DATE SWITCH TO LURE WRC STARS TO RALLYDAY
Castle Combe event switched to June to attract current machines and modern-day heroes
Next year’s Rallyday will move from a September to June date in an effort to return current generation World Rally Cars to the Castle Combe event.
Despite the 2017 event being the first time a current car was seen in anger in Britain – when Ott Tanak drove a Ford Fiesta WRC – a clash with Rally GB testing has ruled manufacturers out of running cars in Wiltshire for the last two years.
Event organiser Tom Davis said the move to Saturday, June 20 next season was done with one thing in mind.
“It’s the 20th anniversary of Rallyday next year and we’re looking to make it a very special occasion,” said Davis. “One of the ways to do that is to bring a current car and having spoken to the teams, it seems the move to June is the best option to make that happen.”
M-sport team principal Richard Millener admitted he would be working to get a
Fiesta WRC back to Rallyday.
“Rallyday’s a great event, it’s well run and it’s always really well attended,” he said. “Moving to June certainly makes things a lot more straightforward and we’ll be working closely with Tom [Davis] and his team to make sure we’re there to celebrate 20 years.
“It’d be great to bring the Fiesta WRC back down there. These current cars are amazing to watch and the chance to see them in action twice in one season in Britain [including Rally GB] is great for the fans and something we’re keen to make happen.”
In addition to a current World Rally Car, the celebration of Colin Mcrae’s 1995
WRC title 25 years on will also feature heavily next summer.
Davis added: “Colin – and all of the Mcrae family – have always been very close to the heart of Rallyday. We all remember where we were when Colin and Derek [Ringer, co-driver] won the RAC Rally to make history; it was a massive deal 25 years ago and we want to make sure it’s a massive deal 25 years on.
“We’re going to have as many of Colin’s cars on display and in action as possible and, of course, there will be a parade lap as well as lots of stories on stage from the people who helped make that moment happen.
“It was a real honour to have three generations of Mcrae with us this year, with Jimmy, Alister and Alister’s son Max coming in September and we want to make sure the achievements of the world’s greatest rallying family aren’t forgotten. To that end, we’ll be marking Alister’s British title 25 years on as well.”