Date: May 2007

ADRENALIN JUNKIES GET NEW FIX

The opportunity of a lifetime to drive in a real rally

You are on the start line behind the wheel of a championship-winning rally car and about to start your first ever stage rally.  The tension is almost unbearable as you wait, eyeing the gravel road ahead winding into the remote Welsh forest.  Two full days of testing have given you confidence in the car and your abilities, but nothing can prepare you for this moment.

“15 seconds!” shouts the marshal.

You adjust your helmet one last time.

“10 seconds!”

Blip the throttle, foot on the clutch, and into first gear. Waiting. 

The lights count down 5…4…3…2…1 as you start revving the engine, and then GO!

The studded tyres claw at the gravel as the power is unleashed, and the car begins to accelerate hard.   It flicks left and right, spitting up stones as it dances along the track in time to the precise instructions from the professional co-driver sitting alongside you.  The initial adrenalin rush notches down a level and the realisation dawns that this is you, achieving your dream of competing on a proper stage rally.

As far as adrenalin experiences go, rally-driving is widely regarded as one of the ultimate driving experiences, but has often been perceived as inaccessible due to the high cost of buying your own rally car and employing mechanics and a support team.  That has now changed with the creation of Rally Torque which offers individuals the chance to compete on a stage rally in the British forests in a championship-winning car.  “Our main objective is to give people the best possible introduction to stage rallying without having to invest vast sums of time and money buying a car and funding their own team.  To achieve this, we’ve brought together the very best of British rallying in one amazing experience, and we take care of everything” says founder of Rally Torque and former British Historic Rally Champion, James Stait.

‘Everything’ means just that, starting with one-to-one tuition in one of three cars over two days on a proper rally stage.  Competitors can choose from a modern Subaru Impreza WRX, a classic Porsche 911 or the legendary Ford Escort MK 1, all championship-winning cars in their own right.

Tuition is provided by one of a team of highly experienced drivers including, among others, the current British Rally Champion, Mark Higgins.  All the instructors give a thorough insight into what is required to be a good driver, and provide valuable tips on how to maximise driving ability.  Day one focuses on teaching the basics and securing the all important competition licence, while day two further develops and hones driving skills prior to the rally itself.

For the actual rally, each driver is paired with a highly experienced co-driver hand-picked and trained by Colin McRae’s former World Rally Championship co-driver, Nicky Grist.  Apart from normal co-driving duties, their aim is to ensure the driver gets the best possible experience from the rally itself.  Each rally car has a support team of dedicated mechanics and a truckload of spare parts.  Other details such as accommodation, insurance cover and your very own edited DVD with in-car footage to capture the whole experience first hand, are also part of the package.

Every rally is forest-based and held in remote areas of Wales, Scotland and the North of England.  They are generally between 5-10 stages in length, with total competitive mileage between 45 and 70 miles.

James adds: “We want all our drivers to reach their optimum potential and experience the drive of their life.  Rally Torque isn’t for the faint-hearted, but we can transform you from a spectator to a contender, and help make what might be a long cherished dream, a reality.”

Prices for the full rally package start from £29,750.  For further information on achieving your driving ambition, visit www.rallytorque.com or telephone 0207 100 4333.

-  ends  -