Preparations for the RALLYE SUNSEEKER, the first round of the Mintex National Rally Championship which takes place on Saturday 27th February, are well advanced and the organisers, Southern Car Club and Croydon & District Motor Club, report brisk business dealing with receipt of entries.

The list has been boosted by the addition of the two factory prepared Renault Maxi Meganes of defending British Rally Champion MARTIN ROWE and his team-mate TAPIO LAUKKANEN, both of whom are using the event to carry out some testing prior to the start of the 1999 season.

The National Championship regulars are headed by MARCUS DODD whose Ford Escort World Rally Car, like the rally itself, is sponsored by Sunseeker Powerboats - Marcus was leading the event for a while, last year before an accident forced him into retirement.

The closing date, for entries far the RaIlye Sunseeker is Saturday 5th February and prospective entrants may obtain a copy of the Regulations from Chrissie Chorley at the Rally Office: Tel: 0181 773 3404.

Clerk of the Course Rick Smith has recently returned from a trip to Bournemouth, where the rally Is based, and reports: "All the signs are that we are in for another successful rally. The revisions to the route are all in hand and, with six weeks to go, we already have more entries than at the corresponding time last year, and on that occasion, we finished up turning late entries away!"

For further informatIon, please contact the Rally Sunseeker Press Officer, Andrew Haill, at the numbers below.

Press Officer: Andrew Haill. Tel: 0121 313 1416 Fax: 0121 313 1105
Rally Office: The Old Bakery, 55A 8elmont Road, Wallington, Surrey SM6 8TE

Organised by Southern Car Club Ltd. and Croydon & District Motor Club Ltd., Round 1 of the Mintex National Rally Championship 1999.
Patron: The Earl of Normanton