Tony Jardine and ex M-Sport WRC Coordinator Iain Tullie will be the only bio-fuelled entry out of 130 cars competing in the Carlisle Stages Rally, on 20-21 October. This event signals the start of a full Coryton SUSTAIN Classic bio-fuelled programme for Jardine, following a successful test on the Trackrod Rally last month.
The Jardine team is seeking valuable practice in the daunting Kielder Forest by night and day on the Carlisle Stages, just like WRC star Kris Meeke, as this is the last chance to shakedown before the Roger Albert Clark Rally returns to Kielder in November.
Following a third in class finish at the Trackrod Rally Yorkshire, the Carlisle Stages Rally – acting as the 2023 Fuchs British Historic Rally Championship finale – serves as Jardine’s final preparation event in the team’s historic 1973 Chrysler Avenger ahead of their biggest challenge next month.
The Roger Albert Clark Rally (23-27 November) is the largest rally in the UK, held over five days, 33 competitive stages and 350 stage miles. The route covers Wales, Scotland and England as per RAC rallies of old. The event is part of the trilogy of great historic rallies, sitting alongside the Classic Safari Rally and the Silver Fern Rally in New Zealand (23-30 November 2024). Proof of its stature is clear by the full to capacity 180 car international entry list. It will be a severe endurance test for any rally team and the conclusion to Jardine’s ground-breaking campaign this year, in association with sustainable fuels industry leader, Coryton and their SUSTAIN Classic brand developed specifically for historic competition cars.
Tony Jardine commented, “The test run on the Trackrod with SUSTAIN Classic fuel was incredible, not just because of the smooth-running engine, with maximum power without any adjustments to the engine whatsoever, but also because we had better fuel consumption! I’m so glad David Richardson of Coryton has given us the green light for the full programme starting with SUSTAIN Classic at the Carlisle Rally Stages – this event being another first for Coryton since the launch of SUSTAIN Classic just four months ago.
The chance to run in the challenging Kielder Forest before we return there on the RAC in November is an opportunity not to be missed, not just by me, but by many drivers including WRC star and RAC entrant Kris Meeke. Kielder is not to be messed with, Europe’s largest man-made forest still holds fast to its reputation of being the biggest graveyard for rally cars – especially in the dark!”
David Richardson, Business Development Director at Coryton, the organisation behind SUSTAIN Classic, said, “In a first for me, I’m thrilled to be supporting Tony Jardine driving his 1973 Chrysler Avenger at the Carlisle Stages, which will be running on SUSTAIN Classic sustainable fuel. It’s vital that we showcase how sustainable fuel can help secure the future of motorsport.
Activity such as this raises awareness of the role it can play to help keep these historic vehicles running for decades to come. The Carlisle Stages are a fantastic build up to the Roger Albert Clark later in November, where not only will Tony be rallying sustainably, but the support vehicles will also be powered by our revolutionary sustainable fuels.”
PB Engineering, under the direction of ex M-Sport engineer Phil Bradshaw, has been preparing the historic Chrysler Avenger for the Carlisle Stages Rally, which will start on the Friday night (20 October) with two opening stages covering 10 miles before an overnight halt. After another gruelling 45 miles on the Saturday, the event will finish at a local historic landmark, Kielder Castle.
