Rallye Sunseeker - Bournemouth 22/23 February 2008



Rallye Sunseeker , the premier round of the Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship returns to the South coast of England on the 22nd and 23rd February 2008

There are 77 entries as at 1st February including 12 WRC cars probably the largest number you will see competing in national rallying outside Ireland (6 Subaru Impreza WRC's, 3 Ford Focus WRC's and 3 Hyundai Accent WRC's) Unfortunately the enthusiastic Steve Perez (of VK fame) has had to withdraw his Ford Focus WRC due to a bad neck injury he suffered recently when he crashed his Datsun 260Z on the East African Classic Safari Rally. Theres also a category for historic rally cars

The other good news is that Andy Burton in his famous Pug 206 Cosworth is also in the entry list

There is a single Toyota Corolla AE86 entered, perhaps this now qualifies for the historic category?

Theres also a special tribute to the MG Metro 6R4 with 24 cars expected o attend. Four will compete in the main rally while others will do demo runs on the main Somerley Park spectator stage and others will be static exhibits at the same venue.

Timetable:
Stage FirstCar CarPark PostCode GridRef
Silverstone Rally School 08.48 C BH21 7 SU049010
Shannon 1 09.08 A BH24 3 SU117070
Mount Ararat 09.21 B BH24 3 SU128091
Turbo Dynamics 1 (Somerley Park) 09.54 S BH24 3 SU122086
Elliotthire Canford Arena 10.40 SERVICE BH21 3 SZ042972
Grid Law 12.31 D BH15 2 SZ014910
Turbo Dynamics 2 ( Somerley Park ) 13.57 S BH24 3 SU122086
Elliotthire Canford Arena 14.51 SERVICE BH21 3 SZ042972
Plumley Wood 16.19 B BH24 3 SU122086
Shannon 2 16.45 A BH24 3 SU117070
Bournemouth Square (Finish) 18.00 Use council car parks

The web site http://www.rallyesunseeker.co.uk has map links showing the spectator car park so please confirm via that site.


Tickets can be booked here

_________________
Don
GT4DC Chairman
1994 Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205WRC JDM 269bhp @ 0.9bar
1994 Toyota Celica GT-Four Special GT 590bhp @ 1.8bar
1989 Van Diemen RF88/89 Formula Ford 1600
2008 Nissan Patrol GU 3.0L ZD30DDTi 154bhp

Finally got around to posting up some of the pics from the recent Sunseeker Rally held near Ringwood in Dorset

Hyundai Accent WRC








Ford Escort Mexico Mk1 - The original and still the best (wish I still had mine <sob>)




Ford Fiesta ST - Driven by former ITV Formula 1 pundit Tony Jardine and Geoff Dance won their class N3




Ford Escort Mk2 - presumably another 'special' Mk2




Subaru Impreza WRC - Gearbox problem for this Irish crew looked terminal




Hyundai Accent WRC - With our very own Club Treasurer getting down and dirty with his endoscope!




ST185CS in the public car park sporting Carlos Sainz/Luis Moya colours
(This is the same car advertised for sale recently on the forum)




Hyundai Accent WRC of Marcus Dodd/Andrew Bargery on their way to an amazing fifth win on the Sunseeker




The rapid Peugeot Cosworth of Andy Burton on his way to a rare second place finish in his home-built special




Ford Focus WRC




Mitsubishi Evo 9 Group N of the latest rapid Scot Dave Bogie fresh from a stirring drive in a Toyota Corolla WRC on the previous weekends Snowman Rally in Scotland




MG Metro 6R4




Lancia Delta Integrale - A road going example in Carlos Sainz colours




MG Metro 6R4 - very famous ex-Jimmy McRae/Ian Grindrod example freshly restored by Prodrive







There was a huge turnout of 6R4's for the Somerley House demonstration stage and also the static park for those owners not keen on risking their precious cars on a gravel stage

_________________
Don
GT4DC Chairman
1994 Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205WRC JDM 269bhp @ 0.9bar
1994 Toyota Celica GT-Four Special GT 590bhp @ 1.8bar
1989 Van Diemen RF88/89 Formula Ford 1600
2008 Nissan Patrol GU 3.0L ZD30DDTi 154bhp

Stunning shots once again Don.
Looks like it was a good even, just one question . . . is that 'Dirty Den' driving the Mk1 Escort?
(Or am I just showing my age )

_________________
Loosey
Loosey@gt4dc.co.uk
Storm Blue JDM ST205
Super White JDM ST205
http://www.gtfours.co.uk

Some people are like a Slinky .. Not really good for anything, but they make you smile when you shove them down the stairs!

Thanks Loosey.....and yes it rather looks like 'Dirty Den' in the Escort Mexico. . . . very retro

_________________
Don
GT4DC Chairman
1994 Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205WRC JDM 269bhp @ 0.9bar
1994 Toyota Celica GT-Four Special GT 590bhp @ 1.8bar
1989 Van Diemen RF88/89 Formula Ford 1600
2008 Nissan Patrol GU 3.0L ZD30DDTi 154bhp