A record 100 entries are taking part in the 18th annual Brean Rally at the village’s Leisure Park this weekend.
The 2014 Brean Stages Rally started on Saturday and continues on Sunday at Brean Leisure Park.
With several World Rally Cars among the entries, competition for top honours is hotter than ever.
Among the drivers are the 2011 British Truck Racing Association champion driver, Dave Jenkins, who is best known for his recent exploits on TV driving a slip-streaming truck for bike racer Guy Martin in the Channel 4 programme Speed.
Also competing will be 19 year-old Aaron Newby from Cumbria, who is the 2013 Manx Rally Champion, with an impressive nine wins in his TEG Sport and Pirelli backed Subaru Impreza.
Other racers include Richard Bliss from Weston who is Welsh Tarmac Rally Champion.
Alongside these will be Peter Lloyd, former 5 times winner of the Brean Rally, in his Subaru Impreza WRC S14 and Steve Furzeland, winner of the event in 2013 driving a Subaru Impreza WRC S12.
Local interest is centred on Burnham’s Dave Phillips and Tim Bagg from Burnham Motor Club, who will be competing in their Mk 2 Escort.
The rally got under way for the competitors on Friday (24th January) when the pre-rally scrutineering was held for the first time at Weston College’s Automotive Technology Centre.
Six special stages will be completed throughout Saturday with a further six stages on Sunday and an added Trophy Rally incorporating those competitors who were unfortunate to retire from the rally on the Saturday stages and who manage to put things back together for the Sunday morning re-start.
The rally, organised by Club Rallysport West, was awarded the coveted South West ‘Rally of the Year’ title in 2011 and has grown in stature and popularity over the years, attracting some of the sport’s leading crews. The rally will again be the opening round of two major regional championship series, the Association of South Western Motor Clubs and the Cotswold Motor Sport Group.
Spectators are again welcome. On Saturday and Sunday 25th and 26th January, spectators will be able to watch the action up close.
There will be both indoor and outdoor catering facilities be available on both days.
Spectators will be well looked after with three viewing areas, one of which has a covered grandstand, giving excellent viewing across the inner field stages.
Spectators will be admitted to the park over both days of the rally with an admission charge of £5 (accompanied children under 12 will be admitted free) and car parking will be £5. Gates open on both days from 8.30am.
