Rally Show at Chatsworth - 5-6 Jun 10

Cunningham and Millener take a ride with WRC Star!

Posted: June 16, 2010 4:32 AM

Just over a week ago Jonathan Cunningham (26) from Workington, Cumbria and navigator Richard Millener (26) also from Workington took part in the all new Fiesta SportTrophy (FST) Nations Cup competition at the Chatsworth Rally Show in Chesterfield. The rally show, which is run by championship sponsor Steve Perez and sponsored by his Kick Energy drinks brand saw Cunningham and Millener compete in a four way competition to win a prize drive in a Ford Focus World Rally (WRC) car. The show is designed to showcase the sport of rallying to both new and old rally fans. Cunningham and Millener were to represent Ireland, (Cunningham originally from Galway, Ireland) and were up against the fierce competition of familiar FST crews from the 2010 series of John Boyd / Fred Bell (representing Scotland), Elfyn Evans / Andrew Edwards (representing Wales) and Damian Smith / Frazer Hutchinson (representing UK).

The day would firstly begin with a once in a lifetime experience for all the crews competing, a passenger ride with current World Rally star and BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Driver, Jari-Matti Latvala. The Finnish ace showed all the FST upcoming crews just what he could do with a car around the short spectator stage and left all the crews in awe of his speed and talent. Once the experience had worn off it was time for the competition.
The format of the day would see each of the crews complete the short stage three times, after which the total stage times would be calculated and the slowest driver would be eliminated. A further one stage would see the second slowest driver knocked out, then a final one stage shootout would determine the winner of the Focus WRC prize drive. The first run of the stage saw Cunningham and Millener set a good pace but sliding wide on some artificial metal roads saw them hit a bale and lose precious rhythm, however with Boyd also getting caught out on the same corner and breaking a driveshaft it would see Cunningham and Millener through to the second round shootout after the three initial runs had been completed. Unfortunately the semi-final shootout would see the Workington pairing knocked out missing out on the final by a mere 0.5 of a second.
Evans would go on to take the win from Smith and take the prize drive, however the event was a great way for the current Fiesta SportChallenge series leaders to relax and compete in some fun driving away from the pressures of the championship which kicks off again in July at the Manx International Rally where Cunningham and Millener have a chance of taking the Fiesta SportChallenge 2010 title.

The end of the Chatsworth event was not however the end of the motorsport weekend for Cunningham as he flew straight from Manchester to Ireland where he was entered to compete on the Circuit of Munster rally on Sunday allowing him to continue his Junior Irish Tarmac Championship campaign.
A steady start for Cunningham in his Honda Civic, partnered by his brother Patrick saw Jonathan set third fastest time. The second stage would see improvement as he set second fastest time and closed in on second overall, however on the third stage disaster struck when Cunningham slid wide on a square right corner. Whilst in the process of getting the car back on the road, a fellow competitor smashed into the side of the Honda causing significant damage and causing Cunningham to lose a large amount of time.
Although the young Irishman would claim a finish to the event it was a disappointing result and makes his challenge to win the Irish Junior championship even harder but Cunningham is still determined to fight for good results on all the remaining rounds and is determined not to give up the fight yet.
Driver Jonathan Cunningham said: "Saturday was a great day, getting a spin with a current WRC driver is a once in a lifetime experience, something I may never get to do again, so that was a great start to the weekend. The Nations Cup was great fun and competing away from the championship pressures is always enjoyable. The rally in Ireland on Sunday was very disappointing but I am determined to not let it get to me and I hope to come back stronger on my next event at the Isle of Man in a few weeks time"

Evans wins the Nations’ Cup for Wales

Posted: June 11, 2010 9:27 AM

Kick Energy Fiesta SportTrophy UK (FST UK) Championship leader Elfyn Evans won the FST UK Nations’ Cup event at the Rally Show at Chatsworth, sponsored by Kick Energy last weekend. The non-championship event took place within the specially constructed one-mile stage around the grounds of Chatsworth House, Derbyshire. Four of the top FST UK and Fiesta SportChallenge (FSC) competitors from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland attended the event to uphold national pride and win the chance to drive the Kick Energy Ford Focus WRC 02 around the Chatsworth stage in the FIA Category cars event at the end of the day..

