Pirelli Promises Plenty of Power

Next weekend will see Cumbria’s biggest motorsport event put the “Car” in Carlisle as top rally drivers from all over the United Kingdom and abroad converge on the Border city for the Pirelli Carlisle Rally, the 3rd round of the MSA British Rally Championship and there will be a vast array of powerful cars rolling up to the city’s Borderway Auction Mart for the start of the eagerly awaited event. As expected, the Pirelli Carlisle Rally has attracted a stunning and stellar entry, with all the leading championship contenders chasing points in the countries top rally series and there is sure to be some fast and furious action on the two day, seven stage event, run over the tight, twisty and, for the unwary, extremely hazardous forest tracks in the giant Kielder Forest complex. The prelude to the rally will see the cars tuning up at Borderway next Friday (April 29th) where they are checked over and the crews complete all the paperwork. Spectators are welcome to come along, to see the cars, take photographs, pick up a programme and collect autographs. Saturday morning see the cars make a lunchtime start, leaving Carlisle and heading for the first of the day’s four “Special stages” in Kielder Forest. There are special car parks, clearly signposted, for enthusiasts wishing to go along and see the action. After a hard day, the cars will return to Carlisle , arriving back about 5:30pm. With the drivers refreshed, and the cars re-fettled, it’s back off up to Kielder for day two and another blast through the day’s three long stages, where there are special areas where spectators can watch the action, safely placed out of harms way, with a grandstand view of all the cars roaring through at seemingly impossible speeds. Back at Borderway Auction Mart, from around 12 noon, spectators can join in the celebrations when all the cars will cross the finishing line, with interviews, a live commentary and the action replayed on a giant screen. The winners will mount the rostrum for the ceremonial prize-giving, which will inevitably involve the traditional champagne spraying, a boisterous finale to an action packed weekend.