Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

GROUP B ‘RALLY GODS’ RENEW OLD RIVALRIES IN GLASGOW.

• Five former World Champions to wow crowds at IGNITION festival
• Chance to see some of motor sport’s most intrepid heroes
• Iconic rally cars from the sport’s glory days in action
• Racing against-the-clock gymkhana-style in modern sportscars

Five of the greatest names from the sport of rallying will be starring at IGNITION, Festival of Motoring – a celebration of all things car and bike themed – staged on the streets of Glasgow in and around the SEC from 4-6 August.

All five ‘Rally Gods’ – Markku Alén, Miki Biasion, Stig Blomqvist, Timo Salonen and Ari Vatanen – are World Champions and all five are super-heroes from the epic Group B era, still hailed by many to be the sport’s most extreme and exciting period.

Often termed ‘Formula 1 in the forests’, Group B regulations were introduced for the 1982 season with only a few restrictions and allowing almost unlimited power. Cars could be mid-engined two-seaters and manufacturers only had to produce 200 examples that bore no more than a passing resemblance to showroom models to meet minimal homologation requirements.

As a result, in the four years between 1983 and 1986, rallying developed further and faster than it had done in the previous three decades. Group B took the sport to the absolute edge of performance, but put it beyond common sense and reasonable safety levels. When FISA, the then world governing body, culled the category following a series of terrifying accidents, Group B was immortalised.

Though ultimately short-lived, the epic Group B era has since acquired legendary status and brave-hearted drivers such as Alén, Biasion, Blomqvist, Salonen and Vatanen been revered right around the globe.

Come IGNITION all five will be back behind the wheels of the fearsome cars that they campaigned in their heydays. Twice a day – as the climax to each exhilarating Track Show – the Rally Gods will also be renewing old rivalries competing against-the-clock in a dramatic not-to-be-missed Street Stage Shoot-Outs – this time racing cutting-edge sportscars on a special gymkhana circuit.

Visitors will also be given the chance to see their Rally God heroes up close with regular autograph and selfie sessions on all three days of the spectacular event.

“We are hugely honoured to be welcoming five of rallying’s greatest names to IGNITION,” enthused Cat Stanford, IGNITION Festival Director. “Scotland has an incredible motor sport history and the presence of these Rally Gods and their idolised Group B cars is going to be one of the stand-out highlights of this year’s bigger, faster and louder show.”

Building on the huge success of last year’s inaugural IGNITION which attracted more than 26,000 visitors, other notable features for 2017 include: 70 years of Ferrari – a tribute to the history and legacy of the famous Prancing Horse; the 60th anniversary of Ecurie Ecosse’s famous 24 Hours of Le Mans victory with an exclusive line-up of the team’s finest machinery; a bike stunt zone; a supercar grid to rival any featuring Lamborghinis, Porsches, McLarens, Mustangs, Mercedes’ and more; plus, hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the latest releases with the opportunity for visitors to buy their next car or bike at the event.

There will also be a return by popular demand of the rubber-burning Japspeed drifters plus eye-catching displays by renowned Scottish bike stunt rider Kevin Carmichael.

A new addition for 2017, the outdoor Ride and Drive Zone will give motor enthusiasts the chance to test their skills offering a mix of off-road driving experiences, test drives, a young driver experience and the chance to ride electric motocross and trials bikes.

The indoor IGNITION arcade, another new attraction, will host a range of games and experiences to cater for the whole family, including remote control drifting, simulators, gaming areas, remote control truck racing and more.

Tickets for IGNITION 2017 are available now from the festival website with prices to suit every pocket. Single tickets start at just £27.50 (pre-booked) for full day entry to the show and only £15 for a late entry single ticket from 2pm. A single ticket plus morning or afternoon grandstand seat costs £40, while a family day ticket for two adults and up to three children costs just £70.

THE IGNITE Club ticket at £129 is the ultimate VIP experience offering exclusive access to the IGNITE Club Paddock and grandstand, both conveniently located trackside and close to the private IGNITE club bar where lunch and driver Q&A’s are included.

