Local heroes set to take on the world

(Date of issue: Thursday, 12 November 2009)

Local heroes get set to compete against world motorsport stars. Cumbrians Ian Tullie, from Cockermouth, Andy Irving, from Carlisle, Phil Jobson, from Carlisle, Caroline Lodge, from Brampton, Marcus Noble, from Penrith and Brain Hodgson, from Penrith, are looking to hold their own against a star studded field in this year’s Roger Albert Clark Rally.

One of those local heroes is Andy Irving from Carlisle, who is co-driving for John McIlwraith originally, from Canonbie. The pair first competed together in 1996 in the Lakeland stages of the RAC Rally and did so for five years throughout the UK. This year they are back together in an ex Ford Works Safari Escort, bought by John in 2008 and now fully restored to its original specification, when it took part in the Safari Rally in 1982 and 1983.

The star studded field includes; John Millington, last year’s winning co-driver. John from Cockermouth has teamed up with this year’s event favourite; former British Rally Champion, Gwyndaf Evans. They will be sternly tested by the local heroes and fellow motorsport stars including; former World Rally Champion; Stig Blomqvist, Le Mans 24 Hour Champion; Guy Smith, British Rally Champions; Phil Collins and David Stokes and Historic British Rally Champion; Steve Perez, however, they won’t have it all their own way as the local heroes are hoping to give them a run for their money.

This year’s field is the largest ever with 68 teams competing in this firmly established must-do event in the British rallying calendar. The Roger Albert Clark Rally recreates the classic RAC Rallies of the 1960s and 1970s, taking in classic gravel stages in Yorkshire, Kielder, Scotland and Cumbria. For the sixth year in a row the city is set to welcome back this prestigious UK rally. The competitors along with their support crews, watched by thousands of spectators, are a major economic boost to the area and firmly place Carlisle at the heart of British Motorsport.

The rally starts from Pickering Showground, Yorkshire on Friday, 13 November. The cars arrive in Carlisle on Saturday, 14 November for an overnight halt. Sunday, 15 November is spent in the Scottish borders and the Dumfries area, before another night in Carlisle.

The final day of the rally, Monday, 16 November, takes crews into the daunting Kielder forest complex in Northumberland before a lunch-time finish in Carlisle city centre for the champagne spraying ceremony. The Mayor of Carlisle, Councillor William Graham, will wave the cars over the finish line.

Quotes:

Carlisle City Cllr Marilyn Bowman portfolio holder for Economy said:

“Over the last six 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’ll be 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.

“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.”

Marie Whitehead, Director of the newly-formed Carlisle Tourism Partnership, said:

"Monaco has its GrandPrix and Carlisle has the Roger Albert Clark Rally - that's how significant this event is. We can't understate how much the rally is worth to the city in so many ways. Not just in being a spectacle we can all enjoy but in bringing visitors to the city, raising the profile of the area nationally and showcasing what we have to offer. Long may it continue."