Bob Little 2011World Rally cars dominate the entry list for Saturday's Pirelli Tour of Cumbria Rally,

With the Four wheel drive exponents led off by Stephen Petch/ Michael Wilkinson in their well known Hyundai Accent WRC, which went well on the Border Counties until retiring with electrical problems, they will be followed by the Ford Focus WRC of Dan O'Brien/ Andy Marchbank which took an excellent 3rd place on the Sunseeker National event.

Photo By Godron CrawfordIt's all to play for as the young up and coming drivers head for Kielder Forest and this Saturdays Pirelli Challenge Rally, the 3rd round of the NGK Spark Plugs BRC Challenge Series which offers a unique opportunity for fledgling drivers seeking to graduate to the main British rally Championship.

Photo By Ian Hardy 2010There will be a big "Welcome Back" for the impressive Land Rover crews who make a popular return to Kielder Forest after a year's absence, the Pirelli Land Rover Rally featuring as a support event and bringing the big, bulky, but always driven flat out, machinery back to the fast, undulating forest racks.

Image from 2011 RallyThe little village of Newcastleton, tucked away on the border of England and Scotland comes alive every year when the Pirelli International Rally arrives in town and the village square is filled to capacity with brightly coloured rally cars, all ready for a high speed dash through the nearby Kershope Forest complex.

The 21st. Pirelli International Rally will feature a high profile Carlisle City Centre start but the real action will take place 40 mile s up the road with the fast, undulating stages in the giant Kielder Forest complex waiting to challenge the crews contesting the 3rd round of the British Rally Championship.

A stunning an superb entry of almost 50 legendary rally cars will line up beneath the ramparts of Kielder Castle, ready to contest the Pirelli Historic Rally, the 3rd round of the 2012 Kololi Beach Club MDSA British Historic Rally Championship.

Iconic rally cars, track and drag-strip machines and a whole range of exotic cars will be among the host of attractions on show at the Pirelli International Rally with the "Rally Village", based at the event's Carlisle Racecourse, bursting with attractions for lovers all things motorsport.

After a break of over 4 years from international rallying, Cornish rally driver Matt Cotton has returned to the British Rally Championship in 2012 and is partnered by long time friend Glyn Thomas, from Somerset. The South West duo have entered both the BRC and the Fiesta Sport Trophy and join the AVS Motorsport team after the purchase of an ex Elfyn Evans Ford Fiesta ST. The duo will be appearing on the Pirelli International Rally intent on not only scoring championship points but also raising a significant amount of cash for a very worthy cause.

Continuing it's involvement with the local community, the Pirelli International Rally will again be hosting a party of young people from the Eden Valley Hospice and giving them a day out at the rally's headquarters at Carlisle Racecourse where they can mingle with the competitors and get a close up view of the cars. Additionally, this year they will have the opportunity to tour the various stands in the "Rally Village" where there will be various cars on display and exhibitions.

The organisers of the Pirelli International Rally are delighted to welcome back Robert Wiseman Dairies, the UK's largest supplier of fresh milk, as a supporter of the event and the companies eye catching black and white logo will be very much in evidence in Carlisle City Centre where they will be handing out supplies of their range of products to competitors, rally officials and members of the public.

The Pirelli International Rally is proud and privileged to announce that the Richard Burns Foundation will be the events chosen charity for 2012 and the organisers will be working to give this most worthy cause their full support and backing.

The organisers of the Pirelli International Rally, who are more used to a vastly different type of horsepower, are joining forces with Carlisle Racecourse, the headquarters and base for all the rallies activities, to sponsor the first race of the March 18th meeting at the historic horse racing venue which has hosted the "Sport of Kings" since the 16th century.

The organisers of the Carlisle based Pirelli International Rally are delight to join forces with their friends and colleagues from Wolverhampton & South Staffs Car Club to offer competitors using four wheel drive, and indeed, any other non homologated car, a unique and exciting incentive to come and enjoy two classic rallies with a great pedigree and heritage.

The Carlisle based Pirelli International Rally will again be the 3rd round of the MSA British Rally Championship and this year motor sports enthusiasts in the historic Border city will have a great opportunity to get a close up view of all the star drivers, and their fantastic cars, with the news that the event organisers, Cumberland Sporting Car Club, have teamed up with Carlisle City Council to bring the event slap bag into the city centre.

Buy now for delivery from 18th April 2012

The Pirelli International Rally Supporter’s Pack includes everything you need to enhance your enjoyment of the 2012 event for only £25 delivered to your door.

The Pirelli International Rally is already one of Cumbria's a major sporting attractions, bringing motorsport enthusiasts from across the UK thronging into Carlisle to enjoy the high octane, thrill a minute action and now the event organisers are planning a major expansion by creating a "Rally Village" at Carlisle Racecourse where the event is based.

Organisers of the successful BRC Challenge are proud to announce a new title sponsor in the form of NGK Spark Plugs.

NGK Spark Plugs has been a long term partner to the British Rally Championship and this move towards becoming the title sponsor for the BRC Challenge adds to the working relationship between the two parties.

The Pirelli International Rally is about to celebrate a memorable anniversary with the 2012 event marking 21 years of Pirelli's title sponsorship, a unique partnership in the motorsport. world and one which has helped the Carlisle based event cement it's position as one of the country's leading headline rally events and a permanent fixture in the MSA British Rally Championship.

by Robin Ellison

Young Flying Scotsman David Bogie set a blistering pace to win a highly anticipated Pirelli Rally and his 2^nd victory of the 2011 BRC Season.