A full breakdown of ticket types, prices and event news can be found at www.ignitionfestival.co.uk.

Markku Alén
Finnish
Teams: Ford, Fiat, Lancia, Subaru, Toyota
1978 FIA Cup for Drivers champion
WRC Rally wins: 19

Quiet and calm off the track, Alén was notoriously wild at the wheel. His phrase “now maximum attack” became legendary during the raucous Group B era. Alén held the record for most stage wins in the WRC until his tally was overhauled by Sébastien Loeb.

Massimo ‘Miki’ Biasion
Italian
Teams: Lancia, Ford
1988 and 1989 World Champion
WRC Rally wins: 17

At his peak Biasion was winning three out of four events he entered. In 1988, he won the WRC title in a Lancia Delta Integrale and again dominated the series the following season. Later in his career, he rallied Ford’s winged Escort RS Cosworth in the early 90s.

Stig Blomqvist
Swedish
Teams: Saab, Toyota, Audi, Ford, Peugeot, VW, Nissan, Skoda
1984 World Champion
WRC Rally wins: 11

Forget the white suited mute driver from BBC Top Gear, Blomqvist is the original Stig. Learning his skills driving on frozen Swedish lakes, he won the 1984 WRC title rallying a seminal Audi Quattro S1. Stig has always been loved by UK fans having won the 1983 British Rally Championship.

Timo Salonen
Finnish
Teams: Fiat, Nissan, Peugeot, Mazda, Mitsubishi
1985 World Champion
WRC Rally wins: 11

While one of the fastest drivers of his generation, Salonen stood out from his rivals for being overweight, wearing thick glasses and smoking heavily. Indeed, he insisted his rally cars came with power steering and an ashtray! With seven wins he was the most successful driver of the Group B era.

Ari Vatanen
Finnish
Teams: Ford; Opel, Peugeot, Subaru, BMW, Mitsubishi, Citroën
1981 World Champion
WRC Rally wins: 10

Always flat out, often airborne, the ‘flying Finn’ was the inspiration for Scottish rally hero Colin McRae. Vatanen won the WRC title rallying a spectacularly sideways Ford Escort RS1800 and then, armed with a Peugeot 205 T16, was one of the pacesetters during the Group B period before suffering severe injuries when his car somersaulted at over 120mph in Argentina in 1985.
_________________
Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop

[Rick]

LATIN LEGEND JOINS RALLY GODS AT IGNITION IN GLASGOW

• Rallying hero Miki Biasion reunited with title-winning Lancia
• Italy’s only FIA World Rally Champion joins star-studded cast
• “It will be very special to be in Scotland,” says Italian ace
• Catch five of rallying’s greatest names renewing old rivalries

For a nation of die-hard car lovers, Italy has produced precious few motor racing World Champions. Indeed, today, there’s not a single Italian driver competing in either Formula One or the upper echelons of the FIA World Rally Championship.

Look a little deeper and, almost incredibly, the record books reveal the land of great automotive brands such as Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati has only produced one top-class F1 or WRC title-winner since the early fifties.

His name, of course, is Massimo ‘Miki’ Biasion – a double WRC champion and one of the five chosen ‘Rally Gods’ starring at IGNITION, Festival of Motoring, the high-octane celebration of all things car and bike-themed staged on the streets of Glasgow in and around the SEC from 4-6 August.

Biasion first came to prominence in the legendary Group B era when winning both the 1983 Italian and European Rally Championships. Back then, he was driving one of Lancia’s stunning 037s (photo below top left). Globally, however, his successes came later in the same decade when competing in Lancia’s all-conquering Delta HF Integrale (photo above and below top right), designed to meet the subsequent Group A regulations.

At his peak with Lancia, the Venetian was winning almost three-quarters of all events entered and, underlining his dominance, was only the second man in history to clinch back-to-back WRC crowns when taking consecutive World Championships in 1988 and 1989. In total, Biasion won an impressive 17 rounds from 73 starts, notched up 40 podiums and took no fewer than 373 stage wins – a remarkable record that speaks for itself and emphasises his true ‘Rally God’ credentials.

