FINNISH THRILLS AT CHATSWORTH

FINNISH THRILLS AT CHATSWORTH

Thrilling news for all British rally fans is that double World Rally Champion, Marcus Gronholm, will be one of the famous names attending - and participating in - the Rally Show at Chatsworth.

Mark Deans (Ford's Motorsport Director) and Malcolm Wilson (Managing Director of M-Sport) were both at Race Retro earlier this month to confirm to Malcolm Neill that the Finnish superstar will be coming to Chatsworth on 7/8 June and will be driving a Ford Focus WRC.

"I am delighted that we have been able to arrange this," said Wilson. "I had planned to go to the show, as I had an invitation as a past winner of the British Rally Championship, but to be able to take Marcus there and let him drive one of our latest cars is just terrific. In the two years that he drove for us, he won 12 World Championship rallies, a performance that helped Ford and M-Sport to win two consecutive Manufacturer titles."

Certainly, all those fans who have supported him since his first appearance here, driving a Toyota Corolla WRC on the 1997 RAC Rally, will welcome Gronholm's presence back in the UK. Gronholm was always one of the most spectacular drivers in the World Championship and he was equally entertaining out of the car, as he described his own triumphs or disasters to TV interviewers.

With The Rally Show's "access-all-areas" policy, which enables the paying public to mingle with the cars and drivers in Chatsworth's open paddocks, enthusiasts get far better access to their heroes than at any other venue.

With the added attractions of the Tesco 99 Octane British Rally Championship contenders; a range of historic cars celebrating the 50th anniversary of the BRC; four additional events - one of which features Ford Escort Mk1s in honour of that model's 40th anniversary; and several stage sessions all showing their speed on the two asphalt stages - there are different routes for Saturday and Sunday - the action should be almost continuous. And with the date now in June rather than September, daylight hours are longer, so the spectators will get more rallying for their money.

For any serious rally fan, being at Chatsworth in June is going to be an unforgettable experience, while the variety and visual appeal of the attractions should also suit those who are coming to the sport for the first time.

Tickets can be bought now by booking via the show website at http://www.therallyshow.org. For each ticket bought before 31 March, the buyer's name goes into a draw to win one of six rally car rides on the stages during the event.