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MSA GRAVEL RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

PRESS RELEASE: 27th February 2010

Round One - Rallye Sunseeker, Bournemouth - Friday 26th/Saturday 27th February 2010

SEVENTH HEAVEN FOR DODD ON RALLYE SUNSEEKER

Defending champions Marcus Dodd and Andrew Bargery got the defence of their title underway in the best possible fashion with a sensational seventh victory on Rallye Sunseeker held in Bournemouth today.

Driving the Hyundai Accent WRC the pair emerged 33.7 seconds ahead of the Peugeot Cosworth of Andrew Burton and co driver Robin Kellard, with former ANCRO champion Steve Perez and co driver Paul Spooner claiming third place a further 13 seconds back on the opening round of the 2010 MSA Gravel Rally Championship.

Dodd, from nearby Poole, overcame the disappointment of retiring on last year's event, and also the drenched Dorset forests this year, to run out a clear winner and apart from a couple of moments during the day his only problem was an errant warning light on the last stage.

Burton, who decided not to register for ANCRO points, brought his crowd-pleasing Peugeot Cosworth home in runner-up spot after Perez, the 2004 national champion, suffered a last stage spin which meant the Chesterfield driver had to settle for third place in his Ford Focus WRC07.

Towcester's Roger Duckworth and co driver Mark Broomfield had a trouble-free run to fourth place in their Subaru WRC, with Paul Bird, from Penrith, and co driver Kirsty Riddick in their Ford Focus WRC08 putting in a brave drive to finish fifth following the death of his mother last week.

Yorkshiremen Jonny Milner and Ian Windress brought their Toyota Corolla WRC home in sixth after a misfire slowed the former double British champion earlier on. Next up was Anthony Willmington, Dave Weston Jnr and Jonny Greer, but none of them were registered for points leaving Co Durham driver Stephen Petch and co driver John Richardson to claim sixth place ANCRO points following their tenth place finish in the Hyundai Accent WRC.

In the Viking Motorsport Ford Escort Challenge, Richard Lane and co driver Frank Richer took the spoils and the Nissan Micra pairing of Ian Barrett and co driver Gavin Wright claimed victory in the 1400cc Cup.

Marcus Dodd: "It's been a very difficult rally and the stages have been as wet as I've ever known them but to win this event for the seventh time is fantastic. One mile from the end of the last stage the water temperature shot through the roof but it was not a problem in the end and to claim victory on my local event is a great start to the year."

The next event takes place on 23rd/24th April with the Pirelli Tour of Cumbria which is based in Carlisle.

For further information, including class positions, please visit the 2010 MSA Gravel Rally Championship website: www.msagravelrallychampionship.co.uk.

Rallye Sunseeker Overall Result

1, Marcus Dodd/Andrew Bargery - Hyundai Accent WRC - 55:02.1
2, Andrew Burton/Robin Kellard - Peugeot Cosworth - 55:35.8
3, Steve Perez/Paul Spooner - Ford Focus WRC07 - 55:48.8
4, Roger Duckworth/Mark Broomfield - Subaru Impreza WRC - 56:17.5
5, Paul Bird/Kirsty Riddick - Ford Focus WRC08 - 56:46.3
6, Jonny Milner/Ian Windress - Toyota Corolla WRC - 57:51.6
7, Anthony Willmington/Andrew White - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo6 - 58:21.3
8, Dave Weston Jnr/Ieuan Thomas - Subaru Impreza - 59:09.0
9, Jonathan Greer/Brian Crawford - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9 - 59:40.4
10, Stephen Petch/John Richardson - Hyundai Accent WRC - 1:00.23.5

2010 MSA Gravel Rally Championship Standings after Round One (Provisional)

1, Marcus Dodd 25pts
2, Steve Perez 22pts
3, Roger Duckworth 20pts
4, Paul Bird 19pts
5, Jonny Milner 18pts
6, Stephen Petch 17pts

Picture attached courtesy of www.cmwi.net: Marcus Dodd and Andrew Bargery heading to victory in the wet conditions on today's Rallye Sunseeker.

PRESS RELEASE: 20th February 2010

Round 1 - Rallye Sunseeker, Bournemouth - Friday 26th/Saturday 27th February 2010

STARS SET TO SHINE ON RALLYE SUNSEEKER

The eagerly anticipated battle for the 2010 MSA Gravel Rally Championship gets underway next weekend when crews from all over the UK as well as further afield converge on the South coast resorts of Bournemouth and Poole for the annual ANCRO season opener as the 25th annual Rallye Sunseeker roars into life.

And with the best entry assembled in recent years, fans on the South Coast's premier motorsport event will be revelling in the atmosphere amidst the Dorset forests.

Six-times event winner and very much the local hero Marcus Dodd from nearby Poole along with co driver Andrew Bargery from just down the coast at Hove, will be looking to win back the crown they relinquished to Isle of Wight Subaru driver Will Nicholls and co driver Nick Broom last year, and given that Nicholls and Broom are not returning to defend their title, the Hyundai Accent WRC pairing will start the event as one of the favourites.

Whereas Dodd is the reigning Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Champion having landed the crown five times in total and the last three times in succession, he faces stiff opposition as heading the challenge will be four former champions who are making a welcome return to the fold.

