Race Retro 2020, Stoneleigh Park
Race Retro 2020, held at Stoneleigh Park is the U.K’s premier live motorsport show. Each year the rural business park transforms into a car show and two rally stages. This year was my first visit to the show and I was lucky enough to get early access to the halls.
Race Retro Exhibition Halls
Inside the halls there are a good variety of exhibitors, club stands and race car displays. One of the first things I came across was the ex Paul Radisich Ford Mondeo Touring Car from the 1995 season. In the same hall was a heavily modified 2CV that is campainged in the 24 hour endurance races. Also there was a beatufully prepared Ferrari 328 GTB and an equally well prepared Lotus Sunbeam. A good mixture of track and rally vehicles.
It wouldn’t be a historic race or rally show without having an Audi Quattro. Quite possibly the most influencial car ever to be rallied, the introduction of 4WD revolutionised the sport. And, quite importantly the Quattro is 40 years old in 2020. But it wasn’t the only car of that era on display. The Metro 6R4 of course was the British attempt, but the Japanese had their own too. The Datsun, or Nissan 240RS was amore traditional RWD car. Though without any turbocharging the car would perform well due to it’s rugged construction. It also looks fantastic.
Russell Brookes Tribute
Russell Brookes was one of rallying’s biggest names throughout the 1970s and 80s. The partnership with Andrews heat For hire saw Brookes go from his first win in 1974 driving a Ford Escort RS2000. But Russell beat well established drivers such as Ari Vatenen, Roger Clark and Penti Arikkala in 1977 to take the world title. It was in 1982 that the partnership with GM Dealersport with Vauxhall Chevettes and Opel Mantas. Brookes even managed to fight off the Group B challengers in four wheel drive machines to take the British Rally Championship in 1985. These cars on display are a tribute to Brookes and his achievements.
The Opel Manta 400, Chevette, Astra and Ford Sierra Cosworth were part of the fantastic collection on display.
Norman Dewes OBE
Another tribute, but this time to Norman Dewis OBE. former chief test driver and development engineer for Jaguar from 1952 to 1985. dewes career inclused breaking a land speed record in an XK120 and doing development work and testing of the C and D types which greatly contributed to their successes. Norman even raced alongside Sir Stirling Moss, Mike Hawthorn and Fangio.
The fantastic display included the oldest convertible Jaguar E type, a C type and the XJR13. Dewes developed the XKR13 for Le Mans as a racing prototype, but sadly this was severly damaged in an accident. norman was unhurt and the car was rebuilt to a similar specification to the original and normally resides in the British Motor museum, Gaydon. the car never raced at Le Mans, it may have been competetive, but we will never know.
Rebuild or not, the XJR13 is quite a pretty car and is really suited to it’s British Racing Green colour.
The Greatest Grid, 70 Years Of Formula 1
70 years of Formula One were very well covered with a selection of vehicles beginning with an ex Graham Hill BRM P48 from 1960 right through to a 2004 BAR, driven by Jensen Button. Ferrari’s F310 as driven by Michael Schumacher in the 1996 to 1997 seasons was also present. The Williams FW07B really caught my eye with it’s Fly Saudi livery from 1980. Just look at the wet tyres, the width of them.
Race Retro 2020 Live Rally Stage
Dider Auriol, former World Rally Champion in 1994, was there to demostrate how it should be done. With a replica of the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth he won his first WRC event in he was neat, tidy and controlled.But, he also looked to be pretty quick.
The RS Cosworth being used is normally campainged by Duncan Waite and Keith Garton. Whilst not the original car, it certainly looked right.
In the front wheel drive category there was plenty of action. The slippery conditions making it hard for these cars to get traction. Drivers were finding it hard work with plenty rearranging hay bales. Also there were good displays of using the handbrake to negotiate the tight sections.
There was a good mix of old and new with the Group 4 golf GTI seemingly at odds with the much more recent Ford Puma Kit Car. The specially built rally car being rather impressive. The Golf however, being a Group 4 car, was not slow and was putting in a good performance.
Group B cars were let loose on the stage with the Spectacular looking Audi Quattro S1 Evo using the traction to good effect. The 6R4 doing so also, where the rear wheel drive Manta’s being more dramatic.
RWD and other historic rally cars provided quite the spectacle. The lack of grip and narrow tyres mean that the cars slide nicely, some more than others. Watching the Mercedes 190, the Manta 400 and the 911 was great entertainment. But, it was also great to see the ex Rauno Aaltonen Mini Cooper out with the Austin Maxi known as Puff the Magic Wagon.
A Group B Ferrari?
Tony Worswick’s Group B Ferrari 308 was quite spectacular out on the stage. Tony’s 308 is highly developed featuring a 3.2 litre engine and carbon kevlar bodywork. The engine reputedly puts out around 450bhp. That’s much more than standard, making the lighweight car a lively performer. Also this car is strong, not delicate and fragile like you would associate with a Ferrari. Tony has successfully campaigned this car since 1982. The first few years of it’s competition life in Group B all over Europe. Sadly being built for a class that was abandoned it didn’t get competed much after that. Exhibition events such as this is where you can see it, and hear it…