Pirelli Challenge rally winner Damien Smith, 28 from Silsden, alongside co-driver Frazer Hutchinson were selected to represent England in their Sykespeed Motorsport prepared Fiesta ST. John Boyd, 23 from West Linton, who currently holds second in the FST UK standings and his co-driver from 2009, Fred Bell, represented Scotland in their Border Toyota backed Fiesta ST. Ireland was represented by current FSC championship leader and Jim Clark Challenge rally winner Jonathan Cunningham, 26 from Galway together with co-driver Rich Millener, who became an honorary Galwayman for the day. The Irish crew were competing in their self-prepared Fiesta ST. Pre-event favourites, however, were FST UK championship leaders Elfyn Evans, 21 from Machynlleth and co-driver Andrew Edwards representing Wales in their Gwyndaf Evans Motors prepared Fiesta ST. The Welsh pair have the pedigree of winning the 2008 FST UK and Ireland championships and are unbeaten so far in 2010, so expectations were high heading into the event.

The three round knock-out competition began with each driver making three runs over the stage, after which the nation with the slowest combined time was eliminated. After setting the fastest time on his opening run, Scotland’s John Boyd had hoped to progress to Round 2. His second run was not quite as successful however; a broken driveshaft cost him over ten seconds and with it any chance of progressing further in the competition. Jonathan Cunningham also suffered damage in the opening round, sliding wide on the exit of a corner and damaging the rear axle. The damage was not enough to force the Galwayman out of the event but would seriously hamper his chances of making it to the final. Elfyn Evans ended the opening round of the competition in second place opting for a more measured approach to ensure his progression to the second round. It was England’s Damien Smith who topped the leader board after the first three runs, striking just the right blend of speed and consistency.

Round 2 would be decided with just a single run over the stage, with the slowest once again being eliminated from the competition. The damage sustained in the opening round cost Ireland’s Jonathan Cunningham a shot of making it to the final in this second round knock-out. Smith was once again quickest, beating Evans by less than a half a second with just one round remaining.

The final round came down to an ‘all or nothing’ single run shootout between England and Wales. England’s Smith improved on his time from the earlier rounds, but it was Evans who was quickest for Wales, overcoming the Englishman’s early advantage to win the chance to drive the Kick Energy Focus WRC.

Following his victory, Evans was given a brief introduction to the Focus WRC 02, by M-Sport engineer Tim Jackson, before being let loose in the car for two runs during the FIA category event. Despite never having driven the car before and his only previous four wheel drive experience coming in the form of a brief run in a Focus WRC 07 for a test at Carlisle Airport, Evans was quickly up to speed and every bit as committed around the one mile, mixed surface stage as he had been in his regular GpN Fiesta ST. Only a stall at the start line on his second run prevented him from posting what would have undoubtedly been a competitive time.

Nations Cup Winner, Elfyn Evans said:
“It’s been a really enjoyable day all round. It was great to get the chance to drive the Focus, the only previous experience of driving a car like it was around the Airport where there is much more open space. It’s only when you get on a proper stage that you really get a feel of what they can do, I would have loved to have a few more runs in the car to really get a handle of it.”

