AUTOSPORT INTERNATIONAL PAYS TRIBUTE TO BRITISH RALLY HEROES

Autosport International, the world’s greatest motorsport show, will celebrate the UK’s prestigious rallying heritage with a display dedicated to the discipline’s British heroes at the 2012 show, which takes place at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre (NEC) on 12-15 January.

When thinking of rally greats, many heroes and champions have been of UK origin. From Paddy Hopkirk in the 1960s to Colin McRae and Richard Burns nearing the turn of the century, the British flag has proudly flown at the peak of international rallying for decades.

Autosport International’s display will showcase the iconic chariots that powered these names to their greatest triumphs. Among the line-up will be McRae’s title-winning Subaru Legacy, another Subaru piloted by Burns and the Mini Cooper S that spurred Hopkirk to victory in the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally alongside Henry Liddon.

Also taking centre stage will be a Ford Escort Cosworth belonging to former British Champion Malcolm Wilson, founder of the successful M-Sport Ford World Rally Team.

It’s not just rally fans that are catered for at the show. Autosport International boasts displays and celebrity guests that will excite all motorsport fans. Formula One will be represented by rising star Paul Di Resta and BBC commentary duo Jake Humphrey and David Coulthard, while double 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Allan McNish will fly the flag for sports car racing.

Elsewhere, contemporary Grand Prix cars will be showcased on the F1 Racing Grid, while exotic super cars will be featured in The Performance Car Show: powered by PistonHeads.com.

Meanwhile, visitors looking to get an early adrenaline fix ahead of the motorsport season can enjoy a racing spectacle in the Live Action Arena, the UK’s largest indoor race track.

“Britain has a rich international rallying tradition, which should rightly be celebrated,” commented Autosport International Show Director Ian France. “The 2012 show will be a fantastic opportunity for fans to take a close look at cars driven by British names synonymous with rally success.”