Appropriately, come IGNITION, the Italian will be back behind the wheel of a Lancia Delta HF Integrale, resplendent in its iconic period Martini livery (photos below middle right and bottom).

“It’s always very special to be reunited with an Integrale as it is like a baby for me,” enthused the approachable 59-year-old. “As a driver for the factory team, I was in charge of developing the car, so I was testing it right from the moment it was born. For almost six years, I spent 18 hours a day, 300 days a year in the car. Now, every time I have the opportunity to drive one, it makes me feel young again!”

Understandably, it brings back many wonderful memories, too. “It was great for me as an Italian, in an Italian car with an Italian sponsor to win two titles. It was, after all, the first time an Italian rally driver had been on top of the world. Even so, looking back, perhaps being a key member of the victorious Lancia team that won six consecutive Manufacturers’ titles with the Delta HF – a car that I had helped to develop – was an even better experience.”

As to why his nation of petrol-heads has failed to produce a single top flight World Champion on four wheels since his heyday, Biasion is almost as baffled as the rest of us. “It really is something of a mystery,” he agreed. “We Italians have such a strong passion for cars and for motor sport. Maybe it is because Italian motor manufacturers believe it’s better to employ foreign drivers for marketing reasons. I can’t find any other obvious answers.”

Whatever the reasons, Italy’s most decorated driver for more than half a century is now looking forward to joining his fellow Rally Gods and renewing old rivalries on the streets of Glasgow.

“I always love the opportunity to drive these wonderful old cars,” he smiled. “It will also be very special to be back in Scotland – a country which, like Italy, has such a strong motor sport heritage. There’ll be lots of old friends and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Rally Gods at IGNITION – Festival of Motoring

All five Rally Gods – Biasion plus Markku Alén, Stig Blomqvist, Timo Salonen and Ari Vatanen – will be back behind the wheels of the legendary cars that they campaigned in their heydays. Twice a day – as the climax to each exhilarating Track Show – the Rally Gods will also be competing against-the-clock in a dramatic not-to-be-missed Street Stage Shoot-Outs – this time racing cutting-edge sportscars on a special gymkhana circuit.

Visitors will also be given the chance to see their Rally God heroes up close with regular autograph and selfie sessions on all three days of the spectacular event.

Building on the huge success of last year’s inaugural IGNITION which attracted more than 26,000 visitors, other notable features for 2017 include: 70 years of Ferrari – a tribute to the history and legacy of the famous Prancing Horse; the 60th anniversary of Ecurie Ecosse’s famous 24 Hours of Le Mans victory with an exclusive line-up of the team’s finest machinery; a bike stunt zone; a supercar grid to rival any featuring Lamborghinis, Porsches, McLarens, Mustangs, Mercedes’ and more; plus, hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the latest releases with the opportunity for visitors to buy their next car or bike at the event.

There will also be a return by popular demand of the rubber-burning Japspeed drifters plus eye-catching displays by renowned Scottish bike stunt rider Kevin Carmichael.

A new addition for 2017, the outdoor Ride and Drive Zone will give motor enthusiasts the chance to test their skills offering a mix of off-road driving experiences, test drives, a young driver experience and the chance to ride a trials bikes.

The indoor IGNITION arcade, another new attraction, will host a range of games and experiences to cater for the whole family, including remote control drifting, simulators, gaming areas, remote control truck racing and more.

IGNITION Tickets

Tickets for IGNITION 2017 are available now from the festival website with prices to suit every pocket. Single tickets start at just £27.50 (pre-booked) for full day entry to the show and only £15 for a late entry single ticket from 2pm. A single ticket plus morning or afternoon grandstand seat costs £40, while a family day ticket for two adults and up to three children costs just £70.

THE IGNITE Club ticket at £129 is the ultimate VIP experience offering exclusive access to the IGNITE Club Paddock and grandstand, both conveniently located trackside and close to the private IGNITE club bar where lunch and driver Q&A’s are included.
_________________
Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop

[Rick]

Latest ...

