Healeys return for new Historic Stage Rally Challenge

The stunning sight and sound of two Austin Healey 3000s in action in the Welsh forests was one of the highlights when the new HRCR Historic Stage Rally Challenge, supported by TR Enterprises, started on the Red Kite Stages last Sunday (20 January, 2008).
 
The classic sport cars, immortalised in rallying folklore by drivers like Timo Makinen in the early 1960s, were attracted back into action by the new series, which is open only to Category 1 (pre '68) historic rally cars.
 
"My car was built for the 1993 London-Sydney," said Graham Goodall, who was co-driven by Peter Gilbert. That was it's first event, so it’s a tough old thing and it's very good on gravel. It's great to have two Healeys out on stage rallies. That's not happened for a long time, but the new Challenge attracted us immediately."
 
Chris Cox and Mike Gabb crewed the other car and, like Cox, are keen to contest the full six-event schedule, covering three gravel and three asphalt rallies. "We're hoping to do all the rounds of the Challenge," said Cox.
 
There is now a break before the next event on the calendar, the Welsh Rally on the challenging asphalt roads of the Epynt ranges on 4 May. The pair of Healeys, along with an increasing number of pre '68 cars, should make a fine spectacle on a rally that can trace its heritage back to 1964.
 
The co-ordinator of the Historic Stage Rally Challenge is Steve Suckling, who can be contacted by e-mail at: steve@hrcr.co.uk
 
TR Enterprises specialises in Triumph TR sports cars, offering parts, restoration, competition preparation, engines and drivelines. More details at www.trenterprises.com

 

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