Live Action from Group B Rally Cars and Stars at the International Historic Motorsport Show

20 January 2006

A breathtaking display of Group B rally cars in action, many driven by the great names of rallying, will thrill spectators at the 3rd International Historic Motorsport Show at Stoneleigh Park on 24-26 February 2006.

The live action, arranged by the Slowly Sideways group, will take place on a purpose-built rally stage at the Show and will include both Group B and other genuine classic rally cars. Among the highlights are:
+ Bjorn Waldegard (1979 FIA World Rally Champion) at the wheel of an ex-works 1980 Fiat 131 Abarth, an immediate forerunner of the Group B rally cars.
+ Russell Brookes at the wheel of a genuine Group B Opel Manta 400 in Rothmans colours - a particularly powerful pairing, as it was a Manta 400 which took Russell to his second British Rally Championship victory in 1985. The actual car at the Show will be the one driven in 1985 by Pentti Airikkala, who will also be attending!
+ Another Group B forerunner, an ex-works 1971 Alpine Renault A110, driven by Charles Reynolds, who was team manager for Ford in the late 1970s, before moving to Rothmans Porsche in the 1980s.

A feast of other famous cars will be seen in full-blown action, including such Group B favourites as the Audi quattro A2, Porsche 911 SCRS, Lancia Rallye 037, Peugeot 205 Turbo 16, Renault 5 Maxi Turbo, Nissan 240 RS (the actual car sponsored in its day by pop group UB40), MG Metro 6R4 and Ford RS200. The youngest rally car on the stage will be the ex-Carlos Sainz 1992 Toyota Celica, in Repsol livery.

Stephen Davies of Slowly Sideways, the group behind the live rally action, says: "The cars are the real stars. Slowly Sideways is all about preservation of these genuine rally cars. We don't want them just sitting in museums; we aim to see them brought out of storage and used. Our display at the Historic Motorsport Show will be heavily supported by mechanics, many of whom were the cars' mechanics in their day. They are just as keen as anyone to see these cars in action."

Access to the Show's live events - the Group B rally car stage, the indoor classic motorcycle trial, championship-level autotests and historic kart racing - is included in the ticket price, along with the spectacle of 450 displays throughout the venue's four main halls. Advance tickets cost £15 for one day or £28 for two days, with accompanied children under 16 free.

On-the-day prices are £18 for one day or £30 for two days. Call the Ticket Hotline on 08450 70 68 70, or book online.

See official site for Historic Motorsport Show

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