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Links2014 R.A.C. (Historic) Rally Championship
Posted: October 7, 2014 2:36 PM - 7361 Hits
- Final Championship Points & Award Winners
- 1600cc cars to be rewarded in WWRS R.A.C. Rally Championship
- Revised TV plan confirmed for R.A.C. Rally Championship
- David Winstanley to be remembered by R.A.C Rally Championship
- Points after Round 2 (Mid Wales)
- 2014 R.A.C. Rally Championship TV schedule announced
- More backing for Mini and Imp Cup in R.A.C Championship
- More exposure for WWRS R.A.C. Rally Championship
- Kumho backs R.A.C. Rally Championship’s Clubmans Challenge
- More awards for the R.A.C. Rally Championship
- Paddy Hopkirk to be celebrated by R.A.C Rally Championship
- R.A.C. Rally Championship TV deal unveiled
- Aldon backs Mini and Imp Cup in R.A.C. Championship
- R.A.C Rally Championship pledges commitment to Category 1
- Cunningham brothers set for Mini battle
- Owen Murphy and Sunbeam Lotus set for R.A.C Championship bid
- Mini and Imp Cup confirmed for 2014 R.A.C Rally Championship
- On-going tyre choice in R.A.C. Rally Championship
- 2014 R.A.C. Rally Championship calendar unveiled
- Championship Rounds
1600cc cars to be rewarded in WWRS R.A.C. Rally Championship
Posted: June 25, 2014 11:39 AM
Drivers in 1600cc cars competing in the West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship will have a chance of winning 50% of the entry fee for the Roger Albert Clark Rally (28-30 November) in a new award presented by Jordan Road Surfacing.
In 2014 the award will be worth nearly £1000 as half of the entry fee for the November event, while for 2015 it is planned to double the prize and offer a full entry fee for the 2015 Roger Albert Clark Rally.
Regular competitor Barry Jordan has recently switched to rallying a 1600cc Hillman Avenger and is keen to encourage more 1600cc cars out onto the stages. Cars like the Avenger and 1600cc Ford Escort Mk1s and Mk2s offer some of the most affordable ways of getting into historic rallying. Jordan will not be eligible for the award, which will go to the leading 1600cc car from classes C2 and D2.
“There seems to be a lot of interest in 1600cc cars at the moment and I know of several cars being built,” said Jordan. “I thought it would be a good idea to help the championship attract more 1600cc entries. Being able to run at the front is really good news and I’d like to think there could be 10 or 12 cars on most events next year.”
Revised TV plan confirmed for R.A.C. Rally Championship
Posted: March 8, 2014 11:45 AM
The new television package for the 2014 West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship has been confirmed following the sad loss of David Winstanley last month.
Olly Dickinson will take over the project and will lead the programme editing and production as well as presenting and on-event interviews. He will be supported by renowned motor sport commentator David Addison, who will deliver the narrative to the programmes.
“We can never replace David Winstanley, who has a special place in the affections of all rally fans,” said championship manager Colin Heppenstall. “However, we are very pleased with the new arrangement. I’m sure that Olly is going to be a great addition to the R.A.C. team and he brings a real passion for historic rallying. I’m also very pleased that we have been able to give a hard-working young guy this opportunity.”
“I’m delighted to have the chance to come on-board with this rapidly growing championship and I look forward to producing quality TV coverage,” said Dickinson.
Addison, meanwhile, is best known as the lead voice for live ITV4 coverage of the British Touring Car Championship and has extensive experience of commentating and narrating right across the sport and up to the highest level.
“This will be a new challenge for me,” he said. “I’ve always been a real fan of rallying and historics in particular, and I’ve heard a great deal about the strength and popularity of the R.A.C. Championship.”
The new team will start its coverage with the action from round two, the Mid Wales Stages, which is scheduled to air on Motors TV on Friday 28 March. Details of the coverage of round one, the Red Kite Stages, will be announced shortly.
Each championship round will be covered in detail in a 90-minute programme on Motors TV with multiple repeats and there will also be an end-of-season review programme to give the championship over 50 hours of TV coverage. Initial broadcasts will run in prime-time slots, typically three weeks after the rally.
