Ari Vatanen to star at Rallyday 2006

MEP to Combe

Ari Vatanen will be the star guest at Rallyday 2006 at Castle Combe on July 22 when the 25th anniversary of his World Rally Championship victory will be celebrated.

Vatanen, now a member of the European Parliament, won the 1981 world title in a Rothmans-backed Ford Escort Mk2 and he will demonstrate one of the team cars. The Finnish superstar, who now lives in France, will be joined at the event by his title-winning co-driver David Richards, who has also gone on to greater things with Prodrive.

Former Rothmans team manager David Sutton will attend, along with members of his original rally team – the last privateer outfit to win the WRC. A selection of genuine and replica Rothmans Ford Escort RS1800s will be central to the celebrations.