Mark Chapman and the World Cup Rally

[Stratos]

Mark Chapman will be competing in the World Cup Rally which starts on October 5th.

The event involves driving all the way to Athens from the UK with many regularity tests and speed tests along the way.

The final section through Greece includes some of the roads used on the Acropolis Rally.



On Saturday 28th September 2002, Mark will be getting married to Katia who is to be his co-driver for the event - so this will effectively be their honeymoon.



Anyone who can attend is invitied to come to Blenheim Palace on the morning of Saturday 5th October to help send them off on their journey.

I will be going up in my Stratos and hope a few others will be able to get there too.

[Stratos]

Send the World Cup Rally cars on their way:

There is action aplenty to see at Blenheim Palace, Nr Woodstock, Oxfordshire, on 5th October when 65 crews start the long drive to Athens.

From 8.00am Russ Swift will demonstrate his amazing car control, driving the new BMW Mini.

Stuart Turner, who masterminded the Ford success on the first World Cup to Mexico in 1970 will flag the cars away at 8.30am, who immediately get stuck into two timed-to-the-second Tests.

There is a further chance to see the cars at the first time control, at East Ilsley, just north of Newbury on the A34 near Junction 13 of the M4. First car will be arriving at East Ilsley just before 10.00am.

Cars also stop at the 'Ramada Hotel and Resort, Maidstone' formerly called the Great Danes Hotel, just off junction 8 on the M20 Maidstone by-pass, from around noon, on the run to Dover.

Full results service on www.worldcuprally.com , plus stories as they unfold.

See a complete event preview in the 3rd Oct edition of "Motorsport News".

Scrutineering takes place at the Oxford Bus Museum, Long Hanborough, Nr Woodstock from 11.00am - 4.00pm on Friday, October 4th, visitors welcome.

[Stratos]

Just reminding everyone that the World Cup Rally starts tomorrow morning from Blenheim Palace, Woodstock near Oxford.

Myself and Ian Hassall are taking our Stratos up to wish Mark Chapman, and new wife Katia, the best of luck with the rally.

Anyone who wishes to join us to show support for Mark and Katia, are welcome to meet us at Blenheim Palace at 08:00 tomorrow morning, October 5th.

If you get up there and see our cars, but can't find us, you can call on my mobile 07976 672987, and I'll try and join up with you.

[Stratos]

Just a quick note to let you all know how Mark and Katia are doing. A fuller report and pictures will follow tomorrow, when I have some time.

Mark and Katia set off from Blenheim Palace at about 09:30 this morning, and after the UK tests, are now in France. They are currently lying in 7th place in the Classic section.

I'll try and upload pictures from Blenheim Palace tomorrow.

[Stratos]

CLASSIFICATION - for Leg 1 - Blenheim Palace to Gröbming (including UK tests & Gröbming Hill test)

Mark and Katia Chapman up to 6th Overall in the Classic section.



Hopefully Mark and katia can keep setting a steady pace and continue moving up the leaderboard.

[rutthenut]

Maybe these should be in the pictures section, but here are a couple of replies with some snaps I took on Saturday, when Mark Chapman had just started on the World Cup Rally...

[rutthenut]

The drivers all had to negotiate a couple of pylons in this spectator area of the first 'section' at Blenheim Palace.

[rutthenut]

Unfortunately the photographer didn't allow for the time lag with auto-focus on the camera :eek:

[rutthenut]

And a couple of cars that you should all recognise, from the car park...

[Stratos]

Apologies - I meant to keep everyone informed on Mark's progress, but other committments have got in the way.

Anyway, with only one day remaining of the rally, mark and Katia are still going, despite needing raodside repairs at on point on the rally, and are currently lying 11th in the Holden Classic Trophy section of the rally.

Hopefully, we will hear tomorrow that they have completed the rally and are safely in Athens.

I have attached a picture from the UK section of the rally (Supplied by CARNET.CO.UK) and will try and upload some more pictures to the picture gallery later today.

[Stratos]

Congratualtions to Mark & Katia.

They completed the rally and managed 11th place in their Allora Statos Replica.

They wil now be having a well-earned rest/honeymoon in Athens before returning to the UK.

No doubt Mark will tell us all about their adventure via the Club Newsletter in due course.