WALES RALLY GB TO CELEBRATE MOMENTOUS 75TH MILESTONE

WALES RALLY GB TO CELEBRATE MOMENTOUS 75TH MILESTONE

Col Loughborough winner of the 1932 RAC Rally

This year’s Wales Rally GB (3-6 October) will be the 75th running of the globally renowned event – a significant milestone that will be celebrated in style when the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) arrives in the UK this autumn.

A special showcase featuring many of the stand-out cars from past generations will be one of the highlights at Thursday evening’s spectacular opening competitive stage at the popular Oulton Park circuit near Chester.

The celebratory display will include many icons from previous eras including significant Ford Escorts, Group B machines and victorious cars rallied by British heroes Colin McRae and Richard Burns.

Illustrating the rally’s remarkable history, the collection will provide visitors with an engaging insight into the sport’s evolution over time, whetting appetites for the arrival of the latest generation of WRC stars and cars – the fastest and most impressive machines ever to set wheels in the forests.

Back in 1932, the inaugural Royal Automobile Club Rally took its lead from the Monte Carlo Rally with crews driving standard road cars setting off from nine different towns and cities all bound for Torquay on the English Riviera via a variety of 1000-mile routes, each one with four control points. No fewer than 342 competitors entered and the £25 prize for having recorded the lowest number of penalty points was awarded to Colonel A. H. Loughborough driving a Lanchester 15/18.

Motor Sport magazine reported: “People with the knowledge and experience of the Monte Carlo Rally may, perhaps, have regarded the R.A.C event as a meek and mediocre counterpart of the former, but as a preliminary effort there can be no denying the fact that it was a great success. It showed that British motorists are really keen to indulge in motoring fixtures when the opportunity occurs provided they are organised by a competent body.”

Though there was a break in the action following the outbreak of the Second World War and again in 1957 for the Suez Crisis, the RAC Rally followed a similar format, albeit with the introduction of more competitive tests, until the start of the sixties when Scandinavian style off-road forest stages were first introduced – a move which cemented the rally’s reputation as one of the most challenging and respected on the calendar.

In 1973, the event’s international repute earned it a founding position in the newly created FIA World Rally Championship and, together with Finland, remains one of only two rounds that have featured on every year’s WRC roster ever since.

The switch to gravel tracks in the forests and a wintry, end-of-season slot on the schedule resulted in 30 years of Nordic success only interrupted by Roger Clark’s two home wins in 1972 and 1976.

In more recent times, though, the victories have been shared more widely with further home-grown winners Colin McRae (1994, 1995 and 1997), Richard Burns (1998, 1999 and 2000) and most recently Elfyn Evans in 2017. Coming 25 years ago, the first of McRae’s victories was in the 50th running of the event.

The UK’s premier rally has also seen several title changes over its long history with the advent of title sponsorship from commercial partners such as Lombard, Network Q and Dayinsure. The UK’s round of the WRC has been titled Wales Rally GB for the past 17 years since the Welsh Government became principal funding partner in 2003.

“Only the Monte Carlo Rally can boast a longer or richer pedigree than Rally GB and only Finland has also retained a place on every World Rally Championship calendar – it’s this incredible esteem and heritage which make this historic event, in all its guises, so special,” remarked Hugh Chambers, CEO of Motorsport UK, organiser of Wales Rally GB. “While continuing to innovate and keeping the event fresh for both competitors and visitors, we are proud of the rally’s unique place in the sport’s history and will be celebrating that with this special 75th anniversary showcase at Oulton Park in October.”

Adult tickets to the opening Oulton Park Special Stage on Thursday are priced at just £25 and must be purchased in advance – grandstand seats are also available as well as a hospitality upgrade for those seeking the ultimate entertainment experience. Children aged 15 and under enjoy free admittance.

Full details of these – as well as a wide choice of tickets for the 21 Special Stages that follow on Friday, Saturday and Sunday – can be found on the walesrallygb.com website.

