Fords Rally Sport Trainer (RST) was given its first public outing for this year over the weekend. The event was operated by Birkin Europe Ltd who will look after the day to day running of the Academy in conjunction with BR Racing Ltd of Stansted Essex. Journalists were invited to experience the thrills of both gravel and tarmac in the rear engined 1.3Litre 60BHP vehicle along with a group of budding young rally drivers.
'I am not sure who was having more fun, the Journalists or the youngsters,' commented Peter Beattie, Director of BR Racing, 'despite the cold there was plenty of sideways action and the instructors were making sure that the day went off without any problems'.
The 2004 Academy is structured to make Rallying accessible to youngsters, and costs of cars, events and their locations and even competition licence requirements have been geared accordingly. The Academy syllabus covers every aspect of the sport during the weeks instruction, to produce the complete driver. The Academy will travel around the country in road show style to deliver training courses at a variety of venues and locations to promote the programme but also to reduce the travelling distance for the participating students and their families.
The 2004 Academy calendar is now set as follows;
12th - 18th April Walters Arena South Wales29th May - 4th June Venue to be confirmed22nd - 28th July Bruntingthorpe Leicestershire31st July - 6th Aug Venue to be confirmed11th -17th Aug Walters Arena South Wales24th -30th Aug Oakington Cambs23rd -29th Oct Knockhill Scotland
Dates and venues are provisional and are subject to change.
Experience Days are provided as a lead into the Academy programme. The next dates are 3rd and 4th April at Bruntingthorpe Proving ground. For more information on how to join the Academy or to reserve your place on an 'Experience Day' contact Richard on 01763 272340
The 2004 Ford RST Championship is also new this year and will consist of 6 rounds with 4 to count towards the final total. The Championship will be split into two age categories, 13 - 15 and 16 - 17 years old. The winner of each section will receive personal tuition at the Chris Birkbeck Rally School and then go on to a test drive in a Super 1600 JWRC Puma. This sort of prize cannot be bought in a corporate level, and would normally only be realised having proven yourself by winning a Rally Championship at senior level.
The 2004 RST Championship Calendar will be as follows;
Round 1 May 16th Oakington CambsRound 2 June 20th Bruntingthorpe LeicestershireRound 3 uly 10th -11th Landow/Cardiff WalesRound 4 Sept 18th Venue to be confirmedRound 5 Sept 25th Oakley or Knockhill Oxford or ScotlandRound 6 Oct 9th - 10th Walters Arena South Wales
