Rallye Sunseeker - 2013 BRC Final Round

The Southern Car Club metaphorically steps up to the British Rally Championship plate this weekend when their popular Rallye Sunseeker International will decide the outcome of the 2013 MSA British Rally Championship. With a 50% points bonus available in Poole, the prestigious title decider will be as unpredictable as the British weather; Finland, Northern Ireland or Wales, all in with a shout in Dorset this weekend.

The event's move from February to 18/19th October has meant that the organisers have had plenty of time to produce a rally worthy of deciding what has been a fantastic season-long battle. This year the Sunseeker has a new base entirely in Poole, new service area and even the placement of the finish line of the final stage, with Somerley House as a fitting backdrop.

What an appropriate setting for the fight between championship hopefuls Jukka Korhonen/Marko Salminen, Alastair Fisher/Gordon Noble and Tom Cave/Ieuan Thomas, three Citroën DS3 crews. Korhonen has the upper hand after five rallies and a third place finish will fulfill his 2012 vow to return the British Rally Championship crown to Finland for the first time since the new millennium.

Fisher is the biggest threat to the 29 year old from Siikajarvi. Already proving his mettle with his win on Scottish gravel, the 25 year-old Ulsterman lies second in the points tables. While the gap may seem large at 20 points, the Sunseeker bonus, coupled with everyone dropping their worst score of the season, means that a win for Fisher would force Korhonen to push for a podium to grab the title.

Next up is Tom Cave who also has a chance of stealing the title. Admittedly even with a win, he needs Korhonen to have a really bad day in the forests around Ringwood, as Wales will rely on Finland being outside the top six at the Poole Quay finish.

The event's new host town of Poole provides a compact base for the start, finish and service area activities as well as the event's HQ; based in the impressive waterfront venue of the RNLI College.

The rally begins with Friday evening's ceremonial start at the atmospheric Poole Quay between 17.45 hrs and 19.45 hrs. The cars will be on display throughout this time giving ample opportunity to take photos, browse the static displays and trade stands, meet the drivers and get autographs.

The action begins in earnest on Saturday morning and features three loops of Ringwood Forest stages split by service at Creekmoor to the north of Poole. The cars also visit Somerley Park where the event and championship winners will no doubt celebrate on the stop line of the final stage ahead of the ceremonial finish back at Poole Quay.


16th October, 2013