Rallying legend Ari Vatanen headed a star-studded cast at Rallyday 2006 on July 22. The “Flying Finn,” who won the 1981 FIA World Rally Drivers Championship, was reunited with David Richards, his original co-driver, and “VLE 756X,” the Ford Escort RS in which they won the championship 25 years ago. Team manager David Sutton and many members of the only private team ever to win the championship were part of the celebrations, along with members from RothmansEscorts.com.
After driving the Castle Combe circuit in VLE756X, the immaculately-preserved Rothmans Escort kindly loaned by Beaulieu’s National Motor Museum, Vatanen remarked: “I must have been a really good driver 25 years ago—this car is a real handful!”
World Rally Championship teams were also there in force, with full-specification World Rally Cars from the BP Ford World Rally Team, Mitsubishi Motor Sports Team and the Eddie Stobart Motorsport Team.
The event also celebrated the 25th anniversary of Talbot winning the FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers, with over 40 examples of the Sunbeam Lotus, plus a number of immaculately prepared ex-works cars.
Lancia’s centenary celebrations also took place, in the shape of a major display of the evocative Italian machinery—including 50 Delta Integrales—highlighting the company’s rallying pedigree with a collection of some of the world’s most iconic rally cars.
The star-studded event also included Jimmy McRae, Pentti Airikkala, Russell Brookes and Phil Collins, plus a huge collection of historic rally cars from the Group 4 and Group B eras. Brookes, back behind the wheel of an Andrews Heat For Hire Opel Manta 400, said: “I used to race here in my early career, but today’s crowd is much bigger! It’s a great day.”
Proceedings halted for an emotional one-minute silence at noon, in honor of the late Richard Burns and Michael Parks, both of whom were at Rallyday 2005. Immediately afterwards, Richard’s father Alex drove Richard’s Subaru Impreza RB5 as the lead car in a parade of 50 RB5s.
Packed with more action, celebrities, original works rally cars and larger crowds than ever before, Rallyday 2006 confirmed its status as the UK’s premier rally car show.