RALLY GB MILESTONES

1932 Inaugural Royal Automobile Club Rally finishing in Torquay

1933 First female RAC Rally winner: Miss Kitty Brunell

1940-50 RAC Rally not staged following outbreak of World War 2

1951 RAC Rally re-introduced based in Bournemouth

1953 Ian Appleyard wins his second RAC Rally in Jaguar XK120

1957 RAC Rally cancelled due to the Suez Crisis

1960 First forest competitive section successfully introduced in Scotland

1961 Multiple forest stages introduced around the country

1962 Erik Carlsson completes a hat-trick of wins in Saab 96

1965 Rauno Aaltonen gives the Mini its only RAC Rally triumph

1966 Entries from two F1 World Champions Graham Hill (Mini) and Jim Clark (Lotus Cortina)

1967 Rally cancelled due to foot-and-mouth disease

1970-73 Title sponsorship from the Daily Mirror

1971 Fan-friendly Spectator Stages first introduced at Harewood House

1972 Roger Clark becomes the first British driver to win since switch to forest event

1973 Rally GB included in the first FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers

1974-92 Title sponsorship from Lombard

1975 Timo Mäkinen completes a hat-trick of wins in dominant Ford Escort era

1976 Second victory for Roger Clark who becomes first British winner of a WRC round

1979 RAC Rally included in first FIA Drivers’ World Championship

1980 Henri Toivonen becomes final driver to win in 2wd car (Talbot Sunbeam Lotus)

1982 Hannu Mikkola becomes the first four-time Rally GB winner

1986 RAC Rally was final European round for Group B cars

1993-2002 Title sponsorship from Network Q

1994 50th running of RAC Rally; Colin McRae becomes first British winner for 18 years

1995 Colin McRae wins and is crowned as Britain’s first World Rally Champion

1997 Colin McRae wins his third Rally GB

2000 Richard Burns completes a hat-trick of Rally GB victories

2000 Rally GB moves to Cardiff with all 17 stages in Wales

2001 Richard Burns finishes third and is crowned as England’s first World Rally Champion

2003 Welsh Government becomes principal funding partner

2005 Petter Solberg/Phill Mills win for a fourth consecutive

2013 Rally moves to new home in Deeside, north Wales

2016-18 Title sponsorship from Dayinsure

2017 Elfyn Evans becomes first Welsh driver to win a WRC round

2018 Llandudno stages first world championship motor sport on closed public roads in the UK

2018 Sébastien Ogier becomes first fifth-time winner

2019 Milestone 75th running of Rally GB

RALLY GB MULTIPLE WINNERS: DRIVERS

5		Sébastien Ogier
4		Hannu Mikkola Petter Solberg
3		Erik Carlsson Richard Burns Juha Kankkunen Sébastien Loeb Timo Mäkinen Colin McRae
2.		Ian Appleyard Stig Blomqvist Roger Clark Marcus Gronholm Jack Harrop Harry Källström Jari-Matti Latvala Carlos Sainz Henri Toivonen Tom Trana

RALLY GB MULTIPLE WINNERS: MANUFACTURERS

15		Ford
9		Subaru
6		Lancia
5		Saab
4		Jaguar Toyota VW
3		Audi Citroën Peugeot
2		Mitsubishi Volvo

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS AT LAND ROVER LEGENDS

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS AT LAND ROVER LEGENDS

Four very special anniversaries will be celebrated at Land Rover Legends at Bicester Heritage on 25th and 26th May, each one marking a highly significant milestone in the history of the Land Rover marque.

50 years of the Pink Panther

The 50th anniversary of the entry into service of the Series IIa SAS Pink Panther will be commemorated with what is expected to be the largest-ever gathering of these fascinating vehicles, supported by two surviving examples of the Series One and some of the few surviving later 110 SAS vehicles.

The Pink Panther was born during the late 1960s, as a follow on from the adapted WW11 Jeep and the Series One. The MOD acquired 72 Series IIa 109 Land Rovers for special ops missions and long-distance reconnaissance. Marshalls of Cambridge converted them to SAS desert duty specification, with modifications including heavy-duty springs and chassis, additional fuel tanks to carry 100 gallons, smoke grenade launcher, rifles, machine guns, hand grenades and an anti-tank rocket launcher. The Land Rovers were delivered to the SAS in standard green livery but the SAS had many of them repainted in pink. This might seem an unlikely colour for a military vehicle - especially one in service with the SAS - but it is actually the perfect colour for camouflage in the desert, especially at dawn and dusk when the ground in their theatres of operation takes on a red or pink shade. Thus the ‘Pink Panther’ name was born. Often shortened to ‘Pinkie’ the name was even applied to the vehicles the SAS kept in their original, green colour. Pinkies would remain in service until 1984 when the coil sprung Hi–Cap was introduced as a replacement.

