XS Racing will enter a four-car team on the 2009 Roger Albert Clark Rally, which starts in Pickering on Friday 13 November and finishes in Carlisle on Monday 16 November.
 
Among the squad will be a very famous car; the Ford Escort Mk2 that the late Roger Clark took to second place on the 1975 RAC Rally. The car, which is owned and driven by Andrew Siddall, has just been completely restored by XS Racing and will head into the four-day event following a successful shakedown session last week.
 
Joining Siddall and his co-driver Captain Thompson will be Peter Smith/Russ Langthorne (Porsche 911), Peter Egerton/Patrick Walsh (Escort Mk1) and Guy Smith/Howard Pridmore (Escort Mk1).
 
Siddall is thrilled to be rallying such a famous car on his favourite event of the season. "We were looking around for an ex-works car and we've restored a piece of history," he said. The car is finished in Cossack livery, just as used by Clark 34 years ago. "The driving force behind the restoration was to be out on the Roger Albert Clark Rally in the Roger Clark 'Cossack' car." The car will be supported by Siddall and Hilton Products.
 
While Peter Smith and Peter Egerton campaign the cars they have rallied regularly this season, Guy Smith is on a massive learning curve in what will be only his third ever rally. The 2003 Le Mans winner is competing alongside his father Peter and has his sights set on finishing as he accumulates more rallying experience.
 
Team boss John Cropper says that the Roger Albert Clark Rally is the toughest on the calendar for both the crews and the support team. "It's the biggest event of the year for us and we'll have a team of 15 to look after the cars. There will be seven guys in the service vans and then two people in each of the four management cars," said Cropper. "It is a tough rally, but I hope that all four cars will have good runs. We've got a strong team."
 
XS Racing specialises in all types of historic rally preparation and parts supply across a wide range of cars. XS Racing can be contacted on 01246 233777.