Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team are ready to increase the pace for round eight of the 2023 season at Rally Estonia, 20-23 July, the first part of a double-header in northern Europe that takes in some of the fastest roads in the FIA World Rally Championship. After a trio of rough and increasingly demanding gravel rallies in Portugal, Sardinia and Kenya, attention now turns to smoother and … [Read more...]
Goodwood Festival’s bright spots
Bad weather disrupted this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed but couldn't blow away or wash out participants and spectators' enthusiasm marking its 30th anniversary. McLaren factory driver Marvin Kirchhöfer won the sensational Sunday afternoon Shootout final in the recently unveiled McLaren Solus GT, while over at the prestigious Festival of Speed concours de elegance at the Cartier Style et Luxe … [Read more...]
Hirst closer to keeping Welsh Rally Championship
Matthew Hirst has moved one step closer to retaining his Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship title after scoring maximum points for the fourth time in four rounds on the Nicky Grist Stages last Saturday. Co-driven by Declan Dear, the Doncaster driver was the class of the Welsh field – finishing over a minute and a half ahead of his nearest championship rival in his Pirelli-shod Delta … [Read more...]
The Metro 6R4 Diaries
Welsh automotive engineer Wynne Mitchell has accrued considerable motorsport experience, having started his career as a student apprentice with the Rootes Group before studying mechanical engineering at Birmingham University. In July 1984 Wynne joined Austin Rover Group (ARG) to work on the company’s sensational offering for the Group B era – the MG Metro 6R4 – with overall responsibility for all … [Read more...]
Hirst heads Nicky Grist Stages field
Matthew Hirst heads a star-studded Nicky Grist Stages entry as six major rally championships arrive in Builth Wells this weekend. Matthew Hirst will lead a star-studded field away at the start of the Nicky Grist Stages on Saturday 8 July, as the Doncaster rally ace is seeded at number one in his Delta Salvage/Witham Group Ford Fiesta R5 (below). Co-driven by Declan Dear, Hirst won the Nicky … [Read more...]
Castle Combe Rallyday 2023
Britain’s premier rally show bounced back after two difficult years. In a break from tradition, Rallyday changed to an early July date this year following a few tough years. First in 2020/21 suffering the effects of the pandemic followed by the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II falling within 36 hours of the 2022 show, but this year the popular annual Castle Combe based show bounced back … [Read more...]
WRC goes on Safari this week
Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team return to the Safari Rally Kenya 22-25 June aiming to maintain their proud record of success on the epic African event, the seventh round of the 2023 FIA World Rally Championship. The Safari, celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, is recognised as one of rallying’s toughest challenges. TGR-WRT has won both editions held since the event made a welcome … [Read more...]
Welshman returns to rally debut
Osian Pryce was just 16-year’s old when he began what has become a long and successful rallying career in Latvia – and 14 years later, he will return to the Baltic country to tackle the Tet Rally Liepāja next weekend as part of his 2023 FIA European Rally Championship campaign. The reigning British rally champion made his rallying debut on the 2009 Rally Kalnamuiza in a Renault Clio, taking … [Read more...]
Supercars Shuttle to Sporting Spectacular
Le Mans is home to the most famous 24-hour endurance race in the world and the centenary event took place last weekend, with thousands of motoring enthusiasts making the pilgrimage via LeShuttle to partake. The LeShuttle terminals were alive with the roar of powerful engines, with over 1,000 supercar and elite sports car journeys booked around the weekend of the race. These special vehicles … [Read more...]
Rain lashed Rally Italia Sardegna
Thierry Neuville vaulted from fifth to second in the FIA World Rally Championship standings on Sunday after clinching a long-awaited victory at Rally Italia Sardegna. Belgian star Neuville headed i20 N partner Esapekka Lappi by 33.0sec in a dream 1-2 finish for Hyundai at round six of 13, scoring his 18th career success alongside co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe. The result served as a maiden 2023 … [Read more...]