Rallye Sunseeker - 19 Oct 13

£1million boost to Dorset economy

Posted: July 14, 2014 1:12 PM

A report by students at Bournemouth University’s Centre for Event and Sport Research has shown the economic benefit of hosting the final stages of the MSA British and Historic Rally Championships in Dorset.

Based on research conducted during face to face interviews at the 2013 Rallye Sunseeker, the report outlines an overall benefit to Dorset from spectators, competitors and activities of £1.2million.

With 20,000 spectators over the two days spending in the region of £614,000 and the 1784 attendees officials/competitors spending of £516,000, on accommodation, food and transport. Since 2012 Poole has hosted the starting ceremony and prize giving presentations, with stages of the race taking place at locations around Dorset.

The successful rally, sponsored for the last 15 years by Sunseeker, is scheduled to take place 17-18 October. Renamed Rallye Dorset, it will see the final round of the the MSA British Historic Rally Championship and MSA British Rally Championship take place. 2013 saw many visitors from Scandinavia who cheered on Finland’s Jukka Korhonen and Marko Salminen, winners of the MSA 2013 British Rally Championship title.

Rick Smith, Event Director, on behalf of organisers Southern Car Club, said:
“We are often applauded for bringing real financial benefits to the region, the Bournemouth University independent research and report has now confirmed this. £1.2 million of inward income is very much in line with patterns seen on other British Rally Championship rounds, so we are certain that they are a true trend, and we trust that the region gets behind us to ensure the future of the rally”

Bruce Grant-Braham, Chairman of the Poole Tourism Partnership, said:
"The British Rally Championship's annual visit to Poole has boosted tourism out-of-season and fills many tourist beds across the County. A sizeable number of spectators come from all across southern England for the day too - day visitors being a key tourist market for Poole. Not only that, there is huge local interest in this major event from local residents. We are pleased too that there is so much interest from our local population. The Southern Car Club's volunteer organisers are very business-like and are working with Poole Tourism in many ways to enhance the spectator and competitor experience in 2014 and beyond".

Video: Full BRC TV Program

Posted: January 31, 2014 12:52 PM

2013 British Rally Championship - Rallye Sunseeker - Full Programme from British Rally Championship on Vimeo.

In Car

Posted: January 31, 2014 12:47 PM

Ernie & Will Graham (Ford Escort)


Meirion Evans & Paul Wakely (Ford Fiesta ST) SS1

KORHONEN SECURES CITROËN RACING TROPHY UK TITLE, PRYCE TAKES THE HAT-TRICK

Posted: January 31, 2014 12:45 PM

he final Citroën Racing Trophy UK round took place this weekend at the Rallye Sunseeker International and it was Finn, Jukka Korhonen, who secured the title on the gravel tracks with points-and-a-half on offer.

Korhonen and his co-driver Marko Salminen had the advantage from the outset, needing to finish third or higher to seal the championship, with Alastair Fisher and Tom Cave the only drivers who could have deprived the young Finn. A superbly judged third place from the Korhonen, who placed ahead of Fisher and behind Cave, was enough to capture the first prize of €8000, a free entry to WRC Rally GB and 20 Pirelli tyres for the event.

“The competition has been so close; it has been a very good year. Marko has done a fantastic job this year and I must thank the Autosport Technology team too; the car has been perfect,” commented Jukka at the finish.

Commenting further, the British Rally Championship Citroën Racing Trophy winner, Jukka Korhonen, “I really don't know what to say right now. It's been one of the longest days ever. It's just an amazing feeling.”

The rally itself was won by young Welshman, Osian Pryce, who put in a dominant performance to lead throughout the 10 special stages. With co-driver Dale Furniss, the pairing scored their third CRT UK win on the trot. “I seem to be getting the hang of this now. It’s the hardest rally of the year, but it is great to win another event,” commented Osian. Their Welsh rivals, Tom Cave and Ieuan Thomas, were just 14 seconds behind.

Initially Mark Donnelly had held second place, driving in the same manner which saw him claim victory in last year’s Sunseeker event, but soon the pace of Korhonen, Fisher and Cave would prove too much. Korhonen was able to maintain third position, despite some hard charges by Alastair Fisher who ended the event just two tenths of a second behind the new champion.

Once again, Jonny Greer and John MacCrone were closely matched; Greer moved ahead of MacCrone after stage three and secured sixth place, with just six seconds in hand over seventh placed MacCrone who encountered a problem with his brakes on the final stage. Callum Black brought his DS3 R3 into eighth and although he was not registered for the Trophy, his performance underlined the dominance of the DS3 in the British Championship this season.

Osian Pryce’s victory brought him into second in the CRT UK standings which gives him a free entry to Rally GB, € 5000 and 12 Pirelli tyres.

Misfire hampers Carney's quest

Posted: January 31, 2014 12:41 PM

David Carney's quest for a strong finish last weekend on the final round of the British Rally Championship, Rallye Sunseeker, were hampered by a costly misfire which slowed the Mayo driver and his Laois based navigator, Ray Fitzpatrick, on stage 2 of the event. With the event only covering 58miles over the 10 stages any time lost would prove costly. Once back in service after stage 3 the MCD Rally Services team set to work and cured the problem giving David and Ray a chance to push for better times on the next loop of stages.

With their confidence restored in the Carney?s Quarry and Mayo News backed car the crew set about bettering their overall position through the remaining stages of the day. Despite some rough conditions in the Dorset forests they managed to climb to 13th place overall and 5th in the hotly contested R2 class.

After a season long exercise of learning the events in the BRC, most of which were new to the crew, David was rewarded with 2nd in the Ravenol Oils Newcomers Trophy, while Ray finished 3rd placed navigator in the R2 class.

David?s attentions now turn to the Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman award where the winner receives ?50,000 worth of support to contest stage rallies nationally & internationally in 2014 along with the support of Billy Coleman co-ordinator, Tom Walsh, while the two runners-up will receive free entries into a number of MI permitted events in 2014, along with co-ordinator support. If successful then David hopes to upgrade to an R3 specification car where he will then compete at the higher level in the BRC in 2014.

David is supported by Carneys Quarry, Adventure West @ Westport House, MCD Rally Services, Easy Sale Ireland and The Mayo News

Raftery’s Rally, Thompson’s title

Posted: January 31, 2014 12:38 PM

Russ Thompson and Andy Murphy are the 2013 NGK Spark Plugs BRC Challenge champions, after a top class drive in the forests around Poole, secured the title they have led all season.

A second place finish was enough for the pair to be crowned, as their title rivals were unable to match their pace on the season finale Rallye Sunseeker Challenge.

Winning the event, Irish crew Dean Raftery and Aileen Kelly delivered another eye catching drive on their way to the top step of the podium.

After taking part in Friday evening’s ceremonial start proceedings in front of a healthy crowd, the competitive action got away from service on Saturday morning. Under broken cloud, the field headed to the first stage of the day, Uddens Water.

First through, championship leaders Thompson and Murphy rattled through in a steady time of 3mins 11secs, looking to take no risks on roads that were slippery following heavy overnight rain.

