CEEN BROTHERS TO GB IN MSL FIESTA R5s

GROUP RALLYING EDITOR

Brothers Bob and Richard Ceen will return to rallying action on the International section of Wales Rally GB in Msl-run Ford Fiesta R5s, both after a year out of competition.

Bob was Welsh champion and earned a free entry last year, but retired from the event with mechanical trouble on his Subaru Impreza S9 WRC.

Richard last competed on the Forest of Dean Motor Club Time Trial at Sweet Lamb in his Ford Focus WRC05, finishing fifth in August 2015.

Richard is a major part of the Rally4wales effort, which has succeeded in a bid to repair roads after national rallies in Wales, effectively saving the sport from a fee hike of over 90 per cent.

Both cars will run in Rally4wales colours. Richard said: “We’re happy with the outcome, but some people I’ve spoken to seem to think that’s it, that the situation is resolved. There’s still a long way to go, a lot of meetings and contracts to be signed. It’s a start, but I don’t think the sport realises how close we were to losing rallying in Wales.”

Bob Ceen has been busy with work commitments but is looking forward to an international return.

“It was a bit of a last minute opportunity that came about,” said Ceen. “I haven’t done the international on GB since 2002 and it’s 25 years since I first did the international. I did it every year from 1999-2002.”

It’s the first time both drivers have driven left-hand-drive cars in competition.

MSL – which is run by Richard’s daughter Sarah and husband Matt – run R5s for a variety of drivers in national competition. It has run John Maccrone in the Scottish championship as well as Jamie Anderson in the BRC and cars in the Norwegian championship this year.