North of England Tarmac Rally Championship – March Update

Unfortunately we have to announce another change to the championship calendar, this time it’s for the Pendragon Stages.

For some years now the rally has enjoyed a traditional slot on the Sunday of August Bank Holiday weekend. The event organisers were hit earlier this year when they learnt that they wouldn’t be able to use the Lowther Estate roads for competition. However, Kirkby Lonsdale Motor Club, Eden Valley Motor Club and Northallerton Automobile Club believed that they’d be able to run a ‘single venue’ type rally on Warcop Ranges, near Penrith.

The Army has recently increased military activity on the Ranges over the weekend of 27th and 28th August and now withdrawn permission for the rally to take place at that time. Members of the organising team have met with representatives from the MoD to be told that the only possible alternative date for this year’s rally is on Sunday 22nd May. The rally organisers have taken the bold decision to run the event rather than lose the opportunity to visit a rarely used venue and the North of England Tarmacadam Championship will continue to support them.

We are aware that this is not ideal timing as it ‘clashes’ with the recce for the Jim Clark National running the following weekend. However, for those competitors thinking of contesting both the Pendragon and the Jim Clark rallies, it is still possible to do a recce on Thursday the 26th May for that event.

On the flip side of this change, we will reduce the congestion in the published calendar of having 4 rallies in 6 weekends between the Tyneside and Lindisfarne Rallies. There will now be a 2 week gap after the Tyneside Stages before the Solway Coast Rally takes place and then another 4 weeks before the Lindisfarne. Keep an eye on the Pendragon website for more information www.pendragonstages.co.uk