Racing and Rally legends at Race Retro

Held at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, from 12th to 14th March 2010, Race Retro, in association with Footman James, will be celebrating all things Alfa Romeo with a stunning display of vehicles and some leading Alfa drivers appearing including Italian racing driver Bruno Giacomelli. Bruno participated in over 80 Grand Prix races from 1977 through to 1990 and spent many years at the wheel of the Alfa Romeo 179/182 F1 car.

As part of the celebration, organisers have invited Alfa Romeo clubs and owners to exhibit their marque in a dedicated hall as well as having specialist Alfa restorers, race teams and engineers on hand to answer all your questions.

Outside visitors can enjoy all the high octane action on the Live Rally Stage over the weekend where old and new will collide. One of the most popular features of the show, this year's course has been redesigned and moved closer to the action inside the show to make sure visitors don't miss any aspect of the event.

With a special tribute to the Audi Quattro, one of the most iconic cars of the 80s and the first rally car to take advantage of the change in rules which allowed the use of four-wheel drive in competition racing, Stig Blomqvist will drive a selection of ex-works quattros from the beginning of the Big Wing S1 evolution.

Bringing the Rally Stage bang up to date is the reigning British Rally Champion Keith Cronin who will be at the wheel of the Aston Martin V8 Rally GT, owned by Jeremy Bailey and prepped by David Appleby Engineering. The ex-Prodrive car has competed in the Italian Tarmac Rally Championship and will take part in a number of Aston Martin Owners Club events.

Race Retro will also celebrate 25 years since Russell Brookes won his last BRC title with a reunion of all the Andrews Heat for Hire cars including the Ford Escort Mk2, Talbot Sunbeam, Ford Sierra Cosworth and two versions of the Opel Manta 400 that he used from 1973 until 1994. Russell said: "It will be a really exciting trip down memory lane. I have fond memories of the Monte Carlo Ford Escort as it was one of the most expensive rally cars I ever drove. I won the Welsh International in the Manta in 1987, the car's last international win."

A first for Race Retro, a Lancia Delta Integrale Evo in the Repsol livery and previously driven by Carlos Sianz, will be in action on the rally stage, as will Brian Culcheth in his 1972 East African Safari Triumph 2.5pi. Another of Brian's cars, the Triumph that was used in the World Rally Cup, will be on display in the Rally hall.

There will also be a reunion of the cars and drivers from the 1970 London-Mexico World Cup Rally, covering approximately 16,000 miles (25,750 km) through Europe and South America and won by Hannu Mikkola and Gunnar Palm in a Ford Escort. The Escort will be on display, courtesy of the Ford Heritage Collection.

For those who prefer two wheeled racers, there will be a tribute to 60 years of Norton with racers on hand to talk about the bikes' finest hour. Expect to be rubbing shoulders with Peter Williams, Phil Read MBE, John 'Mooneyes' Cooper,Trevor Nation and Steve Plater, who will be talking with Race Retro motorcycle MC Steve Parrish.

The best retro and café racers will compete in the show's annual concours competition, supported by Ace Cafe London and Meguiars. Around 50 bikes will be judged over the three days and awarded prizes on the Sunday.

If all this inspires you to invest in a competition car or motorcycle of your own then visit the H&H Classic and Historic Motorsport Auction, which will have an amazing range of rare and desirable cars, bikes and memorabilia on offer. Add to this hundreds of trade stands, the popular Ken Fox Wall of Death and a host of other names yet to be announced, and it looks like it's going to be a winner.

Adult ticket prices start from just £20 for Friday and £15 for Saturday and Sunday when booking in advance or upgrade to a VIP ticket with fantastic hospitality and a chance to meet our special guests. Children's tickets are £5 on Friday or Saturday and free on Sunday. Parking is also free throughout. The show is open from 9.30am each day and closes at 5.30pm on Friday and Saturday and 4.30pm on Sunday. To book tickets and for the latest updates, visit www.raceretro.com

For further information, images or media enquiries, please contact:

Andrea Seed, PR Director, Poppyseed Media Ltd
Tel: +44 (0)121 224 7455, Mobile: +44(0)7812 010 765,
Email: andrea@poppyseedmedia.co.uk .