THE 2300 Club of Blackburn is proud to be supporting the 2022 Legend Fires North West Stages.
As part of the organising group, Motorsport (North West) Ltd, the club have provided financial support by sponsoring a stage, and members will be out in force as marshals and officials.
The club is also represented in the entry list with members and former John Easson Award winners taking part in the North West’s only closed-road event, which takes place on March 18-19.
“After a two-year absence due to the Covid pandemic, we are delighted to renew our association with the Legend Fires North West Stages,” said club chairman Neil Molyneux.
“As former organisers of the Tour of Mull Rally, our members have an abundance of knowledge and experience in these type of events.”
The 2300 Club have joined up with Nelson-based Delta Drives and Controls to sponsor the Hawthornthwaite stage, and also provide some of the many marshals needed.
Former Tour of Mull clerk-of-the-course and experienced co-driver Clive Molyneux will be in the 00 car, and there are four club members in the 000 car, Ron Cowan, Graham Ryding, Tony Driver and Cliff Simmons , who will be checking timing, set-up and stage diagrams. Both 000 and 00 are designated safety cars that run over the stages ahead of field.
And Stuart Pye and Pete Kenyon are manning a control at Myerscough College, near Garstang
Fresh from his outing on the Monte Carlo Rally, WRC2 front-runner and former John Easson Award winner Chris Ingram will be the man to beat on his first visit to the LFNWS.
He said: “It’s going to be epic to compete back home after many years only competing abroad, and great practice for my next WRC round in Croatia.”
He is expected to be driving the Toksport Skoda Fabia Rally2evo that he uses in this year’s World Championship.
Tommi Meadows, winner of the award in 2017, will be piloting a Ford Fiesta R2 with Liam Johnson on the maps.
Also flying the flag for the 2300 Club will be Nigel Worswick in his beautifully-prepared Ford Fiesta S2000T.
The Blackburn driver is expected to be among the front runners and has been an enthusiastic supporter of the rally since its inception as a Blackpool-based multi-venue stage event, before it moved to a closed-road format in 2019.
“It’s always been a brilliant event, but full credit to the organisers for pulling off the amazing feat of turning it into a closed-road rally.
“This is an amazing opportunity to showcase the area. We have some of the best roads here in Lancashire, and I always wondered whether I’d get the chance to rally them.
“Whatever happens, I’m hoping to put on a good show and give our members something to cheer for!”
For more information visit northweststages.co.uk
