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Monday, 19 February 2007 |
One of Motorsport’s most colourful characters returns to action this forthcoming weekend with a stark message for his rivals in the 2007 Hankook MSA Gravel Rally Championship.
Lake District rally driver Paul Bird won the 2005 ANCRO National Championship in his Ford Focus WRC but didn’t defend his title last year due to a number of business commitments, instead competing on selected events in a hired Subaru.
But now the Penrith ace is back for a full season of domestic action and is chomping at the bit as crews descend on Bournemouth this weekend for the annual ANCRO season opener, Rallye Sunseeker.
“Birdy’s back...!” was the quote from the oft-controversial Cumbrian.
“I only drove three events in a WRC last year and really missed the
buzz of driving WRC spec cars. We didn’t have the best of luck on some
of the events I entered but I’ve now got the bug again. I’ve bought a
car that is capable of winning the title back and make no mistakes; I’m
deadly serious about this."
Serious indeed to the point that the boss of the Stobart British
Superbike Championship Team has acquired the ex Petter Solberg Subaru
WRC that will be run by the ultra-professional TEG Sport team based at
Carnforth in Lancashire and Bird will have top co driver Andy
Richardson from nearby Appleby in the hot seat.
The campaign will be backed by long term sponsors Stobart Motorsport
with additional backing from fellow competitor Steve Perez’s VK Vodka
Kick concern and Pirelli Tyres as well as introducing ventilation
giants and rally newcomers Vent Axia to the sport.
“It’s a long way to Bournemouth and I intend bringing the winner’s
trophy back as I’m desperate to win that event. I’ve come close in the
past and there are lots of good drivers in lots of good cars out there
again and we’ll have to go some to be on the pace from the off but I’m
feeling very confident” said Bird who has incredibly led Rallye
Sunseeker overnight for the past three years.
The action gets underway on Friday evening at 18.30 and recommences on
Saturday at 08.00 with the finish some twelve hours later in the resort
centre.
For further information please visit www.paulbirdmotorsport.co.uk and www.rallyesunseeker.co.uk
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