For the other championship contenders, the stage produced mixed results. In second place, and looking poised to launch an attack on the lead, Richard Sykes and Emma Morrison were a mere 1.3secs off the lead. Sitting in fourth, Gareth White and new co driver Keegan Rees found themselves seven seconds from the top spot.

Back in 11th, Ross Hunter’s title hopes were over after he and co-driver Josh Davidson suffered a broken brake pipe, leaving the young Scot with very little in the way of braking power.

As the action moved on to day’s second test, Ringwood West, Thompson was again the pace setter, his time of 7mins 31.9secs enough to extend the lead to nearly three seconds.

In one stage their nearest challenger had changed from title rivals Sykes/Morrison to Raftery/Kelly, who were once again showing a good turn of pace, as they had doneon every round they contested.

With the day’s first service stop just around the corner, the ‘Challenge crews made their first assault on the Somerley Park stage; After the five and three quarter miles were completed, it was Raftery and Kelly who sat atop the timing screens as the pair took 3.1 seconds out of Thompson and Murphy.

The championship leaders were unperturbed by this however, with their eyes being firmly locked on the overall crown, the increasing gap to the nearest championship rival was providing sufficient solace. Further down the order, stage three saw two crews retire with mechanical troubles.

Firstly young Welsh ace Meirion Evans, who had shown an impressive turn of speed on his return to action in Yorkshire, fell victim to a throttle problem. It was particularly disappointing for the man from Llanwrda, as he sat fifth overall as the leading Fiesta and poised for a season best finish.

Mechanical misfortune then also befall Clio 172 Cup champion Mike Threlfall. From the start of the day, he and co-driver Rob Harrison had been struggling with a malfunctioning steering assembly. Manfully trying to nurse the car back to service, their efforts fell short when, after crossing a cattle grill towards the end of stage three, the defective mounting cried enough and failed completely.

Heading out of service, the crews then settled into the second loop of three stages. With final championship placings now occupying everybody’s thoughts and continuing tricky stage conditions, positions remained static. Although, at the front of the field the skirmish for the lead continued.

Through stage four, Thompson limited the advantage Raftery/Kelly were able to build to just a 1.9 second lead, before stealing a near seven second advantage of their own through stage five.

On the final stage of the loop, the Honda Civic crew were able to overturn the advantage as the blue Renault Clio was nursed through a rough Somerley Park, Thompson/Murphy only too aware similar road conditions forced them into retirement on the 2012 Rallye Sunseeker.

Someone who had succumbed to the conditions, one stage earlier, was Steven Smith with co-driver Josh Davidson. The Scots pairing not only tore off their exhaust, but also ripped the gearstick out of the ‘box, as a result, they dropped from fifth to eighth.

With only three stages to complete after the afternoon service halt, Thompson/Murphy had one hand outstretched towards the champions champagne, knowing a trouble free run would see them crowned NGK Spark Plugs BRC Challenge kings.

On the relatively short Uddens White Sheet however, disaster nearly struck a knockout blow to these aspirations.

Approaching the first turn of the stage, a 90 degree right hander, Thompson clipped a bump on the apex of the corner which spat the car across the road. With momentum now in charge of the car, the crew were thankful for two huge strokes of luck that allowed them to continue.

The first, that the opposite side of the road was merely a soft bank rather than a ditch and the second that they missed a tree a matter of inches from where the car went off. After such an extraordinarily near miss, discretion became the better part of valour for the likeable crew and they undertook a cruise to the finish.

This was no potter to the end though, with both stage times being fast enough to rank in the top three. A worthy performance from a worthy champion.

With no pressure coming from behind, Raftery was en route to the win. It was not an opportunity the Irish crew were going to be denied, particularly after a puncture robbed them of an impressive win at the start of the season in Carlisle.

Victory by 19 seconds with six fastest stage times in the bag provided a stylish sign off for the driver who has shown real potential in 2013.

Elsewhere in the 2013 ‘Challenge finale, outgoing champion and 2013 runner up Richard Sykes, took the honours in class RC5, beating Melrose’s Gareth White to the crown with his class win and third overall. White added 4th place in the overall table to his RC5 runners-up spot.

Both men had endured campaigns where speed was demonstrated in abundance, only for individual errors or technical failures to cost them strong results.

While the pair declared themselves generally happy with their season finales and seasons in general, as the dust settles, they will surely resolve to come back harder and stronger in 2014.

Final championship contender, Ross Hunter, never really recovered from his braking woes on stage one and as they day went on, he was unable to find a rhythm on stages he was finding slippery and rough. His final positions of sixth NGK BRCC and third in class, on what was his first season contesting gravel events in five years, means Hunter should be pleased with his third place finish in the overall championship.

Taking fifth on Rallye Sunseeker, Fiesta SportChallenge champion Aaron McClure went out for an extend test session, throwing and skidding his Fiesta through the forests putting on a show for the spectators. Keeping it all together to the finish, the points picked up secured his co-driver Tom Woodburn second in the RC4 co drivers standing.

Finally, Chris Wheeler’s ninth place finish, ensured the BRC Star of the Future winner’s co driver Yan Griffiths, walked away with RC2&3 co-drivers honours.

In what always promised to be a close season, the NGK Spark Plugs BRC Challenge delivered a quality season, unearthed new exciting talent and ended up with deserving champions across the classes and championships up for grabs. The 2014 season has a lot to emulate.

BHRC 2013 Finale – Rallye Sunseeker – Hill gives his rivals a mountain to climb before taking the title

Posted: January 31, 2014 12:37 PM

Ford Escort Mk1 driver Richard Hill fully justified being the bookies’ favourite to win the 2013 Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship driver’s title by scoring a dominant victory at the Rally Sunseeker Historique. On special stages made slippery by recent heavy rain, Hill and co-driver Pat Cooper stormed into an immediate lead in Category Two, consolidating it throughout the rally with a consistent series of fastest stage times. Eventually, their 1m 13.7s margin of victory over David Stokes / Guy Weaver’s Escort Mk1 gave Hill maximum points, confirming him as the 2013 BHRC champion driver.

In Category Two, for 1968-’75 cars, Hill proved to be virtually untouchable for pace. Despite an all-out effort from Stokes, who set a series of third- and second overall fastest times during the morning, Hill stretched his lead mile by mile. A stall and, later, a half-spin failed to faze him as he raced through the forests, becoming the only driver in the historic field to go under six minutes for Somerley Park. As he pulled into the final holding control at Creekmoor service area, it was clear he was still very much aware of getting over the finish ramp. “Winning the title isn’t quite signed, sealed and delivered yet. We still need to get to Poole Quay.”

Behind Stokes, whose persistence was rewarded with second on the day and winning Category Two for the season, Nick Danks / Martin Corbett in their new Escort Mk1 RS 2000 successfully held Wayne Bonser / Rich Aston’s similar machine at bay until Bonser stormed through stage six 30 seconds faster, taking the position and holding on to the finish.

In Category One (pre-1968 cars), Rikki Proffit / Phill Harrison and Dessie Nutt / Greraldine McBride fought for supremacy; this time, crucially, with the winner possibly taking the BHRC title. Nutt proved quicker early on, his Porsche 911 handling the bumpy opening stages better than Proffitt’s similar machine. At first service, Nutt reported no mechanical problems while Proffitt’s engine was refusing to run cleanly above 5,500 revs. This problem combined with a stage two spin and, later, having to dodge a flock of sheep in stage three, Somerley Park to put his championship chances in peril.

