Marty McCormack reckons he will have a big fight on his hands in the second round of the West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship, the SG Petch Tour of Hamsterley (Sunday 28 April).

McCormack will go up against Steve Bannister and Nick Elliott and a gaggle of other very quick drivers at the head of the historic field. With a total historic entry of 65 cars, it is one of the best fields ever seen in the north of England and the Irish ace says it is going to be quite a day of rallying.

“I’m under no illusions about how tough it will be,” said McCormack. “I’ve only done one stage in Hamsterley on the Roger Albert Clark Rally and it is going to be a tough day of rallying in there. It is going to be very competitive.”

The big talking point of the rally will be the continuation of the fabulous contest between the Ford Escort Mk2s of McCormack and Bannister from last year’s Roger Albert Clark Rally. However, Nick Elliott will head north as the current championship leaders after a thrilling victory over McCormack on the season-opening Mid Wales Stages.

However, McCormack says it would be a mistake to see this as only a three-way contest. “If the notes work well we should be in with a chance, but you don’t know who is going to pop out of the woodwork to challenge.”

Although Bannister has more experience in the region, he is far from a Hamsterley expert. Meanwhile, McCormack and Elliott have only tackled the forest complex in the dark during the Roger Albert Clark Rally, so there is every chance of some surprises turning up.

The Tour of Hamsterley is organised by Stockton & District Motor Club in association with Teesside Motor Sport Group. More details at: www.tourofhamsterley.co.uk

One of the most distinctive cars in historic rallying will return to action for the first time this year when the Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship visits Carlisle for its second round, the Pirelli Historic Rally, on May 4th and 5th. The bright-yellow and green Saab 96 crewed by Hugh and Debby Myers is set to take on the six scheduled stages in Kielder forest, having undergone extensive gearbox repairs over the winter following a blow-up at the Severn Valley Stages last June.

The 1760cc, V4-engined machine became well known in the early years of the British Historic Rally Championship, being campaigned by Andrew Street. Hugh and Debby bought the car in 2011, using it in selected BHRC rounds last year. Now, with the new compact eight-round series clearly appealing to the Southampton-based husband and wife team, they are ready to join the championship again, running in Category Two, for 1968-75 cars, and class C3.

“The Saab is an ideal car for the up-to 2-litre class. On its day it will give the Ford Escorts a run for their money; certainly in terms of reliability, if not in outright pace,” says driver, Hugh. “Even though we had further problems following the Severn Valley blow-up, the car got safely through another rally before the season ended. It gives us fuss-free rallying.”

Hugh and Debby, along with their ‘psychedelic Saab’, are typical of the clubman competitors who run in the Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship. They will choose their championship counting rounds from a mix of both forest and asphalt events, competing on those rallies that they both enjoy the most. “There is always a good mix of well-run events to choose from. We are simply out there to do our best, and if a good result, particularly in class C3, comes along, that’s a bonus. We rally as much for the wonderful camaraderie among the competitors, and the chance to drive the classic stages that each BHRC round offers,” says Hugh.

The Mintex MSA BHRC organising team strongly supports their attitude to the sport. “Hugh and Debby prove that the Mintex MSA series is a championship that welcomes everyone, whether they are seriously chasing the title or simply out for some high-speed fun on well-organised events that are contested in a friendly atmosphere,” says BHRC Secretary, John Hunt.

“Our championship offers a simple, clearly defined class structure which gives everyone, no matter what car they run and how large or small their budget may be, a chance to compete and enjoy their rallying in a cost-effective way.”

Croft Circuit can confirm that the iconic Roger Albert Clark Rally will be back for a third consecutive year in 2013 when it returns to the North Yorkshire venue as part of its three-day route on Saturday 9 November.

The ‘Roger Albert’, named after Seventies rallying legend Roger Clark, recreates the famed Lombard RAC Rallies of the Sixties, Seventies and early Eighties, running on classic rallying stages across North Yorkshire, Northumberland, Cumbria and the Borders.

