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| Photo: www.kpbphotography.co.uk |
Rally spectators eager to relive the great days of Minis and Ford Cortinas blasting flat out along forest tracks will have their wish come true on Sunday March 3rd, when a brand new historic rally championship, the HRCR ‘old Stager’ Clubman’s Challenge, fires into life at the Rally Marketing Mid Wales Stages, based in Newtown, Powys.
The Challenge has incorporated the popular
Mini Cup series, which has attracted all the main protagonists from the 2012
championship to contest a four-stage, 45-mile route through Myherin, Hafren and
Sweet Lamb. “It’s marvellous to feel we are part of a brand new championship,
and to have backing from ‘old Stager’, the HRCR’s own magazine,” says Mini
stalwart Clive King. “The cars get thrashed very hard on the stages. It’s as
exciting for spectators as it is for the crews.”
Four of the iconic machines will head the
field away, starting with King and co-driver Bob Ward, who have rallied
together for 22 years – one of the longest partnerships in the sport. After a
disastrous 2012 season, where they only finished one event, they have renewed
both the crown wheel and steering rack to cope with the rigours of the forest
tracks. They will have stiff competition from Andrew O’Hanlon / James Crook,
who won the 2012 Mini Cup at the very last round of the season, and who bring
their 1293cc machine to Newtown. Last year’s runners-up, Nigel Dutson / Finlay
Mackintosh will be hard on their heels, along with Eric Davis / Russell Joseph,
who debut a newly built machine with a powerful 1380cc eight-port engine.
For fans of rear-wheel drive, two classic
1960s Ford Cortina Mk1s will join the Minis. Gwilym Roberts and co-driver Debby
Myers will pit their Lotus Cortina against Wynne Jones / Ray Evans’s GT
version. Jones formerly rallied a Porsche, but is debuting this machine.
“Whoever wins, it’s going to be very close. It only takes someone to run wide
at a corner, or miss a gear and you’ve lost momentum and victory,” says King
again. “But we have all rallied together for years and this ‘old Stager’
Clubman’s series looks set to be a very friendly championship."
For more information on the Championship visit: http://www.hrcr.co.uk/The_old_STAGER_Challenge/
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