GOODWOOD CONFIRMS OVER 20 WORLD CHAMPIONS AND 80 DRIVERS AND RIDERS APPEARING AT THE 2010 FESTIVAL OF SPEED

With just over six weeks still to go until the 2010 Festival of Speed blasts into life (2-4 July), Goodwood can already confirm more than 80 star drivers and riders will be present at the world’s largest celebration of motoring culture, including over 20 World Champions who between them have collected more than 70 championship titles.

Reigning Formula One World Champion Jenson Button will be in action up the famous Goodwood hillclimb, as will his McLaren team mate and 2008 World Champion Lewis Hamilton. Joining the McLaren drivers will be fellow 2010 season F1 competitors Mark Webber behind the wheel of his Red Bull, Nico Rosberg in action in his Mercedes, and Bruno Senna, driving his uncle Ayrton’s iconic McLaren MP4/8.

Past F1 champions and Grand Prix winners present at the Festival of Speed are set to include Emerson Fittipaldi, Sir Jackie Stewart, Mika Hakkinen, John Surtees, Sir Stirling Moss, Jochen Mass and Patrick Tambay. Joining these confirmed drivers at Goodwood will be a roll-call of other motor sport stars that reads like a who’s who of motor racing.


From the world of rallying, Festival first-timer Miki Biasion will be reunited with a Lancia Delta; American ‘Gymkhana’ video and current WRC star Ken Block will be going wild in his Ford: 2009 IRS Champion Kris Meeke will be going sideways in his Peugeot; as will IRC rival Guy Wilks in his Skoda. Many other rallying greats will be reacquainted with the cars that made them famous, including Messrs Rauno Aaltonen, Jimmy McRae, Russell Brookes, Björn Waldegård and Markko Martin.

Motorcycling heroes will include Giacomo Agostini, Kevin Schwantz, Chaz Davies, Neil Hodgson and Trevor Nation, plus many others, including 12-time Trials Champion and Goodwood legend Dougie Lampkin. Motor racing legends from across the Pond will include double Daytona 500 winner and NASCAR stalwart Michael Waltrip and three-time Indy 500 victor Bobby Unser.

Press release/image source: Goodwood Motor Circuit

'WORTHY OF THE JULES RIMET TROPHY'

The Daily Mirror World Cup Rally 40 – The World’s Toughest Rally in Retrospect by Graham Robson is BOOK OF THE MONTH in the June 2010 issue of Classic & Sports Car!

Click image to view full size

GRAHAM ROBSON AND GUESTS

Part 1: Graham Robson talks to Rod Grainger, Paddy Hopkirk, Gavin Thompson, Patrick Walker, Brian Culcheth, and Bill Meade at the 40th anniversary of The Daily Mirror 1970 World Cup Rally held at Dagenham Motors showroom, Alperton, Wembley, London 20/4/2010.



Part 2: With Tony Mason, Paul Easter, Bill Barnett, Alan Grainge, Mike Scarlett and Alan Zafer.

The Daily Mirror World Cup Rally 40 – The World’s Toughest Rally in Retrospect by Graham Robson.
Continuing for six weeks, and covering 16,000 miles from London to Mexico City via some of the most varying, tortuous and difficult terrain on three continents, the 1970 World Cup Rally was a unique high-speed event, attracting many serious works teams such as Ford and British Leyland.
Despite the tremendous amounts of money spent choosing and developing new cars, completing months-long route surveys, and analysing every detail of diets, oxygen provision, and the number of crew members, out of an entry of more than 100 cars, only 23 cars made it to the finish.
It was then, and remains now, the toughest rally of all time. More info.

KRIS MEEKE AND PEUGEOT UK HEAD FOR THE CANARIES FOR ROUND FOUR OF THE IRC

The sunshine island of Gran Canaria has joined the 2010 IRC calendar after the loss of the Asturias rally on mainland Spain in September.
With only a short break for the teams after the two rallies based in South America, it was full steam ahead to get the cars prepared for the first all-tarmac rally of this year's IRC. With the recent travel issues due to the Icelandic volcano, many teams have had major challenges just to get team personnel, equipment and cars out to Gran Canaria.

Peugeot UK, however, decided to go out early to test on the fast, smooth mountain roads which will make up the fifteen stages of the 34th Rally Islas Canarias. The special nature of the roads on the island makes the stages more like a race track with wide, fast-flowing corners and very high grip levels.

