Rally Legends Gear Up For Croft R.A.C Blast

Croft Circuit is all set for historic rally heaven this Saturday – as a World Rally Champion, British Historic Rally Champion & Le Mans 24Hrs winner take part in a stage of the Roger Albert Clark Rally at the Northumberland track. Among the top names are 2010’s and 2009’s respective winners, Belgium’s Stefan Stouf and Gwyndaf Evans (a former British Rally Champion), plus newly-crowned back-to-back British Historic Rally Champion David Stokes. Also watch for Phil Collins – another top ex-name from the British Rally Championship and co-driven, notably, by Nicky Grist who navigated Finland’s Juha Kankkunen to the 1993 World Rally Championship title and who then went on to form a six-year partnership with the legendary Colin McRae in the WRC. There's a cracking 70-strong entry full of iconic Sixties, Seventies and Eighties rally hereos, like: Lancia Stratos, Lancia Fulvia, Saab 96, Talbot Sunbeam, Hillman Avenger, Porsche 911s, plus Ford Escort MKIs and MKIIs all listed. The R.A.C, named after Seventies British rallying great Roger Clark, recreates the Lombard RAC Rallies of old and a time which many believe were motor rallying’s glory years. For tens of thousands of enthusiasts the charismatic event has become an annual road trip as they follow its route – this year from Friday 2 to Monday 5 December – and competitive timed stages in North Yorkshire, Northumberland, Dumfries & Galloway and Cumbria. Furthermore, it is traditional for many public to stop and wave to the crews as they pass along main roads en route to each stage. And two of those spectacular stages – along with a major service area that will enable the fans to get a close-up look at the cars as they are worked on – will be held at Croft Circuit, just outside Darlington on the Saturday (3 Dec). Competing cars will arrive at the Croft service area from 3.32pm. Then it's onto the two stages – each a ‘double run’ of the full Croft race track – starting at 4.10pm and then 4.24pm. So, spectators will see the cars pass four times with the enticing prospect of two or three ‘live on stage’ at the same time. Tickets cost just £10 (payable on the gate) with FREE admission for children aged 15 and under. For more information visit the new-look Croft Circuit website www.croftcircuit.co.uk or call the Circuit Office on 01325 721815. Or visit: www.rogeralbertclarkrally.org.