The new short, sharp format of forest stages which will be a feature of this year’s Pirelli Historic Rally certaintly seems to have found favour with Dunlop / Gambia MSA Historic Rally Championship contenders judging by the many positive comments received by the organising committee’s representatives who attended the championship launch at the Historic Rally Car Register’s Open Day, held at the British Motor Heritage facility at Gaydon.

“It was great to be able to meet so many championship contenders”, said Ed Graham, the rallies Media Manager, “What came across was the very definite thumbs up that competitors are giving to the format of our event, they like the idea of the non stop action and are relishing the challenge of the fast Kielder stages, even though a number of them came a cropper there last year. Together with the enhanced facilities at our new Rally Headquarters at Carlisle Racecourse, I am sure that we are going to offer the championship a top quality event and we really look forward to welcoming a bumper entry to Cumbria in April.