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11th Rally of the Tests

in English

 

02 Nov 2012

Rally News

This year's Rally of the Tests, organised by the Classic Rally Association, marked the 80th anniversary of the RAC Rally.


The event saw over 70 classic cars tackling some of the most challenging roads from Torquay to Chester on 8-10 November. Torquay was the finishing point for that very first RAC rally back in 1932. Veteran of many, many such events, Paul Wignall continued his winning ways to take victory in his Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint, this time with Mark Appleton reading the notes.

This year drivers visited many of the halts and starting and finishing points used in the 1950s by the RAC and to new venues never used for motors port before through the West Country and Wales before arriving at the finish in Chester, host town to many RAC Rallies in tfle past.

Crews set off on Thursday evening with the traditional Prologue comprising a few tests and regularities before starting in earnest on Friday as the route took in classic rallying terrain in the West Country and headed north to the first overnight halt close to the Severn Bridge. On Saturday drivers broke new ground as they entered the rallying heartland of Mid Wales, which included sections on the legendary Epynt Military Ranges before the overnight stop at the RAC watering hole of Llandrindod Wells.

On the last day the cars made their way through the Cambrian Mountains towards Chester, to cross the finish line in Chester’s historic East gate. Jeremy Dickson, Event Director of the CRA, said: “Along the years we have built a special atmosphere combining closely fought competitive motoring with a great social side. Rallying is a team sport and through the Rally of the Tests we want to encourage both driver and navigator to challenge themselves without missing the opportunity to have fun.”