A DEVOTED motorsport driver from Crewe is back out on the circuit with his vintage vehicle after a pandemic-enforced break.

Ian Hill revved up his 1988 Opel Manta Grp N rally car for the Historic Rally Festival at Telford and Weston Park in Shropshire for his first run of the year.

The vintage rally driver, who lives at Leighton, is a member of the Rallying History club and takes his sport seriously, even though he is not involved competitively any more.

He takes part in around eight events a year, showing off his Opel Manta in demo stage runs against other vintage vehicles from the 1970s and 80s and even the 1960s.

"I have been involved with motorsport since 1982 doing hill climbs, sprints, scatter rallies and navigational events like the RAF MSA rally sprint challenge.

"It was all competitive, but now I just do it for fun," said Ian, who is sponsored by his employers, the Acorn motor group.

"Due to Covid we have not been able to do very much, but it will be good to get back into doing demo stage runs across the UK.

"The Telford/Weston Park rally was our first event of the year. There was a ceremonial start by the Mayor in Telford Park on the Saturday and then demo stages at Weston Park on the Sunday."

Ian says he will be back out hitting the tarmac for the Rally Revival event at Glyndwr University in Wrexham next month (October 15/16), the Cambrian Rally and then demo stage runs at Oulton Park in November.