Rally Roar will bring Boost to Bellingham

Saturday 29th April will see a flurry of activity in Bellingham when a colourful cavalcade of rally cars will roll into the North Tyne capital with the Pirelli International Rally featuring a halt and control area in the towns Manchester Square which will give rally enthusiasts and spectators the opportunity to get a close up look at the amazing, hi-tech cars as they regroup before continuing on the second phase of the day’s high speed activities. The Pirelli International Rally, the 2nd round of the Prestone MSA British Rally Championship, takes place  over two days and is run over a number of “Special Stages” in the huge Kielder Forest complex. These vary in length from 10 to 16 miles and are some of the most exacting and demanding rally roads in the country.  The rally has always attracted a top class entry and, in addition to the top British drivers, also features numerous competitors from further afield with victory in 2016 going to  Swedish star Frederick Ahlen – who joined a long list of Scandinavian drivers who have tasted victory on the Kielder based event , the roll of honour including former World Champion, the legendary Ari Vattanen. The Bellingham rally control will see the cars line up in Manchester Square for a 15 minute break during which the public will be encouraged to take photographs, collect autographs and meet the competing drivers. The proceedings will be marshalled by members of the Hexham & District Motor Club and the occasion has the enthusiastic backing of Bellingham Parish Council whose Chairman, Councillor Jim Thompson, is himself a former rally driver who, notably, competed on the world famous Monte Carlo Rally.