Alongside the TV coverage, the entire R.A.C. Rally Championship will again be available on iRally and will build on more than one million views achieved in 2013 for the championship and the Roger Albert Clark Rally. The free iRally App is available for the iPhone, iPad and Android devices and offers an incredibly popular rally video channel.
Support for coverage of the 2014 WWRS R.A.C. Rally Championship comes from TV partners Amigos, JD Garage Equipment, Jordan Road Surfacing, Lloyd-Thomas Opticians, Lynwood Classic Engines, Rally and Competition Equipment, rallyprep.co.uk, Robinson Road Planing, Skipton Ford, Sherwood Engines and Swift Leisure.
The West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship is the only championship that runs historics first on the road on all events.
David Winstanley to be remembered by R.A.C Rally Championship
Posted: March 7, 2014 2:25 PM
Motor sport TV filmer and producer David Winstanley will be remembered by an annual award within the West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship.
At the end of the championship season, a special trophy will be awarded to the driver judged to have delivered the championship’s best TV moment of the season, whether in or out of the car. Competitors, marshals and fans will be invited to cast their votes in the process of deciding the winner of the award.
David, who died from natural causes in the middle of February, will be remembered by the David Winstanley Award and the winner will receive the trophy at the championship’s awards’ night at the Casa Hotel in Chesterfield on Saturday 25 October.
“We wanted an award to remember David and all he did for rallying,” said championship manager. “This seems an appropriate way of deciding the winner and it means that any driver, in any car, could win the award. We hope David would have approved of this.”
Later in the season, more details about the voting process will be confirmed. However, in view of the widespread popularity of David and his TV programmes, the R.A.C. Championship organising team felt it would be a good idea to invite votes from right across the sport so that the fans can have an important say in deciding the winner.
More backing for Mini and Imp Cup in R.A.C Championship
Posted: February 12, 2014 7:01 PM
There is more good news for contenders in the Aldon Automotive Mini and Imp Cup within the West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship for 2014, with confirmation of a media partnership with love-mini.co.uk and a new arrangement for tyre support.
The website www.love-mini.co.uk will support the Mini and Imp Cup with regular coverage on the website and in its free digital bi-monthly magazine for the Mini community. The on-line magazine is read by around 7000 Mini enthusiasts every issue.
Meanwhile, after many miles of development by renowned Mini driver Clive King, Kingpin’s 145 x 10 (ultra grip) tyre is now available to WWRS R.A.C. Rally Championship contenders via motor sport tyre specialists Mr Tyre (Motorsport) Ltd. The dedicated and experienced team at Mr Tyre will provide an on-event tyre service for Mini drivers on all rounds of this year’s R.A.C Championship.
The 2014 R.A.C. Rally Championship continues on the Mid Wales Stages on Sunday 2 March
More exposure for WWRS R.A.C. Rally Championship
Posted: February 12, 2014 7:00 PM
The 2014 West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship has received another major boost with the launch of a new internet rallying TV programme called ‘Acceleration: The Rally TV Monthly’.
The new magazine programme is the brainchild of David Winstanley from rallytv.co.uk, who has exclusive broadcast arrangements for the championship. The internet-based programme will run for between 45 and 75 minutes and a new edition will be released on the first day of each month, starting on 1 March.
The programme will take the championship to an even wider international audience and will also appeal to those unable to watch Motors TV, where the prime coverage is broadcast.
“It seems that internet TV is the future for rallying, offering enthusiasts around the world the opportunity to watch programmes at any time they choose,” said Winstanley. The programmes will be free to view on www.rallytv.co.uk and there will also be the opportunity to download them.
The programme will cover reports and features from the R.A.C. Rally Championship and will carry additional footage not shown in the main TV programme. Winstanley will also include coverage from other events including such as the Rally of the Tests and Sydney-London Marathon.
The first programme will include coverage of the 2013 Rally of the Tests, Le-Jog, Autosport International and the Red Kite Stages, the opening round of the WWRS R.A.C. Rally Championship.
