• New centralised service park close to rally HQ in Aberystwyth
• Bikers and quad riders set to take part in start ceremony and super special
Bikes will benefit from full rally facilities and 221 stage miles at Baja GB 2008.
BAJA GB 2008, September 25th-28th, 2008
Great Britain’s fifth round of the 2008 FIA International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas
Marches 4x4 Motorsport Management Limited, the organisers of Baja GB 2008, announced today (Monday) that entries have opened for both the National ‘A’ category rally and the Baja GB for bikes, quads, and the new discipline of sidecars. Event officials are just completing the last paperwork before the main FIA event regulations are finalised. Baja GB 2008 takes place on September 25th-28th.
There will be a hefty discount for competitors keen to tackle the National ‘A’ section of the four-day event. National ‘A’ runners will be offered a generous 221 competitive stage miles in a total route of 361 miles for the value-for-money price of £700, the fee reducing to £600 with £100 cash back if the total number of competitors in the category exceeds 20 at the start.
"This is a substantial reduction on the amount charged for the category last year," said chairman of the organising committee Chris Tomley. "There is a lot of interest in this category from British competitors, particularly those who usually take part in hill rallies and the Britpart MSA British Cross-Country Championship (BCCC) and we feel that the high entry fee in 2007 may have put some competitors off taking part. The National ‘A’ runners will take part in all three competitive days of the rally."
Caerphilly’s Hugh Haines and Bamber Bridge-based Dan Lofthouse won the first two Baja GB National ‘A’ rallies and Tomley is convinced that this year’s event will attract the largest entry in the three years of Baja GB history. "There has been a lot of interest from BCCC drivers already."
There will be three groups for production, super production and prototype entrants, sub-divided into 10 classes to cater for nearly all of the 4x4 and 4x2 derivatives that are currently competing in the UK.
Meanwhile, radical changes have been made to the Baja GB Bikes’ event. Riders will now be able to take part in the official start ceremony in Aberystwyth and the 10-kilometre super special stage in Tarenig forest on Friday, September 26th. For an entry fee of £225, riders will benefit from their own clerk of the course, Mark Vaughan, and new Baja liaison officer Dave Lucas.
Subject to ACU approval, there will be an exciting new Class E for sidecars – to meet competitors’ demand – in addition to Class A for two-stroke bikes, Class B1 for four-stroke bikes up to 450cc, Class B2 for four-stroke machines between 450cc and 620cc, Class B3 for bikes over 620cc and Class D for the increasingly-popular quad category.
"The Baja is a specialist event for the enduro community, but it has been well supported in the last two years, with Cannock’s Lee Edmondson and Llanidloes rider Rowan Jones winning the first two events," added Tomley. "Last year several of the bikers complained that they did not feel part of the main international event, so for that reason they will now take part in the start ceremony and the super special and will benefit from their own area of the main service area in Aberystwyth."
Caerphilly’s Hugh Haines won the inaugural National ‘A’ category of the Baja GB in 2006.
Bikes, quads and sidecars will also be able to tackle 221 stage miles in a total route of 361 miles and there will be a camping area within the main rally service park. "Bikers will be at the centre of the action throughout the weekend," added Tomley. "There will be refuelling locations at Sweet Lamb between stages and at Steddfa after the second stage before they return to service."
Rally headquarters and the media and officials’ offices will be located at the Park Lodge Hotel in Aberystwyth, with the service park and trade area situated within walking distance of the event headquarters. The ceremonial start and finish will be in Aberystwyth, although there will be a designated spectator area in the Sweet Lamb complex over the weekend, with commentary, catering and toilet facilities and continuous action expected throughout the two days of forest competition.
Every category of the rally will be no further than 300 metres from the main headquarters, where the mobile telephone signal is strong and the re-location to Aberystwyth eliminates the minor problems that affected communications in 2007. A rally show and trade stands will also be location near to the HQ and event officials are working on a corporate hospitality package for VIPs, sponsors and guests who may want to entertain clients during Baja GB weekend.
Cars complying with FIA T1 and T2 regulations will be permitted to enter the main Baja GB, as was the case in 2006 and 2007. Regulations are being finalised and the cost will be £1500 before August 23rd, rising to £1800 afterwards.
For further details about the event in general and for entries for the bike, quad, sidecar and National ‘A’ categories, contact Wendy Tomley (E-mail: wt@tomleys.co.uk ) on + 44 1686 626641 and for sponsorship, corporate hospitality and marketing opportunities, please contact Angela Perkins (E-mail: angela@bajawales.com ).
www.BajaWales.com
-Neil Perkins, Baja GB 2008 - also photos
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