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2014 West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship
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Contents Welcome to the R.A.C. Rally Championship 2014
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Rally Introduction
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Previous Winners
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Event Preview
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Acknowledgements
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Welcome to the R.A.C. Rally Championship 2014
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elcome to the 2014 West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship organised by the Roger Albert Clark Rally Motor Club. In its inaugural year in 2013 this all-new championship attracted unprecedented competitor support and has consistently drawn stunning entries with quality and quantity to match. Back in March 2013, on the Rally Marketing Mid Wales Rally, the championship got off to a flying start with a record breaking fifty-five registered contenders taking part. This number bucked the trend of the last six years where there had been a significant decline in the number of historic entries received. In 2014 the championship will consist of seven rounds with the inclusion of the Severn Valley Stages one of the best gravel rallies in Wales. Competitors will count their best six results towards the end of the season awards. The remaining schedule mirrors the 2013 events, as we are keen to keep faith with the rallies that supported us from the beginning. Our aim is to have 45-55 stage miles per rally with usually a one day format and rallies on Saturdays wherever possible. In 2014 we will not include any asphalt rallies but this will be very much under review for 2015. Paul Lawrence Championship Press and PR Officer
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Rally Introduction
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elcome to this the 2014 Red Kite
Historic Stages and a return to our traditional date after the September run in 2013 year due to the unforeseen cancellation earlier in the year. Once again we would like to thank all of our sponsors for their continued backing in these difficult times, and the competitors for their support in making the Red Kite Stages a friendly, no-nonsense event with classic stages around the Llandovery area. We would also like to welcome registered competitors in the West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship. Our commitment has been not to cancel the event but postpone it due to the atrocious weather that affected the original date in January. We hope that all that entered will now re-enter along with others to make the event a success. We hope to see you for a good day’s motorsport on the 8th September 2013. Gareth Thomas, Clerk of the Course Amman and District Motor Club
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Previous Winners
2007 Terry Brown/Paul Willetts (Ford Escort Mk2) 2008 Julian Reynolds/Ian Oakey (Ford Escort RS 1800) 2009 Terry Brown/Den Golding (Ford Escort Mk2) 2010 Terry Brown/Martin Jones (Ford Escort RS) 2011 Julian Reynolds/Ian Oakey (Ford Escort Mk2) 2012 Not held 2013 Marty McCormack/Phil Clarke (Ford Escort Mk2) Regulations are available on our website.: http://www.redkitestages.co.uk/
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Event Preview
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nother tremendous entry has been assembled for the Red Kite Stages, round five of the West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship (Sunday 8 September). With 45 miles of prime Welsh stages in the Crychan and Cefn region from a base in Llandovery, the Red Kite promises to be another highlight of a fabulous debut season for the new championship. The rally was originally intended to be the opening round of the championship in January, but heavy snow forced the organisers to postpone the rally. Significantly, the overall title could be settled on this penultimate round of the championship as Marty McCormack and Phil Clarke bid to secure the inaugural WWRS R.A.C. Rally Championship title. The Escort Mk2 crew can seal the crown with another victory on the Welsh event, having scored three wins on the trot over the last three rallies. However, if the Irishman is headed by the similar cars of Nick Elliott or Jason Pritchard, the title will not be resolved until the concluding Trackrod Rally at the end of September.
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Event Preview
The Roger Albert Clark Rally Motor Club has developed the R.A.C. Championship, which focuses on historic rally cars complying with MSA and FIA historic regulations. But, significantly, it also opens up the chance for the next generation of cars to join the historic fraternity. The 2013 championship is running over six 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. Yet another fabulous field packs out the Rob Smith Rallying Series 3, with McCormack and Elliott at the head of the field. However, this is certainly not just a two-way contest as both Jason Pritchard/Dale Furniss and Matt Edwards/Andy Murphy clearly have the speed to win overall and Pritchard was just eight seconds away from winning round four, the Neath Valley Stages. The quality of Escort Mk2 entry goes much, much further with crews like Terry Brown/Tomos Whittle, Kevin Davies/Dale Bowen, Matthew Robinson/Nigel Hutchinson, Tim Pearcey/Jamie Edwards, James Potter/Bob Duck and Warren Philliskirk/Paul Wakely making up a sensational top 10. In class D3, the pace of young Ben Mellors and Alex Lee has been outstanding over recent events in their Pinto-powered Escort Mk2, www.racrallychamp.org
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Event Preview
while Peter Smith and Graham Wild offer strong opposition in their Opel Kadett as bounce back from a very early retirement in Neath. More quick class D3 Escorts are handled by Paul Fry/Mike Steele and youngsters Ben Friend/Jonathan Jackson. In class D4 is the Sunbeam Lotus of James Stait/Glyn Thomas, while the ever-popular Hillman Avenger of Graham Thatcher/Rob James runs in D2. The 2-litre Pinto-powered Escort Mk1s of Dick Slaughter/Geoff Dearing and David Kirby/Chris Rixon will take on the BMW 2002 of Terry Cree/ Richard Shores in class C3 within the Capital Construction Series 2 (1968-74). In class C5, the battle will be between the Ford Escort Mk1s of Nick Jarvis/Craig Thorley and Ian Rix/Lee Carter, while Robin Shuttleworth/Ron Roughead head class C2, and run first car on the road, in their Ford Escort Mk1. In the Walker Diecastings Series 1 for pre ’68 cars the top championship contenders are John Everard and Mark Sharpley in the gorgeous Alfa Romeo Junior GT. Their rivals include Chris and Jo Tooze (Singer Chamois) and Stephen Higgins/Don Bramfoot (Saab 96). Finally, Series 7 for open pre ’87 cars is headed by the very rapid Ford Escort Mk2 of Mark Spencer and Steve Pugh. The Red Kite Stages is organised by the Amman and District Motor Club. For more details about the event please visit www.redkitestages.co.uk.
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Acknowledgements
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Acknowledgements
The Championship Team would like to thank All the Marshals, Competitors, and Helpers - we couldn't do this without you.
All that remains for us to say is we look forward to welcoming you to this event. Let’s all hope for a safe and enjoyable weekend’s sport. Please comply with all marshals instructions Please take your litter home and keep the forests clean for everyone!
Regular results updates will be available throughout the event on
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