EVENT DIRECTOR – Rick Smith – rick@xenogamy-plc.co.uk Rick is Chair of both the Organising Committee and the Multi Agency Safety Planning Committee; his responsibilities range from negotiating with local authorities and the MSA Championship organisers to arranging all the major sponsorship and marketing activities on the event. An International Rally Clerk of the Course, an MSA and FIA Steward and also a member of the MSA Judicial Advisory Panel, he brings over 30 years of experience as competitor, organiser and administrator to this role.
CLERK OF THE COURSE - Rob Pike - rob@rpmm.org.uk
Oversees and co-ordinates the administration of the motor sport competition, allowing Rally Director Rick Smith to concentrate on overseeing how the whole spectacular event comes together.
Documentation & scrutiny falls within Rob’s remit, as does the Service Area where he is based in Rally HQ offices, in permanent communication with key event personnel.
Working closely with the CLO's, Rob investigates any judicial issues or competitor queries “Our intention is to always handle problems as soon as they occur in a professional, fair and even-handed manner”
Having started navigating on road rallies in the mid 80’s, Rob moved on to stage rallies aged 16. Over 25 years of motorsport participation includes organising, marshalling and competing on gravel and tarmac rallies from single venues to modern and historic Internationals. He’s also Deputy National Press Officer for the British WRC and F1 events.
ADVERTISING & SPONSORSHIP – Alex Mellon - alex.gmellon@yahoo.co.uk - Alex has been actively involved as a sponsorship and public relations consultant in motor sport for over 30 years; he is one of the prime movers in establishing this event as being the most professionally run National Rally, in his capacity as Promotions Manager, coordinating sponsorship and advertising sales around the event. In 2003, he was awarded the prestigious Fairman Trophy for his efforts and services to motor sport generally
RALLY SECRETARIATE – Chrissie Chorley secretary@rallyesunseeker.co.uk- Chrissie has been involved in motor sport for over 30 years, both as a competitor and as an administrator. She has been involved with this event since 1984 and she is the competitors' first port of call for all information
SAFETY MANAGER – Neil Roden Safety.officer@rallyesunseeker.co.uk : A former international co-driver but also has over 35 years experience of motor sport organisation in the UK and abroad, including 15 years as Rallye Sunseeker’s Safety Manager. He is responsible for all safety aspects of the rally and works closely with the police and ambulance service as well as the event’s Chief Medical Officer, Communications Manager, and Spectator Safety Officer undertaking risk assessments and preparing safety and contingency plans. He ensures that each special stage has fully trained medical, radio, rescue and recovery personnel available to deal with any incident on the rally.
ROUTE PUBLIC RELATIONS – Chris Powis - chrisnjan@cpowis.fsnet.co.uk We ensure that the local authorities and residents on the route are aware of and content with what we do. At an individual level it entails notifying some 65 residents within the forest boundaries and 450 Forestry riding permit holders individually of timings and the route through the forests. Three weeks prior to the Rally; about 300 notices at forest entrances and footpath/bridleway access to the stage routes advising forest users of the event. It is also our task to make sure that as little trace as possible remains after the event
CLO – Rob Alderman - rob@alderman86.freeserve.co.uk - He has been involved in rallying for over 20yrs; he started his career with navigational rallies, and then moved to stage rallying where he has competed in both seats, currently preferring the driving seat. Rob has worked for Prodrive for 12 years; he has worked on the Subaru WRC Team and the Honda and Ford Mondeo Touring Car Teams. Rob now manages the Electrical department where he has a team of 9 Technicians, building all of the WRC and Race Wiring Looms
CLO – Mike Broad - mikeandsue2727@hotmail.com -.President of BTRDA,and Quinton M.C.Ltd. Vice President Southern Car Club Ltd. Chairman of Rally Championship Steering Group and member of MSA Council. Former BRC Champion Co-driver with Russell Brookes in 1985.Former Works co-driver for amongst others, Walter Rohrl, Simo Lampinen, Per Eklund, Tony Pond Andrew Cowan, Malcolm Wilson, Dave Metcalfe ,Jimmy and Colin McRae.
SECURITY & CAR PARK MANAGER ; Bryan Maddern - bryan@bkssecurityservices.co.uk He has been involved with the Rallye for the last 8 years, supplying uniformed security officers from his security. A cool calm collective individual with all the flare and passion that we the organising team needs.
CHIEF SCRUTINEER Lee Fowler- lee@rallyesunseeker.co.uk He has been a Scrutineer on this event since 1987 and took over the roll of Chief in 2004 in charge of team of Scrutineers responsible for checking the mechanical state of vehicles, both in regard to compliance with the Regulations and the latest MSA safety requirements and ensuring that vehicles are maintained in an eligible and safe condition throughout the event.
