NEWS: Wales Rally GB 2013 Showcasing Rally Cult Classics

In addition to this year's Wales Rally GB's new North Wales base, family-friendly 'RallyFest' spectator stages in historic venues (which we will be covering in the next Road Magazine), classic Welsh gravel forest stages, the top WRC cars and stars coming to do battle and National Rally events running alongside – the event will also give us rally fans a chance to see some cool cult classics.

Flame-spitting Audi Quattros, Escort and Sierra Cosworths, classic Imprezas and legendary Lancias and T16 Peugeots will take part in very special demonstrations for the RallyFests and at the final stage on Sunday, on the infamous Great Orme.
Event organisers say: "Britain has hosted a round of the FIA World Rally Championship ever since the sport’s premier series was introduced in 1973 and a selection of eye-catching cars from the four decades since will be taking part in static displays and evocative demonstration runs during this year’s event."
The mouth watering full list of classic contenders from past generations on parade is deeply impressive – it includes the much-loved Audi Sport quattro S1, Ford Escort Cosworth, Lancia 037, Lancia Delta S4, MG Metro 6R4, Peugeot 205 T16, Renault 5 Maxi Turbo plus a pair of Subaru Imprezas rallied by Colin McRae and Richard Burns. In total around 20 legendary cars are being provided by the Slowly Sideways UK organisation.
These wonderful collections will be on show at the Service Park in Deeside as well as at the new, family-friendly RallyFest Stages at Sweet Lamb on Friday and Kinmel Park on Sunday, when the cavalcade will also be in action performing on the Great Orme immediately before the main event.
The biggest gathering, though, will be at the Chirk Castle RallyFest on Saturday, which will host both dramatic demonstration runs on the special stage and a static display featuring the full line-up of automotive idols from the past.
“As well as seeing the current generation of pocket rockets flying through the stages, fans at selected venues will also be able to marvel at some of the greatest cars from past generations – the iconic machines that helped to establish the RAC Rally as one of this country’s best-loved sporting events,” said Andrew Coe, Chief Executive of event organiser International Motor Sports Ltd.
Individual adult tickets for the three fun-filled RallyFest stages are priced at just £25* – which includes a free programme normally priced at £7.50. Significant discounts also are available for families. Full information on tickets can be found on the Wales Rally GB website at:www.walesrallygb.com.

Get involved for a chance to see these iconic rally cars in action. It's an experience to savour and one you will never forget... let alone witnessing the gravel-blastign pace of the top-level WRC cars. See you there! 

See some more pics of the cult classics here.

VIDEO: Colin McRae 'Pedal to the Metal' Documentary

NEWS: Garry Jennings Crowned Irish Tarmac Champ with Kumho

Congratulations to Garry Jennings and co-driver, Rory Kennedy for nailing the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship title in style, in conjunction with tyre sponsor, Kumho.
Garry's second place on last weekend’s (October 4-6) Orchard Motorsport Cork 20 event was sufficient to land him his first ITRC title, after a dominant season on the Irish black stuff – tarmac, not Guinness!
On the Orchard event, Jennings overcame early concerns about the health of his Subaru Impreza’s engine to bring the car home behind Daragh O’Riordan’s Ford Fiesta WRC, and clinch the prestigious seven round series – the first Co Fermanagh resident to do so since the legendary rally God, Bertie Fisher in 1996.
Having finished runner-up in last year’s championship, Jennings was determined not to let the biggest prize in Irish rallying slip through his fingers once more. Following outright victories in the Killarney Rally of the Lakes and the Ulster event he headed the leader board by 20 points from nearest rival Donagh Kelly going into the final round, so only needed a top five finish to get the job done. However, he was determined to add another win to his name and eventually lost out by just 0.22.9 seconds.
Kumho is no stranger to assisting drivers to success in the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship and has supplied tyres for the Jennings Subaru both last year and this. Said the company’s European Motorsport Manager Steve Thompson: “We were gutted for Garry when he came so close to victory last year, so doubly pleased he has pulled it off this time around. Needless to say we are also delighted to add another major rally series to the long list on which Kumho tyres have outpaced those of rival manufacturers.”
For further information on Kumho tyres for rally stage, track and road, log onto www.kumhotyre.co.uk.

VIDEO: A Classic Dogfight: Rally GB 1998

It's Rally GB this weekend folks! To get you in the mood, here's an absolute classic rally finish from 1998 – with some complete legends in action: Both McRae brothers in the best-spec 1998 Impreza WRC, Tommi Makinen & Richard Burns in the Mitsubishi Evo, Juha Kankkunen and Bruno Thiry in the last outing of the Escort WRC and Carlos Sainz and Didier Auriol in the Corolla WRC... with a cruel finish for them, after a massive fight on the wet, slippery, foggy, dark stages of Wales. Bloody perfect. Miss these days... don't you?

VIDEO: Happy 50th Birthday "King Carlos" Sainz

Road Magazine wishes Spanish rally God, King Carlos Sainz a very happy 50th birthday. A true legend of the sport, two times WRC champion (1990 & 1992) and with 26 wins and more podiums that you can imagine, on all surfaces, Carlos is a true rally legend – driving for factory rally giants Toyota, Subaru, Lancia, Ford and more in his days in WRC. His super aggressive, yet smooth and seriously quick style and his wonderful passion and personality made him a worldwide rally star. And a look at this ace highlights video shows why. We met him racing at the Nurburgring 24-Hour in a VW Scirocco R (which he loved, describing the Green Hell as "a long, very smooth tarmac rally stage") and now he's back in WRC, with the development of the VW Polo R WRC. So, expect it's successes to be down to him. What a top guy and personal hero to many. We love you King Carlos!

Road Editor, Phil Royle natters with King Carlos at the Nurburgring. They say "never meet your heroes" but Phil disagrees.

VIDEO: The Richard Burns Foundation

A very moving, very well shot film (Directed by Nick Rowland and produced by students of AUCB Film School, www.ampfilms-uk.com) of the rally career and tragic end to a true rally hero's life, Richard Burns. R.I.P. The film was made "to give context to the Paint It Orange campaign as motorsport remembers ten years since Richard's 2001 World title and today's ongoing work of the Richard Burns Foundation as it endeavours to improve the circumstances of others facing neurological injury and illness." Take the time to remember a true gentleman and genius of rallying, much missed. The RB Foundation says: "Together we can improve the lives of people affected with Brain & Spine injuries or illness. Simply text Burns to 70007 and donate £3 to the Richard Burns Foundation. If you also include your name and address we can send you a RBF wristband. If you live out side the UK please send your donation via Just Giving and include your name and address again - this donation needs to be a minimum of £4. Thank you." See more at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Richard-Burns-Foundation/8472503566