[C]arlisle resident Kyle Gass is gearing up to take part in the 2018 ATL Carlisle Rally Stages, a major motor sport rally in Carlisle, on Friday 8 and Saturday 9 June.
Kyle, who works as a HGV fitter for logistic service provider ATL in its Carlisle depot, is taking part with two other team members who are both mechanics, Darren Martin (Driver) and Jamie Martin, who is also the co-owner of the team.
Kyle has been rallying for six years and it’s a sport that has been loved throughout this family.
He said: “I first started rallying in a little Skoda Felicia, I then progressed my way through to navigation in top spec cars, such as Ford Escort Cosworths and Mitsubishi Evos.
“The team I compete with is a local based company known as JD MOTORSPORT in Longtown. It’s owned by Darren Martin who is the driver in the team and I navigate for him. We have taken part in the last three Carlisle Stages; it is a very good rally, right in my doorstep.”
This popular event, organised by the Roger Albert Clark Rally Motor Club (RACRMC), brings together the FUCHS LUBRICANTS MSA British Historic Rally Championship and the Jordan Road Surfacing BTRDA Rally Series as well as several regional championships.
The rally, which runs over top quality stages in the Kershope and Newcastleton complexes, will feature two elements. Running on Friday evening and Saturday morning will be the 2WD section of the rally for contenders in the British Historic Rally Championship, the Motoscope Northern Historic Rally Championship and the new Rally2 Championship.
Running throughout Saturday will be contenders in the BTRDA Rally Series, the MSA English Rally Championship, the S G Petch Association of North East and Cumbria Car Clubs Stage Rally Championship and the Association of Northern Car Clubs Forest Challenge.
Clerk of the Course Nicola Heppenstall said: “We are delighted to welcome ATL as title sponsor for the Carlisle Stages. We have worked hard to provide both main Championships a unique experience while offering great road conditions to both sets of competitors in these two great forest complexes with very little double usage.”
Nicola continued “It is great to be able to welcome the two main championships in the UK to the event and hope that everybody enjoys this new experience and event format.”
Director at ATL, Jon Ward, said: “We are excited to be sponsoring such a highly regarded event in motor sport and to have one of our own employees taking part in the rally. This is also a fantastic way to bring visitors to Carlisle and support local businesses.
“We wish Kyle and his team the best of luck and we look forward to working with the RACRMC.”
Entries are now open for the ATL Carlisle Stages and more information, including the event regulations, can be found at http://racrmc.org/carlisle-stages/home