CLOSED road rallying comes to the North West this month with the MTM Motorsport Promenade Stages.

Organised by Wallasey motor club and promoted by Wirral Leisure Services, 80 top Tarmac drivers will contest 12 stages - totalling 55 miles - around the King's Parade at New Brighton, Merseyside.

Mike Oates, driving his familiar Prodrive-built Subaru Impreza WRC heads the entry list for the event, which is a qualifying round for the West Wales Rally Spares Welsh Tarmac Championship and the Autoquip UK ANWCC Stage Rally Championship.

"We have a superb line up of rally cars, which range from club level entries to four-wheel-drive, turbocharged machinery," said club spokesman Marco Toni.

"In addition to Oates' Subaru, there will be an Escort World Rally Car, a pair of Mitsubishi Evos, Escort Cosworths and a host of Metro 6R4's, which despite their age, are still the car to beat on this rally.

"Rally fans will be able to see the cars close up, and meet the drivers, on the eve of the rally at scrutineering."

The MTM Motorsport Promenade Stages takes place on Saturday, July 24, with scrutineering on Friday evening.

Anyone interested in marshalling can contact: Wallasey Motor Club's chief marshal, Jon Sharples by ringing 01925 265102.

Further information can be found on the rally website: www.promrally.currantbun.com.

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