Will Nicholls and Nick Broom are the latest recruits to the HRCR Classic Stage Rally Challenge. They will dovetail a Classic campaign in a BDG-engined Ford Escort Mk2 with an ANCRO season in their Subaru Impreza WRC.

Nicholls has been rallying for 25 years and cut his teeth competing in Group 4 Escorts in the south of England, and later became the first driver to win a round of the Mintex National Championship in a Group N car. During 2003 he upgraded to a Prodrive built Impreza WRC and will drive that car in the ANCRO championship this season.

However, Will and his long-time co-driver Nick Broom will also compete in one of the most immaculate Group 4 Escorts available. The car was built from a new Ford Motorsport shell in 1978 and was then stored for 20 years. Having owned the car over 20 years ago, Nicholls bought it back late last year. To date, the car has only ever contested five rallies and has yet to see a forest stage!

The car's debut event in the Classic Challenge will be the Robin Hood Stages on March 6/7 and the pair will then contest as many rounds of the HRCR championship as possible. "We competed on the modern section of the Robin Hood a couple of years ago and noticed how relaxed and friendly the historic section was," says the Isle of Wight driver.

"I know it gets serious when you are on the startline, but the camaraderie was very evident. The new Classic Challenge gives me an opportunity to get back behind the wheel of a car I learnt my trade in!"

Nicholls is a motor trader and property developer based on the Isle of Wight, while Broom is head of logistics for Westland Helicopters in Somerset. He started co-driving with Nicholls in 1999, but has been active in the sport for nearly 20 years.