Top Gear presenter Chris Harris has been confirmed to compete in this years Roger Albert Clark Rally. Making his second start after first taking part on the rally in 2021. He’ll drive a Porsche 911 which was used to win the event in the hands of Ryan Champion two years ago.
On that particular years Harris came into the RAC with eight rally starts to his name and some experience behind the wheel on TV too, but his predominant motorsport CV has been filled on race circuits in GT cars.
He and co-driver Brynmor Pierce became stuck in one of Kielder’s infamous ditches on only the second stage in a MK2 Escort. Harris was able to continue on the second day.
Harris’ car wasn’t in great shape either, and he reckons had the Scottish leg of the event not been scrapped on Saturday, he wouldn’t have been able to continue in the rally. As it was, the lack of any competition afforded time for the car to be repaired as the rally travelled south to Wales for the final two days.
Both days proved to be pivotal in the race for the rally win as erstwhile leader Jason Pritchard suffered a fifth-gear roll, clipping a log-pile on Sunday while both Osian Pryce and Paul Barrett went off on the first stage of the final day – leaving Ryan Champion’s path clear to steal victory.
By comparison Harris had an uneventful conclusion to his rally but did manage to climb from 75th to 52nd across the final two legs on stages.
