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PRESS AND MEDIA INFORMATION

Saturday 16^th February 2008                                        FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Round 1 Rallye Sunseeker, Bournemouth Friday 22/Saturday 23 February 2008

BLAST OFF IN BOURNEMOUTH! 

The eagerly anticipated battle for the 2008 Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship gets underway next weekend when crews from all over the UK converge on the seaside resort of Bournemouth for the annual ANCRO season opener as the 23rd annual Rallye Sunseeker bursts into life.  

 

Five-times winner and very much the local hero, Marcus Dodd from nearby Poole and co-driver Andrew Bargery from just down the coast at Hove, are looking to defend their title once again in their FliteWise sponsored Hyundai Accent WRC and whilst the pair will start the Southern Car Club and Croydon & DMC organised event as favourites, there is the usual class entry following Dodd away from the start in Bournemouth on Friday evening.

 

Heading the challenge will be recent Wyedean Forest Rally winner Andy Burton in his Peugeot Cosworth whilst a trio of Subaru Impreza World Rally Cars, each in very capable hands, complete the top five. Jon Ingram, Julian Reynolds and Isle of Wight driver Will Nicholls can be regarded as potential event and Championship winners, and their respective campaigns for these coveted positions start now.     

John Lloyd is at the wheel of the first of three Ford Focus WRCs in the entry, whilst a very strong Irish presence is led by Sean Devine (Subaru Impreza WRC) and Stephen Moore (Ford Focus WRC) and despite regular ANCRO stalwarts such as Steve Perez, Paul Bird and Roger Duckworth missing for various reasons this year, the battle will be just as intense.

 

Once again, the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge kicks off in Bournemouth with a host of drivers intent on emulating Phillip Morrows 2007 success. Welshman Sebastian Ling, Scot David Bogie, Englander Nik Elsmore and Irishman Keith Cronin lead the field as all the contenders set out on the long road which does not reach its conclusion until the end of October.

 

Other drivers who could make a splash on the two day event include Stephen Petch who takes to the wheel of dad Steves Hyundai Accent WRC, whereas Charlie Payne is set to contest the series in a Mitsubishi WRC. Fellow Northerners Tony Thompson (Mitsubishi) and Miles Johnston (Mitsubishi) will also be looking for a good result, as will veteran Warren Philliskirk who ventures south in his MG Metro 6R4, as does Stuart Larbey, to take part in the festivities that aim to celebrate the iconic marque on Rallye Sunseeker.

 

In the supporting Subaru Group N Trophy, rapid youngster Tristan Pye will head the challenge although he can expect stiff competition from Roger Chilman and Alistair Thorburn.

 

Throw in 70 years young veteran Harry Dodd (Hyundai Accent WRC), Ulster starlet Jonathan Greer (Mitsubishi) and Icelander Daniel Sigurdsson in a similar car and the scene is set for a typically exciting curtain raiser to the National rally scene.    

NOTE TO JOURNALISTS :

For further details, please contact the Rallye Sunseeker Press Officer:

Andrew Haill Tel: [phone] or E-mail: [e-mail]

 

More details, including entry lists, spectator information and maps etc on the event can be found at www.rallyesunseeker.co.uk  and information on the Pirelli MSA National Gravel Rally Championship is listed at www.gravelrally.co.uk.  

 

Picture attached (courtesy of www.cmwi.net) - Five-time Rallye Sunseeker winner Marcus Dodd and co driver Andrew Bargery on their way to winning the 2007 event in their Hyundai Accent WRC.