The entry list has been boasted by the addition of the two factory prepared Renault Maxi Meganes of defending British Rally Champion MARTIN ROWE and his team-mate TAPIO LAUKKANEN, both of whom are using the event to carry out some testing prior to their start of the 1999 season. See the drivers profiles under spectater info.

Preparations for the RALLYE SUNSEEKER, the first round of the Mintex National Rally Championship which takes place on Saturday 27th February, are well advanced and the organisers, Southern Car Club and Croydon & District Motor Club, report brisk business dealing with receipt of entries.

As usual Bournemouth plays host to the event, with Scrutiny and a Rally Show on Friday 26th February 1999, with the event itself starting from the Town Hall at 8.00am on Saturday 27th.

The balance of gravel & tarmac stages changes for ’99 with over 50 miles on the loose and 25 miles of tarmac.

A new stage, courtesy of Lord Normanton, is planned at Somerley Park, this 6 mile plus offering to be run twice. The venue will also be home to a major corporate hospitality exercise, where the sponsors and marketing partners will be able to entertain their guests in style.

Other changes; the sea-front super special is deleted (only for ’99 as Wessex Water are conducting essential works in front of the pier), revised and longer stages in the forest are promised and the little loved Hurn stage is no more.

The national championship regulars are headed by MARCUS DODD whose Ford Escort World Rally Car, like the Rally itself, is sponsored by Sunseeker Powerboats - Marcus was leading the event for a while last year before an accident forced him into retirement.

Clerk of the course Rick Smith has recently returned from a trip to Bournemouth, where the rally is based, and reports: “All the signs are that we are in for another successful rally. The revisions to the route are all in hand and, with six weeks to go, we already have more entries than at the corresponding time last year - and, on that occasion, we finished up turning late entries away!”

Rallye Sunseeker's very own radio station, Rally FM, is also being upgraded with an extended transmission area.

Press Officer: Andrew Haill. Tel: 0121 313 1416 Fax: 0121 313 1105
Rally Office: The Old Bakery, 55A 8elmont Road, Wallington, Surrey SM6 8TE

Organised by Southern Car Club Ltd. and Croydon & District Motor Club Ltd., Round 1 of the Mintex National Rally Championship 1999.
Patron: The Earl of Normanton