Pos. Country Driver Co-Driver
1 Wales Elfyn Evans Andrew Edwards
2 England Damien Smith Frazer Hutchinson
3 Ireland Jonny Cunningham Rich Millener
4 Scotland John Boyd Fred Bell

Breen Thrills Crowds at Chatsworth

Posted: June 8, 2010 6:31 PM

Making his second appearance at the now annual Chatsworth Rally Show spectacular Craig Breen thrilled rally enthusiasts from across the UK and Europe as he put his Kick Energy Ford Fiesta S2000 through it’s pace at the weekend in the midlands town of Chesterfield. 12 Months ago the young Waterford driver was there to take part in the Fiesta shootout but a year on he returned as one of the star attractions for the two day event. “It’s great to be back here again in Chatsworth, I don’t have championship points to worry about this weekend, and we all can relax and enjoy the atmosphere. I’m delighted to attend this year as the event sponsor Kick Energy also form a major part of my own sponsorship team” said the 2009 multiple championship winner on Saturday morning before the action got under way.

There was a late doubt about his participation as his Fiesta’s suffered engine failure just a week prior at the Jim Clark but this problem was sorted and over the two day’s the Kick Energy Fiesta excited ecstatic rally fans over the 1 mile stage time and time again.

Over the course of the two day’s the young Irish talent also got to take the wheel of the 2007 Ford Focus WRC, 2007 Mitsubishi Evo 9, 1974 Lancia Stratos owned by his and event sponsor Mr. Steve Perez but the car that gave Craig the most pleasure and exhilaration was the 1975 Datson 240Z Safari Rallycar. “Last season I drove the ST and R2 Fiesta models and we then moved to the S2000 for this season, I’ve also driven my Dad’s WRC Ford Focus and the current WRC Ford Focus at M-Sport but to drive the Datson was unbelievable. The growl from underneath the bonnet and no power steering makes it a totally different beast come paired to what I’m used to driving but I just love it.”

Craig and Gareth will return to serious action next week when the Citroen Irish Tarmac Rally Championship resumes in Letterkenny with the Donegal International. After their third overall in Killarney (Rally of the Lakes) Craig is only five points off top shot and hold third overall.

Results

Posted: June 7, 2010 3:23 PM

Chatsworth 2010 Results (All Events Zip File)

STARS CONTINUE TO LINE-UP FOR CHATSWORTH...

Posted: June 2, 2010 9:44 AM

With just three day to go, stars past and present are still adding their names to the very impressive list of attendees at the 2010 Rally Show at Chatsworth this coming weekend (5/6th June).

HENNING SOLBERG, brother of 2003 World Rally Champion Petter and a regular on WRC events himself, will be helping JARI-MATTI LATVALA with the driving duties over the two days of the Rally Show. They will be sharing the BP Ford Abu Dhabi Ford Focus WRC 09 which M-Sport are sending down from their base at Dovenby in Cumbria.

SIMO LAMPINEN, the former Saab, Lancia, Fiat and latterly British Leyland works rally driver will be demonstrating his skills in a variety of cars. Simo's career began in the early 60s but winning the 1968 RAC Rally, accompanied by John Davenport in a Saab 96 V4, first brought his name to the attention of the British motorsport fans. In a professional career that lasted for more than two decades, Simo also won the 1000 Lakes Rally in 1963 and 1964 on his way to taking the Finnish National Championship in both seasons.

PAUL STEWART, son of Grand Prix Racing legend Sir Jackie, will be performing demonstration runs in the brand new Subaru Impreza STI recently completed by George Donaldson and featured in depth in Motorsport News. The Formula One team that Paul and Jackie set up in 1996 has undergone various changes in the interim but is currently enjoying its most successful season to-date under the name of Red Bull!...

Promo Video

Posted: June 1, 2010 10:16 AM

FST UK drivers do battle to sample WRC Focus

Posted: May 24, 2010 2:00 PM

The fourth annual the Rally Show at Chatsworth sponsored by Kick Energy takes place on the 5-6 June 2010. Fiesta SportTrophy UK organisers, M-Sport, will once again support the event with a BP Ford Abu Dhabi Ford Focus RS WRC09, Monte Carlo winning Fiesta Super 2000 and the Kick Energy Ford Focus WRC02 that Jonathan Greer drove to second on the Malcolm Wilson Rally earlier this year on display. BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally team driver Jari-Matti Latvala will be in attendance to put the pair of Focus WRC's through their paces around the one and a quarter mile stage.