40th anniversary of ‘the best Land Rover that Land Rover never produced’

In the late-1970s, Land Rover built around 36 100-inch wheelbase prototypes for evaluation by the French, and later the Swiss, military. Based on various axles adapted for coil springs, petrol 4-cylinder and V8 engine options, with manual and automatic gearbox options and a one-off chassis, and a 24V electrical system, they were produced in a range of configurations, most with twin fuel tanks. Although these vehicles never went into production, the 100-inch wheelbase was felt by many to be the perfect dimension for a Land Rover, and enthusiasts went on to create their own ‘hybrids’ based on modified Range Rover chassis and Land Rover panels. 

The 40th anniversary of these exceptionally rare 100-inch prototypes – considered by many to be the best Land Rover that Land Rover never produced – will also be celebrated at Land Rover Legends with what is expected to be the largest-ever gathering. 

The 30th anniversary of ‘the vehicle that saved Land Rover’

In the mid-1980s sales of Land Rover’s utility vehicles were in decline, and the company was also facing challenges from new 4x4 vehicles such as the Isuzu Trooper and Mitsubishi Shogun. The company’s response was to develop a new vehicle that would sit between the 90 and 110, and the Range Rover. In 1989 Land Rover unveiled its new Discovery at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The 3-door vehicle, deliberately described this way as part of the programme to differentiate it from the 2-door Range Rover, although both had two doors and a tailgate, actually shared the Range Rover’s chassis and drive train, body frame, and many other components, all of which were clad in a brand-new, trend-setting design that ensured the new vehicle would appeal to a new, younger and ‘lifestyle-oriented’ market. The Discovery was an instant sales success and was quickly followed by the 5-door version that further cemented its appeal as a family vehicle. Land Rover had a winner on its hands and had launched it with perfect timing to ride the wave of the soaring popularity of recreational and lifestyle off-roaders that followed in the early 1990s. Land Rover Legends will celebrate the 30th anniversary of this hugely successful vehicle.

The 25th birthday of the launch of the P38a

In September 1994 Land Rover launched the second-generation Range Rover - 24 years after the original was introduced. The new car was developed in building P38a of the Solihull factory, and so became known as the P38a. This was undeniably a luxury vehicle with leather upholstery, premium trim and burr walnut rivalling the interiors of upmarket saloon cars, putting the four-wheel drive in front of a new audience. It was a step forward from the first-generation Range Rover not just in terms of luxury, equipment and updated engine but also in its off-road versatility and abilities, with height-adjustable air suspension now standard. Exterior design changes were relatively subtle however, in order not to alienate loyal Range Rover customers, but the new vehicle was well-received by both the press and the buying public. Subsequently, the vehicle developed a reputation for poor reliability, primarily to do with its electrical systems, but over recent years enthusiasts have come to appreciate the design and the impressive capability of the P38a. And most of its electrical gremlins have by now been tamed!

National Land Rover Awards

The ultimate show for Land Rover connoisseurs, preservationists, restorers and enthusiasts will also see the announcement of the results of the National Land Rover Awards 2019, the winners of which will be chosen at Land Rover Legends. Nominations for the awards are open at www.landroverlegends.com. Shortlisted vehicles will be invited to be displayed as part of a dedicated indoor exhibition at the Bicester Heritage event where, on Sunday May 26th, a panel of expert judges will select the Winner and Highly Commended entry in each category.

All Land Rovers welcome

Land Rover Legends is an event for all Land Rovers. In addition to the main exhibits and demonstration vehicles, over a dozen major Land Rover Clubs have booked display space for the event and every Land Rover attending - whether with a club or not - will become a part of the show by being displayed in the dedicated forward-parking area that will be set aside to showcase representatives of the marque.

This year, for the first time, canine companions are welcome to attend the event (regardless of whether or not they arrive in a Land Rover!). So there’s no need to leave well-behaved four-legged friends at home; just pop them on a lead and bring them along.

