Renault UK aims high on Pirelli International Rally

Northern Ireland’s Mark Donnelly and Welsh co-driver Dai Roberts lead Renault UK’s assault on the MSA British Manufacturers Rally Championship on Pirelli International Rally.

Undeterred after a high speed crash in Wales and after a huge effort by his team to
repair the car, the youngster will pilot his 250 hp Clio Renaultsport R3 in an attempt to emulate his stunning first round victory on February’s Rallye Sunseeker International. However, Renault’s second position in the manufacturers’ tables is not just down to one driver, as the top two cars from each of the registered marques score on every event.

It was Cumbria’s Peter Taylor, accompanied by Newcastle’s Andrew Roughead, who bagged top Renault UK points in Wales, having ably assisted Donnelly to put Renault atop the tables in Bournemouth. The affable 20 year-old should arguably arrive at the Carlisle start most refreshed, living just ten miles from the Carlisle Racecourse rally HQ.

Nick Allen could argue that he has travelled the furthest to contest the infamous Kielder Forest stages, although it has been several months since the Californian left San Francisco to take part in the 2012 British Rally Championship. Now living in the north east of England, it was he and Solihull’s Andy Bull who helped keep Renault UK’s manufacturer title hopes alive, second Renault home on round two of the BRC.

Driving a brace of Twingos, Chris Ingram and Garry Pearson might be fighting for their respective R2 and R1 Twingo Trophies, but they are keen to be involved in the fight for Manufacturers’ honours and will push as hard as they dare this weekend.

The Pirelli International Rally gets underway with a parade of cars in Carlisle City Centre this Friday (April 27) from 5.00 PM. Drivers will be on hand from 6.00 PM to sign autographs and the flag drops from 7.00 PM before two evening forest stages. The bulk of the mileage takes place on Saturday, finishing around 7.00 PM back at the rally’s headquarters at Carlisle Racecourse.

Posted in: Andrew Roughead,British Rally Championship,Carlisle City Centre,Clio Renaultsport R3,International,Motor Sports,MSA British Manufacturers Rally Championship,Pirelli Internantional Rally,Renault