With the engine woes cured Proffitt struck back in the middle of the day, taking a four-second lead into the final pair of stages. But it all went wrong on the final test, Ringwood North 2. At the finish, Nutt reported seeing Proffitt’s car parked at the side of the track, his day and championship over. “When we spotted Rikki we drove the rest of the stage very carefully to make absolutely sure of winning the Category,” he said. Edmund Peel / Janet Craine brought their 911 home third, after a thoroughly enjoyable day-long tussle with Clive King / Bob Ward’s Mini Cooper ‘S’. King held third for most of the event, driving at maximum attack even though he had one ear open for a recurring ‘clonk’ from under the car. “We got massive air over a jump on one stage,” he reported. “ I don’t think it was quite as flat out as I’d hoped.” Eventually though, Porsche power paid dividends and Peel overhauled the Cooper crew in the closing miles.

In Category Three, Gareth James / Steffan Evans took their Escort Mk2 RS 1800 to its fifth win of the year, but only after having to chase down the in-form pairing of Ernie and Will Graham, who set up a strong early lead in their BDG-powered Escort Mk2. James came into first service looking puzzled, after his engine inexplicably died on stage two, before equally unexpectedly firing up again. “I looked under the bonnet but couldn’t see anything wrong, tried the starter and it fired straight away,” he reported. Knowing he needed to win the Category to stand any chance of taking the driver’s title James went on a big push in the afternoon stages. But Graham was still flying and it took the Welsh crew until the final test, Ringwood North 2 to overhaul him. Despite the disappointment of not taking the series driver’s crown, James was very pleased that his result and maximum points haul meant Evans became the BHRC champion co-driver.

Behind the leading pair, a tremendous day-long battle raged for third in Category between a non-BHRC registered crew in a BDG-powered Escort Mk2, and Shawn Rayner / Declan Dear’s Pinto powered example. Never afraid of taking on and beating the more powerful Twin Cam cars, Rayner went on maximum attack from the start, having what he later described as numerous “Banzai moments” including a high speed overshoot at a Square Left corner on stage three, and then putting his car up onto two wheels after hitting a bump while nearly flat out on the final test. Eventually the other crew held on, but by only 48 seconds after 53 competitive miles.

Daniel Mc Kenna the Billy Coleman Award Winner Wins BRC Rally 2 Title

Posted: January 31, 2014 12:36 PM

Daniel, co-driver Arthur Kierans and his team are delighted to announce that they have crowned the BRC Rally 2 champions with the Scanbitz Ltd and Ravenol Motoroil supported Ford Fiesta R2 at the final round of the BRC, Rallye Sunseeker in Poole, Dorset. Daniel sealed the championship with a mature controlled drive to finish second in the R2 category on the event, doing more than enough to take a hard fought title from event winner Steve Rokland. This was Daniel’s sixth podium of the year in as many events, the only R2 crew to manage this amazing feat, which stands testament to the speed and consistency of this championship winning crew.

Ten tough stages and eight other R2 crew stood between Daniel and the Title before the event started and after the Friday Recce, Daniel new that remaining in a top five position throughout the event, which was enough to guarantee him the title was not going to be an easy task. The plan was to start with a steady safe pace and monitor all other R2 drivers times and make no mistakes to take the championship. Also for added safety the crew carried a bigger tool repair kit and some extra spares in case of emergency which they knew would affect the cars performance but Daniel was willing to compromise this for the added reliability.

Daniel and Arthur did exactly this going second fastest on the first stage directly behind Rokland. Daniel remained in this position throughout the event, driving well within his capabilities to consolidate his podium place and stay ahead of the chasing pack. However with slippery conditions on the stages for much of the day and the top five R2 cars never being separated by any more than a minute and thirty seconds, one mishap could have spelled disaster for Daniel’s championship hopes. Another problem was with three passes on some of the stages they became extremely rough and rutted which really took its toll on the car, but the reliable Fiesta R2 was more than able for the challenge and Daniel even managed to set a fastest stage time on stage 8 of the event despite driving in safe mode.

Daniel is absolutely delighted with the result and the championship season as a whole, here is what he had to say about his wonderful achievement.
“At the beginning of the season I couldn’t have dreamed for the championship to work out like this for us. To be on the pace with all these great drivers in the BRC, take four wins, a second and a third is unbelievable. I really need to thank my dedicated service crew for their help all year, especially Sharkey Motorsport for preparing a very reliable car throughout the season. I would like to thank all my sponsors for their support, Motorsport Ireland and the Irish Sports Council for their great advice in conjunction with the Billy Coleman Award, Arthur Kierans for a great job all year on the notes and all of my friends and family for all of their support and good luck. The championship win really sets us up well for the Pirelli Star Driver Shootout over the next few days and I am hopeful for another big result from that competition”.

Daniel’s focus switches now immediately to the Pirelli Star Driver shootout where he will compete against five other nominees for a prize of a full BRC Season in a Citroen DS3 R3T backed by Pirelli which is extremely important for Daniel and his rallying future for the chance to make it into the next level of the sport. Daniel’s number one goal before the season began was to secure a nomination for the Pirelli Shootout and to be a strong contender for the prize which he has done, so fingers crossed he can end his season on a fantastic high.

Another competition for Daniel this week is the BRC Live Media Trophy shootout held at World Rally preparation experts, Prodrive’s facility in Banbury. Daniel along with 5 other nominees will be interviewed where the winner will get to test drive JCW Mini S2000 which is another amazing opportunity in conjunction with the BRC.

Daniel will let you all know how these competitions unfold with a post-event press release next week so keep an eye on his website, danielmckenna.net. In the meantime keep up to date on Daniel’s Twitter and Facebook pages for any updates over the two competitions.

BRC: Pryce’s hat-trick, Korhonen’s title

Posted: January 31, 2014 12:34 PM

Jukka Korhonen and Marko Salminen broke the 12 year Finnish drought at the top of the MSA British Rally Championship this weekend, finishing the final stage of Rallye Sunseeker International in third place, securing the British overall and class titles in their Citroën DS3 amid jubilant scenes.

Korhonen appeared relieved but delighted at the finish of the event saying; “I really don't know what to say right now! It's been one of the longest days ever, but it is just an amazing feeling! I am so proud to add my name to the trophy that has the likes of Hannu Mikkola and Ari Vatanen on it.

“The competition has been so close; it has been a very good year. Marko has done a fantastic job this year and I must thank the Autosport Technology team too, the car has been perfect.”

Rallye Sunseeker was a nail-biter from start to finish, three drivers in with a shout at the BRC title. But the Finns had the upper hand ahead of the Poole-based rally, needing only to finish third to guarantee this world-renowned rallying accolade.

Mercifully dry during Saturday’s action, the weather had threatened to turn throughout Friday, but rain stayed away just long enough for a packed ceremonial start on Poole Quay. Overnight the heavens opened, leaving the stages wet and slippery, ready to catch out the unwary.

