After 25 years as National Rallying’s annual curtain-raiser, Rallye Sunseeker became the opening round of the MSA British Rally Championship in 2011 . . . and won the Rally of the Year title in its first season in the BRC. Here are some more highlights from nearly 40 years of history:
+ the Kleber Southern Rally, a road rally first run in Surrey and Sussex in 1973, is where it all started
+ four years later, with new sponsor Happy Eater, the Southern Rally of 1977 was unusual in that it offered a mixture of night and daytime stages, 18 hours of motor sport. For two more years, it remained at 18 hours – by then, all at night - while 1981 saw the first use of the forests of Camberley
+ development grew faster from 1985, the first year in which the forests of Ringwood and Wareham were used
+ National status was granted in 1986, the year the event arrived in Bournemouth
+ introduced in 1997, the Rally Show morphed into Motorfair, and now the Somerley Speed Festival, being staged for the 11th year at Somerley Park, home of event patron Viscount Somerton
+ in 1998, the then Bournemouth Winter Rally became the first round of the national series with its own dedicated radio station
+ with seven wins since 1999, Marcus Dodd is the rally’s most successful driver, while co-driver John Bennie has five, three with Dodd and two with David Gillanders
+ Rallye Sunseeker 2002 was voted Best Forest Event of the Year by the Association of Central Southern Motor Clubs
+ in 2004, the Friday evening stages through Bournemouth's Lower Gardens and Pier Approach were turned into a floodlit spectacular
+ the 21st anniversary of Malcolm Wilson’s 1987 victory in an MG Metro 6R4 was celebrated in 2008, while the 25th anniversary of the iconic car’s launch in 2009 was also marked
+ until 2008, Rick Smith was Clerk of the Course every year except 1981, when Paul Skinner took over, although Smith shared duties from time to time with Stan Griffin and Alan Spratt; his former administration deputy, Robert Pike, is now in charge, although Smith remains very involved, as Event Director
+ in 2010, Poole joined Bournemouth as joint host, with the Ceremonial Start on Poole Quay (replacing the traditional night stages) attracting more than 5,000 people
+ Rallye Sunseeker International 2011 was named Rally of the Year at the annual BRC prize-giving, the award voted for by drivers, co-drivers and officials. Thank-you one and all!
The winners in 2011
Rallye Sunseeker International
David Bogie/Kevin Rae (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX)
Rallye Sunseeker National
Roger Duckworth/Aled Davies (Subaru Impreza WRC)
Rallye Sunseeker Historique
Richard Lane/Frank Richer (Ford Escort MkII)
Previous winners and event titles
Rallye Sunseeker
2010 Marcus Dodd/Andrew Bargery (Hyundai Accent WRC)
2009 Will Nicholls/Nick Broom (Subaru Impreza WRC)
2008 Marcus Dodd/Andrew Bargery (Hyundai Accent WRC)
2007 Marcus Dodd/Andrew Bargery (Hyundai Accent WRC)
2006 Craig Middleton/Robin Hernaman (Hyundai Accent WRC)
2005 David Higgins/Daniel Barritt (Hyundai Accent WRC)
2004 Roger Duckworth/Mark Broomfield (Subaru Impreza WRC)
2003 Marcus Dodd/Stephen McAuley (Subaru Impreza WRC)
2002 Kenny McKinstry/Noel Orr (Subaru Impreza WRC)
2001 Marcus Dodd/John Bennie (Subaru Impreza WRC)
2000 Marcus Dodd/John Bennie (Subaru Impreza WRC)
1999 Marcus Dodd/John Bennie (Ford Escort WRC)
The Bournemouth Winter Rally
1998 Roger Duckworth/Mark Broomfield (Subaru Impreza)
1997 Raymond Munro/Graham Brunton (MG Metro 6R4)
1996 Chris Mellors/Brian Goff (Ford Escort Cosworth)
The Sunseeker Powerboats Winter Rally
1995 David Gillanders/John Bennie (Ford Escort Cosworth)
The Winter Rally
1994 David Gillanders/John Bennie (Ford Escort Cosworth)
The Mazda Car-Line Winter Rally
1993 Stephen Finlay/Dessie Wilson (Ford Sierra Cosworth)
1992 Trevor Smith/Roger Jones (Ford Sierra Cosworth)
The Mazda Winter Rally
1991 Trevor Smith/Roger Jones (Ford Sierra Cosworth)
1990 Mika Sohlberg/Bryan Thomas (Lancia Delta Integrale)
1989 Trevor Smith/Roger Jones (Ford Sierra Cosworth)
1988 Peter Doughty/Lyn Jenkins (Ford Sierra Cosworth)
The Citroen Winter Rally
1987 Malcolm Wilson/Nigel Harris (MG Metro 6R4)
1986 Colin Short/Gary Champion (Ford Escort RS)
1985 David Llewellin/Rob Arthur (Nissan 240RS)
1985 David Kynaston/Keith Oswin (Audi quattro)
1984 Colin Short/Maurice May (Ford Escort RS)
The Happy Eater Southern Rally
1981 Stan Dukes/Keith Staddon (Ford Escort)
1979 Reg Mullenger/John Wisbey (Ford Escort)
1978 John Cleary/Richard Chow (Ford Escort)
1977 Sir Peter Graham Moon/Dave O'Brien (Porsche 911)
Kleber Southern Rally
1975 Derek Skinner/Peter Rushforth (MGB)
1974 Stew Morgan/Nic Siggs Ford Escort (RS2000)
1973 Derek Skinner/Peter Rushforth (MGB)