“I’m entering my fourth decade of filming this year and the first event that I filmed was the Costa Blanco Rally in March 1984, which featured amongst others Henri Toivonen in the Rothmans Porsche 911 and Jimmy McRae in an Opel Manta,” added Winstanley. “So it's fascinating for me to have started filming when these cars were
actually new, and to still be filming them, 30 years later, when they are now historic rally cars and apparently as popular as ever!”
Support for coverage of the 2014 WWRS R.A.C. Rally Championship comes from TV partners Amigos, JD Garage Equipment, Jordan Road Surfacing, Lloyd-Thomas Opticians, Lynwood Classic Engines, Rally and Competition Equipment, rallyprep.co.uk, Robinson Road Planing, Skipton Ford, Sherwood Engines and Swift Leisure.
The West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship is the only championship that runs historics first on the road on all events.
Kumho backs R.A.C. Rally Championship’s Clubmans Challenge
Posted: January 29, 2014 10:36 AM
Kumho Tyres has confirmed support for the new Clubmans Challenge within the 2014 West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship by offering two tyres at each of the seven rounds. The winner of the pair of tyres will be drawn from the hat among the crews contesting the Clubmans Challenge.
Running within the WWRS R.A.C. Rally Championship, the Kumho Clubmans Challenge is aimed at recognising crews competing on limited resources. To be eligible for the challenge, drivers must use no more than six tyres per rally. Any punctured tyres will count as part of the six-tyre allocation.
The crews will compete over the same classic stages as the main championship, with the best six scores from eight rallies counting towards the end-of-season total. The Kumho Clubmans Challenge will run alongside the main R.A.C. Championship and will be a class and category-based challenge, allowing crews from any of the categories to be the Clubmans Challenge champions.
For each car competing in the R.A.C. Clubmans Challenge, six tyres will be marked at scrutineering and only these tyres may be used during the rally. Any tyres from a previous event that the competitor wishes to use must be taken to scrutineering and re-marked as part of the set of six for that event.
“We have pledged to try and contain costs and maintain a level playing field and the Kumho Clubmans Challenge is a major part of that commitment,” said Championship manager Colin Heppenstall. “We are very grateful to Kumho for its generous support of this initiative and for providing welcome assistance to crews competing on limited budgets.”
The 2014 R.A.C. Rally Championship starts on the Red Kite Stages on Sunday 2 February and more details are available from www.redkitestages.co.uk
The West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship is the only championship that runs historics first on the road on all events
More awards for the R.A.C. Rally Championship
Posted: January 24, 2014 8:47 AM
Competitors in the West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship will have a chance of winning a share of an award fund worth over £2000 as part of the WWRS title sponsorship package for the championship.
At each of the seven rounds of the championship, three £100 WWRS vouchers will be presented: one each to the first and last retirement on every rally and to one crew drawn from the hat at each round.
In addition, across the season three more vouchers will be presented for ‘hard luck’ stories as adjudged by the championship organising team. No crew can win a voucher twice, so 24 championship registered crews will win a voucher during the seven-event season.
“Retiring on any rally can be hugely disappointing, but to retire on the first or last stage is particularly tough. We hope that the WWRS vouchers will ease the pain a little,” said championship manager Colin Heppenstall. “I’m very grateful to Gareth Lloyd and his team at WWRS for their on-going support of the championship.”
The 2014 R.A.C. Rally Championship starts on the Red Kite Stages on Sunday 2 February and more details are available from www.redkitestages.co.uk
The West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship is the only championship that runs historics first on the road on all events.
Paddy Hopkirk to be celebrated by R.A.C Rally Championship
Posted: January 17, 2014 8:16 AM
Rallying legend Paddy Hopkirk will be celebrated in the West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship with the award of a major new trophy for the winner of Category 1 at the end of each season.
It was 50 years ago today (17 January) that Hopkirk started the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally in his works Mini Cooper registered ’33 EJB’. He went on to score a landmark victory on the event with a drive that captured the nation’s imagination and instantly make himself a household name. Now, the biggest championship for historic rally cars in Britain will honour that achievement with the Paddy Hopkirk Trophy.
