4 replies to this topic

[mab01uk]

"News from the West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C Rally Championship

Press release – 9 December 2013

Mini and Imp Cup confirmed for 2014 R.A.C Rally Championship

A new award for Minis and Hillman Imps will run within the 2014 R.A.C. Rally Championship to celebrate two cars with a half-century heritage in rallying.

The Mini and Imp Cup, which will be open to all models of the original Mini and the Imp and its derivatives, will be contested across the seven-event season and the best performance will be rewarded with an end-of-season trophy at the annual championship awards ceremony.

Among the first drivers to commit to the new Cup is Clive King, widely regarded as the leading Mini driver on gravel events in historic special stage rallying. “The events in the R.A.C. Rally Championship are generally more affordable and it is important for the Minis and Imps to run first on the road on gravel events. I’m certainly planning to do it,” said King.

Championship manager Colin Heppenstall was pleased to confirm the latest initiative from the R.A.C. Rally Championship. “The Minis and Imps are still very popular and it is great to see them on the stages. We’re delighted to be able to offer them an award to chase and give them prime stage conditions on some of the best forest stages in Britain,” said Heppenstall. On all rounds of the championship, the pre ’68 cars in Category 1 will run first on the road.

The 2014 R.A.C. Rally Championship starts on the Red Kite Stages on Sunday 2 February and more details will be available from www.redkitestages.co.uk

-ends-

More details about the R.A.C. Rally Championship can be found at www.racrallychamp.org Follow the championship on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/RACrallychamp and on Twitter: @RACRallyChamp.

Issued by Paul Lawrence, tel 01952 510382 (e: [email protected])

 

[keefr22]

Nice idea (though rather similar to the BHRC Old Stager challenge?) but surely it would be possible to let all category Minis & Imps run first, not just category 1? Not that our (maybe eventually!) cat.3 car will ever see gravel, but I wouldn't want to be running after all those Cat2 & 3 Escorts....!!

[Cooperman]

It's surprising how damn competitive a well built Imp is. They have such good traction out of corners, a bit like a Mini-Porsche really.

I've driven a couple of prepared Imps and they are seriously quick.

Let's hope the Minis are up to the challenge.

[Kaj]

Real rally cars! I wouldn't fancy rallying a Mini on 10's on the rough stages. The Motors TV coverage is excellent for this championship.

But, you still need a substantial budget to compete in historic rallying at this level.

[Cooperman]

A Mini is better on 10" wheels on the rough because it then has 70 or 80 profile tyres (165/70 0r 145/80) which are more compliant than 60 or 50 profile, especially with forest tread patterns.

The Imp has 12" wheels as standard.