Race Retro update

The biggest ever entry of rally cars and substantially extended spectator areas are the key features of the live action rally stage at Race Retro, Stoneleigh Park, Coventry this week (21-23 February).

A total field of 145 rally cars covering more than 50 years of motorsport will tackle two separate demonstration stages on the Saturday and Sunday of the annual historic motorsport show.

“The event goes from strength to strength” said Rallying with Group B director Tim Foster. “We ran 127 cars last year and this year we’ve had over 170 applications for 145 places. It has been an incredible response and so overwhelming.”

The selected rally cars confirmed range from classic 1960s Mini Coopers to the latest Volkswagen Polo R5. “We’ve got around 16 Group B cars including Audi Quattros, Ford RS200s and a Peugeot 205 T16. We’ve also got more Formula 2 cars from the 1990s than before.”

F2 cars due include an ex-works Vauxhall Astra kit car, a Peugeot 306 Maxi, Nissan Sunny GTi’s and a Vauxhall Corsa kit car. Rising British rally star George Lepley will drive an ex-works Peugeot 205 GTi, while a Belgian competitor will debut his brand new Peugeot 208 R2.

Included in the star-studded entry list is an array of the brand new Teg Sport designed and built Skodaru Fabia’s. The concept involves a current Skoda R5 body shell and the running gear from a Subaru WRC which are preparing to chase overall rally victories in the UK this year.

In response to criticism of spectator access in 2019, the spectator area has been increased by around 70% with a major new area between the two stages. Foster added “We’ve moved the crowds nearer to a lot more of the action and from the new area you can see both of the stages at the same time. We had big crowds in 2019 and we’ve learnt from that.”