Keenly aware of the conditions, Welshmen Osian Pryce and Dale Furniss dominated from the start of the 60 mile event to take their third straight victory in the Ringwood forests, their hat-trick helping to secure second in the championship. After beating Tom Cave/Ieuan Thomas on the stages, both ended a tense season on 92 points. In a reversal of the pair’s 2012 Rally Yorkshire tie break, this time it went in favour of Pryce, based on his higher number of maximum scores this season.

After the first loop of stages Cave had been fifth in his Morris Lubricants DMS machine, but with a total of less than eight seconds covering the top five, it was still all to play for. A fastest time on the longest stage catapulted him to third, managing to ease past Korhonen for second by the half way point.

It was down to Alastair Fisher/Gordon Noble and Cave/Thomas to attempt to wrest the title from Korhonen, both crews needing to win to have any chance of series victory. But from the very first stage it was clear that Pryce had other ideas, making his mark on the opening test with a time 1.9 seconds clear of last year’s winner and number one seeds, Mark Donnelley and Dai Roberts.

DGM Sport driver Donnelly looked like he had the measure of his Pirelli Star Drive prize DS3 at last, but the pace at the front was so hot that he and Roberts were quickly swallowed up by an onslaught of Citroëns. Their eventual fifth place belied the fierceness of the competition though, the margin between him and fellow Northern Irish crew Fisher/Noble never more than two seconds until near the end of the ten-stage rally.

In a season where tenths have replaced seconds on some events, Donnelly’s DGM Sport team-mate Fisher missed a podium place by just 0.2 seconds, unable to make a significant dent in Korhonen’s stages times on a surface that sapped power from the front-runners’ Citroën DS3s.

Despite being just 25, Jonny Greer could be considered a BRC veteran and he was reasonably pleased with sixth after climbing from eighth early on. The Ulsterman and Scottish co-driver Kirsty Riddick managing to keep Culina Palletforce Racing crew John MacCrone and Phil Pugh at bay after overhauling them on stage three.

Callum Black and James Morgan ended the day in eighth place, the 22 year-old Brackley man surprised and delighted to take the Mantis Performance Car Care award and cheque for £250 at a darkening Poole Quay finish.

County Monaghan’s Daniel McKenna and Arthur Kierans held their nerve in the BRC RallyTwo and BRC Class 6 title fight, a controlled run allowing rivals Steve Røkland and James Aldridge the event win, but second place enough to seal the series for the Irish pairing. They also secure the Fiesta SportTrophy, following in the footsteps of drivers who have gone on to success on the world rally stage. Victory also means a free entry on Wales Rally GB, part of the joint BRC and WRGB Road to Wales campaign.

Røkland was fastest of the RallyTwo runners throughout the day, managing ninth overall and the International Rally Drivers' Club Newcomers Award on the rally, with an untroubled run in the Fiesta R2. The quietly spoken 21 year-old has, however, shouted about his performance in his home Norway, adding his name to the Prodrive-supported BRCLIVE Media Trophy finalists through great media exposure in 2013.

Rally Yorkshire’s Pirelli Star Driver nomination Alex Parpottas had a new co-driver, Alexander Kihurani, helping the 20-year old to third place in the ultra-competitive category. Another good drive demonstrated a growing maturity from the Hertfordshire Fiesta pilot.

Twingo Renaultsport R2 Trophy winners Chris Ingram and John Connor were fourth, making a welcome sight in the forests in the fantastic sounding Renault Twingo R2 Evo. They bettered fifth placed David Carney and Ray Fitzpatrick during the first half of the day’s stages, managing to keep them at bay, despite Carney’s faster times after lunch – times that gave them maximum points in the RAVENOL Oils Newcomers Trophy.

The battle for the BRC Teams Cup went to DGM Sport, courtesy of great performances throughout the season by Fisher and Donnelly. Only the highest placed driver scores for this trophy, so enabling Cave’s Morris Lubricants DMS single car entry to stay in touch right to the finish, finishing just three points adrift. With all scores counting towards the trophy, MacCrone’s retirement in Ulster cost Culina Palletforce Racing a chance at the title, but the team worked hard to secure third.

As the top of the championship has been dominated by the awesome Citroën DS3 R3T, it is no surprise that Citroën UK retains the MSA British Manufacturers Rally Championship. No surprise, but no less impressive, as the car of choice for the majority of front-runners, the front wheel drive 210 horsepower machines have been fast, reliable and brilliant to watch.

In addition to providing the car that dominated the series, Citroën’s support of its eponymous Racing Trophy means that Pryce takes a massive €5000 in parts vouchers, a share of the €63,000 made available at the start of the season.

As overall Citroën Racing Trophy champion, Korhonen also takes a free entry to Wales Rally GB, the final round of the World Rally Championship, plus €8000 start money and 20 Pirelli tyres. Pryce grabs an additional €5000 start money and 12 Pirelli tyres with third placed Cave rewarded with €3000 start money and eight Pirellis for the November event.

Rallye Sunseeker International also saw the conclusion of the season-long battle for the MSA British Junior Rally Championship and Twingo Renaultsport R1 Trophy UK. Harry Threlfall and Andy Bull had a mountain to climb to beat their rivals to the titles, reliant on Ben and Jason Mckay’s retirement to clinch the series. But the situation did leave them free to push harder, knowing that Mckay would be in safe mode. Book-ending the season with wins, the ebullient man from Taunton was as pleased as ever on the Poole podium.

But it was team Mckay that groaned under the awards in Dorset. Having missed the pre-rally recce, they admitted to pottering round for a finish – not fast, but exactly the required approach in the circumstances. Another recipient of a free entry on Wales Rally GB for the Junior title, the Twingo prize also awaits in the south of France – an arrive-and-drive run in a Twingo R2 on Rallye du Var, the final round of the French Rally Championship.

Having secured the BRC Class 9, Junior and Twingo titles at the finish, the 21 year-old was preparing to head back to Oswestry when he had the surprise of the day. As reward for his mature first season en-route to the British Junior title, the Pirelli Star Driver judges awarded him the final place in the coveted shootout, a fantastic opportunity to be part of the selection process taking place this week.

But the awards didn’t stop there. Third in the RAVENOL Oils Newcomers Trophy on Rallye Sunseeker was enough to give Mckay the title ahead of David Carney, both passing season-long leader Jon Armstrong who retired his Fiesta on stage three.

Armstrong’s retirement was one of just four on the rally. Tim Cathcart, Kit Leigh and Ruary MacLeod’s Fiestas were all sidelined – a mix of mechanical and driver error contributing to the losses.

As the 55th MSA British Rally Championship season draws to a close, there is plenty of action and entertainment to occupy autumn and winter. With the Pirelli Star Driver shootout, end of season BRC Awards Ceremony, Wales Rally GB and Rallye du Var still to come, there is no need to put away the race suits and waterproofs just yet.