Other new features for 2019 include on-site camping and Saturday evening entertainment. Camping bookings are coming in thick and fast, and Land Rover fans are advised to book early if they want to make a weekend of it in the atmospheric, inimitable setting of Bicester Heritage.

In addition to the fantastic range of very special vehicles on show, Land Rover lovers will find a host of other things to fascinate and tempt them, with top Land Rover restorers, specialists and associated suppliers, plus carefully-selected exhibitors and traders, all positioned in and around Bicester Heritage’s magnificent main exhibition hangar. 

For more information or to book tickets please visit: www.landroverlegends.com

SILVERSTONE CLASSIC - SPECIAL RACES TO MARK MAGICAL MINI MILESTONE

SPECIAL RACES TO MARK MAGICAL MINI MILESTONE • British icon’s Diamond Jubilee celebrated in record style • The world’s biggest-ever grid of racing Minis at the 2019 Classic  • Spectacular 60thanniversary double-header added to Saturday and Sunday bill • Money saving Early Bird tickets on sale The 60thanniversary of the extraordinary Mini Minor will be celebrated with two record-breaking races at this summer’s Silverstone Classic (26-28 July).   To mark this magical milestone in true Classic style, the packed on-track programme will – for the first time ever – feature a pair of very special showdowns dedicated entirely to huge numbers of much-loved Mini racers competing for The Mini Celebration Trophy presented by Adrian Flux.    The automotive icon’s enduring popularity with historic motor sport competitors is certain to create the world’s biggest-ever grid of racing Minis and, fittingly, another major crowd-pleasing highlight at this year’s running of the biggest retro-racing festival on the planet.   Ensuring everyone shares in the celebrations, the unmissable Mini double-header action will star on all three days at the Classic with qualifying on Friday and spectacular 20-minute showdowns on both Saturday and Sunday.   First launched in 1959, the ground-breaking Mini not only revolutionised small car design forever but also became a classless British style icon in the Swinging Sixties – an image that is still fostered today by BMW’s on-going homages to the innovative original which was designed for the British Motor Corporation (BMC) by the ingenious Sir Alec Issigonis.    As well as becoming one of the most influential cars in automotive history, the trail-blazer also earned its spurs in competition. Maximising its nimble front-wheel-drive layout, higher performance versions quickly added to the Mini’s spiralling kudos.    Three famous Monte Carlo Rally wins plus numerous giant-killing successes on the race track – many at Silverstone – boosted the little car’s incredible credentials and further fuelled the perennial favourite’s legendary status.    “Absolutely everybody who loves cars loves the Mini, so we are really thrilled to be celebrating this major milestone in its illustrious history with two fabulous races at the Classic, where the stars are always the cars!” enthused Nick Wigley, Silverstone Classic CEO – a long-term fan of the charismatic BMC baby having learnt to drive and passed his driving test in a little red Mini.      “With so many evocative examples in existence, we are expecting to create what will be the world’s biggest-ever field of racing Minis… and, in doing so, make yet more history for both the magical Mini and the Classic.”   This summer’s duo of Diamond Jubilee duels are being organised by Masters Historic Racing and will feature competition cars dating back to the pioneering Mini’s original pre-1966 era.   “We are delighted that Masters has been asked to organise these Mini-only celebration races at the Silverstone Classic in July,” said Ron Maydon, Founder and President of Masters Historic Racing. “Minis are very close to my own heart and, in their 60th anniversary year, it only seems right that we should be showcasing a spectacular grid of infamous FIA-spec pre-66 Minis at such a great British historic racing festival.”   Furthering the festivities at the annual Classic, a raft of evergreen Minis will also feature in special track parades and in dedicated in-field displays organised by members of prominent motor clubs representing all generations of the revered marque through the ages.     Visitors keen to join in the festivities at the festival must buy their tickets in advance and can take advantage of the Early Bird offer on tickets when purchasing before the end of March.    As in previous years, all tickets grant access to trackside grandstands, live music concerts on Friday and Saturday evenings, both racing paddocks, plus the vast majority of the fun-fuelled family entertainment on offer at the ‘rocking and racing’ Classic.    Full details on general admission tickets, car club display packages, hospitality experiences and camping options – as well as all the latest Classic news – can be found on the silverstoneclassic.com website.