Two-wheel-drive cars only are permitted meaning it’s all about some of the sport’s legendary makes and models notably Mk1 and Mk2 Ford Escorts, Porsche 911s, Lancia Stratos (pictured), Vauxhall Chevettes, Opel Kadetts, Saab 96s and many more.

For those who recall seeing the likes of Clark, Mikkola, Vatanen, Pond, Alen, Blomqvist, Waldegaard and many others in action on the original events the Roger Albert provides an opportunity to roll back the years and re-live one of rallying’s golden eras.

Indeed the event is recognised as one of the best in the world for historic-specification rally cars and 2012’s entry list came close to boasting 100 drivers – a number with World Rally Championship experience.

Tickets for Croft’s RAC Rally stage will go on sale shortly on the www.croftcircuit.co.uk website at the advance price of just £8 per adult. As ever, admission for accompanied children aged 15 and under will be FREE. The public can also call the main circuit office on 01325 721815 for further details plus visit the RAC Rally website www.rogeralbertclarkrally.org.

Croft’s race track has been part of the RAC’s route for the past two years with two stages – each a double run of the circuit – in quick succession. More details of this year’s format will emerge in the coming months.

Croft Circuit manager Tracey Morley commented: “We are very privileged to be welcoming the Roger Albert back in 2013. It is one of Britain’s biggest and best attended national motor sport events of the year so to be a part of it again is a real feather in our cap.

“The cars mean so much to so many people. The quality of teams and drivers entering the event now is so high it is just like travelling back in time to the Seventies and Eighties – as proven by the incredibly high number of spectators who turned out for last November’s event.”

Colin Hepenstall, RAC Rally Manager, added: “We are delighted to be returning to Croft – it is has become an essential part of our event. Access is made easy for the public and the fact it’s a permanent motor sport venue ensures excellent viewing and facilities.

“Our competing crews love it as well – the circuit is genuinely enthusiastic about bringing top-class motor sport to the North East, plus it poses a different challenge to the more traditional forest stages which is in keeping with the spirit of the original RACs. Its location also makes for an ideal stop-off and service area for the teams as we venture out of the North Yorkshire forests up towards Northumberland and across to Cumbria on the Saturday evening.”

Nick Elliott and Dave Price were the big winners on the opening round of the West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship, today’s Rally Marketing Mid-Wales Stages (Sunday 3 March).

The Cheltenham crew took victory by just 3.7s after a glorious battle with Marty McCormack and Phil Clarke, while Ryan Barrett and Barry Ferris made it two cars from Northern Ireland in the top three.

With records crowds of spectators packing into the stages and a real buzz around the opening event of the R.A.C. Rally Championship season, it could not have been a better start to the championship. A fabulous atmosphere among the crews and fierce competition on some of the finest gravel stages in the country was a truly winning combination.

Series winners were:
Series 1: John Everard/Mark Sharpley (Alfa Romeo Junior GT)
Series 2: Chris Browne/Ali Cornwell-Browne (Ford Escort Mk1)
Series 3: Nick Elliott/Dave Price (Ford Escort Mk2)
Series 4: Nev Jones/Chris Davies (Ford Escort Mk2)
Series 5: Simon Wallis/Graham Wride (BMW 325)
Series 7: Dylan Davies/Llion Williams (Ford Escort Mk1)

Championship manager Colin Heppenstall was thrilled with the opening event…

“The Mid Wales Stages has been a perfect start to the championship,” he said. “There has been great competition, fabulous stages and lots of very happy competitors! We’d like to say a very big thank you to Chris Tomley and the team at Newtown and District AC for all their hard work.”

A truly sensational entry of over 60 cars has been assembled for the opening round of the West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship, the Rally Marketing Mid-Wales Stages (Sunday 3 March), with the field headed by Jimmy McRae, Nick Elliott, Marty McCormack and Geoff Jones.

The Roger Albert Clark Rally Motor Club has developed the championship, which focuses on historic rally cars complying with MSA historic regulations. But, significantly, it is also opening up the chance for the next generation of cars to join the historic fraternity.

