NINE leading drivers from across the north will battle it out for top honours in the 20th anniversary edition of the Roger Albert Clark Rally when it gets under way this morning.
Almost 170 entries have been received by organisers of the biennial event, which officially began with a ceremonial start outside the Guildhall in the centre of the Welsh town of Carmarthen last night.
In front of thousands of spectators, Draperstown’s Marty McCormack – the only triple winner of the gravel competition – and his co-driver for the five-day marathon, Barney Mitchell, led the top crews across the start ramp.
Having missed the 2021 instalment due to work and family commitments, McCormack returns with the goal of making it a record-extending fourth triumph at the wheel of his Ford Escort Mk2.
He arrives in red hot form having won the Acropolis Historic Rally in Greece courtesy of another faultless performance, leading from the host town of Itea back to the finish line in Elefsina, north west of Athens.
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However, McCormack concedes the meeting is not going to be straightforward. That is because the 38-year-old will trade times at the RAC Rally with event newcomer and five-time WRC winner Kris Meeke (Ford Escort Mk2) who has kept himself match fit over the past few months by representing Hyundai Motorsport in the Portuguese Rally Championship on six occasions.
Competition will also come from World Rally Championship WRC2 driver Oliver Solberg; he has been testing extensively on Welsh roads in the Ford Escort Mk2 that belongs to his father, Petter.
Former British Rally champion Osian Pryce and recent Carlisle Stages Rally victor Jason Pritchard are also expected to feature strongly (Ford Escort Mk2) as is former FIA European Rally Championship title winner Chris Ingram in a V8-powered Triumph TR7 run by the David Appleby Engineering Team in England.
As well as McCormack and Meeke, hopes of someone local finishing on the top step of the podium will also rest on the shoulders of Omagh’s Paul Barrett and Cathan McCourt, Donaghmore’s Adrian Hetherington, Belfast’s Fintan McGrady, Carrickfergus’ Robert Woodside and Cookstown’s Keith McIvor.
A total of 24 manufacturers are represented on the RAC entry list, which includes competitors from 12 countries, nine of which are previous British Historic Rally champions.
Looking ahead to the event, McCormack said: “The fact the rally has such a strong entry this year is great recognition of it and the work that has gone on over recent years by organisers to improve it and build it up to what it is now. I am really excited to be going back – it will be a great battle.
“Personally, it really is a pinch yourself moment, especially when you see your name is seeded on an entry list above the likes of Kris and Oliver, Osian and Chris.
They are all formidable drivers but, to be honest, my biggest rival out there over the five days is going to be Jason,” he continued. “Jason is the one person who is always on my toes – he is always there or thereabouts – so I can never afford to underestimate him given the experience he has of competing at the RAC Rally.”
The event concludes with a mammoth 39-mile blast – the longest gravel special stage in UK rallying for 40 years.
Called ‘The Big One’, it will run next Monday afternoon (November 27) and cap off a schedule totalling 350 competitive miles in the forests of England, Scotland and Wales.
McCormack heads northern challenge DNINE leading drivers from across the north will battle it out for top honours in the 20th anniversary edition of the Roger Albert Clark Rally when it gets under way this morning.
Almost 170 entries have been received by organisers of the biennial event, which officially began with a ceremonial start outside the Guildhall in the centre of the Welsh town of Carmarthen last night.
In front of thousands of spectators, Draperstown’s Marty McCormack – the only triple winner of the gravel competition – and his co-driver for the five-day marathon, Barney Mitchell, led the top crews across the start ramp.
Having missed the 2021 instalment due to work and family commitments, McCormack returns with the goal of making it a record-extending fourth triumph at the wheel of his Ford Escort Mk2.
He arrives in red hot form having won the Acropolis Historic Rally in Greece courtesy of another faultless performance, leading from the host town of Itea back to the finish line in Elefsina, north west of Athens.
However, McCormack concedes the meeting is not going to be straightforward. That is because the 38-year-old will trade times at the RAC Rally with event newcomer and five-time WRC winner Kris Meeke (Ford Escort Mk2) who has kept himself match fit over the past few months by representing Hyundai Motorsport in the Portuguese Rally Championship on six occasions.
Competition will also come from World Rally Championship WRC2 driver Oliver Solberg; he has been testing extensively on Welsh roads in the Ford Escort Mk2 that belongs to his father, Petter.
Former British Rally champion Osian Pryce and recent Carlisle Stages Rally victor Jason Pritchard are also expected to feature strongly (Ford Escort Mk2) as is former FIA European Rally Championship title winner Chris Ingram in a V8-powered Triumph TR7 run by the David Appleby Engineering Team in England.
As well as McCormack and Meeke, hopes of someone local finishing on the top step of the podium will also rest on the shoulders of Omagh’s Paul Barrett and Cathan McCourt, Donaghmore’s Adrian Hetherington, Belfast’s Fintan McGrady, Carrickfergus’ Robert Woodside and Cookstown’s Keith McIvor.
A total of 24 manufacturers are represented on the RAC entry list, which includes competitors from 12 countries, nine of which are previous British Historic Rally champions.
Looking ahead to the event, McCormack said: “The fact the rally has such a strong entry this year is great recognition of it and the work that has gone on over recent years by organisers to improve it and build it up to what it is now. I am really excited to be going back – it will be a great battle.
“Personally, it really is a pinch yourself moment, especially when you see your name is seeded on an entry list above the likes of Kris and Oliver, Osian and Chris.
hey are all formidable drivers but, to be honest, my biggest rival out there over the five days is going to be Jason,” he continued. “Jason is the one person who is always on my toes – he is always there or thereabouts – so I can never afford to underestimate him given the experience he has of competing at the RAC Rally.”
The event concludes with a mammoth 39-mile blast – the longest gravel special stage in UK rallying for 40 years.
Called ‘The Big One’, it will run next Monday afternoon (November 27) and cap off a schedule totalling 350 competitive miles in the forests of England, Scotland and Wales. D