The overall winner of the Walker Diecastings-supported Category 1, for cars from up to 1968, will win this very special award and it is hoped that Hopkirk will be on hand at the end of season awards evening to present the trophy.
Fittingly, Mini Coopers are due to feature prominently in the 2014 championship with up to 10 cars expected to contest the new Aldon Automotive Mini and Imp Cup. This major new award for the category further underlines the championship’s commitment to Category 1 and that commitment extends to the TV coverage, which will include a dedicated Category 1 report from each of the seven rounds.
With the Category 1 cars running first on the road on all rounds of the WWRS R.A.C. Rally Championship, the series is already enjoying unprecedented support from the Category 1 fraternity. More than 12 Category 1 cars are due to contest the opening R.A.C, round, the Red Kite Stages (Sunday 2 February). This will be the biggest Category 1 entry on any gravel event for several years.
R.A.C. Rally Championship TV deal unveiled
Posted: January 15, 2014 3:58 PM
The television package for the 2014 West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship has been unveiled at Autosport International today (Sunday 12 January).
Following on from the acclaimed coverage of the 2013 championship, David Winstanley and his team at rallytv.co.uk will continue to film all of the championship action for dedicated programmes on Motors TV.
Each round of the championship’s seven rounds will be covered in detail in a 90-minute programme on Motors TV with multiple repeats and there will also be an end-of-season review programme to give the championship over 50 hours of TV coverage. Initial broadcasts will run in prime-time slots, typically three weeks after the rally. In addition to the TV coverage, each event will be featured on YouTube, with a report uploaded as soon as possible after each event.
Alongside the TV coverage, the entire R.A.C. Rally Championship will again be available on iRally and will build on more than one million views achieved in 2013 for the championship and the Roger Albert Clark Rally. The free iRally App is available for the iPhone, iPad and Android devices and offers an incredibly popular rally video channel.
Support for coverage of the 2014 WWRS R.A.C. Rally Championship comes from TV partners Amigos, JD Garage Equipment, Jordan Road Surfacing, Lloyd-Thomas Opticians, Lynwood Classic Engines, Rally and Competition Equipment, rallyprep.co.uk, Robinson Road Planing, Skipton Ford, Sherwood Engines and Swift Leisure.
“It is a privilege to work with the R.A.C. Rally Championship,” said David Winstanley. “It is a great platform for us to work with, and with such an enthusiastic band of competitors and organisers we are always working to improve the package. We are very grateful to the TV partners for their support.”
Aldon backs Mini and Imp Cup in R.A.C. Championship
Posted: January 15, 2014 12:46 PM
Aldon Automotive is the sponsor for the new Mini and Imp Cup within the West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship for 2014.
This award for Minis and Hillman Imps will run within the R.A.C. Rally Championship to celebrate two cars with a half-century heritage in rallying.
The Aldon Automotive Mini and Imp Cup, which will be open to all models of the original Mini and the Imp and its derivatives, will be contested across the seven-event season and the best performance will be rewarded with an end-of-season trophy at the annual championship awards ceremony.
Aldon Automotive is based 10 miles west of Birmingham in Brierley Hill and is one of the longest established tuning companies in Britain. Aldon has a fully equipped specialist rolling road for tuning and fault diagnosis of competition and fast road cars as well as a service bay complete with ramps, an engine machine shop and an engine dyno test cell.
Aldon has a long and successful history in motor sport and MD Alan Goodwin has competed since the 1960s, including rallying a Ford Escort in the 1990s. Existing customers include several leading historic rally competitors.
“We’re delighted to welcome Aldon Automotive as a championship partner,” said championship manager Colin Heppenstall. “The new Mini and Imp Cup has already attracted a lot of interest and having as renowned a name as Aldon as a partner is a real boost for the championship.”
R.A.C Rally Championship pledges commitment to Category 1
Posted: January 15, 2014 12:44 PM
The organisers of the West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship have pledged long-term support for the oldest cars in historic rallying, the Category 1 cars from up to 1968.
For the 2014 season and beyond, the R.A.C. Rally Championship will welcome Category 1 cars and ensure that they retain their rightful place at the head of the field. Running first on the road on gravel rallies ensures the best possible stage condition for cars that are 50 years old and more.
