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MSA GRAVEL RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

PRESS RELEASE: 5th July 2010

Round 4 - The Pro-Art Signs Swansea Bay Rally - Saturday 17th July 2010

SWANSEA BAY RALLY POSTPONED

The Pro-Art Signs Swansea Bay Rally, which was due to take place on 17th July in the forests around Resolven and Rhondda in South Wales, has been postponed.

Part of the route that is traditionally followed by competitors in this annual event goes through Welsh Assembly Government woodlands that are affected by the recent outbreak of the tree disease caused by the Phytophthora ramorum (P. ramorum) infection.

P. ramorum can be spread by tree needles and soil clinging to people or vehicles and, as the cars would travel between infected woodlands and uninfected areas several times during the course of the rally, there would be a high risk of spreading the disease.

Forestry Commission Wales met with the rally organisers, Port Talbot Motor Club, last week to try to identify an alternative route away from the woodlands affected by P. ramorum.

As the organisers were not able to find roads in the area that meet the standard required for the 2010 MSA Gravel Rally Championship that the rally forms part of, they have taken the decision to postpone the event.

Forestry Commission Wales District Forest Manager Dai Jones said, "We are treating the outbreak of Phytophthora ramorum in South Wales very seriously and we are determined to minimise the impacts of this disease on woodlands. We are disappointed that the Pro-Art Signs Swansea Bay Rally has been postponed but the risk of allowing a large number of cars to travel between areas that are infected by this serious tree disease, and those that are not, is too great. We hoped that, by working with the rally organisers, we could identify an alternative route but, as this has not been possible at this time, we look forward to welcoming the event back in future."

P. ramorum is a fungus-like pathogen that kills many of the trees that it infects. It was found on Japanese larch trees in South West England last year, and in woodland managed by Forestry Commission Wales on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government in the Afan Valley, near Port Talbot, Dulais Valley near Crynant and Garw Valley, near Bridgend in June. The outbreak in South Wales is the first time P. ramorum has been found on Japanese larch trees outside of South West England.

However, the situation is changing rapidly as surveys are undertaken and it is likely that the infection has spread more widely. Forestry Commission Wales is holding discussions with other rally organisers to consider options for the events that are due to take place later this year.

The public woodlands remain open and signs at forest entrances ask visitors to observe some simple bio security precautions to minimise the spread of infection.

PRESS RELEASE: 5th June 2010

Round 3 - Severn Valley National Rally, Builth Wells - 5th June 2010

MILNER TAKES SWEET SEVERN SUCCESS

North Yorkshire pairing Jonny Milner and Ian Windress made it two wins in a row after triumphing on the third round of the 2010 MSA Gravel Rally Championship, narrowly beating Towcester duo Roger Duckworth and Mark Broomfield to the win after seven stages of hot and dusty action on some of Wales' finest forest stages.

From the Builth Wells start of the Severn Valley National Rally, former ANCRO champion Duckworth was fastest out of the blocks, anxious to make amends for his indiscretion on the recent Pirelli Tour of Cumbria when he crashed out in his Subaru Impreza WRC. Milner, from Driffield and co driver Windress from Northallerton, could only manage third fastest through the opening stage in Cefn in their Toyota Corolla WRC, pipped by both Duckworth and Ripon driver Charlie Payne and York co driver Craig Thorley in the Focus WRC.

Milner then clawed back the advantage on the second stage in Crychan as the following field struggled with visibility in the hanging dust. Payne was second fastest again but then undid all of his good work by spinning backwards into a bank in the third test, Halfway, dislodging the rear bumper and ended the stage with the offending item resting on a hot exhaust and on fire.

By first service, Milner held a slender four second lead over Duckworth, the two rivals having taken a pair of stage wins apiece, and during service the main talking point was tyres as all crews reported excessive wear in the hot conditions.

Bury driver Tom Naughton had experienced a frightening off in the opening stage, crashing head first into a tree and causing the stage to be halted. Fortunately both Tom and co driver Horace Saville were unhurt but this allowed Wug Utting from Gatwick and Tatsfield co driver Bob Stokoe a clear run and the pair returned to service with a four second advantage over Alex Allingham (Stalybridge) and Mark Glennerster (Wanborough) in their Subaru.

