Björn Waldegård is the latest star to be confirmed for Rallyday – the UK’s Premier Rally Car Show which takes place at Castle Combe Circuit on Satruday 20 September 2014.
The 1979 World Rally Champion won 16 rallies during his career will be on hand to help celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the Lancia Stratos.
Waldegård will be taking to the wheel of a Lancia Stratos HF similar to the one he drove in 1975 where he won the Swedish and Sanremo rallies. The rally legend will be taking on the Castrol Feature Stage which featured 55 cars in action in 2013. Alongside driving duties he will be on the main Rallyday stage talking about his career followed by an autograph session.
“I remember Rallyday as a very pleasant happening. To be able to go back feels very good and to celebrate the Lancia Stratos 40th Anniversary will be fantastic. I look forward to having a drive in one again,” said Waldegård, who attended Rallyday in 2005, when he headlined alongside Colin McRae, Alister McRae, and then Mitsubishi works driver, Gigi Galli.
Another milestone will be celebrated at the event with it being 30 years since the Metro 6R4 came in to the world. David Llewellin the 1989 and 1990 British Rally Champion will be on hand to demonstrate one of Britains most loved rally cars.
Credit: Mark Sims / RallyingOnline Ltd – www.rallygallery.com
“Rallyday has become one of those dates on the calendar that I always try to keep free. It is a great day and for me to get back in the old cars is always a moment I look forward to,” said Llewellin. “Obviously this year’s show will be a bit more special due to the Metro 6R4 celebrations. The 6R4 was a big part of my career and I have got very fond memories of it because it gave me my first International win on the Circuit of Ireland back in 1986. It was of course part of the Group B era too and that is something we all look back upon with great fondness. The 6R4 was a big part of that.”
Other highlights include period works rally cars from the British Leyland Motor Company including ex-works variants of the Morris Marina, Austin 1800 and Austin Maxi, Triumph Dolomite Sprint, TR7 V8 and the Mini Cooper.
Rallyday organisers Darin Frow and Jo Stubbings are pleased with the preparations for the 2014 event
“We’ve actually been champing at the bit to host the Stratos and 6R4 anniversaries since before Rallyday 2013 so to see these start to come together with genuine cars and be able to welcome back Björn and Dai is perfect. We have also had an incredible response from the teams who built the original 6R4 too, so the reunion will be very special,” Frow said.
“There is lots more in the pipeline as well and it will be crazy if it all happens, especially as this will in addition to the usual action from the SuperPro Clubmans Stage, the Cooper Tires 4×4 Zone with Race2Recovery and extended Challenge demo course, Rallycross, Autotests and track sessions. We will be releasing further updates as they are confirmed through the Rallyday site and our official Facebook and Twitter pages.”
Tickets for Rallyday 2014 are on sale now, with advance tickets for adults costing £15 (if booked before 5th September) or £20 on the day. Accompanied children under 16 go FREE.