Both Kris and Co-driver Paul Nagle spent Monday testing their Peugeot 207 S2000 on a special test stage in the hills near the island's capital Las Palmas. The test provided the team and Kris with the opportunity to fine tune the set up of their Peugeot 207 and get accustomed to the type of roads, ready for the start of the rally on Friday.

After Monday's test Kris and Paul then got on with the job of creating the all-important pace notes which they will use during the rally. To do this they are allowed to drive each of the special stages a maximum of three times, no faster than 80 km/h and write down detailed notes about each corner and any hazards etc. Paul will then use these notes during the rally to guide Kris through each stage as quickly as possible. Unlike a racing driver on a race track, a rally crew is not allowed to practice on the actual rally stages so the only prior knowledge comes from experience of an event or their pace notes.

The 34th Rally Islas Canarias begins with the Ceremonial Start in Las Palmas tonight before the crews tackle the first stages on Saturday. On the first day, a total of 382.81 km will be covered by the crews, of which 137.25 km will be on timed special stages. The first stage starts at 9am on Saturday morning with the rally halting for the night around 8:30 pm. A total of nine stages will make up Day 1 with the first three stages run twice. The longest stage is 29.95 km - the longest of the rally - and will be run only once.

Day 2, Sunday provides the crews with a total of six stages, totalling 84.34 km, but the crews will have to cover a further 203.24 km just to get to the stages. The Sunday stages are run twice, three in the morning and three in the afternoon, before the rally finishes on Sunday afternoon. By the end of the rally, Kris's Peugeot 207 S2000 will have covered a total distance of 670.39 km and tackled 221.59 km of special stages.

After the disappointment of Argentina, Kris and Paul are ready and focused on getting back into their winning ways. As this rally did not feature in last year's IRC, it will be the most open of the season so far. None of the IRC's leading drivers has driven this event before.

Kris, who is currently lying in fourth place in the drivers' standing after just three rounds, said: "It's going to be a very open rally because, apart from the local drivers, nobody has done this event before so nobody will have an edge. That will make it really interesting and a hard one to call in terms of the result."

"It's also going to be much the same as we experienced last year on some of the island events on the IRC: there are guys that always compete in their local Championships, and when you're going to compete on a very small island, there's not that many roads. It's quite clear that those guys will know their roads very well, but we're happy to go and to focus mainly on our IRC rivals. Obviously the local guys may come into contention, but it's up to us to try to steer that to our advantage."

Kris continues regarding the stages: "I think the road offers very, very good grip even when it's raining, and though the forecast seems to be bone-dry, I know the island can create its own sort of climate and it can get quite misty with the odd spot of rain here and there in the mountains, so even if it does get quite humid, I know there's a lot of grip there in the asphalt. There's not a lot of cutting off the edge of the road like other events - I think all 4 wheels have to be on the asphalt all the time, and it's very close to what we would call a circuit-type event, though every corner will be different."

A total of ten S2000 cars and drivers will join Kris in his Peugeot 207 S2000 and the 49 other cars signed up for this year's event. A total of thirteen manufacturers will be represented across all the classes, with six Peugeot 207 S2000s battling for a Peugeot victory.

Follow the day-to-day progress of Peugeot UK and Kris Meeke in the Rally Islas Canarias via the team's Twitter link www.twitter.com/PeugeotNews, web-based rally radio hosted on the Peugeot.co.uk website and all main rally websites and, for iphone users, the free-of-charge Peugeot sponsored irally App.

Coming soon from Veloce! Kris Meeke Intercontinental Rally Challenge Champion by Simon McBride.

Kris Meeke – protégé of rally legend Colin McRae – and Peugeot UK won the Intercontinental Rally Championship in their rookie year. From the disastrous opening round in Monte Carlo, to the ecstasy of winning the San Remo Rally and the championship in the same weekend, this is the chronicle of a driver destined for greatness. More info.

GRAHAM ROBSON SCORES AT WEMBLEY!

Thanks to everyone who helped to make Graham Robson's World Cup Rally 40 book launch such a huge success yesterday - especially Ford for providing both the star attraction - the winning car, FEV 1H, and the venue at Alperton, just outside Wembley Stadium.


Graham Robson.

Brian Culcheth & Paddy Hopkirk.
The winning car.

