Among the latest entries for the headline event for FIA-homologated cars at the Rally Show at Chatsworth sponsored by Kick Energy on 5/6th June are a pair of Renault Twingo R2s prepared by Autosport Technology and driven by Finns Matti Rantanen and Jarkko Nikara.
Nikara is the 2009 Pirelli European 'Star Driver' and recently finished 2nd in the R2 category on the first round of the British Rally Championship, the Bulldog Rally while Rantanen had a busy 2009, finishing 5th overall on the Rally of Finland , 8th on the Jim Clark Rally and was the outright winner of the Finnish 'Star of Stars' Shoot-Out.
A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH!...
From north of the border, the Palletforce Rally Team will be bringing a brace of Ford Fiesta R2s to Chatsworth. Led by Scottish Junior Rally Champion John McCrone will be driving for Rally Team Scotland at the Rally Show. Amongst his other successes, John won the 2009 Hankook MSA Scottish Rally Championship Prize drive which sees him taking up a fully- supported drive on the Rally of China. John, whose team-mate is Richard Moore, will also be driving his Fiesta R2 whilst Dave Holland, Marketing Director of Palletforce, has entered his Ford Escort RS in the "All-Comers" event.
MAJOR ROADWORKS AHEAD!...
Good news for all competitors and participants at Chatsworth - for the past two years there has been a problem with the "watersplash" road breaking up during the event. Chatsworth have now agreed to completely rebuild it and, thanks to the advice of Malcolm Wilson who has had similar problems with the M-Sport test venue in Cumbria, binders and cement powder will be used in the reconstruction to greatly increase the resistance of both the surface and foundation.
Director of The Rally Show, Malcolm Neill is delighted with the news. "We have been working hard with Chatsworth to resolve the problem which was particularly bad in the appalling weather we had in 2009," he said, "and we are satisfied that this will be a great improvement to the Chatsworth stage. This year, as an additional precaution, the watersplash will only be opened up for the Sunday of the event."
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