Results

Posted: January 31, 2014 12:30 PM

Rallye Sunseeker - 19 Oct 13 - INTERNATIONAL RESULTS
Rallye Sunseeker - 19 Oct 13 - NATIONAL RESULTS
Rallye Sunseeker - 19 Oct 13 - HISTORIC RESULTS
Rallye Sunseeker - 19 Oct 13 - CHALLENGE RESULTS

Results on Line (Sunseeker 2013) | Results by: Tynemouth Computer Services Rally Results

Carney seeks gold in Poole

Posted: October 17, 2013 10:48 PM

After securing a nomination for the Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver Award, Mayo driver David Carney heads to Poole in Southern England this weekend for the final round of the British Rally Championship. David and his Laois based navigator Ray Fitzpatrick are hopeful of securing the final nomination for the coveted Pirelli Star Drive which would see them compete with 6 other crews next week in the Pirelli Shootout, with the victorious crew receiving a fully funded drive in the 2014 BRC.

It will be David and Rays first time to compete on the event, in their Carney Quarry backed Citroen C2R2 Max and after a disappointing non finish at the last round, in Yorkshire, three weeks ago they will be hoping to finish the season on a high note to improve on their thirdposition in the BRC Newcomers Cup.

This weekendi's event comprising of 10 gravel stages commences on Friday evening with a ceremonial start on Poole Quay with the first of the rally stages starting at 8:40(approx.) on Saturday morning.

MSA British Rally Championship round six preview - Unpredictable Rallye Sunseeker reigns

Posted: October 15, 2013 11:01 AM

Rallye Sunseeker International is just days away and for the first time, the south of England event will decide the MSA British Rally Championship. With a 50% points bonus available in Poole, the prestigious title decider will be as unpredictable as the British weather; Finland, Northern Ireland or Wales, all in with a shout in Dorset this weekend.

The event’s move from February to 18/19th October has meant that the organisers have had plenty of time to produce a rally worthy to decide what has been a fantastic season-long battle. And produce one they have, with a new base entirely in Poole, new service area and even consideration of the placement of the finish line of the final stage, with Somerley House as a fitting backdrop.

What remains on this blast around the forests to the north of Poole, is the excellent pre-event promotion and short, but challenging stages on a unique surface that rewards neatness and saps power from those who stray from true.

What an appropriate setting for the fight between championship hopefuls Jukka Korhonen/Marko Salminen, Alastair Fisher/Gordon Noble and Tom Cave/Ieuan Thomas, three Citroën DS3 crews who guarantee new names on the solid silver trophy on Saturday afternoon.

Korhonen has the upper hand after five rallies and a third place finish will fulfil his 2012 vow to return the British Rally Championship crown to Finland for the first time since the new millennium. But the Finns have not had it all their own way this year. Without a run of bad luck for several of the other protagonists, the story might have been much different. Two wins early on were followed by a hat-trick of second places, bettered first by DGM Sport’s Fisher in Scotland, then twice by Osian Pryce/Dale Furniss in Ulster and Yorkshire.

And it is Fisher who is the biggest threat to the 29 year old from Siikajarvi. Already proving his mettle with his win on Scottish gravel, the 25 year-old Ulsterman lies second in the points tables. While the gap may seem large at 20 points, the Sunseeker bonus, coupled with everyone dropping their worst score of the season, means that a win for Fisher would force Korhonen to push for a podium to grab the title.

Next up is Morris Lubricants DMS’ Cave who also has a chance of stealing the title next Saturday. Admittedly even with a win, he needs Korhonen to have a really bad day in the forests around Ringwood, as Wales will rely on Finland being outside the top six at the Poole Quay finish.

Ifs and buts and championship calculations aside, the battle for the top step of the Rallye Sunseeker podium will be yet another that will be impossible to call. Looking for a hat-trick to end a season that started badly will be Pryce, who put the ghosts of 2012 firmly to bed a few weeks ago in Yorkshire.

But Mark Donnelly and Dai Roberts have their own demons to exorcise. Fisher’s DGM Sport team-mates carry number one on the door as last year’s Sunseeker victors, the reigning Pirelli Star Driver would dearly love to defend the win and reckons he has a couple of car tweaks to make it happen.

And what of Culina Palletforce Racing? John MacCrone and Phil Pugh have proved they can bounce back after their monumental Ulster crash and MacCrone is riding high after last weekend’s Mull Rally victory – another pair with the top podium step in sight?

An added incentive to go for broke for the last two championship podium steps is that of free entry to the final round of the World Rally Championship, Wales Rally GB. The BRC/WRGB Road to Wales joint promotion means that the top three have guaranteed places alongside the best drivers on the planet – no pressure then lads.

Three more DS3s round out this weekend’s top nine. Jonny Greer, Callum Black and James Grint making it nine Citroëns from nine – equal machinery on equal Pirelli tyres and equal Sunoco fuel - a gambler’s worst nightmare!

The BRC Teams Cup is on a knife edge too, but although Cave could draw Morris Lubricants DMS alongside DGM Sport on points, the latter would need to have a catastrophe to lose the title, both DGM’s drivers’ failure to finish the only way the team could miss out on the title. Culina Palletforce Racing cannot now take the title, MacCrone’s team relying on disaster for Cave to sneak second.

Predicting the outcome of the championship is difficult, the outcome of the rally even more so, but on recent form, the BRC RallyTwo winner should be a doddle by comparison.

Ireland’s Daniel McKenna and Arthur Kierans have dominated the top of the points table in this series for non-R3 cars, but it hasn’t been plain sailing. The crew has been lucky so far to overcome the usual niggles and problems associated with contesting Britain’s premier rally series. And sadly for the hordes of spectators that Rallye Sunseeker attracts, the pair will be firmly in survival mode, as they merely need to cross the finish line to secure the Fiesta SportTrophy, BRC RallyTwo and a free entry on Wales Rally GB.

That does mean, however that the plethora of Pirelli Star Diver nominees from the top seven RallyTwo runners (five in total including McKenna) could have one less car to worry about.

Norway’s Steve Røkland and England’s James Aldridge comprise the only crew who could take the title from McKenna. They must place first or second and hope that misfortune befalls their Fiesta R2 rivals to move ahead at the finish in Poole.

Six more examples from the Fiesta SportTrophy compete in the hands of Jon Armstrong, who could wrap up the RAVENOL Oils Newcomers Trophy, Ruary MacLeod, Garry Pearson, Alex Parpottas, Timmy Cathcart and Kit Leigh, the Fords split by Chris Ingram and David Carney, their Renault Twingo and Citroën C2 running fourth and eighth RallyTwo respectively.

So to the fight for the Twingo Renaultsport R1 Trophy and MSA British Junior Rally Championship, where Ben and Jason Mckay are in a similar position to McKenna; their rivals Harry Threlfall and Andy Bull aren’t the types to wish ill on anybody, but without retirement in the Mckay camp, championship glory will elude them.

Rallye Sunseeker International information

The event’s new host town of Poole provides a compact base for the start, finish and service area activities as well as the event’s HQ; based in the impressive waterfront venue of the RNLI College.

The rally begins with Friday evening’s ceremonial start at the atmospheric Poole Quay (SatNav postcode: BH15 1HJ) between 17.45 hrs and 19.45 hrs. The cars will be on display throughout this time against a picturesque backdrop of waterfront bars & restaurants, giving ample opportunity to take photos, browse the static displays and trade stands, meet the drivers and get autographs.

