Wales Rally GB 13-16th September 2012
Although the entry on the year's Wales Rally GB is somewhat depleted, the action between the works entries on the international division of the rally will still be as frantic as ever with three WRC rallies still remaining after GB and Sebastien Loeb's ninth world championship not a forgone conclusion - yet!
Because of FIA rescheduling, the date of Rally GB's 2012 80th anniversary event falls two months earlier than its traditional calendar slot and this year the international entry totals at 31 WRC cars, joined by a further 48 competitors in the 'national' category of the event in an eclectic selection of modern and historic machinery.
IRDC interest in the international competition rests with its newly appointed honorary member and 2003 WRC champion Petter Solberg driving a Ford Fiesta RS WRC. Further down the international entry is Tom Cave co-driven by Craig Parry making their second appearance this season in the works Proton Satria Neo 2000.
Prominent among the national entry is the ever potent and well prepared Lancia Stratos of Steve Perez and Paul Spooner, IRDC members and regular competitors on rallying's world stage. Also in this sector of the entry and practising what he preaches is IRDC Chairman and MSA Rallies' Committee member Shaun Martin, co-driven this year by fellow IRDC member Anthony Concannon.
Shaun and Anthony are well-known Southern Car Club members and will be using Shaun's familiar white Subaru Impreza, now a veteran of 3 Wales Rallies and benefiting from several upgrades since its last successful foray in 2011. The crew's objective is a trouble-free rally and respectable finish position.
The uncharacteristically low entry on this event has been explained as a combination of the current austere commercial climate and September date, meaning that most championships are still in full swing, thus robbing Rally GB of the end-of-season entry by crews registered in these other series. Hopefully 2013 will see the event return to its customary and popular November date.
The international section of Wales Rally GB starts in Llandudno 19:00 hrs Thursday 13th and finishes in Cardiff at 15:36 hrs and the national sector starts in Newtown 09:30 hrs Friday 14th and finishes in Cardiff 12:17 hrs Sunday 16th September.
9th September, 2012