The 15 miles of Radnor comprised SS5 and saw Milner and Duckworth separated by a mere 0.2 of a second as third fastest on the stage was Stephen Petch (Hamsterley) and Bedale co driver John Richardson in their Hyundai Accent WRC. At the same time a rapid run from Allingham, coupled with Utting being stuck behind a stricken Jamie Anderson (Ellistown) and Mark Mason (Tyneside), saw the reigning BTRDA Production Class Champion regain the Group N lead. This stage also saw the demise of Headley driver Nigel Seabold and co driver Tim Barton from Epsom as the pair rolled their brand new Subaru Impreza N2010 into retirement.

The final two stages were re-runs of the first two of the day and saw Duckworth and Milner resume their battle. Whilst Duckworth was 0.6 of a second faster on the penultimate stage, Milner attacked hard through Crychan to take seven seconds back from the Subaru driver and returned to Builth Wells with a narrow victory margin of just 10.9 seconds to record his second maximum score in a row.

"What a fantastic day! Radnor was brilliant and in really good condition. Roger and I had a cracking battle all day long and to come out on top is the best way to end such an event" said Milner at the finish.

A frantic final stage saw Charlie Payne finally come to grips with his Ford Focus WRC and he did enough to move from fifth to third on the final stage, taking the final podium position by seven seconds from Stephen Petch.

Just behind the Proton of Tom Cave and Ieuan Thomas, Alex Allingham ensured that he took his first ever MSA Gravel Rally Championship Production Class victory with a pair of rapid times over the final two stages, doing enough to take maximum points by a comfortable 42 seconds from Wug Uttings similar Subaru Impreza.

Paul James (Wellington) and co driver Derek Davies (Bishopton) took their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 to eighth overall, one place ahead of the Hyundai Accent WRC of Peter Egerton and Jamie Edwards whereas Tony Macwhirter and Steve Green in their Mitsubishi edged out the unfortunate Jamie Anderson for the final top ten placing.

The Viking Escort Challenge saw Chris Wigmore (Bicester) and co driver Steve Lyons (Brackley) overcome a broken clutch cable to go fastest over all seven stages, finishing 13th overall and some three minutes ahead of Robert Cholmondeley (Barnt Green) and Dave Evans (Leeds) in their similar Ford Escort MkII.

Retirements included Trevor Martin/Ray Cleghorn (Subaru Impreza) with an oil leak as SS3 claimed both Sara Williams/Dai Roberts (Subaru) and Kevin Rowledge/Paul Whittaker (Mitsubishi) and Nigel Seabold/Tim Barton (Subaru) stopped after SS5.

Picture attached courtesy of www.cmwi.net: Jonny Milner & Ian Windress on their way to victory on today's Severn Valley National Rally.

Severn Valley National Rally - Result (Provisional)

1, Jonny Milner/Ian Windress - Toyota Corolla WRC - 1:00:59.8
2, Roger Duckworth/Mark Broomfield - Subaru Impreza - 1:01:10.7
3, Charlie Payne/Craig Thorley - Ford Focus WRC 06 - 1:02:44.3
4, Stephen Petch/John Richardson - Hyundai Accent WRC - 1:02:45.7
5, Tom Cave/Ieuan Thomas - Proton Satria Neo - 1:02:50.1
6, Alex Allingham/Mark Glennerster - Subaru Impreza - 1:03:57.9
7, Wug Utting/Bob Stokoe - Subaru Impreza - 1:04:40.1
8, Paul James/Derek Davies - Mitsubishi Evo 9 - 1:06:44.2
9, Peter Egerton/Jamie Edwards - Hyundai Accent WRC - 1:07:19.9
10, Tony MacWhirter/Steve Green - Mitsubishi Evo 7 - 1:07:48.2

Championship Standings after Round 3 (Provisional)

