National event set to be a roaring success

(Date of issue: Monday, 17 November 2008)

Carlisle will be staging the finale of a prestigious UK car rally today (Monday, 17 November).

The city has been confirmed as the finishing venue for the ‘Roger Albert Clark Rally’ - named in honour of the former RAC Champion driver. An estimated 50 historic rally cars will take part along with supporters and support staff. Local interest is provided by Phil Jobson of Carlisle and M Sport owner and former British Rally Champion, Malcolm Wilson both of whom will be competing. The event is likely to attract thousands of spectators.

After almost 1,000 arduous miles, competitors taking part in this year’s Roger Albert Clark Rally will be waved over the finish line by The Mayor of Carlisle, Cllr Jacquelyne Geddes this afternoon, from approximately 2.30pm onwards, outside the Tourist Information Centre in Carlisle’s city centre.

The rally started in Leeds last Friday (14 November) Saturday in North Yorkshire before crossing the Pennines for an overnight halt in Carlisle. Yesterday was spent in the Scottish borders and the Dumfries area, before another night halt in Carlisle. Today’s final day of the rally takes crews into the daunting Kielder forest complex in Northumberland before a mid-afternoon finish in Carlisle city centre for the champagne spraying ceremony.

Now in its fifth year, the Roger Albert Clark Rally re-lives that era with a competition aimed at amateur competitors in cars taken mainly from that era. All of the competition takes place on private land, with public roads only used at slow speed to take competitors from one special stage to the next.

Leader of the Council, Cllr Mike Mitchelson, said:

"Over the last five years, the Council has supported the organisers of the Roger Albert Clark Rally with their arrangements and have helped it develop into a successful event. We’re pleased to welcome them back and are delighted to be chosen as the venue for the finish. It will help raise the profile of the city nation-wide and will provide a boost to the local economy.

"We have a rich heritage of rally driving in the region and this event will generate great opportunities for local business and tourism with competitors and fans coming from all over the UK staying for two consecutive nights within the city."

An independent assessment of the value that the rally brings to the regional economy has revealed that more than £600,000 will be spent in Carlisle as a direct result of the rally. In addition, national media and TV exposure will provide a further boost by bringing the natural beauty of the region to a wide audience. More follows…

Rally manager Colin Heppenstall, from the Yorkshire-based De Lacy Motor Club, is proud that the rally will be making a significant contribution to tourism related businesses as a traditionally quiet time of the year. He said:

"Mid-November is inevitably a slow time for tourism. The Roger Albert Clark Rally will fill around 15,000 hotel beds across the region, while restaurants and other regional businesses will also benefit."

For further information about the event visit www.rogeralbertclarkrally.org