|
Emotive Cars, Autographs, Unique Tributes and Guests |
|
|
|
|
Friday, 23 November 2007 |
Colin McRae's 1995 World Rally Championship winning Subaru Impreza will
be amongst the famous and emotive rally cars at the Ceremonial start of
Wales Rally GB in Cardiff's Cathays Park on Thursday 29th November -
its approach heralded by Highlands-born Bag-Piper Martin Hewins who,
between 1996 and 2003, travelled world-wide in support of Colin.
The starting Ceremony will begin at 6pm with an Autograph signing
session by current WRC Manufacturer Teams, including Drivers
Championship contenders Sebastien Loeb and Marcus Gronholm. At 6.30
they are followed by teams from the Production
World Rally Championship and British Rally Championship, including Mark
Higgins, Guy Wilks and Welshman Gwyndaf Evans - these three bidding for
the British title.
Unique tributes to Burns and McRae
For what is believed to be the first time, the two British and two
World Championship winning Subaru's of Colin McRae and Richard Burns
will be together in public as part of a tribute to the two late World
Champions. These four cars - two Legacys and two Imprezas - will be
driven around the Cardiff Stage in the Millennium Stadium on Saturday
1st December, prior to the first WRC competitive car starting at 7pm.
Special Guests
Michele Mouton, the first and only woman (to date) to win a World
Championship Rally (1981 San Remo, Italy) will be amongst the special
Guests during the Millennium Stadium Show on Saturday 1st December.
Michele, co-organiser of the Wembley-based Race of Champions (16th
December) will be available for interviews during WRGB.
Three previous RAC rally-wining navigators from the 1950's will also be
presented to the Stadium audience on Saturday evening. Mrs Pat
Appleyard (now Quinn), who navigated her then husband, Ian, to victory
on the 1953 RAC Rally in an open-topped Jaguar XK120; Harold Brooks
winner in 1954 and Tony Ambrose, winning co-driver in 1956 and 1965.
Guests already confirmed include; Paddy Hopkirk (1965 Monte Carlo
winner), Juha Kankkunen (four-times World Rally Champion) and three of
Rally GB's most successful British co-drivers, Nicky Grist, Robert Reid
and Derek Ringer.
Rally Legends will be on hand for interviews and to sign Autographs throughout the weekend at the SA1 Swansea Service Park.
Entry changes
Manx-born David Higgins will take over the TACK entry at number 53,
previously in the name of Niall McShea, who is now a non-starter.
Other known non-starters; 63 (Weston),124 (Robertson), 126 (Sykes) and 127 (Cotton).
|