The action begins in earnest on Saturday morning and features three loops of Ringwood Forest stages split by service at Creekmoor to the north of Poole. The cars also visit Somerley Park where the event and championship winners will no doubt celebrate on the stop line of the final stage ahead of the ceremonial finish back at Poole Quay.

Daniel Mc Kenna the Billy Coleman Award Winner Aims to Secure Rally 2 Championship at Sunseeker

Posted: October 14, 2013 3:02 PM

Daniel, co-driver Arthur Kierans and his team are hoping of securing the R2 title at the final round of the BRC, Rally Sunseeker in Dorset, with The Scanbitz Ltd and Ravenol Motoroil supported Ford Fiesta R2. Daniel has a 10 point lead in the BRC Rally 2 category after dropped scored are calculated, over main title rival Steve Rokland. Which means that if Daniel finishes 5th in R2 of higher the title is his.

A task that is easier said than done. To drive at a controlled pace and keep full concentration not to make any mistakes sometimes is harder to do than if you were to attack the stages with 100% conviction. However Daniel is confident with his experience and ability to do what is necessary to seal the championship. Other added difficulties is that Daniel has never competed on Rally Sunseeker before although Co-Driver Arthur has so his experience of the event will be crucial in the crew having a safe run.

10 R2 crews are set to start the final round of the championship and with one more Pirelli Star Driver Jacket still up for grabs it will not be simple to stay ahead of the crews for a top 5 finish. The single most important aspect for Daniel’s success this weekend will be the reliability of the car. The team have taken every precaution to prepare the car for a reliable performance and Daniel also intends on carrying extra tools ad spares In the car for extra safety in case of a problem that he may be able to be fix in case of an emergency. Obviously carrying this extra weight in the car will comprise the cars performance but it is a compromise Daniel is willing to live with to increase his chance of finishing.

Another added pressure for all of the R2 drivers this weekend is that the Pirelli star driver shootout follows immediately after Rally Sunseeker and the nominated crews have to compete in their own car which means any nominees or potential nominees have to ensure they make it to the finish of the event to have their cars for the shootout.

Another competition that is to follow immediately after the PSD shootout is the BRC Live Media Trophy shootout being held at World Rally preparation experts, Prodrive’s facility in Banbury, where the winner will get to drive JCW Mini S2000 which is an amazing opportunity to finish off what will be an extremely busy couple of days. Daniel hopes that he can wrap up the R2 title before heading for Mid-Wales for the PSD shootout where he hopes to be a strong contender before making his way to the BRC Media Trophy shootout.

Daniel will let you all know how the event unfolds with a post-event press release on the Sunday after Rally Sunseeker, so keep an eye on his website, danielmckenna.net. He will then follow up with another press release after the two competitions where he hopes to have a good report with good news. In the meantime keep up to date on Daniel’s Twitter and Facebook pages for any updates over the rally weekend.

Poole is shaping up for Season Finale

Posted: October 14, 2013 11:23 AM

With less than a week to go before the final round of the MSA British Rally Championship, excitement is mounting on the South Coast of England in anticipation of a battle on several fronts when Rallye Sunseeker begins next Friday night in Poole.

In the main BRC field Mark Donnelly and Dai Roberts will lead the field away in the Pirelli sponsored Citroën DS3 run by Davy Greer Motorsport. Behind them though is where the main battle is expected to take place. Jukka Korhonen currently leads the title race in the battle for this year’s championship, but he and Mark Salminen will face some very stiff opposition from the likes of Alastair Fisher/Gordon Noble, Tom Cave/Ieuan Thomas and Osian Pryce/Dale Furniss.

There are two battles taking place, the main one for the title of 2013 British Champion, but also that for the places on the podium. The top three in the Championship will all receive a free entry on this years Wales Rally GB.

Daniel McKenna/Arthur Kierans are highest seeded R2 car at number 10, and he will be one to watch on next week’s event, capable of great speed and car control as he has shown all year. Another to watch will be Jon Armstrong/Karl Atkinson who stunned everyone with their pace on the recent Rally NI, and were nominated as a Pirelli Star Driver for the efforts. Other nominations include Ruary Macleod, Steve Røkland, Daniel McKenna and Alex Parpottas.

Armstrong and McKenna have also been nominated in the BRC Live Media Trophy as well, and will join Ben McKay, James Ford and Harry Threlfall in a trip to Prodrive in the aftermath of Rallye Sunseeker. The added bonus for this award is that there is a wildcard nomination available following the cancellation of Rally North Wales and this will be announced during Rallye Sunseeker.

In the BRC Challenge the battle is just as close, and likewise with points and a half on offer, the fans heading to the Dorset Stages are in for another treat in the shape of stars of the future such as Russ Thompson, Richard Sykes, and Gareth White as they battle for the title. With the likes of Steven Smith, Dean Raftery, Aaron McClure and Merion Evans all entered too, there will be plenty of action guaranteed from the BRC Challenge.

Rallye Sunseeker Historique however is a lot harder to predict, with several permutations possible for the stars in the Mintex MSA BHRC event. There are potentially five drivers who can win, Rikki Proffitt, Dessie Nutt, Gareth James, Richard Hill and David Stokes. Proffitt and Nutt would be the favourites to win, as only three points separate them. Stokes however is the outside bet and for Stokes to win, God needs to intervene.....However, Stokes has been around so long that I understand God used to navigate for him. That was in the days before God said: "Let there be light", so it would have been on night road rallies.

In Rallye Sunseeker National it is hard to see past the Subaru WRC of previous winners Roger Duckworth and Mark Broomfield, but Peter Egerton and Alun Cook have wheeled out the Hyundai WRC for this event, and they too could go very well. Wug Utting will have other ideas; the venerable businessman likes to get his Impreza aiming the big boys and always goes well on Sunseeker. Add in entries from the likes of Mark Spencer in his Escort, Shelly Taunt in the Impreza, Matt Thorne, a Sunseeker regular in his Escort, and there are a load of crews that could finish very well.

When you add in the big boys of the Armed Forces Rally Team, in their Land Rover Wolfs, then you complete the entertainment planned for Rallye Sunseeker this year.;The AFRT drivers are- Alan Paramore, Curtis McKerlie, Balir Thompson, Marc Paynter and Gari Hazelby , all have been coming to the event for years, and are enthralling to watch.

Whatever happens this year, Rallye Sunseeker, in all its different events, will certainly entertain.

Seeded Entry List

Posted: October 14, 2013 11:17 AM

Sunseeker set for BHRC south coast showdown

Posted: October 14, 2013 11:15 AM

Rallye Sunseeker organisers say they will be ready and waiting to welcome contenders battling for the Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship crown to Poole on October 18th and 19th. A week before competitors arrive in Dorset for a fantastic winner-takes-all championship showdown the Sunseeker team, headed by Event Director Rick Smith, have confirmed that they are right on schedule to provide the high profile South Coast setting where the 2013 Mintex MSA series will be won and lost.

“A huge amount of hard graft is being put in by a band of very dedicated people,” says Smith. “Thanks to them, the rally route has been finalised, competitors’ Road Books are printed and the stage set-up crew have prepared thousands of wooden stakes, arrows and signs, plus miles of marker tape and other ‘furniture’ ready to mark out the stages. And, that is only part of what the team have achieved so far.”

