RETRO RALLY EVENT FOR CHESTER COULD GROW
Race course special is a toe-in-the-water for real stage competition
A new retro event based at Chester race course could be a precursor to a major UK closed-road rallying celebration in the style of Rally Legend in Italy and the Eifel Classic in Germany.
On Saturday February 29, the Chester Rally Revival will take in venues like Chirk Castle, Weston Park and the famous World’s End section of road and will be open to rally cars available up to the end of 1999.
Friday evening will feature a ceremonial start under floodlights in the location in front of the grandstands made famous by Colin Mcrae in 1995 when he clinched the World Rally Championship.
On Saturday, the cars will take in a loop of venues, many with Rally GB connection, with lunch at Weston Park and a visit to a further secret venue before a return to Chester race course for a gala dinner on the Saturday evening. It will be the first rally to start from the Chester race course since the RAC Rally in 1996.
Initially it will run as a touring event but there are ambitions to emulate European closed-road events such as Rally Legend.
Event director Bryn Pierce said: “We’re delighted to put together this very special event which aims to rekindle memories and create new ones. To have secured such iconic venues for the first running was something we’d hoped for as the entrants will be in for a treat! It is very much a tour in 2020, but with an eye on closed road legislation and events such as Rally Legend going forward.”