at the International Historic Motorsport Show 2006.
A breathtaking display of Group B rally cars in action,
many driven by the great names of rallying, will thrill
spectators at the 3rd International Historic Motorsport
Show at Stoneleigh Park on 24-26 February 2006.
The live action, arranged by the Slowly Sideways group,
will take place on a purpose-built rally stage at the Show
and will include both Group B and other genuine classic
rally cars. Among the highlights are:
** Bjorn Waldegard (1979 FIA World Rally Champion) at the
wheel of an ex-works 1980 Fiat 131 Abarth, an immediate
forerunner of the Group B rally cars.
** Russell Brookes at the wheel of a genuine Group B Opel
Manta 400 in Rothmans colours - a particularly powerful
pairing, as it was a Manta 400 which took Russell to his
second British Rally Championship victory in 1985. The
actual car at the Show will be the one driven in 1985 by
Pentti Airikkala, who will also be attending!
** Another Group B forerunner, an ex-works 1971 Alpine
Renault A110, driven by Charles Reynolds, who was team
manager for Ford in the late 1970s, before moving to
Rothmans Porsche in the 1980s.
** A feast of other famous cars will be seen in full-blown
action, including such Group B favourites as the Audi
quattro A2, Porsche 911 SCRS, Lancia Rallye 037, Peugeot
205 Turbo 16, Renault 5 Maxi Turbo, Nissan 240 RS (the
actual car sponsored in its day by pop group UB40), MG Metro
6R4 and Ford RS200. The youngest rally car on the stage will
be the ex-Carlos Sainz 1992 Toyota Celica, in Repsol livery.
Stephen Davies of Slowly Sideways, the group behind the live
rally action, says: "The cars are the real stars. Slowly
Sideways is all about preservation of these genuine rally
cars. We don't want them just sitting in museums; we aim to
see them brought out of storage and used. Our display at the
Historic Motorsport Show will be heavily supported by
mechanics, many of whom were the cars' mechanics in their day.
They are just as keen as anyone to see these cars in action."
Access to the Show's live events - the Group B rally car stage,
the indoor classic motorcycle trial, championship-level
autotests and historic kart racing - is included in the ticket
price, along with the spectacle of 450 displays throughout the
venue's four main halls. Advance tickets cost £15 for one day
or £28 for two days, with accompanied children under 16 free.
On-the-day prices are £18 for one day or £30 for two days. Call
the Ticket Hotline on 08450 70 68 70, or book online at
www.historicmotorsportshow.com (using the Tickets Page).
NOTES FOR EDITORS (not for publication)
Copyright-free images, including the Show logo, are available
from www.historicmotorsportshow.com - click on "Press Gallery".
For further information, please contact the following:
- Press enquiries:
Charis Whitcombe on 07977 500693; charisw@clara.co.uk.
- To apply for press passes:
Colin Wilson on 07802 828880; colindouglaswilson@mac.com.
- Sponsorship/marketing enquiries:
Charlotte Provan on 07887 874428; charlotte@racingmanagement.co.uk.
