By kind invitation of The Duke of Richmond, The Royal Air Force Lightning Rally Team (Marham) will return to the 2023 Festival of Speed to compete on the Forest Rally Stage.
After completing a challenge at the 2022 Festival of Speed – pulling their previous Rally Car 29 kilometres and helping to raise £14,000 for Race Against Dementia, the Festival of Speed’s nominated charity – the team of 15 decided to set themselves a new challenge to raise money. This year, all funds raised will go to The Greenpower Education Trust, the 2023 Festival of Speed charity.
Using their transferrable engineering skills acquired in the modern RAF, the team maintain their newly procured factory-built Ford Fiesta R2, and run it in UK-based championships as part of RAF-encouraged sport. This year, they have decided to take a 2010 Ford Fiesta 1600cc road car and convert it into a Clubman Spec Special Stage Rally Car in just 30 hours in celebration of 30 years of the Festival of Speed. This conversion will include the ability to run on sustainable fuel and a full wrap in a striking livery.
The car will arrive at Goodwood, initially drive around the Rally Stage as a course car and then, at 1pm on Thursday 13 July, the build will commence. At 4pm on Saturday 15 July, after completing 30 hours of work on the car in their down time, it will receive a Competition Logbook from a Motorsport UK scrutineer and the transformation will be complete.
The generosity of the world of motorsport, as well as UK-based suppliers (many of those exhibiting at the Festival of Speed) has been incredible, with most of the parts needed to complete this challenge having been donated.
Bonhams|Cars will auction the completed car at the Goodwood Revival Sale in September to raise money for The Greenpower Education Trust.
RAF Marham are proud to have a longstanding relationship with the Festival of Speed including donating the “Tornado Trophy” (made from parts of a Rolls-Royce jet engine that powered a Tornado during its service) which is awarded annually for the competitor who travels the furthest distance over the Forest Rally Stage’s jump.
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors:
Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, Thursday 13 – Sunday 16 July 2023.
Contact
For more information about The Royal Air Force Lightning Rally Team, please contact raflightningrallyteam@outlook.com
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About the Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard
First staged in 1993, the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard is the world’s largest automotive garden party; set against the spectacular backdrop of Goodwood House in West Sussex, UK. Over 600 cars and motorcycles spanning the phenomenal history of motoring and motorsport take part along with legendary figures from the automotive world. Highlights include Future Lab presented by Randox, Electric Avenue presented by bp pulse, Forest Rally Stage, Supercar Paddock, F1 Pit Lane presented by Sky, Drivers’ Club, GAS Arena, Cartier Style et Luxe Concours d’Elegance and Bonhams Auction.
About Greenpower Education Trust
“We inspire young people around the world to excel in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths through a unique challenge: to design, build and race an electric car.”
The Greenpower Education Trust is a West Sussex-based charity with an outstanding track record in kick starting careers in engineering. They help unlock potential and spark enthusiasm for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM), using the excitement of motorsport.
The charity provides over 10,000 students per year with the training, equipment and materials to design, build, and race their own electric vehicles. These projects not only promote teamwork and problem-solving skills, but they also serve as a platform for young minds to explore the world of renewable energy and sustainable engineering.
The teams of young people, aged from 9 to 25, race the finished vehicles at Greenpower events in the UK and other countries including USA, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and China. The annual International Final takes place at venues such as the UK's Silverstone National Circuit and Goodwood Motor Circuit.