“Our firm belief is that the Category 1 cars should run first on the road on all gravel rallies,” said championship manager Colin Heppenstall. “If we are to keep these fabulous cars active in special stage rallying, we must give them the best possible roads. Getting parts for these classic cars is not always easy and we want to make sure they are not subjected to poor stage conditions.”
With a new Mini and Imp Cup already announced for the WWRS R.A.C. Rally Championship and a major new award for the Walker Diecastings-supported category to be announced shortly, the championship team is working hard to show its on-going commitment to Category 1.
Significantly, three of the early historic entries for the opening R.A.C, round, the Red Kite Stages (Sunday 2 February), are from Category 1 and another ten to 12 are expected, so the event will have a very strong Category 1 field: possibly the biggest on any gravel event for several years.
The 2014 R.A.C. Rally Championship starts on the Red Kite Stages on Sunday 2 February.
The West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship is the only championship that runs historics first on the road on all events.
Cunningham brothers set for Mini battle
Posted: January 12, 2014 12:27 PM
Irish brothers Ray and Frank Cunningham will go head-to-head for the first time in their long rallying careers when they enter a pair of Mini Coopers in this season’s West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship.
Younger brother Ray is widely regarded as one of the fastest Mini drivers in the world on asphalt rallies, but has virtually no experience on gravel. Meanwhile Frank, who started his successful rallying career in Minis in the 1990s, has far more gravel experience but only at the wheel of Ford Escorts.
“We’ve never rallied against each other, so this is a battle of the brothers,” said Galway-based Ray. “The cars are identical and they are within one bhp of each other on the dyno. We’ll try and create a bit of a storm!” Ray will prepare both cars at his Galway Mini Centre, while further support will come from UK-based Mini Spares.
Ray says that his only knowledge of the Welsh forests has been gained on a mountain bike.
“I’ve done very little gravel rallying and no forestry,” said the former winner of his category on the Killarney Historic Rally. The brothers will start their campaign on the opening round, the Red Kite Stages (2 February) and will go up against established Mini pacesetter Clive King in the Aldon Automotive Mini and Imp Cup. “Clive has been a big help with things like tyres and I think he’ll show me how it’s done. I also expect to get beaten by Frank initially as he has the gravel experience.”
“We’ll do the Red Kite and the Mid Wales and then see how many more we do,” said Ray. “The four Welsh events are easy for us to get to. This all came about over a few beers at Christmas. I’ve been looking at the in-car from Marty McCormack and the stages look superb.”
The 2014 R.A.C. Rally Championship starts on the Red Kite Stages on Sunday 2 February and more details are available from www.redkitestages.co.uk
The West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship is the only championship that runs historics first on the road on all events.
Owen Murphy and Sunbeam Lotus set for R.A.C Championship bid
Posted: December 18, 2013 12:52 PM
Irish ace Owen Murphy will mount a serious bid on the 2014 West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship in the Lotus Sunbeam he took to fifth place on the Roger Albert Clark Rally.
The ex-Russell Brookes ‘Andrews Heat for Hire’ liveried car of UK-based Irishman John Leahy will tackle a full season as Murphy aims to take the fight to the Ford Escort Mk2s across the seven-event gravel championship.
The Former Irish National Forest Champion, now 27, was a finalist in the 2004 Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver of the Year award when he was only 17. But now he wants to concentrate his 2014 season on competing in the Sunbeam Lotus. James O’Brien will co-drive on at least some of the events, subject to other commitments.
“Owen’s main focus will be the R.A.C. Championship and we want to battle with the Escorts,” said Leahy, who is now specialising in Sunbeam Lotuses for rallying. “It went very well on the Roger Albert and their pace was very good, despite not having any local knowledge. I’m happy that the car is now a quality rally car,” said Leahy, who has drawn on the experience of Russell Brookes on car set-up. “We’re currently building up a spares package as we don’t want to miss a round.”
The 2014 R.A.C. Rally Championship starts on the Red Kite Stages on Sunday 2 February and more details are available from www.redkitestages.co.uk
The West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship is the only championship for historic cars that runs first on the road on all events.