In addition to the essential paperwork, the Start / Finish area at Poole Quay and the all-new Service area at Creekmoor are being painted and decorated, with bunting and banners added by Poole Council.

BHRC Chairman David Lucas is equally pleased with progress. “Rallye Sunseeker has a fabulous reputation for providing first-rate organisation and this year they have excelled themselves,” he says. “Their attention to detail is exceptional; even down to ensuring that signage at the RNLI College (the new Rally HQ) is crystal clear so that competitors can find their way around. As championship organisers it gives us real confidence that this rally will be the ideal place for the 2013 Mintex MSA BHRC title race to be decided.”

Now that competitor seeding is finalised, Rikki Proffitt and co-driver Phill Harrison have the honour of leading the Historic field over the start ramp at Poole Quay on Friday evening, in their pre-1968 Category One Porsche 911. On Saturday, the action will take place over nine special stages and 58 competitive miles in the forests to the north of the host town.

Full Steam Ahead for Rallye Sunseeker battle

Posted: October 1, 2013 7:41 PM

Rally fans in the South of England are in for a superb treat in two weeks time, when for the first time the MSA British Rally Championship will be settled in the forests of Dorset, and celebrated in the idyllic coastal town of Poole.

Results on last weekends Rally Yorkshire has ensured that the title can only be won on Rallye Sunseeker by the main protagonists.

Entries are really healthy and with all the top contenders having signed up and placed entries, there is much to choose from when it comes to entertainment for rally fans on the 18th/19th October.

For the main British Rally Championship contenders, there is the added incentive that each of the top three podium finishers in the Championship will receive an entry to Britain’s round of the WRC (World Rally Championship) that takes place in North Wales in November. The wild card in all of this, is that points and a half are on offer to the crews as the season end finale, so it really is all to play for.

This means that for Welshman Osian Pryce, winner of the last two rounds in the forests of Yorkshire, and the tarmac of Ulster, as well as joint second placed drivers Welshman Tom Cave and Northern Irelands Alastair Fisher it will be a battle with current leader Jukka Korhonen for the places on the championship podium. Jonny Greer and even R2 driver Daniel McKenna could well have a say too on the podium places. Whatever happens it means that the top five or six crews on Rallye Sunseeker will be battling for more than just the title, and it is spectators who will benefit.

Organisers Southern Car Club are delighted, not only with the interest the event has created in the South of England, but that the title will now be decided. It is a superb bonus for the team behind the event, a point not lost on Rally Director Rick Smith who this week said
“It really couldn’t have been any better for us last weekend with young Osian winning in Yorkshire. There are a lot of happy fans here right now, and on Sunday we sold more tickets than expected on the back of the fact that the 2013 title will be decided right here in Poole and Dorset.” He went on to add “Poole Tourism are delighted, as are the rally supporters, and we cant wait to put on the biggest party the British Championship has ever seen.”

For Clerk of the Course Rob Pike, it has given him a bigger headache but one that he happily admits he can live with, when he said
“Last weekends rally in Yorkshire has caused an increase in entries, as well as crews wanting information on the event, not to mention a surge too in Spectator ticket sales as well. Yes it is more work, but I wouldn’t have it any other way to be honest as this is going to be an event that the crews will really enjoy.”

Rallye Sunseeker International (October 18/19), organised by the Southern Car Club, will be the last of six rounds of the 2013 MSA British Rally Championship, of which it has been the opening round since 2011; it will also host the final round of the Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship as well as the Rallye Sunseeker Challenge and Rallye Sunseeker National events

Entries Received

Posted: September 30, 2013 12:28 PM

Available at:

Rallye Sunseeker

Rallye Sunseeker nominated for Tourist Award

Posted: September 25, 2013 1:31 PM

Dorset Tourism Awards today announced that Rallye Sunseeker has been nominated as a finalist in the Tourism Event category.

The Dorset Tourism awards, sponsored by Safferys, attracted 60 entries from across the county – far more than the 13 Dorset entries that were submitted to the South West awards last year – and the judges have been delighted by the response. It is a great development for Dorset and Rallye Sunseeker in particular. The Presentation is on Thursday 24th October at the Tank Museum in Dorset.

The nomination was based on combination of web searches, review sites, emails, telephone calls and/or visits, plus any available additional evidence. For the finalists, the panel were looking for all elements to be excellent, with some of them outstanding. It is therefore a very significant achievement.

For Rally Director Rick Smith it is another added achievement by the team behind one of the most successful rallies in the MSA British Rally Championship and he said
“What a terrific accolade for everyone involved with the event. It proves that our work on the promotion of the rally and the Dorset area has not only been very worthwhile, but beneficial to the local area. It is a huge honour to be considered for this, and we obviously hope that on October 24th we do very well indeed.”

For those interested more information can be found at www.visit-dorset.com or www.dorsettourismawards.org.uk where more details can be obtained.

Rallye Sunseeker International (October 18/19), organised by the Southern Car Club, will be the last of six rounds of the 2013 MSA British Rally Championship, of which it has been the opening round since 2011; it will also host the final round of the Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship as well as the Rallye Sunseeker Challenge and Rallye Sunseeker National events.

Entries sailing in for Rallye Sunseeker Historique

Posted: September 20, 2013 12:39 PM

With the entries now open for Rallye Sunseeker Historique, one of the first received by the Organisers, Southern Car Club, was that of Jim Valentine and Jonathan Lodge.

The pair will campaign the Historic Saab 99 they are normally seen out in, and rumours have it they are part of a Three-Car Saab team that will head to Poole in October.

With the added bonus for the crews in the Mintex MSA British Historic Championship of one and a half points available at the season climax, the battle at the top is still very tight, a point confirmed by John Hunt BHRC secretary who told Rallye Sunseeker
“With any one of the top eight crews still able to take the overall MSA British Historic Rally Championship, Rallye Sunseeker Historique is expected to see some epic battles not only at the top of the field but also for the many classes which are still to be decided.”

Just thirty points separate the top crews in the Championship, and with the likes of Dessie Nutt/Geraldine McBride (Porsche 911), Rikki Proffitt/Phil Harrison (Porsche 911) and Ernie and Will Graham (Ford Escort) all battling it out at the head of the field, there is no doubt that spectators will be treated to an awesome battle in the forests of Dorset in a few weeks time. For some these are the stars of the year, and there is no doubt that the spectators love to watch the historic’s on the stages.

The recent round of the Championship held in Ulster provided some classic battles, and with the stages ‘down south’ new for most of the competitors the scene is set for a battle royal on October 18th/19th and one that should not be missed.

For Clerk of the Course Rob Pike, it is this climax that will provide the drama for all his team and he said
“The event is already shaping up very well, and we have had some really good entries so far. The stages are in the best condition we have seen for years, thanks to the Forestry Commission, and there is no doubt that the crews will have an event that we are confident they will enjoy. For Rallye Sunseeker Historique its just as good for us too, as we will be crowning the 2013 Champions.”

With TV coverage all year by the Special Stage Team, the Championship has enjoyed some great coverage and Rallye Sunseeker Historique is scheduled for airing on Motors TV on November 1st 2013.