RALLY GOD ARI VATANEN RE-IGNITES HIS FORD ROOTS.

• Fans’ favourite back behind the wheel of an RS1800 in Glasgow
• Flying Finn joins legendary line-up in revered rally cars
• Scandinavian star admits he was a panel beater’s nightmare!
• Catch five of rallying’s greatest names renewing old rivalries

Few, if any, motor sport legends are more deified than the great Ari Vatanen – that’s why the blonde Finnish idol is among the five ‘Rally Gods’ starring at IGNITION, Festival of Motoring – the high-octane celebration of all things car and bike-themed staged on the streets of Glasgow in and around the SEC from 4-6 August.

While always worshipped as one of the fabled heroes of the fearsome, flame-spitting Group B era, it was in a spectacularly sideways Ford Escort that Vatanen first came to prominence.

His maximum attack ‘win it or bin it’ approach – as later embodied by Colin McRae – won hearts and minds of fans right around the globe – and the 1981 World Rally Championship title.

Come IGNITION, superhero Ari will be reunited with one of the few surviving Rothmans Rally Team RS1800s that he rallied in period. It is the very car in which he won the 1979 Cyprus Rally. Bottom row below).

“I always drove the Escort with the same enthusiasm as I live – flat out into every corner, and we’ll see what happens!” grinned Vatanen. “Living to the full with no time for tactics. Panel beaters got plenty of practice, though… ”

Despite all the accidents, Vatanen still loves the fabled Ford. “The Escort suited my style as a glove fits a hand,” he recalled. “It was so easy to drive that it must have guessed what I wanted to do. The numbers on the doors were usually the first thing the spectators saw. And I always had a big smile on my face.”

Ari is still smiling today and is thrilled at the prospect of meeting more of his devotees at IGNITION in Glasgow where he will be joined by four fellow Rally Gods: Markku Alén, Miki Biasion, Stig Blomqvist and Timo Salonen.

“I’m not sure why the British fans like me so much; perhaps it was my blonde hair but it was probably my driving style,” he beamed. “People love you if you’re fast and spectacular like Colin McRae was. Also, of course, if you make a few mistakes people can relate to you more – in real life we all blot our copybooks! What’s more I’ve always loved human contact. Cars are fantastic but you can’t speak to them.”

Rally Gods at IGNITION – Festival of Motoring

All five Rally Gods – Vatanen plus Markku Alén, Miki Biasion, Stig Blomqvist and Timo Salonen – will be back behind the wheels of the legendary cars that they campaigned in their heydays. Twice a day – as the climax to each exhilarating Track Show – the Rally Gods will also be competing against-the-clock in a dramatic not-to-be-missed Street Stage Shoot-Outs – this time racing cutting-edge sportscars on a special gymkhana circuit.

Visitors will also be given the chance to see their Rally God heroes up close with regular autograph and selfie sessions on all three days of the spectacular event.

Building on the huge success of last year’s inaugural IGNITION which attracted more than 26,000 visitors, other notable features for 2017 include: 70 years of Ferrari – a tribute to the history and legacy of the famous Prancing Horse; the 60th anniversary of Ecurie Ecosse’s famous 24 Hours of Le Mans victory with an exclusive line-up of the team’s finest machinery; a bike stunt zone; a supercar grid to rival any featuring Lamborghinis, Porsches, McLarens, Mustangs, Mercedes’ and more; plus, hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the latest releases with the opportunity for visitors to buy their next car or bike at the event.

There will also be a return by popular demand of the rubber-burning Japspeed drifters plus eye-catching displays by renowned Scottish bike stunt rider Kevin Carmichael.

A new addition for 2017, the outdoor Ride and Drive Zone will give motor enthusiasts the chance to test their skills offering a mix of off-road driving experiences, test drives, a young driver experience and the chance to ride a trials bikes.

The indoor IGNITION arcade, another new attraction, will host a range of games and experiences to cater for the whole family, including remote control drifting, simulators, gaming areas, remote control truck racing and more.
_________________
Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop