Just wondered if anybody went for the SWRT hospitality on the rally as was mentioned on here just before the event?

I wanted to go, but couldn't make it.Was it worth the money?


Cheers
Steve

We did it in Germany, it cost 80 euros and we felt it was really worth it. We spent the whole day sitting at a table watching the rally from the 'inside', we were able to keep up with live stage times which were shown on the plama tv and when the cars were due in for service we were allowed to stand very close, albeit behind a barrier to watch/take pics. We were served coffee/tea etc and could help ourselves to fruit, bics etc. We were given loads of SWRT goodies, pens, lighters etc. For lunch we were served a two course meal with wine and were given a choice of what we wanted, it was all a bit surreal sitting drinking wine at a rally!! Jeremy Hart and Robbie Head came in and had lunch there too. We were told we'd get to meet Petter and Tommi for autographs but that was the rally where Petter was sick all weekend so we missed that opportunity although Tommi kindly did some signings. After lunch we used the SWRT webcam to take a group pic which we then posted on scoobynet using the SWRT pc and internet link :D

In the afternoon we were given a comprehensive tour around the Subaru service area and in the trucks and had everything about the rally explained to us from what happens with the tyres to how long it takes the team to build the service area, it was very interesting.

It was a great feeling sitting in hospitality watching everyone else line up behind the barriers in the public area ;) :D

Oh and the blokes in our party seemed to enjoy spending all day draped around the Pirelli girls having their pics taken to impress their mates with back home - poor Pirelli girls ;) :D

If you do decide to do I'd go for one of the warm rounds, it was gorgeous in Germany, very hot, I expect that the atmosphere would be slightly dampened sitting shivering in the rain and cold in Wales ;)

[Edited by scoobychick - 11/17/2003 8:56:37 AM]

Yes and yes.

Much the same experience as Scoobychick. Good food and snacks (Scoobysnacks:)), live results, some sort of scanner picking up some team radios, fantastic photo opportunities and all autographs obtained except Phil Mills. Even Petter slightly pushed me out the way as I was attempting some pararazzi shots with the pro photographers;)

Lunchtime visitors were Dave Richards and Ari Vatanen (and son). Also popped in - Jamie Hart, John Desborough, Penny Mallory, Robbie Head, Mike Brewer and probably some more I didn't spot.

Great tour of the whole of the service area the end of the day. We seemed to miss the post-lunch tours so did ours right at the end of the day - just the two of us! Spent five minutes or so chatting with the SWRT gearbox mechanic who was fettling the gearbox they had just taken from Petter's car. Very interesting.

Me and my dad had hospitality tickets to this years Wales Rally GB. It was pretty much identical layout to what scoobychick has described.

The best bits were getting Petter, Tommi and kaj's autographs.

We had a really nice lunch and we waited for our tour in the afternoon but the PR girls had taken a large group out to watch at walters arena so we couldnt get our tour until after the last service.

However this was by far the best time, only me and my dad got the tour and we were able to see everything, from inside all the parts trucks and the drawers in there! to the incoming data tent where an SWRT mechanic was fixing petters gearbox, he even took time to answer a few questions.

The whole experience was great with very friendly staff. We saw plenty of names including

Dave Richards
Robbie Head
John Desbourogh
Mike Brewer
Penny Mallory
Ari Vatanen
The other useless c4 presenter

Although in the day there is not a lot to do when the cars are out you know that when they come in you will by far have the best view and get the best pics. You also dont have to queue up over an hour before the cars are due, plus after the cars have gone you can go and look round all the privateers too.

Another nice part of the day was seein all the rather attractive SWRT and Pirelli PR Girls!

Overall it was a very enjoyable day and i would recommend as something to do, but as scoobychick said a warmer rally may be a better venue, but this year was great at Rally GB as i saw Petter just before he won the world championship and i saw Tommi just before he retired!

The photos my dad took can be seen here (not sure how to do clicky, just have to copy and paste!)

http://www.milleners.eclipse.co.uk/wrgb2003/web/

Rich

would you look at that, i had a feeling you may be replying and not working dad!

and its jeremy hart not jamie :)

Rich

...and your replying and not working as well:D

Dad

Thanks for replies (and making me realise I should have done it, no matter what!)

I had a feeling it'd be a good experience.Prodrive always seem to appear very professional in what they do.
Do you know if they do this on most rounds?I noticed that the Rally GB thing was arranged via the SIDC.Is it the same with other events?I saw nothing advertising it on the SWRT site.

Sal,I saw your motor at Rhonnda last week. You parked about 4 or 5 cars further down from me.I'd hoped to catch you after the stage, but you'd already gone by the time we got back to the car.
(we wandered down to where Kriss Meeke had gone off, after the stage had finished).

Steve

Hi Steve

Sorry to have missed you. We left before the end of the second run to get back to the house in time to watch Margam live on the telly which we did with all the windows open, flasks out, wearing waterproofs, sitting on little stools whilst my mum sprayed us with a fine mist of water every now and again to create the 'really there' effect ;) :D

yhm :)

Sal.

<<Do you know if they do this on most rounds?>>

They do it on the European rounds - the others are too far to take the 'hospitality' truck to. They told us that in the tour.

<<I noticed that the Rally GB thing was arranged via the SIDC.>>
No, it was mentioned on the SIDC site, where there was a web reference to the application form. I think they were somewhere on the SWRT site, but I can't actually remember;) All I did was fill in the form and fax it off...

Anyone doing this on the Monte.

Chip.