Andrew Cowan's Triumph 2.5PI

Tony Mason with Robson.


More pics on flickr. Click here for more info about the book.

PEUGEOT UK'S KRIS MEEKE & PAUL NAGLE READY IN ARGENTINA FOR THE THIRD ROUND OF THE 2010 IRC

Peugeot UK's IRC Champions Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle are in Argentina, ready for the start of Round three of the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge on Friday.

After their magnificent win in Brazil, Kris and Paul will start Friday night's opening Super Special stage as favourites in their Peugeot 207 S2000 but they are realistic about their chances. It's their first Rally Argentina, and they'll face tough competition not only from the regular IRC runners but also a number of very fast local drivers. Kris, though, is unfazed by the threat:

"I don't tend to think about it too much. All I can do is believe in my own ability, go out and do my maximum - my safe maximum - on the first 3 stages - safe side of flat out - see what happens, and take it from there."

Rally Argentina is one of the great rallies of the world: this year it consists of 15 stages covering 240.02 km. Fans travel from all over South America to watch the action.

After Friday's Super Special through the streets of Carlos Paz, about an hour's drive from Cordoba, Saturday has a total of seven stages and Sunday a further seven before the final Super Special stage which will see two drivers go head-to-head against the clock.

Kris and Paul will face tough competition in Brazil from local hero and eight times Argentinean Rally Champion Federico Villagra, and Nasser Al-Attiya who finished second in this year's Dakar Rally. Two other Peugeot 207 S2000s are also entered into the rally driven by Bruno Magalhaes and Daniel Oliveira.

Follow the day to day progress of Peugeot UK and Kris Meeke in this year's Rally Argentina via the team's Twitter link www.twitter.com/Peugeotrally video podcasts and web-based Rally Radio hosted on thePeugeot.co.uk web site and all main rally web sites and for, iPhone users, the Peugeot co-sponsored iRally App.
Source: Peugeot.co.uk



Coming soon from Veloce Publishing! Kris Meeke Intercontinental Rally Challenge Champion
By Simon McBride.

The story of how Kris Meeke and Peugeot UK won the Intercontinental Rally Championship in their rookie year, from the disastrous opening round in Monte Carlo, to the ecstasy of winning the San Remo rally and the Championship in the same weekend. This is the gripping tale of how Kris and Peugeot defied expectations and made their mark on this highly competitive championship. There are those who felt that Kris was quick but lacked the consistency to succeed at the highest level – but the man from Dungannon proved them wrong in the style of his mentor and rally legend, Colin McRae.
The best of Kris is still to come ...
More info.

FORD RALLY CHAMPION!

A new month, and a new blog header, this time featuring the great photo of the rally-winning Ford Escort, (driven by Hannu Mikkola and Gunnar Palm), as featured on the cover of our forthcoming book The Daily Mirror 1970 World Cup Rally 40.

Lasting six weeks and covering 16,000 miles from London to Mexico City via some of the most varying, tortuous and difficult terrain on three continents, the 1970 World Cup Rally was a unique high-speed event. Attracting many serious works teams such as Ford and British Leyland, it was, and remains, the toughest rally of all time.

This 40th anniversary book is due this month (March 2010). Follow our RSS feed

VICTORY FOR DODD ON RALLYE SUNSEEKER

Picture courtesy of www.cmwi.net: Marcus Dodd and Andrew Bargery heading to victory in the wet conditions on today's 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 at the weekend.

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.

Source: www.msagravelrallychampionship.co.uk.

STARS SET TO SHINE ON RALLYE SUNSEEKER

Six-times Rallye Sunseeker winner Marcus Dodd and co driver Andrew Bargery in their Hyundai Accent WRC.
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.

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.

More details, including entry lists, spectator information and maps etc on the event can be found at www.rallyesunseeker.co.uk and information on the 2010 MSA National Gravel Rally Championship is listed at www.msagravelrallychampionship.co.uk.

'COLIN MCRAE DRIVER OF THE RALLY SHOW' AT CHATSWORTH

McRae Vision, the charity set up in the aftermath of Colin's tragic accident in 2007, will be attending The Kick Energy-sponsored Rally Show at Chatsworth over the weekend of 5/6th June.

Amongst its objectives, the charity supports causes and runs initiatives particularly for the benefit of underprivileged children and the education of young persons involved in motorsport. They have recently presented a cheque for £35,000 to purchase specialist medical equipment for a new paediatric intensive care ambulance for which further funds are being raised by the Yorkhill Children's Foundation.

