Monday 21^st June 2004

BRITISH TEAM HAS SIGHTS SET ON TEN MINUTE COURSE RECORD

With its 840bhp Ford RS200 and Stig Blomqvist firmly behind the wheel, Britain’s Arrow Mach 2 Racing team has its sights firmly set on the current elusive Pikes Peak course record of just over ten minutes, set by Rod Millen in a Toyota Celica.

For the second time in three years the Arrow Mach 2 Racing (AM2R) is taking its Ford RS200 rally car to Pikes Peak to challenge the Race to the Clouds’ course record of 10:04:06 set in 1994 by Rod Millen. AM2R has two substantial weapons in its armoury; a BDT Evolution Engine producing 840bhp, and the legendary driver, Stig Blomqvist, former world rally champion and the victor of countless other motor racing events.

Alan Greenwood, AM2R Team Manager, commented: “The combination of Stig, one of the fastest off-road racers of all time and the all conquering Ford RS200E give us the belief that we have every chance at setting a new course record at this year’s event. Our previous attempt in 2002 ended prematurely due to complete brake failure after 2 miles (we still came 4^th overall), but hopes are high for this year’s challenge.

“When taking part in a high-altitude race such as Pikes Peak the secret of the car’s performance is in its power delivery. The engine’s Pectel T6 management system controls the boost as the car ascends to 14,000 ft. It also boasts a sophisticated anti-lag system to aid driveability. This all adds up to a create a formidable competitor. So gentlemen, start your engines!”

For interviews with Stig Blomqvist or further information – including photos of the car in action on Pikes Peak – whilst at the event please contact Fabrizio Broggi on telephone 1 719 473 5600 Room 725 or cellphone +44 7831 260642 or Andy Hughes on +44 7785 323290, or e-mail andy.hughes@mach2.co.uk. The team’s website is www.mach2racing.com

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Note to editors:

Mach 2 Racing’s RS200e started life as a Group B Rally Car, a category introduced to fire up competition between the fastest rally machinery in the world. In 1986, however, Group B cars were deemed too fast to race, and Ford was left with the best rally car in the world, but nowhere to race it.

To fill the empty chasm came a select few privateers. The RS200 was about to be changed forever.

In early 1998 the M2R road car was stripped to its last nut and bolt, lightened, modified and re-assembled. The basis of the RS200 is a riveted and welded semi-monocoque steel tub, over which a fibreglass body is hung. The car has been developed from the original RS spec to Evolution spec. It has F1-style hollow crown pistons, with Titanium valves, and a Garrett turbo-charger - which is designed specially to cope with altitude - spins to 170,000rpm, rather than the normal 120,000, managed by a Pectel T6 ECU. The engine and a substantially larger IMSA American-style intercooler - complete with water injection -dominates the roofline. The object is to ensure the turbo maintains 2bar whatever the altitude, at which pressure the engine gives no less than 840 bhp with peak torque of 700 ft lbs at 7500 rpm.

The standard RS200e held (or still holds depending on your view of the matter) the 0-60 mph World Record for a road car at 3.07 seconds, thus an excellent marque to use as a base.  Unhampered by fuel restrictions we have what we believe to be the fastest off-road racer of all time. When the RS200e  was rolled out at MIRA, it recorded 0-120MPH in 200 yards and in under six seconds!

The car’s main sponsor is Arrow Pharmaceuticals, one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical research and development companies. For further information visit www.arrowpharma.com.

Stig Blomqvist

To handle a winning car like this, you need a champion rally driver, and that’s exactly who M2R entrust its car to; Swedish-born Stig Blomqvist, 1984 World Rally Champion, and one of the greatest rally legends of all times. As soon as he had his driving licence, he was behind the wheel of a Saab 96 -64 at a local rally event. Astonishingly he finished in 2nd place overall and from that moment he never looked back. He drove with the Saab team in the rallies outside his home turf, which gave him his first international victory at the 1971 British RAC Rally. Over the decade he also excelled closer to home, winning the Swedish Rally in 1973, 1977 and 1979. He continued with top performances with Lancia and Lotus Talbot and at the beginning of the 80s he was one of the first drivers to introduce four-wheel drive to the rallying world, driving an Audi Quattro. Competing alongside other Rally masters such as Walter Röhrl, Markku Alén and Hannu Mikkola, he achieved five victories in 1984 and became the World Rally Champion.

His rally career was on top form in the Group B car era and he showed his excellence with the Nissan, Ford and Peugeot teams. In the 90s he used his experience of two wheel drive cars to help the Skoda Motorsport team to develop the Felicia Kit Car. In what later became rally folklore, during a guest appearance at the 1996 Rally of Great Britain, he finished 3rd overall with a Skoda Felicia Kit Car 1,6. In 2001, Stig Blomqvist, together with co-driver Ana Goni, competed in the World Rally Championship with a group N Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI, finishing in 5th place overall in the 2001 FIA group N classification.  In 2004 he finished 1^st in Group N in the FIA Rally of Greece.

Last modified: July 21, 2009