Hotham Park hosts final round of rally

The event is the final round in the Historic Rally Car Register's Clubman's Championship 2007, a national championship which has seen rounds in Kent, Cambridge, Hereford, Yorkshire, Wales, Cheshire & Norfolk.

The championship leading driver Martin Neal, from Bognor Regis is not able to score points on this last round, as he is deputy clerk of the course on The Regis Rally.

Last year's winners David Hughes and Andy Gibson in Andy's MG Midget from Kent are down to defend their title. Other crews in contention for the win are previous winners are Bognor Regis Motor Club member Geoff Twigg navigated by Graham Carter in his Mini Cooper S and travelling from Norfolk and Southampton respectively are Jim Deacon and Dave Wilson in Jim's Ford RS2000. David Mustarde navigated by Mike Burrows are also in contention in the Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint.

The Regis Rally is an historic daylight road rally where the speeds are kept to an average below 30 mph on the public highway and timed to the second. There are 12 special driving tests on private ground, allowing the driver's to "put their foot down".

After leaving Amberley from 9am on Saturday morning crews head out at one minute intervals on a route around the Sussex lanes with stops at various locations for the special tests. Lunch halt is at Fishbourne Roman Palace with the route leading back to Amberley by 5pm.

There are no spectator areas but if you would like to get involved, and offer your services as a marshal, phone chief marshal: Neil Worsfold on 01903 873752-before 9.00pm or email [email protected]. No experience is necessary, as training will be given. If you have an interest in motorsport and want to get involved in the sport at grass roots level and would like to know more log onto www.theregisrally.co.uk.

Bognor Regis Motor Club first ran The Regis Rally as a tour visiting the "Regis" towns and villages in Southern England in the 1950s. The event changed into a night-time road rally during the 1960's and early 1970's. It was revived 15 years ago as an historic road rally.

This year's entry is a trip down memory lane with a wide assortment of cars entered. These include Triumph-TR4, Herald & Dolomite, MG-B & Midget, Sunbeam-Alpine & Rapier, Lotus Elan, Mini-Cooper, Cooper S & 1275 GT, Morris 1800. Eligible cars must be registered before December 31, 1981, although the majority of the entry comes from cars dating back to the 1960s and 1970s.