Old School Is The New Cool As Retro Rallycross Commences

Filed under: Classic News |
Nick Spickett will be using his Opel Manta in the Retro Rallycross ChallengeRetro Rallycross, the first series to offer a place to race historic cars in Rallycross will run its first event at Mallory Park on July 22, appearing alongside the MSA British Rallycross Championship. One of very few motor sport disciplines not to have previously embraced the interest and growth in historic motor sport, Rallycross is resurgent in Britain and the new Ripla.co.uk Retro Rallycross Challenge addresses a growing interest in the type of cars that many remember watching as Rallycross shot to prominence in the 1970s when it was regularly featured in Saturday afternoon TV shows Grandstand and World of Sport. The new series has a simple class structure and is open to Historic Rally Cars complying with MSA regs and Rallycross cars in two groups; pre1982 and 1982 to 1987 including all four-wheel drive cars. Rallycross cars originally built and raced in those periods as well as recreations or replicas are permitted. A short season of four events has been organised for the first Retro Rallycross challenge. Offering good geographic range and spread of dates that does not put pressure on competitors, the intention is to keep the focus on fun and the enjoyment of competing in distinctive and exciting cars. Shirley Gibson; “There’s interest from lots of different places, people who have old Rallycross cars but haven’t really had anywhere to use them, new competitors who want to race an older type of car and some former competitors who are interested in doing a few events for fun,” said series founder and organiser Shirley Gibson. Competitors in the Retro Rallycross Challenge can take advantage of the Retro Arena which offers hospitality to drivers, their team and guests at each of the race days. Drivers who race in the first three events will be eligible for a free entry (worth £235) to the fourth event at Croft in October and the first three drivers at each event will receive an award of £125. The first cars confirmed typify the kind of diversity that Retro Rallycross embraces. James Harrold has rebuilt the VW Beetle turbo that his late uncle Peter Harrold raced throughout a successful Rallycross career. Barry Stewart will drive his Porsche 911 turbo, a car that has a long history in Rallycross, which was used by Swede Rolf Nilsson to win the 1982 British Rallycross Grand Prix and which was raced in two and four-wheel drive guise all over Europe. With no previous connection to Rallycross, but the desire to race something with character, Mark Thomas has built a Ford Anglia 105E for the series whilst rally and drift competitor Nick Spickett is set to try his hand at something new with his Opel Manta. Rob Gibson, whose exploits in a Porsche 911 are the stuff of Rallycross legend, is also to drive in the series and will use the MG Metro 6R4 that he raced in British and European events during the 1980s and into the 1990s. Also to race Group B cars are Belgians Marc Ver Eecke and Cedric Van Den Burie who will bring a pair of Audi Sport Quattro S1s to Britain. Ver Eecke was a regular competitor in Rallycross in the late 1980s and early ’90s when he raced a ‘long’ Audi Quattro. In recent years he has used his Sport Quattro S1 in his historic rallies where he competes together son-in-law Van Den Burie who drives a similar car and will take part in Rallycross for the first time at Mallory Park. 2012 Ripla.co.uk Retro Rallycross Challenge Calendar;
  • Sunday July 22, Mallory Park
  • Sunday-Monday August 26-27, Lydden Hill
  • Sunday October 7, Pembrey
  • Sunday October 28, Croft
See www.retrorallycross.com for more details.Tags: