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Wednesday, 28 November 2007 |
Wales Rally GB will mark the retirement of Finland's Marcus Grönholm
from the World Rally Championship with a presentation on Thursday 29
November on the Start Podium in Cardiff.
Grönholm will make his 150th World Rally Championship start this week
at the final of the FIA World Rally Championship, which is running from
29 November - 2 December - the last professional event of his hugely
successful career.
Grönholm, World Champion in 2000 and 2002, is bidding to win a third
WRC title on Wales Rally GB having already contributed to Ford's
success in winning the 2007 Manufacturers' WRC title. This year's World
Rally Championship has gone down to the wire, with the title yet to be
decided on this the 16th and final round. After crashing on the
penultimate round, Rally Ireland, Grönholm's rival Sébastien Loeb has
taken a six point lead, leaving Grönholm needing to win and Loeb to
finish fifth or better to secure the title. Should Loeb win, it will be
his fourth successive World Championship title.
The Ceremonial Start will begin at 19:30 in Cardiff, adjacent to
Cardiff City Hall, on King Edward VII Avenue. Here Grönholm will be
presented with a crystal bowl, hand-made by Welsh Crystal in Rhayader,
to celebrate his retirement. Prior to the Ceremonial Start there will
be an autograph signing session with rallying legends and current World
and British Championship drivers which will begin at 18:00 with free
admission.
"Grönholm is currently the reigning Champion of Wales Rally GB and has
always been a thrill to watch," explained Andrew Coe, Chief Executive
of Wales Rally GB. "It is a privilege that his final run will be on
Welsh soil at the final round of the FIA World Rally Championship. We
wish him all the best in Wales Rally GB and for the future."
Ford Motor Company is the Official Vehicle Supplier to Wales Rally GB.
Their support includes 170 liveried vehicles covering their entire car
and commercial range, including Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo, Ranger - with
essential off-road capability - as well as Transits.
For up-to-date news and information on all four days of Wales Rally GB, please visit the website: www.walesrallygb.com
Don't miss out on Wales Rally GB - buy your tickets now as follows:
- online at www.walesrallygb.com
- by calling 0870 060 1764
- in person from Ticketline, 47 Westgate Street, Cardiff
- at the SA1 Swansea Service Park from Thursday 29th November
- at Cardiff's Winter Wonderland ticket office
Please note all tickets will now need to be collected from Cardiff as
postage cannot be guaranteed at this stage. We recommend that
spectators arrive to pick up tickets early to ensure they don't miss
any of the action. More information is available at www.walesrallygb.com
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