Major motoring rally coming to Bishop Auckland town centre (From The Northern Echo)

Major motoring rally coming to Bishop Auckland town centre

12:00am Wednesday 13th March 2013 in News By Duncan Leatherdale

A historic town centre will become a magnet for motoring fans and rally enthusiasts next month as a major competition rolls into town.

Bishop Auckland marketplace will be used as the start and finishing point for the SG Petch Tour of Hamsterley on Sunday, April 28.

More than 80 cars are expected to take part, including one driven by rallying legend Jimmy McRae, father of World Rally Champion, the late Colin McRae.

Organisers expect the day’s racing to bring £400,000 into the local economy with many hotels and bed and breakfast’s already filling up with bookings.

Steve Waggett, clerk of the course for the SG Petch Tour, said: “We are delighted to be visiting the town centre this year.

“The rally is for both modern rally cars, including SG Petch Garages – our principle sponsors – own ex-world championship Ford Focus WRC, and older ones.

“We are also hosting the new National RAC Rally Championship for historic rally cars.”

Mr Waggett also praised the Bishop Auckland and Shildon Area Action Partnership for their enthusiasm for the project.

Town centre county councillor Sam Zair has given £5,000 from his neighbourhood budget run by the partnership to the event.

He said: “It’s going to be a brilliant day for Bishop Auckland.

“The town is in desperate need of something positive and this will bring people out in force, I would urge town centre traders to be open on the day.”

Councillor Zair has been working on bringing the rally to the town for the first time since 1986 after being approached by Bishop Auckland businessman, Mike Williams.

Mr Williams, managing director of Spoors gas distributor on Railway Street, said: “We have a town centre full of wonderful architecture, but it needs to be used. This is going to be huge for the area.”

The cars will travel 140 miles on the day, including 45 miles of challenging rallying across seven stages in Hamsterley Forest, eight miles away from Bishop Auckland Town Centre.

Rally drivers will start on the historic Fore Bondgate shopping street with the first expected to leave the town at 8.30am and the rest following at one minute intervals.

There will also be other events running in the town centre during the day of the rally.

More Bishop Auckland News

• Museum bosses given Government boost over closure fears
• Free Metafit workout sessions
• Exhibition hopes to bring bible to life
• Councils' super-authority plan moves ahead
• Coundon hosts karaoke night in aid of North-East autism charity
• Care home staff hold fundraising car wash
• Evenwood whist drive
• Apprentice hairdresser wins college award to prove she's a cut above the rest
• Shadow culture secretary joins fight to save North-East rail museums
• Cold callers not welcome in Ouston neighbourhood

Comments are closed on this article.