1, Jonny Milner - 68pts
2, Stephen Petch - 58pts
3, Charlie Payne - 46pts
4, Roger Duckworth - 43pts
5, Alex Allingham - 33pts
6, Wug Utting - 21pts
7, Marcus Dodd - 25pts
8, Paul James - 24pts
9, Steve Perez - 22pts
10, Kevin Rowledge - 21pts
=, Jamie Anderson - 21pts

PRESS RELEASE: 26th May 2010

ROUND 3 PREVIEW - SEVERN VALLEY NATIONAL RALLY

2010 MSA Gravel Rally Championship - Round 3 - Severn Valley National Rally - Sat 5th June 2010

WALES BECKONS FOR ANCRO CREWS

LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER AND LATE ENTRIES STILL AVAILABLE AT NO EXTRA CHARGE!

Round three of the 2010 MSA Gravel Rally Championship makes its first of three successive visits to Wales and the Welsh borders when competitors converge on the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells for the Severn Valley National Rally next Saturday (5th June).

Championship leaders Jonny Milner (Huggate) and co driver Ian Windress (Northallerton) will be looking for another victory in their Toyota Corolla WRC to add to the win last time out on the Pirelli Tour of Cumbria.

There, the former double British Champion saw off the Hyundai Accent WRC of Stephen Petch (Hamsterley) and John Richardson (Northallerton) and Yorkshiremen Charlie Payne (Ripon) and Craig Thorley (York) in their Ford Focus WRC and that's the way they stand in the title chase.

But Milner won't have it all his own way because as well as Petch and Payne, the Subaru WRC of former ANCRO Champions Roger Duckworth (Silverstone) and co driver Mark Broomfield (Towcester), who finished third on Rallye Sunseeker before crashing out in Kielder Forest last month, will be a major threat in the Welsh forests.

The Subaru of Alex Allingham (Stalybridge) and Mark Glennerster (Wanborough) as well as Tom Naughton (Bury) and Horace Saville (Bury) in the Mitsubishi didn't see the Carlisle finish and neither did Jamie Anderson (Ellistown) and Mark Mason (Gateshead) in their Mitsubishi so all are hoping to make sure they have a good run this time out.

The surprise package of the last round was Kevin Rowledge (Wimborne) and Paul Whittaker (Poole) who nearly made the podium in Cumbria in their Mitsubishi, whereas the colourful Wug Utting (Gatwick) and Bob Stokoe (Tatfield) return to the series in their Subaru, as does Hyundai Accent WRC crew Peter Egerton (Burley) and Jamie Edwards (Wrexham) whilst Welshmen Tom Cave and Ieuan Thomas will take to the stages in their Proton Satria.

The Mitsubishi of Paul James (Wellington) and Derek Davies (Swansea) will also be hunting down points, as will Trevor Martin (Medstead) and Ray Cleghorn (Gerrards Cross) in the Subaru whereas local driver Tony Macwhirter (Cardiff) and Steve Green (Leeds) are sure to be in the thick of the action.

Following her retirement on Rallye Sunseeker, Sara Williams (Brecon) and Dai Roberts (Carmarthen) will be looking to impress on their local event in their Subaru and Nigel Seabold (Headley) and Tim Barton (Epsom) will be hoping to put the disappointment of retiring their Subaru on round one behind them too.

The two-wheel drive brigade is headed by Viking Ford Escort Challenge runners Robert Cholmondeley (Barnt Green) and Dave Evans (Leeds) as well as Chris Wigmore (Bicester) and Steve Lyons (Brackley) whereas Welsh pairing Tom Watson and Arwell Jenkins tackle the stages in their FST-specification Ford Fiesta.

The Severn Valley National Rally gets underway at 10.00 on Saturday 5th June with around 60 miles of competitive action over seven stages before the finish back at the Royal Welsh Showground at around 17.20.

In a bid to help any competitors who may still be considering entering the event, the late entry surcharge of £100 is being waived until this forthcoming Saturday (29th May) and also, it's the final chance any crews have to register for ANCRO and be eligible to score points in the 2010 MSA Gravel Rally Championship and associated classes. Please contact Jan Allen on 01432 272977 (before 9pm) or email:

For full details, including spectator information, go to www.severnvalleystages.co.uk and for championship positions and other information, visit www.msagravelrallychampionship.co.uk.