Twice Rallye Sunseeker winner Roger Duckworth and co driver Mark Broomfield took the Championship honours in 1998 and the driver who lives near Silverstone is back for another crack at the title in his venerable Subaru whereas 2004 ANCRO winner and VK boss Steve Perez from Chesterfield along with co driver Paul Spooner has the ex Marcus Gronholm Ford Focus WRC07 at his disposal and is fresh from winning last weekend's Wyedean Rally. 2005 Champion Paul Bird is back with a vengeance in his works-specification Ford Focus WRC08 and the flamboyant chicken farmer from Penrith has won his last three events in a row along with co driver Kirsty Riddick but like Perez, has never sampled Sunseeker glory. The other winner of the national title to take to the start line is Ulsterman Kenny McKinstry who won the series in 1999 and the Subaru WRC driver will be looking to repeat his win on Rallye Sunseeker of 2002, this time with co driver Harvey Bell on the notes.

The rivalry between Perez and Bird is legendary in Rallye Sunseeker history, but they, as well as Dodd, Duckworth and McKinstry, will be having to look to their rear view mirrors as there are a host of top names expected to be in the mix come Saturday afternoon.

Double British Champion Jonny Milner is reunited with his trusty Toyota Corolla WRC and co driver Ian Windress so could be the dark horse whilst Irish marauders Richard Cathcart/Martin Brady (Subaru WRC) and Jonny Greer (Mitsubishi Evo 9) could spring a surprise. County Durham driver Stephen Petch teams up with John Richardson in their Hyundai Accent WRC and don't rule out local aces Anthony Willmington/Andrew White (Mitsubishi Evo 6) and Scotsman Dave Weston Jnr and Ieuan Thomas in their latest version Subaru. Scandinavian drivers Daniel Sigurdarson and Johannes Gunnarson add to the international ambience in their respective Mitsubishis as part of the shakedown for the upcoming Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge.

Other drivers who could make a splash on the two day event include local motor dealer Steve Hendy (Ford Focus WRC), BTRDA front runner Alex Allingham (Subaru) and the similar cars of Tristan Pye and Wug Utting plus there's a legendary MG Metro 6R4 competing in the hands of Stuart Larbey which is always a crowd favourite.

Strength in depth in the various classes is the outcome of some radical restructuring of the championship over winter and around 70 crews will be doing battle for honours including the Viking Motorsport Ford Escort Challenge, 1400cc Cup, Super 2000 Cup and Land & Range Rover Cup, Richard Burns Trophy and Manufacturer's award which should make a great spectacle to entertain the huge crowds expected on the South coast.

Throw in the cosmopolitan mix of 72-years-young veteran Harry Dodd (Hyundai Accent WRC) competing in his back yard, fast ladies Shelley Taunt and Sara Williams, both driving Subarus, and the iconic Lancia Delta Integrale Evo of Rod Bennett, and the scene is set for a typically exciting curtain raiser to the National rally scene.

With the traditional Friday evening Winter Gardens and Seafront stage not included this year, the event gets underway with a pompous ceremonial start at Poole Quayside at 18.15 on Friday, before the event proper starts on Saturday morning with the traditional loops around the forests and stately homes of Ringwood and Wareham before the winners' champagne is uncorked in Bournemouth town centre around 17.30.

For more information on the event visit www.rallyesunseeker.co.uk

PRESS RELEASE: 5th January 2010

TOP PRIZE FOR VIKING MOTORSPORT FORD ESCORT CHALLENGE

Following recent announcements relating to the 2010 MSA Gravel Rally Championship, the Association of National Championship Rally Organisers are delighted to announce that Viking Motorsport has put up a fantastic prize for the winner of the Viking Motorsport Ford Escort Challenge.

Viking Motorsport proprietor Phil Mills has come up with a package which will see the driver who wins the series being offered a full post season inspection at Viking's workshops (labour free) and in addition, they will receive a £500 voucher towards any Viking parts or OMP clothing.

Championship contenders will have to start at least four of the six rounds and will need to display prominent decals but other than that, there are no additional registration costs or conditions.

Commenting on the Viking Motorsport Ford Escort Challenge, Phil Mills said: "There is so much interest for such a series which accommodates all Ford Escorts that we wanted to put up a prize that reflected that and we're delighted to be involved with the 2010 MSA Gravel Rally Championship. I hope that by offering such a prize that many people will contest the series as it would be great to see loads of iconic Ford Escorts in action!"

All Ford Escorts are eligible, modern or historic specifications, and further details, registration and entry forms are available at www.msagravelrallychampionship.co.uk.

The incentive is the latest in a long line of benefits aimed at the competitor in the much revamped championship and includes amongst many other things, subsidised ferry crossings, discounted entry fees and top prizes on the six rounds that comprise the series.

2010 Events (Provisional)
Round 1 - 26/27th February - Rallye Sunseeker, Bournemouth
Round 2 - 23/24th April - Pirelli Tour of Cumbria, Carlisle
Round 3 - 5th June - Severn Valley National Rally, Builth Wells
Round 4 - 17th July - Pro Art Signs Swansea Bay Rally, Swansea
Round 5 - 4th September - 60 & Worcestershire Rally, Ludlow
Round 6 - 25th September - Trackrod National Rally, Pickering

Further information and details are available on www.msagravelrallychampionship.co.uk

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