Rally Show Ltd is delighted to announce that McRae Vision is presenting the 'Colin McRae Driver of the Rally Show' perpetual trophy for the first time this year. It will be presented to the driver and car combination that gives most enjoyment to the spectators at Chatsworth over the weekend. The recipient will be decided by representatives from both Colin McRae Vision and The Rally Show Ltd.

Entries for the popular stage sessions are filling up and, with four months still to go, over 40% of the available places have already been allocated. Amongst cars already entered are two Audi Quattros (the originals of which celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2010), a Nissan 200 S13, the Greenwood Motorsport Vauxhall Chevette HS and Charley Blaney's MG Metro 6R4.

Entries are now open for the competitive events and regulations are available to download from www.therallyshow.org. There will be five events each running over the two days of the show, including the popular "All-Comers" event, an Historic Challenge catering for all four categories of the HRCR and the GT event for sports and GT cars which will be split into three date categories. Last year this event was famously won by Mark Higgins in the Aston Martin Rally GT, beating off the challenge of the German Porsches!

There is also an event for FIA-homologated cars and a new departure this time, the 'Baja Chatsworth' for off-road cars. This will be split into two categories; one for the astonishing XR 150 single-seater buggies and the other caters for the super-powerful traditional high-powered off road cars. An early entry has already been received from the Milner R5 which was built in nearby Matlock and will be driven by Steve Lloyd.

Spectators who purchase their tickets in February, March and April will automatically go into a draw for two rides in a rally car at Chatsworth. The winners in the December one are from Hereford and Ashbourne while those successful in January are both from Chesterfield.

For further details of the Rally Show at Chatsworth, visit the website: www.therallyshow.org.

Source: Catersport

GRAHAM ROBSON INTERVIEW

The Daily Mirror World Cup Rally 40 – The World’s Toughest Rally in Retrospect
by Graham Robson.
Continuing for six weeks, and covering 16,000 miles from London to Mexico City via some of the most varying, tortuous and difficult terrain on three continents, the 1970 World Cup Rally was a unique high-speed event, attracting many serious works teams such as Ford and British Leyland.
Despite the tremendous amounts of money spent choosing and developing new cars, completing months-long route surveys, and analysing every detail of diets, oxygen provision, and the number of crew members, out of an entry of more than 100 cars, only 23 cars made it to the finish.
It was then, and remains now, the toughest rally of all time. More info.

SUPER SAAB SHOT

The keen-eyed amongst you will have noticed the change to our Blog header picture recently, which now features the cracking shot of a Saab racing in an alpine rally. Expect to see this, and more, featured in the forthcoming addition to our popular Rally Giants series, Saab 96 & V4, by Graham Robson. Due for publication, March 2010.

EXCITING NEW RALLY STAGE SET TO THRILL AT RACE RETRO 2010

This year’s Race Retro will see legendary Rally drivers put to the test on an exciting new live action Rally Stage when it returns to Stoneleigh Park from 12th to 14th March. Featuring more sharp turns and an amazing power slide for the drivers to enjoy, the new course is also much more visitor friendly with a raised spectator viewing bank and all tarmac paddock where enthusiasts can get up close to the cars in service.

Show Operations Manager David Alderson said: “We’ve run the rally stage in its established location for six years now and whilst it was enjoyed by all, it was time to raise the bar for the drivers and give the visitors a better view of all the action. The new stage is also much more convenient, situated less than 200 metres from the front of the exhibition halls. I’m really excited that we can finally bring the action close to the exhibition halls and save our rally enthusiasts from that long cold trek through the park.”

The new rally stage is still all Tarmac, with the start and finish line adjacent to a spectator area. The course begins with a 90 degree left turn into a fast straight with a midpoint ‘yump’, then left again along a shorter straight before a sharp left and right complex. This is followed by a dramatic double left directly in front of the spectator viewing area, so expect the fast boys to make this one long power slide before they make a 90 degree right back to the start/finish. The stage lap length is 0.5 of a mile and cars will complete two laps on each run. This allows two cars to be in action on the stage at any one time.