The championship will run over seven one-day gravel rallies in England, Scotland and Wales. The championship caters for cars from MSA historic Categories One, Two and Three as well as cars prepared to FIA Appendix K. Additional classes accommodate cars built up to the end of 1986 as well as other pre ’87 cars that do not fully comply with historic regulations.

Colin Heppenstall, the man behind the Roger Albert Clark Rally, is the driving force for the new series but says that it is competitor demand that has been the catalyst for this new development.

“Competitors, many of them members of the Roger Albert Clark Rally Motor Club, came to us and asked us to put a championship together,” said Heppenstall. “We consulted with a range of interested parties and have had excellent support from the MSA. Cars in Categories One, Two and Three will run in full accordance with the current MSA historic regulations.”

More than 60 crews will line up in Newtown for the first of seven rallies and the quality of historic entry is being described as the best ever seen for a British championship event. The final count shows over 35 BDA/BDG engined Escorts in a field that also includes cars from Lancia, BMW, Vauxhall, Alfa Romeo, VW, Singer, Opel and Talbot.

Heading the field will be reigning BHRC Category 3 champions Nick Elliott and Dave Price in their Ford Escort Mk2. They have a fine record on this event and will be the championship benchmark. However, the vast experience of the legendary Jimmy McRae, partnered by Pauline Gullick in the JLT-backed Escort will be another major factor and the five-time British Rally Champion is a fabulous addition to the championship entry. However, the arrival of Marty McCormack and Phil Clarke on the entry list has added even more spice: they took a famous win on the Roger Albert Clark Rally last November and will fly on the glorious Welsh stages.

In a stunning field, quick Series 3 Escort Mk2s pack out the top 20 in the hands of drivers like Kevin Davies, Will Onions, Tim Pearcey, Thomas Davies, Ryan Barrett, Rob Smith, Andrew Haddon, Warren Philliskirk, Will Nicholls, Matthew Robinson, Phil Squires, Grant Shand and Alan Walker.

New to the historic arena for the event will be Jason Pritchard in a Viking Motorsport Escort Mk2, while Matt Edwards has worked tirelessly over the winter to get his Escort Mk2 ready after a first stage retirement on the Roger Albert Clark Rally. Variety in Series 3 is provided by the Sunbeam Lotus of Guy Anderson, while the presence of Welsh ace Geoff Jones in the ex-factory Vauxhall Chevette of Baz Jordan could give the Escort pack a real scare.

Guy Woodcock heads the Pinto-powered Escorts Mk2s in Series 3, with opposition from young Ben Mellors and Paul Fry. In the 1600 class is the Sunbeam Talbot of Lynden Jones. More Escort Mk2s will contest Series 4 for cars running to FIA Appendix K regulations, including the car of Neville Jones.

Among the Escort Mk1s at the head of Series 2 are the cars of Chris Browne, Craig Salter, Ian Rix and Roger Matthews, while the Pinto-powered cars include Dick Slaughter, Tim Jones, David Kirby and Nick Jarvis who will go up against the Opel Kadett of Peter Smith. The Series 4 Lancia Stratos of Steve Perez is another star car and will come to Newtown fresh from contesting the Boucles de Spa in Belgium two weeks ago. From the 1600cc ranks come the rapid Escort Mk1s of Matt Fowle and Robin Shuttleworth.

At the very front of the rally will be the pre ’67 cars in Series 1, with Pete Gunson’s Lotus Cortina going up against the Singer Chamois of husband and wife crew Chris and Jo Tooze and the lovely Alfa Romeo of John Everard.

A major feature of the new championship are the classes for other pre ’87 cars and Series 5 is set to grow in popularity as the season develops. Simon Wallis/Graham Wride (BMW 325) and Adrian Kermode/Maurice Beckett (VW Golf) lead the way in Series 5, while Series 7 caters for all pre ’87 cars regardless of specification and includes the Ford Escort of Mark Spencer, who is co-driven by Aberystwyth rallying guru Steve Pugh.

It is a fantastic entry for the opening round of a championship that is only going to grow in stature and popularity over the rest of 2013 and beyond.