VOLUNTEERS MANAGER – Les Sansom - les.sansom@virgin.net When the Sunseeker team asked me to assist with the 2011 event I was only too happy to oblige as I have been marshalling on the event, like many of you, for some years now. I find that the very first time was when event was called The Mazda Winter Rally and that was back in 19*#! However, when the team asked me to take on the post of Volunteer Manager (or Chief Marshal as I've always known it) I have to admit to some trepidation about following two masters of the role in Dave Walton and then my good friend Matt Fowle who has performed minor miracles for the last 8 years
Some of you will know me from Hart MC and road rally days; some of you may know me from stages such as Hurn, Uddens, Matchams and lately Bere Heath and Bere Wood. Some of you may know me from the Friday night Sea Front stage and some of you may know me from the Finish Ramp team.
My Problem is that I know "some" of you and I need and would like to meet and work with "more" of you so please accept my invitation to thank the outgoing "Volunteer Manager" Matt Fowle, for all of his efforts and then email me to volunteer your services once again and you could also mention which stage you would prefer to marshal if you like!
SCRUTINY MANAGER - Bill Russell russell0129@waitrose.com Bill has had a varied career in Motor sport since the late 60's. He mainly competed in road and stage rallies as Driver then Navigator but also took part in PCT's, Auto tests and Autocross. He's been involved in the organisation of the same range of events and has been stage commander on a number of RAC stages including the big ‘Spectator' Stages of the 70's/80's.
Now retired, Bill has taken on the more genteel role of managing the Scrutiny Operations. With a dedicated band of marshals the aim is to get competitors and their cars smoothly through the scrutiny process. Although failure to comply with the MSA Technical regulations may cause a few individual problems.
MEDIA MANAGER- Xavier McCartan media@rallyesunseeker.co.uk. Xavier has many connections throughout the world of British and Irish rallying that he has nurtured over the years. Having once worked as a Mechanic for Irish legend Kenny McKinstry, he has been involved in all aspects of Rallying over the last 20+ years.
He was the prime mover in the very successful launch of the London Irish Motor club a number of years ago
A keen photographer, he has supplied photos to the likes of Pacenotes, Carsport, Motoring News and Autosport to mention just a few. A keen and enthusiastic member of Southern Car Club, he is looking forward to driving the rally forward and upwards with the help of those around him.
MOTORFAIR MANAGER – Bernard Cottrell - Bernard.Cottrell@haymarket.com Bernard has been involved in motorsport for over 40 years, the last 20 years as a Senior Clerk of the course for leading International Race Series. Having been responsible for the service area at Canford Arena for the last 3 years, Bernard has now taken charge of the Motorfair at Somerley Park. This is familiar territory for him as his day job involves organisation of the annual Autosport International Show held in Birmingham every January!
RECONNAISSANCE & SHAKEDOWN MANAGER- Shaun Martin - recce@rallyesunseeker.co.uk He has been involved in rallying from an early age originally in the Lake District and now from West Sussex. A competitor from clubman to International and WRC events, coordinator, prepares his own rally cars, team manager and Chairman of the International Rally Drivers Club he has just been voted onto the MSA Rallies Committee. For Rallye Sunseeker Shaun is Assistant C of C, Reconnaissance & Shakedown Manager. A keen enthusiast Shaun helps with the rally stage at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, an active member of Southern Car Club and West Cumbria Motorsport Club.
ASSISTANCE MANAGER- Paul Smith -assistance@rallyesunseeker.co.uk Many competitors and officials will recognise me from Sunseeker’s past or from Passage Control duties on many BRC and ANCRO events over recent years. I will be around the HQ Hotel to answer any questions and deal with any queries you may have during your visit to Bournemouth so seek me out and I will do my best to assist you.
SERVICE AREA MANAGER- Andy Kilby Andrew.kilby@blueyonder.co.uk A newcomer to the Sunseeker team he has been involved in rallying as a competitor and organiser since the late 1960’s and was Service Area Manager for the Somerset Stages in 2011. For some years he was Event Director of the Rally of Kent and is Infrastructure manager for the Crystal Palace Sprint. Co-drove on tarmac stage events but now his competitive motoring is largely limited to Classic Trials
NEW MEDIA MANAGER -Anthony Concannon anthonyconcannon@gmail.com -Anthony is our New& Social Media manager, which means that he will be updating all the social websites before, during and after the event. We want to stay ahead of the rally world in this area and Anthony is bringing some great ideas to the table. Anthony has been co-driving seen he was 17 and had some top 10 & top 2WD results to his name. As a keen social media user Anthony knows what is needed by the organisers to interact with the new spectator; the Facebook and Twitter want information sent to them and that’s what Anthony aims to do. He works for Europe’s biggest sports channel (Eurosport) making sure that live sports get into your living room!