BAJA GB 2007, August 17-19th, 2007
Britain?s new round of the 2007 FIA International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas
For immediate release
Saturday, March 3rd, 2007
BAJA WALES LIMITED ANNOUNCE RUNNING
OF NEW-LOOK BAJA GB IN AUGUST 2007
? Britain?s first international Baja set to run over challenging Welsh forest route
? Andrew Kellitt and John Horton set to strengthen Baja GB organising team
? Y Rali Bryn Cymru set to run as National A event in conjunction with Baja GB
NEWTOWN (Wales): Baja Wales Limited have officially announced the Baja GB 2007, Britain?s first ever international Baja-type motorsport event, which will form the third round of the 2007 FIA International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas. The exciting new Baja takes place on August 17th-19th.
Existing Baja GB organisers have appointed the experienced Andrew Kellitt as deputy clerk of the course and John Horton as rally director. Kellitt has worked with the Motor Sports Association (MSA) on numerous rallying projects and is Wales Rally GB event co-ordinator and deputy clerk of the course. Horton was rally director for the 1992 Hill Rally and is currently a member of the management team for both Wales Rally GB and the British Grand Prix.
Baja GB has received the full backing of the MSA, the Forestry Commission Wales and the Welsh Assembly Motorsport Initiative.
Baja Wales Limited promoted the inaugural Baja GB in August 2006 and a modified and improved event now takes its place in the prestigious four-round championship alongside Bajas in Italy, Spain and Portugal.
~The new Baja GB is a real leap forward for British motorsport and represents a major stepping stone for future drivers to be able to take part in major international events like the Dakar Rally,~ said Colin Hilton, chief executive of the MSA. ?Wales Rally GB has been extremely successful in recent years and I am sure that Baja GB will follow in its international footsteps.?
Baja GB 2007 will be open to cars complying to both FIA T1 and T2 regulations, although there will also be a separate event running over the same weekend for motorcycle competitors under the auspices of the Auto Cycle Union (ACU) Bikesport GB.
Cars not complying to T1 and T2 regulations will be permitted to take part in a new National A event running alongside Baja GB. This will be called Y Rali Bryn Cymru, which has until now had its own regular slot in the British off-road calendar. The event last ran in May 2006 and was organised by Marches 4×4 Motorsport Management.
?After discussions with the MSA and the Forestry Commission about reducing the number of events on Forestry Commission Wales? land, and with a view to demonstrating our awareness of environmental issues, we will combine Y Rali Bryn Cymru with the Baja GB,? said Baja GB?s clerk of the course, Chris Tomley.
Baja GB 2007 will be based at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells and gets underway on Friday, August 17th with a ceremonial start at The Lake in Llandrindod Wells and a timed super special stage in Radnor forest.
The bulk of the competitive action takes place on Saturday, August 18th and Sunday August 19th, with competitors in the various categories tackling timed selective sections in the Hafren and Myherin forest complexes. Servicing will be centralised throughout the two days at nearby Sweet Lamb and the podium finish will take place in Builth Wells. Spectators will be welcome throughout the weekend and special spectator viewing points with catering and parking facilities will be advertised prior to the event.
Entry forms and regulations will be available towards the end of March from www.BajaWales.com and the organisers have now confirmed that entry fees for competitors in both the Baja GB and Y Rali Bryn Cymru will be ?1,200 for 421km of stages. Entry fees for motorcycle competitors will be ?200. Riders will tackle a different route and a total of 348km of special stages.
Priority will be given to FIA championship contenders, Baja GB entrants and competitors who took part in last year?s inaugural Baja GB. There is a limit on entries in the various categories of 160. Further information is available from the entries secretary Wendy Tomley (e-mail wt@BajaWales.com).
Ends
For further media information:
Neil Perkins, Baja GB Press Officer, NDP Publicity Services, NCH Building, Upper Bar, Newport, Shropshire, Tel: +44 (0)1952 825078, Fax: + 44 (0) 1952 825001, Mobile: + 44 7831 123153, E-mail: ndppublicity@compuserve.com. www.ndp-publicity.com (press releases).
www.BajaWales.com