More information on this will be released in due course.

RallyFM sails into Poole for Sunseeker

Posted: September 12, 2013 8:40 PM

RallyFM.net is the official internet radio station of Rallye Sunseeker and will be on air for the entire month of October bringing listeners all the latest news from the largest rally in the south of England.

On Friday the 18th of October RallyFM.net will be live from Poole at the ceremonial start on Poole Quay with interviews and live commentary.

On Saturday 19th October RallyFM.net, in association with RPM Promotions and RSM logistics will be broadcasting live commentary and interviews from both the special stages and the service area at Creekmoor, before broadcasting the finish of the rally live from Poole Quay.

To listen to all the latest news of Rallye Sunseeker 2013 as the event approaches and other motor sport news go to the RallyFM news site at http://www.spreaker.com/show/the_rallyfm_net_show or follow @rallyfm on Twitter.

From the 1st October RallyFM will be live 24/7 bringing you news interviews as the build up to October the 18th continues.

To listen on PC and laptop by going to www.rallyfm.net and clicking on ‘Listen Live’.

To listen to RallyFM.net on your mobile or tablet, download the Tunein Radio app and search for RallyFM.

Poole provides perfect places for Sunseeker

Posted: September 12, 2013 8:35 PM

The 2013 Rallye Sunseeker, the final round of this year’s MSA British Championship, will feature a new Rally HQ and Service Area for competitors and crews contesting this years event, organised by Southern Car Club.

Rally Headquarters will be the superb RNLI College that overlooks Poole Harbour and is the home of training for the charity’s lifesavers. Opened in 2004 this magnificent facility will provide the perfect backdrop for everyone involved in this years rally with its sixty rooms, purpose built conference centre and offices. Restaurants and Bars too will ensure that the atmosphere will be special indeed on this years event.

Winner of the Travellers Choice award for 2013, the setting is perfect for Rally Sunseeker Director Rick Smith and his team and he said
“To be able to utilise this great venue is going to be one of the highlights of the event for us, in that it’s facilities will allow us, to look after our Teams, Crews and Officials in such a professional manner and perfect setting here in Poole. We are delighted to be here.”

This years event too, will feature a new Service Park. Hosting the Service area for the event will be the Creekmoor Park and Ride Car Park. Situated just two miles form Poole town centre, its close proximity to the Rally Headquarters means the Rally atmosphere will be maintained throughout the weekend, which is important for competitors and spectators alike. It is all tarmac, and will prove to be a super location for the Crews and Service teams, not to mention the Trade teams that accompany the Championship, and will ensure that the fun and atmosphere will be continued during the course of the Rally.

Clerk of the Course Rob Pike was delighted to secure this location and the new Rally HQ and told Rallye Sunseeker
"We are delighted that moving Rallye Sunseeker's HQ to Poole has enabled us to focus many of the event's venues into one area. Poole Council's Park & Ride facility at Creekmoor is a perfect example. It's spacious and well lit with a smooth tarmac surface, providing all the teams with an ideal working environment, barely 2 miles away from the Start and Finish on Poole Quay. It'll be the perfect base for them during the whole of their stay in Poole; being so conveniently located will be a real bonus. And its not just the rally's competitive stages on the Saturday that are easily reached. All their other pre-event activities, Thursday's Shakedown/Promo Stage and Friday's route reconnaissance plus pre-event technical scrutiny, are within easy striking distance. And with the many facilities and attractions of Poole Town Centre close at hand, they'll never have had it so good! To borrow a catchphrase from Poole Tourism, teams will come to Poole to Rally, Rest and Play."

There is no doubt, that the town of Poole, its council and tourism departments have taken Rallye Sunseeker to the centre of their hearts, and this was confirmed this week, when Cllr Judy Butt, Portfolio Holder for Public Engagement and Participation responsible for Tourism, said;
“It is fantastic that all the ceremony and servicing for this internationally recognised event are now taking place in Poole. We know that there are thousands of enthusiasts locally and many that come from further afield to enjoy the event. It is a boost to Poole’s Wave 105 special events programme and I am delighted the Borough of Poole can support it in this way.”

RALLYE SUNSEEKER 2013 Changes

Posted: September 12, 2013 8:33 PM

Southern Car Club, organisers of the biggest motoring event in the South East of England have today announced some major changes for Rallye Sunseeker 2013. The event has, for the last two years, been the opening round of the prestigious MSA British Rally Championship but for the 2013 campaign it will become the final round; with the new date being October 18th/19th 2013 in what has become a seven round Championship.

Another major change is that after 25 glorious and successful years in Bournemouth, the event will be based in Poole, where for the last three years the picturesque town has hosted the famous Friday night start on the Quayside that has drawn thousands of spectators to enjoy the Rally Start.

The move to Poole for next year was not lost on Bruce Grant-Braham, Chairman of Poole Tourism, and he was delighted that Rallye Sunseeker is to make its base in Poole. Earlier this week he told the Organisers of the event

“A high status national event, with international competitors, backed by one of Poole's most dynamic and successful companies deciding to make Poole its home is hugely gratifying. Poole Tourism has worked hard with Rick Smith and his band of loyal helpers over the last few years to make the Ceremonial Start of Rallye Sunseeker on Poole Quay a unique occasion.

These efforts have proven that Poole people, Poole businesses and the many visitors to Poole, that the event attracts, have enjoyed our efforts and we will do everything we can now to make it even more special. We look forward to welcoming the many thousands of Rallye Sunseeker supporters to Poole in October 2013."

Rick Smith, Rally Director for Rallye Sunseeker was also excited by the change for 2013 and said
“We are delighted with the opportunity to take the event to Poole for 2013, but must give thanks to the Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott Hotel, who with Bournemouth Council, and others, have for the last 25 years worked with us to produce and deliver a high quality event for the South of England. The move to Poole will enhance and further develop our event that will allow us to provide Competitors and Spectators with something new and innovative.”

Equally enthusiastic about the date change and the move was Mark Taylor, Managing Director of the MSA British Rally Championship who told Rallye Sunseeker this week that
“As part of a wider strategy, we fully support the decision by the Rallye Sunseeker team to move to the end of the season and to be based solely in Poole. What Bournemouth has lost, Poole has gained and I hope they receive 100% percent support from the local authority. A recent event survey showed that rounds of the British Championship net up to £2.5 million to the local economy over a rally weekend and so it will be a huge boost for area. With the traditional razzmatazz put on by Rick and his terrific team, it should provide a fitting finale for the Championship, crowning the 2013 Champions on Poole Quay will be a fantastic spectacle.”

The event itself will once again have 60+ Stage Miles for the Competitors to attempt, and of course the ever-popular Somerley Park stage will once again play an integral part of the spectator attractions on the Saturday. The start and finish will be at Poole Quay and with innovations such as an ALL DAY party on the quay during the Saturday, as well as Centralized Servicing the event is already shaping up very well. New additions such as an All Areas Rally Car Pass, Souvenir Rally Programme, and many more new features to be announced in due course show already that Southern Car Club are very well advanced in their plans for next year.

Regulations / Rally Guide / Event Website

Posted: September 12, 2013 8:31 PM

Rallye Sunseeker