The M-Sport Return to Rally Stages takes place this Saturday, and the Cumbrian squad are pleased to confirm a rally review programme for fans as well as copyright-free images, video and an extensive prize list for competitors.
While the event is strictly non-spectator and designed to showcase how rallying can restart safely and responsibly in the UK, fans have been missing the action and M-Sport have commissioned Seb Scott and Adam Smith to produce a 40-minute review programme.
The programme will be aired on M-Sport’s Facebook page at 7pm (BST) on Thursday 27 August and is the first project of this size for the young film crew.
Known for fostering young talent, M-Sport have put their faith in the young team responsible for creating TV and social content for the FIA Junior WRC, and fans can expect to hear some familiar voices in the review.
The pairing will also be providing all competitors with copyright-free video, and Drew Gibson – responsible for the team’s eye-catching livery reveal at the start of the year – will provide the photography with copyright-free images for all competitors.
M-Sport are also privileged to work alongside a long list of valued partners, many of whom have donated a truly unique prize structure for the M-Sport Return to Rally Stages – the extent of which has never been seen before.
Sparco have donated one of their sought-after desk chairs alongside a generous collection of racing gloves, balaclavas and sportswear as well as offering the entire 45-strong field a 10% discount on all Sparco products.
SWP have donated a nut gun as used by the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team on FIA World Rally Championship events, and Lazer Lamps have donated three £300 vouchers towards their products.
Rallycover.com have donated three £400 discounts on their insurance products, and Michelin have donated a set of competition tyres relevant to the R5 and R2 class.
Castrol have donated 30 litres of their 0W-40 Engine Oil, and VP Racing have donated 50 litres of their competition fuel.
Endless have donated three car sets of brake pads, onthepacenote.com have donated a free set of pacenotes and Permashine have donated a selection of products from their car cleaning range.
The WRC Promotor have donated 10 season passes for WRC All Live and Audes have donated a number of M-Sport Ford World Rally Team garments.
In addition to these generous donations the podium finishers, class victors and class runners-up will also receive a framed print signed by Malcolm Wilson OBE, Matthew Wilson and Richard Millener to commemorate the day and celebrate the return of UK rallying.
M-Sport Managing Director, Malcolm Wilson OBE, said:
“Firstly, I want to say a huge thank you to all of our partners who have so kindly and generously donated prizes. I don’t think I have ever seen such an impressive prize structure for an event like this, and it just goes to show how dedicated everyone in the industry is to getting rallying back up and running.
“I’m also pleased to announce that all competitors will receive copyright-free images and footage from the event, and that we have commissioned a young team to provide a full rally review for fans in the days following the rally.
“I know the fans have been missing the action as much as we have, so it was important for us to provide this review but I must also remind everyone that the rally is strictly non-spectator and must remain this way to ensure the safe and successful running on the event.”
M-Sport Director, Matthew Wilson, said:
“I don’t think I’ve ever entered a rally with as big a prize structure as we have here this weekend. Our partners have all been extremely generous, and it’s brilliant to be able to offer so many prizes to so many competitors throughout the entire field.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the content created by Drew, Seb and Adam, and the fact we’re able to share that content with all of the competitors is another really unique feature of this rally. Personally, I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel and hope everyone involved thoroughly enjoys their return to rally this weekend.”
M-Sport Ford Team Principal, Richard Millener, said:
“We’re lucky to work with some fantastic partners who have all been extremely generous in donating prizes this weekend. I’m not sure I’ll be in the running for any of them, but I’ll certainly give it my best and with so many prizes on offer you never know!
“Having started competing at clubman level, I know that winning a prize is always a really nice end to the day and some of the prizes we have here would have made my day so I really look forward to seeing the smiles on the faces on the competitors.
“I’m also looking forward to seeing the review programme Seb and Adam create to share with our fans. Although the event is strictly non-spectator, it was important to share the action with the fans and I’m sure there’ll be plenty of close-fought battles to report.”
