After the opening sortie on the south coast with the traditional Rallye Sunseeker last month, the 2010 MSA Gravel Rally Championship heads into more traditional rally country for the remainder of the season and with it lots of interest, particularly in the Viking Motorsport Ford Escort Challenge.
Viking Motorsport proprietor Phil Mills came up with a package which will see the driver who wins the series being offered a full post season inspection at Viking’s workshops (labour free) and in addition, they will receive a £500 voucher towards any Viking parts or OMP clothing and as a result, the website demographics have shown a massive upsurge in traffic, especially towards this class.
“2009 Mintex Two-Wheel Drive Champions Trevor Baynham and Anthony Bailey are the latest crew to sign up and we’ve been encouraged by the amount of interest shown recently which is down to the variety of events on offer and the quality of the stages,” said Championship Manager Lyn Jenkins. “Now we’re heading for the Scottish borders and then Wales and the surrounding areas, as well as the classic forests of North Yorkshire, it’s real ‘Escort Country’ so hopefully there’ll be a good entry on these events. It’s also a chance for the younger drivers to pit themselves against the more experienced ones and there’s nothing quite like it so it’s all thanks to Phil Mills for this wonderful prize.”
Viking Ford Escort Challenge Championship contenders will have to start at least four of the six rounds and will need to display prominent decals but other than that, there are no additional registration costs or conditions. All Ford Escorts are eligible, modern or historic specifications and further details, registration and entry forms are available at www.msagravelrallychampionship.co.uk.
The incentive is amongst a long list of benefits aimed at the competitor in the much revamped ANCRO-organised championship and includes subsidised ferry crossings from Fairfield Motorsport who are offering attractive ferry deals to competitors travelling from Ireland.
With convenient sailings from Rosslare to Fishguard and Dublin to Holyhead which will service events including the Severn Valley Stages Rally, Pro Art Signs Swansea Bay Rally and 60 & Worcestershire Rally, whereas their routes from Belfast to Stranraer will be of interest for the Pirelli Tour of Cumbria and Trackrod National Rally competitors.
Prices start from as little as £174 return for a car, van or motorhome plus two persons, the tickets are fully flexible and there are no booking charges and further details are available from Fairfield Motorsport on 01656 725000 or at www.fairfieldmotorsport.com.
Finally, Pit Lane Productions have announced dates for transmission of their Rallye Sunseeker programme which will be on Sky Sports 4 on Wednesday April 21st at 7pm and again at 10pm and then on Thursday April 22nd at 3am. Further showings will be on Sky Sports 3 the same day at 9am and 12 noon.
Picture (courtesy of www.cmwi.net): Geoff Bell and Paul Wakely in action in their Ford Escort on Rallye Sunseeker.
2010 Events (Provisional)
Round 1 - 26/27th February - Rallye Sunseeker, Bournemouth
Round 2 - 23/24th April - Pirelli Tour of Cumbria, Carlisle
Round 3 - 5th June - Severn Valley National Rally, Builth Wells
Round 4 - 17th July - Pro Art Signs Swansea Bay Rally, Swansea
Round 5 - 4th September - 60 & Worcestershire Rally, Ludlow
Round 6 - 25th September - Trackrod National Rally, Pickering