2010 MSA Gravel Rally Championship after Round 2, Pirelli Tour of Cumbria

1 Jonny Milner 43pts
2 Stephen Petch 39pts
3 Charlie Payne 26pts
4 Marcus Dodd 25pts
5 Steve Perez 22pts
6 Roger Duckworth 21pts

PRESS RELEASE: 24th April 2010

Round 2 - Pirelli Tour of Cumbria, Carlisle - Saturday 24th April 2010

MILNER MASTERS PIRELLI TOUR OF CUMBRIA

Former double British Champion Jonny Milner saw off the opposition with a superb victory on today's Pirelli Tour of Cumbria after a hectic day in a dry and dusty Kielder Forest which saw round two of the 2010 MSA Gravel Rally Championship take place.

Along with co driver Ian Windress, Milner's Toyota Corolla WRC emerged over a minute to the good ahead of the Hyundai Accent WRC of Stephen Petch and John Richardson with Charlie Payne and co driver Craig Thorley's Ford Focus WRC coming home in third place.

In fact Milner was never headed as he was fastest out of the blocks on the opening stage and doubled his one-second advantage over the Subaru WRC of former ANCRO Champions Roger Duckworth and Mark Broomfield to two seconds after the day's second stage in the Kielder complex.

At the first service Yorkshireman Milner held sway over Duckworth by five seconds with Petch and Payne battling just over half a minute down as they scrapped it out for the final podium place.

Milner continued to lead but on the next loop of stages, Duckworth suffered a puncture and dropped a minute but worse was to follow when he went off the road on the penultimate stage meaning his challenge was over and allowing Milner to take his first victory since the Manx International Rally in 2004.

As a result Petch moved into the runner-up spot and crossed the Carlisle finish line just over a minute down whereas Payne, in only his second drive in the Ford Focus WRC, finished third. The Mitsubishi of Kevin Rowledge and Paul Whittaker came home in fourth ahead of the Ford Escort of Matthew Robinson/Darren Brown with Subaru debutantes Darren Martin/Martin Steele claiming sixth.

Notable retirements included Tom Naughton/Horace Saville who went off the road on SS5 with Shelly Taunt/Julie Murphy suffering with suspension damage on the same stage. Alex Allingham/Bob Stokoe rolled their Subaru one stage later, as did Jamie Anderson and Mark Mason. Neville Jones/Ian Capewell went out on SS10 and Rob Cholmondeley/Dave Evans also retired their Escort.

A delighted Jonny Milner said at the Carlisle finish: "At last I've won this rally and it's been a long time but the feeling's still good. The car has been faultless all day and Ian has done a great job on the notes. It's good to be leading the Championship and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series."

Milner leads the Championship going into the next round which is the Severn Valley National Rally on June 5th with Petch in second position and Payne in third.

Picture attached, courtesy of Mark Simpson (www.cmwi.net): Jonny Milner and Ian Windress on their way to victory on today's Pirelli Tour of Cumbria in their Toyota Corolla WRC.

Pirelli Tour of Cumbria - Result (Provisional)

1, Jonny Milner/Ian Windress - Toyota Corolla WRC - 1:04:37.6
2, Stephen Petch/John Richardson - Hyundai Accent WRC - 1:05:45.8
3, Charlie Payne/Craig Thorley - Ford Focus WRC06 - 1:06:29.1
4, Kevin Rowledge/Paul Whittaker - Mitsubishi Evo 9 - 1:17:01.9
5, Matthew Robinson/Darren Brown - Ford Escort Mk2 - 1:22:59.5
6, Darren Martin/Martin Steele - Subaru Impreza - 1:28:38.6

Championship Standings after Round 2 (Provisional)

1, Jonny Milner 43pts
2, Stephen Petch 39pts
3, Charlie Payne 27pts
4, Marcus Dodd 25pts
5, Steve Perez 22pts
6, Roger Duckworth 21pts

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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