Network Q RAC Rally 23-25 November 1997

• Top 20 starters announced
• Tickets going fast ­ Silverstone Rallysprint sold out
• Live Radio link-up

Top 20 Starters Announced

With this year's Network Q RAC Rally being the 14th and final round of the 1997 FIA World Rally Championship, the starting line-up reads like a World Rallying Hall of Fame. The RAC Motor Sports Association (RACMSA) have just announced the top 20 starters for the event (see list below), which includes full factory entries from all four manufacturers contesting the World Championship ­ Ford, Mitsubishi, Subaru, and Toyota.

Among the British drivers hoping to taste success in front of their home fans are the 1995 World Rally Champion, Colin McRae (still in with a chance of regaining his world title after his recent victory in Italy), regular World Championship driver Richard Burns, Nissan's newly-crowned Mobil 1 British Rally Champion, Mark Higgins, plus Gwyndaf Evans and Alister McRae. They face stiff opposition from abroad, not least from the reigning World Rally Champion, Tommi Makinen and his nearest challenger Carlos Sainz.

The top-class field includes no fewer than eight past or present World Rally Champions, and ten past winners of the RAC Rally. No fewer than 24 countries are represented ­ Austria, Belgium, Britain, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland ­ to make this year's Network Q RAC Rally one of the most cosmopolitan and competitive in its 42-year history.

Tickets Going Fast

There is not a moment to lose for those trying to get their hands on tickets for the most thrilling rally entertainment of the year! Although the 1997 Network Q RAC Rally is still five weeks away, the sales rush for Sunday's special stage tickets has been phenomenal, and early demand means that many of the hottest tickets have already been snapped up.

The revolutionary Silverstone Rallysprint stage, which will see the World Rally Championship drivers competing side-by-side for the first time ever on British soil, has already SOLD OUT, and just a few tickets remain for the Millbrook stage, the other stage with a 6,000 spectator restriction.

The turbocharged action takes place at six special stage venues on Sunday 23 November and provides the best chance for spectators to see world class rally action at close quarters. Advance booking ensures the very best viewing; spectators who pre-book will enjoy exclusive use of specially allocated 'optimum viewing enclosures'.

Live Radio Link-up

Although the fantastic first day presents the dilemma of which venue(s) to visit, spectators can ­ for the first time ever ­ enjoy the action live from all 11 special stages, by tuning into the event's dedicated radio station. Spectators can not only watch the high-speed thrills taking place in front of them, but they can also listen to live commentary of the top 20 drivers competing throughout the other special stages. Noise restrictions permitting, the commentary will also be broadcast through the PA system at each venue.

The name of the station and its frequencies have yet to be confirmed, but its base will be in Rally Headquarters at Cheltenham Racecourse. Teams of two or three commentators will be stationed at each special stage venue, and reports of the top drivers in action will be broadcast live on air, keeping everyone informed of the most up-to-date news.

Top 20 Starters

No Entrant (Nat)

   First Driver/Second Driver (Nat)           Car                       G/C



1  MITSUBISHI RALLIART (GB)

   Tommi Makinen/Seppo Harjanne (FIN)         Mitsubishi Lancer Evo     A/8



2  MITSUBISHI RALLIART (GB)

   Richard Burns/Robert Reid (GB)             Mitsubishi Lancer Evo     A/8



3  555 SUBARU WORLD RALLY TEAM (GB)

   Colin McRae/Nicky Grist (GB)               Subaru Impreza WRC        A/8



4  555 SUBARU WORLD RALLY TEAM (GB)

   Kenneth Eriksson/Staffan Parmander (S)     Subaru Impreza WRC        A/8



5  FORD MOTOR CO. LTD (GB)

   Carlos Sainz/Luis Moya (E)                 Ford Escort WRC           A/8



6  FORD MOTOR CO. LTD (GB)

   Juha Kankkunen/Juha Repo (FIN)             Ford Escort WRC           A/8



7  TOYOTA CASTROL TEAM (D)

   Didier Auriol/Denis Giraudet (F)           Toyota Corolla WRC        A/8



8  555 SUBARU WORLD RALLY TEAM (GB)

   Piero Liatti/Fabrizia Pons (I)             Subaru Impreza WRC        A/8



9  TOYOTA CASTROL TEAM (D)

   Marcus Gronholm/Timo Rautiainen (FIN)      Toyota Corolla WRC        A/8



10 GAZPROM RALLY TEAM (RUS)

   Bruno Thiry/Stephane Prevot (B)            Ford Escort RS Cosworth   A/8



11 MOTORSPORT CONSULTANCY (NL)

   Ari Vatanen/Roger Freeman (FIN/GB)         Ford Escort RS Cosworth   A/8



12 BELGACOM TURBO TEAM (B)

   Gregoire De Mevius/Jean Marc Fortin (B)    Ford Escort WRC           A/8



14 TEAM IMPREZA RECARO FUJITSUBO (J)

   Masao Kamioka/Kevin Gormley (J/GB)         Subaru Impreza 555        A/8



15 STOMIL OLSZTYN MOBIL 1 RALLY TEAM (PL)

   Krzysztof Holowczyc/Maciej Wislawski (PL)  Subaru Impreza 555        A/8



16 ANDREA NAVARRA (I)

   Andrea Navarra/Renzo Casazza (I)           Subaru Impreza 555        A/8



17 SUBARU ALLSTARS (GB)

   Yukihiro Sakurai/Ronan Morgan (J/IRL)      Subaru Impreza 555        A/8



18 NISSAN MOTORSPORTS EUROPE (NL)

   Mark Higgins/Philip Mills (GB)             Nissan Almera GTi         A/7



19 SKODA (GB)

   Stig Blomqvist/Benny Melander (S)          Skoda Octavia Kitcar      A/7



21 SBG SPORT (GB)

   Alister McRae/David Senior (GB)            Volkswagen Golf GTi 16V   A/7



22 SEAT CUPRA SPORT (GB)

   Gwyndaf Evans/Howard Davies (GB)           Seat Ibiza GTI 16V        A/7

Note: the above list is in number order. running order will depend on world championship positions after round 13, rally australia (ends 2 november)