The 2010 Kick Energy Fiesta SportTrophy UK championship will also be represented with the new Ford Fiesta R2 in attendance. There will also be the chance to see some this years top FST competitors in action in a non-championship event around the Rally Show stage. Leading competitors from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland will battle it out in the FST Nations Cup. The event will take place over six runs on the stage with results taken from the total times. After three stages the bottom two competitors will be knocked out leaving the top two to battle it out over the remaining three stages.

All the drivers will get the chance to have a passenger ride with Jari-Matti Latvala and the winner of the FST Nations Cup event will get the chance to drive the Kick Energy Focus WRC a round the Chatsworth Stage

The drivers invited to represent each nation are:

England - Damien Smith, Winner Pirelli Challenge Rally
Scotland - John Boyd, Currently Second in FST UK Standings
Wales - Elfyn Evans, FST UK Championship Leader
Ireland - Jonny Cunningham, FSC Championship Leader

AUDI QUATTRO'S 30th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS AT RALLY SHOW AT CHATSWORTH

Posted: May 10, 2010 8:55 PM

The Rally Show at Chatsworth (5/6th June) will host one of the biggest and best celebrations of the Thirtieth Anniversary of the Audi Quattro. In addition to a line-up of rally cars on display and demonstrations that include five genuine ex-works Quattros, there will be a truly awesome number of Quattro Owner's Club members who will be bringing their cars to the Show and taking an active part in the proceedings.

It was in March 1980 that Audi created a sensation by revealing their mould-breaking Quattro at the Geneva Motor Show. With a turbocharged five-cylinder engine and permanent four-wheel drive, it took the world by surprise. That was even more so when executives of the company revealed that this gorgeous looking car, as far removed from current expectations of a four-wheel drive vehicle as one could imagine, was going to compete in the World Rally Championship of 1981.

It was an immediate sensation, not only winning the Manufacturers' title in 1982 but also taking the Drivers' titles in both 1982 and 1983 with Hannu Mikkola and Stig Blomqvist respectively. If that was not enough, Michele Mouton used a Quattro to rocket into the record books by becoming the first lady to win a WRC event on the San Remo Rally in 1981. Proving that it was no fluke, she went on to win three more in 1982 - the Portuguese, Acropolis and Brazil rallies - while in 1985 she amazed the Americans by taking outright victory on the legendary Pike's Peak Hillclimb in a Sport Quattro S1.

Throughout the Rally Show, there will be an Audi Quattro presence, with numerous examples appearing in a dedicated demonstration each day while many private owners will drive their cars in the various events and stage sessions that comprise a major part of the Show. On the Sunday, the Quattro Owner's Club will bring their cars out onto the 1.2 mile special stage to take part in a cavalcade as a tribute to one of the iconic cars of the latter part of the 20th Century.

The Show organisers, The Rally Show Ltd, would be delighted to hear from any members of the Audi Sport UK team of the 80's - drivers, co-drivers, and any of the David Sutton Motorsport team members and to contact them if they would like to attend the show.

Rally Show

RALLY SHOW HOSTS TOP BRITISH RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS

Posted: April 19, 2010 2:49 PM

Among the latest entries for the headline event for FIA-homologated cars at the Rally Show at Chatsworth sponsored by Kick Energy on 5/6th June are a pair of Renault Twingo R2s prepared by Autosport Technology and driven by Finns Matti Rantanen and Jarkko Nikara.

Nikara is the 2009 Pirelli European 'Star Driver' and recently finished 2nd in the R2 category on the first round of the British Rally Championship, the Bulldog Rally while Rantanen had a busy 2009, finishing 5th overall on the Rally of Finland , 8th on the Jim Clark Rally and was the outright winner of the Finnish 'Star of Stars' Shoot-Out.

A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH!...
From north of the border, the Palletforce Rally Team will be bringing a brace of Ford Fiesta R2s to Chatsworth. Led by Scottish Junior Rally Champion John McCrone will be driving for Rally Team Scotland at the Rally Show. Amongst his other successes, John won the 2009 Hankook MSA Scottish Rally Championship Prize drive which sees him taking up a fully- supported drive on the Rally of China. John, whose team-mate is Richard Moore, will also be driving his Fiesta R2 whilst Dave Holland, Marketing Director of Palletforce, has entered his Ford Escort RS in the "All-Comers" event.

MAJOR ROADWORKS AHEAD!...
Good news for all competitors and participants at Chatsworth - for the past two years there has been a problem with the "watersplash" road breaking up during the event. Chatsworth have now agreed to completely rebuild it and, thanks to the advice of Malcolm Wilson who has had similar problems with the M-Sport test venue in Cumbria, binders and cement powder will be used in the reconstruction to greatly increase the resistance of both the surface and foundation.

Director of The Rally Show, Malcolm Neill is delighted with the news.
"We have been working hard with Chatsworth to resolve the problem which was particularly bad in the appalling weather we had in 2009," he said, "and we are satisfied that this will be a great improvement to the Chatsworth stage. This year, as an additional precaution, the watersplash will only be opened up for the Sunday of the event."

For further details of the Rally Show at Chatsworth, visit the website:

Rally Show

Rally Show Presents 'History of Rallying - Great British Rally Cars'

Posted: April 13, 2010 3:05 PM

As part of this year's Rally Show at Chatsworth, a mouth-watering collection of cars representing the 'History of Rallying - Great British Rally Cars' has been assembled.

One of the last-ever ex works Austin Healeys, driven by Mick Darcey, will lead the demonstration on the Chatsworth stage, followed by the Ford Anglia 105E of Eric Weaver. Then we have the ex works Hillman Imp driven by Andrew Cowan, the legendary winner of the original 1968 London to Sydney Marathon for Rootes, who subsequently became team boss of the Mitsubishi Ralliart WRC Team that gave Tommi Makinen his four World Rally Championship titles. In 1998, on the occasion of Makinen's hat-trick, the team also won the WRC Manufacturers' title.

Other cars include the Mini Cooper 'S' of Manxman Adrian Kermode, the ex works Talbot Sunbeam Lotus of Graeme Lawton, Chairman of the Sunbeam Lotus Owners' Club, and the Greenwood Motorsport Vauxhall Chevette HS2300 which will be driven by Jimmy McRae, reunited with the car in which he finished 2nd on the 1978 Circuit of Ireland for Dealer Team Vauxhall.

Amongst other rare and unique cars that will participate in this demonstration that takes place on both days of the Rally Show is the ex Simo Lampinen Triumph TR7 V8 of Steve Rockingham, the Ford Escort MkII that Timo Makinen drove to victory on the 1975 RAC Rally and that has now been fully restored by Dave Watkins and the special-bodied fuel-injected Escort MkII of Kevin Vaites that Hannu Mikkola drove on the 1979 Monte Carlo Rally.

The demonstration finishes with some more modern cars, starting with an ex works 'Computervision' Rover Vitesse now returned to its original condition by Adam Keeler. Then there is the MG Metro 6R4 of Warren Philliskirk in which he has contested sixty-three rallies since 1995, winning seven of them outright, and finally the fabulous Ford RS200 of Terry Maynard.

The Rally Show itself provides an ideal opportunity to entertain sponsors and supporters. While the pace of the competition will be frenetic, the rally car rides give invited guests the chance to experience at first-hand the thrill of competing on a stage. In addition, the compact nature of the event and the relaxed atmosphere in the beautiful surroundings of Chatsworth House offer a day out to remember for all the family.

