Barbara returns as British Ladies Rally Champion makes her 21st Century debut
Dumfriesshire's Barbara Armstrong, the double British Ladies Rally Champion from Castle Douglas, will make her 21st Century rally debut when she pilots the 'double zero' car on the SEAT Jim Clark Memorial Rally (June 29 - 2 July).
Barbara hasn't driven on a rally stage since the Manx International Rally nine months ago, although she has been busy doing high-speed corporate drive days and experimenting in four-wheel drive World Rally Cars. Reunited with her co-driver John Richardson, Barbara will be one of the first drivers over the 24 closed road special stages, as she entertains the crowd in a SEAT Ibiza.
To prepare for her comeback, Barbara has a brand new set of silver SEAT Sport overalls, and will no-doubt be bronzed and beautiful after a week's holiday in Puerto Banus in southern Spain. As Barbara was born and bred in South West Scotland, she doesn't know the roads around Berwickshire well at all. In fact, she only contested the SEAT Jim Clark Memorial Rally for the first time last year, winning the award for the top-placed Scottish driver.
Barbara said: "I'm really looking forward to getting back in a rally car and driving in front of a large crowd of spectators. For me, rally driving is better than sex! I've had no adrenaline rush since the Manx Rally last September and I've really missed it. I went to the recent Scottish Rally to watch my brother, Jock, win the award for best Scottish driver and top-placed privateer. I like spectating, but seeing that made me want to get back behind the steering wheel even more."
"As 'double zero' course car we won't be driving flat-out, but I can't wait to start that opening stage through Langton. I want to see how sideways I can go into the watersplash, because I know there will be a lot of spectators there!"
Barbara hasn't driven on a rally stage since the Manx International Rally nine months ago, although she has been busy doing high-speed corporate drive days and experimenting in four-wheel drive World Rally Cars. Reunited with her co-driver John Richardson, Barbara will be one of the first drivers over the 24 closed road special stages, as she entertains the crowd in a SEAT Ibiza.
To prepare for her comeback, Barbara has a brand new set of silver SEAT Sport overalls, and will no-doubt be bronzed and beautiful after a week's holiday in Puerto Banus in southern Spain. As Barbara was born and bred in South West Scotland, she doesn't know the roads around Berwickshire well at all. In fact, she only contested the SEAT Jim Clark Memorial Rally for the first time last year, winning the award for the top-placed Scottish driver.
Barbara said: "I'm really looking forward to getting back in a rally car and driving in front of a large crowd of spectators. For me, rally driving is better than sex! I've had no adrenaline rush since the Manx Rally last September and I've really missed it. I went to the recent Scottish Rally to watch my brother, Jock, win the award for best Scottish driver and top-placed privateer. I like spectating, but seeing that made me want to get back behind the steering wheel even more."
"As 'double zero' course car we won't be driving flat-out, but I can't wait to start that opening stage through Langton. I want to see how sideways I can go into the watersplash, because I know there will be a lot of spectators there!"