Battle of the Champions
May 09, 2006

Alister McRae is a last minute entry on this weekend Pirelli Rally, the first round of the British Rally Championship which is based in Carlisle.

“I received a telephone call last weekend asking if I was available to drive on the rally. The British Rally Championship has attracted an incredible line up of drivers which includes six former British Rally Champions from the ‘90’s when we were driving the F2 cars. I was the only driver missing and a one off deal has been done for me to drive a Kenny McKinstry Subaru Impreza N11.

I won the Pirelli in 1996 driving a Ford Escort Cosworth and have not competed on the event since 1998 when I drove for Volkswagon. I am really looking forward to competing against the Higgins brothers, Tapio, Martin Rowe, Gwyndaf and Jonny Milner. I won the British Rally Championship in 1995 and am hoping for a good run on this year’s Pirelli. The spectators will certainly be entertained with us all in action again on the opening round of Britain’s major rally championship. Who know’s what may happen if I have a good run!

Last weekend, Gordon Noble and I were competing on the Carlow Mk2 Ford Escort Challenge. It was not to be our rally as I had some minor problems on the first few stages which I sorted in service and then took the lead from Gwyndaf Evans on the fourth stage and led by 15 seconds. On the fifth stage an oil pipe burst and every last drop of oil in the car was on the road – an abrupt end to our rally. Gwyndaf went on to win,” said Alister McRae as he was looking forward to the Kielder forest this weekend.

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