Mini and Imp Cup confirmed for 2014 R.A.C Rally Championship
Posted: December 9, 2013 11:55 AM
A new award for Minis and Hillman Imps will run within the 2014 R.A.C. Rally Championship to celebrate two cars with a half-century heritage in rallying.
The Mini and Imp Cup, which will be open to all models of the original Mini and the Imp and its derivatives, will be contested across the seven-event season and the best performance will be rewarded with an end-of-season trophy at the annual championship awards ceremony.
Among the first drivers to commit to the new Cup is Clive King, widely regarded as the leading Mini driver on gravel events in historic special stage rallying.
“The events in the R.A.C. Rally Championship are generally more affordable and it is important for the Minis and Imps to run first on the road on gravel events. I’m certainly planning to do it,” said King.
Championship manager Colin Heppenstall was pleased to confirm the latest initiative from the R.A.C. Rally Championship.
“The Minis and Imps are still very popular and it is great to see them on the stages. We’re delighted to be able to offer them an award to chase and give them prime stage conditions on some of the best forest stages in Britain,” said Heppenstall. On all rounds of the championship, the pre ’68 cars in Category 1 will run first on the road.
The 2014 R.A.C. Rally Championship starts on the Red Kite Stages on Sunday 2 February and more details will be available from www.redkitestages.co.uk
On-going tyre choice in R.A.C. Rally Championship
Posted: December 4, 2013 2:23 PM
The organisers of the 2014 R.A.C Rally Championship have confirmed that tyre choice will remain open with DMACK, Dunlop, Kumho and Pirelli all partnering with the championship to supply tyres.
The decision to continue a policy of allowing choice of historic specification tyres is considered to be in the best interest of competitors, who can make their decisions based on their own views and preferences. Allowing a free market policy to operate also allows competitors to negotiate the best possible terms.
“I’d like to thank our tyre partners, DMACK, Dunlop (Mr Tyre), Kumho and Pirelli, for their on-going support of the championship,” said championship manager Colin Heppenstall. “Last year we pioneered an open choice of tyres for historic rally cars and we believe that this is in the best interest of our competitors and reflects the situation in period.”
While DMACK, Dunlop, Kumho and Pirelli are official championship partners, other makes of tyre that comply with historic regulations are also permitted in the championship.
2014 R.A.C. Rally Championship calendar unveiled
Posted: October 14, 2013 10:44 AM
ome of the finest gravel rallies in Britain will make up the calendar for the 2014 R.A.C. Rally Championship, which is unveiled today (Monday 14 October) during the first virtual championship launch in British rallying.
The schedule largely mirrors the 2013 calendar, but with the addition of the Severn Valley Stages, one of the classic Welsh gravel events. The prime motivation when compiling the calendar was to give competitors the chance to compete over the best quality gravel roads available. In addition, the schedule reflects a wish from many competitors for one-day gravel rallies run on Saturdays.
“We’ve got a superb schedule of events, which reflects the views and wishes of our competitors,” said Championship manager Colin Heppenstall. “The route for the Tour of Hamsterley will have a significantly different look for 2014 and I’m very grateful to all the event organisers for their hard work.”
The 2014 schedule will take R.A.C. contenders into some of the best forest stages available, including classics like Crychan, Pikes Peak, Hafren, Kershope, Rheola, Margam, Dalby and Cropton. It is an unrivalled schedule in British rallying.
Details of the 2014 championship are subject to MSA approval.
Championship Rounds
Posted: October 14, 2013 10:42 AM
- Red Kite Stages (Llandovery) - 2 February 2014
- Mid Wales Stages (Newtown) - 2 March 2014
- Tour of Hamsterley (Shildon) - (Sat) 26 April 2014
- Severn Valley Stages (Builth Wells) - (Sat) 31 May 2014
- Carlisle Stages (Carlisle) - (Sat) 21 June 2014
- Neath Valley Stages (Resolven) - (Sat) 9 August 2014
- Trackrod Historic Cup (Pickering) - (Sat) 27 September 2014
Upcoming