Event Background

A piece of motorsport history

World Rally Cars will be in Aldershot this weekend (November 7) and motorsport fans will be able to see them breaking the 100mph barrier in the local forests.

The town will once again play host to some of the country’s leading drivers as the JLTRally.com South of England Tempest Rally leaves the starting blocks at Rushmoor Arena on Saturday November 7.

Traditionally held every November the rally is split into two categories – one for two wheel drive cars and the second for the more powerful four wheel drive vehicles. The rally traditionally attracts some of the country’s leading rally drivers and this year is no different.

Boasting more entries than the country’s round of the world rally championship the Aldershot-based event will see World Rally Car drivers battling for supremacy over some of the south’s most testing stages.

Local drivers Will Nicholls and Marcus Dodd will be competing head on with up and coming drivers and other leading local entrants include Wug Utting, Trevor Martin and Ian Roberton.

While the action at the front of the field will be dominated by Fords, Subarus, Hyundais and Mitsubishis, there are plenty of cars to please the enthusiast.

The entry list includes MK II Escorts, Vauxhalls, a Triumph TR7 V8 and a former works Metro 6R4. 

Rally manger Barry Guess said that once again Rushmoor Arena in Aldershot will be the focus of attention for spectators with the venue hosting live, high speed stages for people to see the cars in action, and the service area where everyone can get up close to meet the teams and see the support crews in action.

This year the rally also honours local rally legend and former RAC Rally winner Pentti Airikkala who passed away recently.

The Warren Heath stage will be dedicated to the memory of Pentti who contested the event in the 1970s and was a member of the Sutton & Cheam Motor Club.

In recent years he was a regular spectator on the event and helped current Ford works driver Jari-Matti Latvala to his 2002 Tempest Clubman and 2003 Tempest International wins.

In addition to Rushmoor Arena spectators will also be able to catch all the action at Yateley Forest where improved parking arrangements will give people an even better view of the action.

 “We have a cracking line up of competitors who will produce some of the best high speed action we have ever seen,’’ said Barry.

“Add to this entertainment for all the family at Rushmoor Arena in Aldershot and we are looking at a great day out.’’

Entrance to Rushmoor Arena is £5 per person and in the forests charitable donations of £10 per car will go towards local schools.