Published: Thursday, 12th June, 2008 12:00
THE DAY WORLD RALLYING CAME TO MUIRKIRK
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One of rallying's biggest names was making waves at Muirkirk recently.
World Rally Championship leader Mikko Hirvanen and his BP Ford World Rally Champ team were at the East Ayrshire Car Club Kames Motorsport Track on Furnace Road last week, to the delight of club members.
Mikko, who is the latest in a long line of Finnish drivers making their mark on the sport, was putting his Ford Focus rally car and tyres through their paces in preparation for the latest stages of the WRC in Germany.
Hirvinen is currently setting the pace in the championships and was delighted to see the Muirkirk track up close, and provided some excellent feedback on it.
Now, East Ayrshire Car Club hopes it will be the first of many visits by Mikko and the team.
Also making a visit to Kames last week was fellow World Rally Championship star Matthew Wilson, although he wasn't driving but he too appeared to be impressed with the track layout
Mikko commented on the track being challenging and excellent for the type of testing that the BP Ford team required. He was using the recently tarred rally roads as well as the Sprint Circuit.
And after a hard afternoon's testing, Hirvinen also took time out to speak to Car Club members, signing the clubhouse wall and some posters before he left.
Mikko Hirvinen isn't the only recognisable rally name to have made his mark at Muirkirk. Legendary Scot Jimmy McRae, whose late son Colin was also a WRC champion, officially opened the new-look track a few years ago, and has since visited Kames.
East Ayrshire Car Club would like to thank all spectators for their co-operation and giving the guys plenty of space to do their jobs and letting them put on a great show and letting local people see just how good the Focus rally car is in action. It proved another exciting first for the new-look race circuit.
• Steven Turner, East Ayrshire Car Club’s Magazine Editor, was also lucky enough to get the chance to interview Scots racing star Alan McNish. Alan is well-known for his exploits in the 24-hour Le Mans race and also had a successful stint in Formula One. The interview seemed to go well and concluded a busy week for the Club. Watch this space or log on to www.eastayrshirecc.co.uk for more info on the up-and-coming events.
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