20 November / By David Ferguson
Rally has lift-off in Wales
THE MAMMOTH event that is the Roger Albert Clark Rally launches into action today in Carmarthen in Wales with nearly 200 crews battling for honours over the next five days.
It remains one of the most intense events with all manner of vehicles recalling the past five or more decades of motorsport, and crews that have spent more hours, and cash, than they would like to say getting an incredible array of historic cars into shape for this incredible weekend.
In total, there are 35 stages and 313.39 competitive miles from Thursday to Monday that cover varying landscapes from Wales through the north of England and into the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway – covering close to 1,000 road miles in all. You can follow all the action on the Roger Albert Clark Rally Facebook page in the very capable hands of presenters Matt Cotton and Bex Hinton, who are broadcasting live at the end of each day.
After Thursday’s six stages – nearly half of the rally will feature stages in the dark, and for some nearer the back of the pack it will be all night stages – the crews head up through Wales from Carmarthen to Welshpool on Friday. The Rally moves on Saturday to the English-Scottish border, coming together at Carlisle Airport before heading into the Borders countryside north and east of Langholm and back to Carlisle.
Sunday’s stages bring in more of the Dumfries and Galloway forests that have bred a multitude of rallying stars, and criss-cross into the Scottish Borders around Newcastleton in what promises to be an entertaining day of ten stages, before the RAC comes to a dramatic conclusion – there is always drama guaranteed – on Monday back in the north of England with some tricky Kielder Forest stages.
Pirelli team at full strength
The Pirelli team is out in force with all hands to the pump this week and over the weekend. Andrew Wood remembers competing many years ago, and while he is focused these days on advising current crews, and supplying the best Pirelli tyres, he admits the excitement has got hold of him this week.
“This is one of the most exciting rally events and yes it does get a hold of you,” he said. “It’s because there are so many different types of wonderful cars, and such a variety of drivers from new youngsters on the scene to people who have been driving for decades – and yes, undoubtedly, there will be drama.
“We’ve been here all week virtually helping get crews ready and we have a big Pirelli team and a few trucks to make sure we can keep people on the road right till the finish on Monday, and making the most of all the effort they have put into get here. It’s going to be fantastic!”
Drivers to watch
One of the drivers looking forward particularly to the stages in Scotland is Dumfries’ man Mark McCulloch, in a special car no43. He, recently, completed building a replica 1990s F2 Vauxhall Astra GSi and he and co-driver Michael Hendry were working overtime to keep a lid on their excitement at the start line. Mark chose the livery of David Llewellin’s and Ian Grindrod’s 1994 British F2 Championship winning car, so watch out for the red, grey and white Astra whizzing by.
One to watch out for towards the head of the field is Greg McKnight, the 2024 Scottish Rally 2WD champion, in a Ford Escort Mk2 (car 14). He has taken time out this year to rebuild his car for this rally, and on the notes he has Harry Marchbank – who has had fun alongside ‘Fun Bobby’ Proudlock this year.
Donald Peacock and Craig Wallace have another Escort Mk2 on Pirellis this weekend, as do Doug and Graeme Menzies from Longniddry in car 111. Doug told us: “This event is so big that we will always be rallying in the dark really over the next few days, which will be a bit of a different test to the guys at the front who are out in the day and in the night. But we’re looking forward to it!”
We are also looking out for the Talbot Sunbeam Ti of Willie Paterson and Paul Gribben (146), the Vauxhall Nova of Scott Macbeth and Dan Forsyth (149) and Steven Brown and Lewis Cooper (175) in Steven’s Nissan Micra, the latter returning behind the wheel after helping the latest generation of Wood rally stars, young Robbie, in his ongoing quest for the 2025 MG3 Rally Challenge championship.
Follow the action and results
To keep in touch with all the stage action and results, click here.
We will have a full round-up of the action next week, but now it’s back to work and keeping the cars well shod with fresh rubber. Good luck to all the crews, organisers and spectators – have a safe weekend!