MSA and the Forestry Commission about reducing the number of events on Forestry Commission Wales’ land, and with a view to demonstrating our awareness of environmental issues, we will combine Y Rali Bryn Cymru with the Baja GB,” said Baja GB’s clerk of the course, Chris Tomley.

Baja GB 2007 will be based at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells and gets underway on Friday, August 17th with a ceremonial start at The Lake in Llandrindod Wells and a timed super special stage in Radnor forest.

The bulk of the competitive action takes place on Saturday, August 18th and Sunday August 19th, with competitors in the various categories tackling timed selective sections in the Hafren and Myherin forest complexes. Servicing will be centralised throughout the two days at nearby Sweet Lamb and the podium finish will take place in Builth Wells. Spectators will be welcome throughout the weekend and special spectator viewing points with catering and parking facilities will be advertised prior to the event.

Entry forms and regulations will be available towards the end of March from www.BajaWales.com and the organisers have now confirmed that entry fees for competitors in both the Baja GB and Y Rali Bryn Cymru will be £1,200 for 421km of stages. Entry fees for motorcycle competitors will be £200. Riders will tackle a different route and a total of 348km of special stages.

Priority will be given to FIA championship contenders, Baja GB entrants and competitors who took part in last year’s inaugural Baja GB. There is a limit on entries in the various categories of 160.

Baja GB

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29/01/07
Event Details
With just over seven months to go before Britain’s first ever Round of the FIA International Cup for Cross Country Bajas, gets underway from the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society’s Showground at Builth Wells in Mid-Wales, the organising team of the Baja GB 2007 have been busy preparing the sections.

Event Guide & Regulations:- Download in February

Event Head Quarters:- The prestigious Royal Welsh Agricultural Showground, used in the past as a Service Area on the WRC round, the Network ‘Q’ RAC Rally, as well as HQ for other rallies and The HILLRALLY.

Ceremonial start :- The Lake, Llandrindod Wells, on Friday, August 17 then

Super Special:- Radnor Forest – Friday, August 17 in the afternoon

Central Service Area Will be at the internationally renowned Sweet Lamb Motorsport Complex at Llangurig, where top works teams test for WRC events and the HILLRALLY was run for many years in the 1990s

Spectators Will be able to watch three different points of the event from specially prepared vantage points at Sweet Lamb, close to the Service Area, (so service crews can watch easily as well). There will also be a running commentary.

Finish & Presentations:- The RWAS, on Sunday, August 20, in the late afternoon, when the marshals will be able to return to see the ceremony.

Sections:- Saturday – 2 runs of two different 65km sections & Sunday - 2 runs of 65km and 1 of 60km giving

Total competitive distance:- 450 kms of competitive, spectacular and picturesque mountainous, forest sections

Separate Bike and Quad section limited entries for this year.

Separate National Event for British Off Road Championship & Hillrally specification vehicles

Entries officially close Friday, July 27th.

“The work has begun to make the necessary improvements and revisions to our event to ensure that we are a fitting round of the championship in 2007” said Chris Tomley, Chairman of the MSA's Cross-Country Committee and one of the chief organisers. ”Sustainability is a priority for us in devising and arranging the event. We have chosen tracks which are hard bottomed and sustainable; no open moor land is being used. To further the environmental emphasis of the event, there will be special prizes for the leading competitors running on bio fuels and another for the lthose on mud terrain or less aggressive tyres.”

Baja GB has received the full backing of the Motor Sports Association (MSA), the Forestry Commission Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government.

Baja GB

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31/10/06
Baja Wales Limited set to organise world status event next August; Great Britain joins the world's Cross-Country rallying elite

Baja GB will become a round of the 2007 FIA International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, following the World Motor Sport Council's decision to include the event in the FIA championship calendar on August 17th-19th next year.

Baja Wales Limited promoted the inaugural Baja GB in August as an official candidate round and the event was well received by competitors, FIA and MSA officials and media alike. The upgrade to the FIA International Cup marks the first time that an event in Great Britain has become a round of a Cross-Country-type of motorsporting discipline and will mark a vital stepping stone for British drivers bidding to take part in future rounds of the FIA World Cup and the punishing Dakar Rally.

"I'm absolutely delighted that after all the organisers' hard work, they have been able to graduate to the FIA International Cup for Bajas," said Colin Hilton, Chief Executive of the Motor Sports Association (MSA). "This is a real leap forward for British motorsport and represents a major stepping stone for future drivers to be able to take part in events such as the Dakar Rally."

"We, at Baja Wales Limited, had a dream and that was to see Baja GB reach world status," said Chris Tomley, Chairman of the MSA's Off-Road Committee and one of the chief organisers. "We were overwhelmed by support for the inaugural event in August and are absolutely delighted that we have been accepted into the championship.

"Now the work really starts to make the necessary improvements and revisions to our event to ensure that we are a fitting round of the championship in 2007. I would like to thank everyone who made this dream possible. Sustainability will be a priority for us in devising and arranging the event and, in particular, bio fuels, already being used by some UK competitors, will be encouraged."

Baja GB has received the full backing of the Motor Sports Association (MSA), the Forestry Commission Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government.

"Cross-country motor sport competitions are fast becoming major world events and I am delighted to hear of the FIA's decision," said Andrew Davies, Wales' Minister for Enterprise Innovation and Networks. "This event, alongside Wales Rally GB, will help raise the profile of Wales and assist the growth of a high value economy in an increasingly global market place - including further involvement of Welsh motorsport companies in specialist vehicle development."

"Great Britain has lagged behind the rest of the world in terms of Cross-Country rallying, but this is a very positive step for the sport on these shores," said Derek Ledger, FIA Vice President and Chairman of the FIA Cross-Country Commission. "There is enormous interest in this type of sport in the UK and Baja GB is sure to boost that still further."

More details about Baja GB 2007 will be issued prior to the Autosport Show at the NEC in the New Year, although organisers have confirmed that there will be T1 and T2 categories for competitors tackling the international status event, in addition to a National car category and additional sections for motorcycles and quads.

Other rounds of the 2007 FIA International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas will take place in Italy, Spain and Portugal, although the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is running a candidate event in February 2007 for potential inclusion in the 2008 series.

Baja GB