Rally of Great Britain : Armed Forces Rally Team to Battle on the Wales Rally GB

Armed Forces Rally Team to Battle on the Wales Rally GB

Steve Partridge and James Dempsey flying through Walters Arena last year

CMWI

24 November 2008, 4:40 pm

This year sees the second running of the National-status Wales Rally GB Land Rover Challenge, an event which enables the Armed Forces Rally Team to compete on the world's stage and have a chance to showcase its talents to the thousands watching, both on stage side and around the world. It also offers a very wide audience for our sponsors, without whom we would not be able to compete at this, the highest, level of motorsport.

The Team is made up of both full time and reserve servicemen and women. The vehicles they compete in are somewhat unusual on the rally scene, as they are completely standard military Wolf XD Defenders. The only modifications that they have are for safety purposes, which are required by law and the MSA. These include a fire suppression system, bucket seats, 6-point harnesses and most importantly a roll cage. The mission of the Team is to promote the British Armed Forces, help develop military and technical skills employed in the Services and further the personal development of individual team members. The goal of the Armed Forces Rally Team is to act as the pinnacle for the British Armed Forces Motoring Association (BAFMA) to which all advanced drivers from across the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force wish to aspire.

The Team’s calendar closely follows that of the British Rally Championship, with some other events throughout the year such as the Rallye Sunseeker, the Almere Rally Sprint in the Netherlands and the Rally Reykjavik in Iceland. Both in the UK and abroad we are very much in the public eye and as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Iceland remarked “the Team publicizes all that is great about Her Majesty’s Forces and Great Britain”.

This year’s Wales Rally GB Land Rover Challenge, which runs behind the FIA event but over all 19 Special stages, will see both the Drivers’ and Co-drivers’ Championships decided with a number of competitors in each championship challenging for the top spot. Leading the Driver’s Championship with 42 points is Sergeant Shaun Mitchell (currently serving with the Royal Logistic Corps in Germany). He is closely followed by Flight Lieutenant Steve Partridge (a Puma helicopter instructor on 33 Squadron, RAF) who has 37 points. In the Co-drivers Championship it is certainly a lot closer. Leading the pack is Lance Corporal Mal Lofthouse (serving with 32 Engineer Regt, RE) on 38.5 points. Then there is a tie for second place between Flight Lieutenant Craig Teasdale (serving at the Defence Animal Centre) and Corporal James Dempsey (serving at Brigade Parachute Squadron), both are on 36 points. Along with the competing crews the Team has its band of unsung heroes who, with their tireless and professional attitude to keeping the cars serviced, enable the crews to take to the stages.

So it’s all to play for on the very long and demanding stages of Wales. But this event has to be treated with respect or it can catch you out as one crew found out last year on the last stage of the rally. Some of the Team who took part last year can’t wait to return to the world famous stages that grace Wales Rally GB, and the newcomers are just as enthusiastic about tackling the event for the first time. So if you’re out on the stage side in the wind/rain/snow of Wales or in the comfort of your armchair at home following the Rally, give a cheer and a wave to the Armed Forces Rally Team. For more details please visit the Team’s website at “www.armedforcesrallyteam.co.uk”.

Sebastien Loeb has won Rallye Monte-Carlo for a sixth time following a dominant performance behind the wheel of the Citroen DS3 WRC he shares with Monegasque co-driver Daniel Elena.

Of the 74 starters who began Wales Rally GB in Llandudno on Thursday 10th November, 40 were classified at the end of the four-day,1860 kms rally which featured 23 timed special stages as it wound its way from the North coast to the ceremonial finish in Cardiff.

As this year's Wales Rally GB - the final and deciding round of the 2011 FIA World Rally Championship - draws to a close, Business Minister, Edwina Hart has announced a funding package of £1.4 million for the 2012 event.