If the course isn’t enough to get you excited, then the line-up of cars is sure to get the blood pumping. Visitors can expect to see an iconic selection of genuine ex works Audi quattros. From the original long wheelbase A2 coupe that shook the rallying world on its debut in 1980, to the outrageous short wheelbase S1 Evo 2, Audi’s final statement of the Group B era, all will be a part of the show’s celebration of thirty years of the quattro.

Joining the quattros will be a further selection of Group B rallying monsters from the recently formed, ‘Rallying with Group B’ club. Expect to see Ford RS200, MG 6R4, Lancia 037, Peugeot 205T16, Porsche RSR supported by Stratos, Rover V8 SD1, Manta 400, TR7V8, and of course the Rothmans Escort, all the genuine article from Rallying’s illustrious past.

For more info visit www.raceretro.com.

Press release & image source: Race Retro

ROBSON PRODUCES THE GOODS ONCE AGAIN!

Just found this new review of Fiat 131 Abarth (Rally Giants Series) by Graham Robson on www.dep-o.co.uk.

"Another motoring book from the prolific author Graham Robson – he is accredited with writing over 130 books – this 130 page softback book covers most of the bases for those with a 131 Abarth obsession.

I find a good way of testing a book is, especially if I’ve researched the subject car for a feature, does it tell me something I didn’t know? Whilst the background to the car was more or less familiar, all the details of its impressive rallying career weren’t so familiar.

Generally, getting hold of decent in-depth books, covering a specific Italian single model in English, can be a bit tricky – but once again Robson has produced the goods. The only bit of serious info lacking is a comprehensive 131 Abarth tech spec. On the whole, a thoroughly good value read." (4/5)

Check out more great motoring book reviews on www.dep-o.co.uk.

STOCK NEWS: TOYOTA CELICA GT-FOUR (RALLY GIANTS) NOW AVAILABLE

Image taken from Toyota Celica GT-Four (Rally Giants Series) by Graham Robson. See more great pictures from the book on flickr.

This is a comprehensive study of the career of the Toyota Celica GT-Four. Starting in 1988, three generations of this effective turbocharged four-wheel-drive car – known by enthusiasts as ST165, ST185 and ST205 types – fought for World Championships, and were amazingly successful for almost a decade.

All types combined high-performance, great reliability, and superb preparation by Toyota Team Europe (based in Cologne, Germany), their 300bhp/four-wheel-drive chassis package being among the best in the world. Over the years, the cars won some of the roughest events in the world (such as the Safari and the Acropolis), and were also supreme on tarmac, snow and ice, including Monte Carlo.

After fighting a running battle with Lancia for years, the Celicas won the World Manufacturers’ Championship twice. Its famous drivers included Carlos Sainz (World Champion in 1990 and 1992), Juha Kankkunen (Champion in 1993) and Didier Auriol (Champion in 1994).

Never far from controversy, and at times embroiled in technical and regulatory disputes, these cars brought real glamour to the colourful sport of rallying, and were only replaced by an even higher-tech Toyota – the Corolla World Rally Car – in 1997.

Click here for more info about the book.

ALFA ROMEO CELEBRATIONS AT RACE RETRO 2010

Organiser Live Promotions has announced that Race Retro, the international historic motorsport show, will be held from Friday 12th to Sunday 14th March 2010, returning to Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire. After its extremely successful first year as owners, Live has also chosen the Alfa Romeo as its celebrated marque as the Italian manufacturer celebrates its centenary year.

And to give club members and owners the chance to be included in the celebrations, Hall 4 will become a dedicated showcase for Alfa Romeo club cars with owners offered significantly discounted ticket and the opportunity to show off their marquee for the duration of the show.

The remaining halls will follow a similar layout to previous years including the popular Speed Street in Hall 2 and other manufacturers featured will be a tribute to Peugeot’s rallying career and for those who prefer two-wheels, a celebration of Norton motorcycles.

A host of celebrity drivers and racers from the 60s, 70s and 80s have been invited to attend from the world of Rallying, Formula One, Superbikes, etc and will be announced nearer the show.

The outdoor action will continue to expand with the popular Live Rally Stage roaring with popular cars and drivers and the organisers looking to add more high octane entertainment for four and two wheel vehicles.

And if you are looking to invest in a competition car or motorcycle of your own then visit the H&H Classic and Historic Motorsport Auction. Following its return to Race Retro this year, H&H recorded over £990,000 worth of sales.

Press release & image source: race retro

What better way to celebrate the centenary year of Alfa Romeo with these great Veloce books!

Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 - The development and racing history
Winner of the Scuderia Del Portello Award for Journalism 06
by Ed McDonough, Peter Collins.
These important Sports Racing cars of 1967-1977 won the 1975 and 1977 Manufacturers World Championships. The definitive record, this is also the first book to be written about the history and development of Alfa Romeo’s fabulous Championship-winningTipo 33 prototypes. Containing many previously unseen photographs and interviews with key personalities, this is a vital addition to any Alfa enthusiasts collection. Click here for more info about the book.

Coming soon! Alfa Romeo Montreal – The dream car that came true
By Bruce Taylor.
With its stylish Bertone coachwork and race-bred 200bhp V8 engine, the Alfa Romeo Montreal is one of the most stunning series production automobiles of the twentieth century. Almost 4000 Montreals were built, and today sound cars are still readily available at very affordable prices.
This book is a comprehensive pictorial tribute to the Montreal. A visual testimonial to a powerful and beautiful coupé that was born as a futuristic concept and transformed into a dream car come true.
In a portfolio of over 575 illustrations, it paints a unique and detailed graphic portrait of all the facets of this elegant and powerful classic GT, revealing why it is immensely enjoyable to drive and turns heads wherever it appears. Click here for more info about the book.

... and for those fans of the Peugeot rally tribute! Peugeot 205 T16 (Rally Giants Series)
By Graham Robson.
Four-wheel-drive was authorised in rallying from 1979, but for a time no serious car-manufacturer even tried to harness it to their cars. Soon, though, it was Audi who produced the world’s first rally-winning four-wheel-drive car – the Quattro. However it was Peugeot who designed, developed, campaigned and won with the first truly sophisticated four-wheel-drive Group B Car – the 205 Turbo 16. It was the first truly great, purpose-designed, Group B car. Determined to win at almost any cost, Peugeot hired Jean Todt (who would later transform the fortunes of the Ferrari F1 organisation) in 1981, and set him an ambitious target. His dream car had to be running in 1983, homologated in 1984, and capable of winning World Championships by 1985. Packed with illustrations, technical details, facts, figures and successes of this innovative car this book is a must for any rally fan. Click here for more info about the book.

STOCK NEWS: MINI COOPER (RALLY GIANTS) NOW AVAILABLE

Image taken from Mini Cooper (Rally Giants Series) by Graham Robson. See more great pictures from the book on flickr.

This is a comprehensive study of the career of one type of rally car – the BMC Mini-Cooper/Mini-Cooper S. In the 1960s the Mini became famous as Britain’s most successful rally car. It combined superb handling, a tiny body shell, high-performance engines and the excellence of front-wheel-drive in an irresistible package. Not only this, but the works team included famous drivers like Paddy Hopkirk, Timo Makinen and Rauno Aaltonen.
The works Minis not only won the Monte Carlo three times – 1964, 1965 and 1967 – along with the European Rally Championship in 1965, but also won events all over the world. Because Minis were British, and well-promoted, they became seen as giant-killers, and were the people’s favourite for many years. The car outpaced many of its rivals, and this book examines exactly who they were, and how they came to be defeated by the ‘mighty Mini.’

Even today, works Minis appear at every gathering of classic cars – and in 2009, Mini celebrates its 50th birthday. Packed with over 100 photographs, this book is a fitting and timely tribute to a much-loved Rally Giant.

Click here for more info about the book.

Check out this video of Graham Robson talking about the book at MINI United.

PETER COLLINS INTERVIEW

I caught up with Peter Collins - Author of classic Veloce books - Lancia 037 - The development and rally history of a world champion & Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 - The development and racing history.



I also asked him about his two exciting new books - British Touring Car Racing – The crowd’s favourite – late 1960s to 1990 (Those were the days series) & Ferrari 312P & 312PB (WSC Giants series).

LOW-COST BOOK FOR A LOW-COST RALLY CAR

Thanks to Robert Young at the Mini Cooper Register for his review of author Philip Young's How to Build a Successful Low-Cost Rally Car.

"A throughly entertaining and informative read ... highly recommended to anyone embarking on building a competition car."

Click image below to read the full review.

FORD DAY

On this day in history (1903) The Ford Motor Company was founded. Here's a selection of some Ford related books from Veloce.



Visit www.veloce.co.uk to see our full range of Ford publications.