For further details of the Rally Show at Chatsworth, visit the website:

Rally Show

'COLIN MCRAE DRIVER OF THE RALLY SHOW' AT CHATSWORTH

Posted: February 5, 2010 11:46 PM

McRae Vision, the charity set up in the aftermath of Colin's tragic accident in 2007, will be attending The Kick Energy-sponsored Rally Show at Chatsworth over the weekend of 5/6th June.

Amongst its objectives, the charity supports causes and runs initiatives particularly for the benefit of underprivileged children and the education of young persons involved in motorsport. They have recently presented a cheque for £35,000 to purchase specialist medical equipment for a new paediatric intensive care ambulance for which further funds are being raised by the Yorkhill Children's Foundation.

Rally Show Ltd is delighted to announce that McRae Vision is presenting the 'Colin McRae Driver of the Rally Show' perpetual trophy for the first time this year. It will be presented to the driver and car combination that gives most enjoyment to the spectators at Chatsworth over the weekend. The recipient will be decided by representatives from both Colin McRae Vision and The Rally Show Ltd.

Entries for the popular stage sessions are filling up and, with four months still to go, over 40% of the available places have already been allocated. Amongst cars already entered are two Audi Quattros (the originals of which celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2010), a Nissan 200 S13, the Greenwood Motorsport Vauxhall Chevette HS and Charley Blaney's MG Metro 6R4.

Entries are now open for the competitive events and regulations are available to download from the event website.
There will be five events each running over the two days of the show, including the popular "All-Comers" event, an Historic Challenge catering for all four categories of the HRCR and the GT event for sports and GT cars which will be split into three date categories. Last year this event was famously won by Mark Higgins in the Aston Martin Rally GT, beating off the challenge of the German Porsches!

There is also an event for FIA-homologated cars and a new departure this time, the 'Baja Chatsworth' for off-road cars. This will be split into two categories; one for the astonishing XR 150 single-seater buggies and the other caters for the super-powerful traditional high-powered off road cars. An early entry has already been received from the Milner R5 which was built in nearby Matlock and will be driven by Steve Lloyd.

Spectators who purchase their tickets in February, March and April will automatically go into a draw for two rides in a rally car at Chatsworth. The winners in the December one are from Hereford and Ashbourne while those successful in January are both from Chesterfield.

For further details of the Rally Show at Chatsworth, visit the website:

Rally Show

Regulations available for Rally Events:

Posted: January 22, 2010 3:05 PM

Rally Show

IMPROVED LAYOUT FOR 2010 RALLY SHOW AT CHATSWORTH

Posted: October 12, 2009 12:12 PM

The next Rally Show at Chatsworth powered by Kick Energy takes place on 5/6 June 2010.

The 2010 event features a brand new special stage layout, plus better locations for the service park and the exhibition area. The Chatsworth stage has been changed to enable the running of all cars at 30-second intervals.

Both the service park and the event centre will now be much closer to the stage, as will exhibitors. Spectator viewing areas have been increased considerably.

Spectator admission prices have (on average) been reduced from 2009; the only ticket over £20 will be the popular two-day admission ticket.

New demonstrations are being considered, including a "Baja Chatsworth" to demonstrate top off-road cars, plus quads and bikes.

Competitive events will now all be run over the two days of the show. There will be four or five events, each of which will consist of a minimum of four runs each day over the new, 1.2-mile Chatsworth stage.

Our featured celebration will be "30 years of the Audi quattro, a tribute to the car which revolutionised rally car design and performance. We have already been promised the Audi Sport quattro, driven by Michele Mouton on the 1984 RAC Rally.

The DVD of the 2009 Rally Show is now available through the Rally Show website - it is 100 percent action-packed!

2010 will be the fourth annual Rally Show at Chatsworth. Over 40,000 people attended first three shows and this is now the second biggest rally event in the UK (only Rally GB is bigger).

Rally Show