A WARCOP mother-of-two will be competing in the infamous Lombard Rally once again and has also written a book about the event.

The rally will be passing through Cumbria on 6th and 10th November, retracing the route of the 1971 RAC Rally, “From Harrogate It Started”. The four-day endurance event will pass through Stang, Kielder, Carlisle, Greystoke and Warcop on its way to and from Scotland in what is acknowledged to be the toughest rally of its kind in Britain.

Having entered the Lombard last year in her first ever rally, Warcop woman Lindsey Annison will not only be competing again, but has also published her book on the event, Tales of the Lombardiers.

Last year, Lindsey and her driver, Dave Wright, from Redmire, in Wensleydale, won the diesel class and came 29th overall.

“We were so pleased to just finish, and a top 30 place was a real bonus,” said Lindsey.

They have since been competing in the 2008 Endurance Championship in their 1994 VW Golf, in which they won a special award. They finished every event, won first in class four times, and their best placing was 13th overall in the Welsh Endurance, when only 32 cars out of the 54 entered finished in a gruelling weekend test of man and machine versus horrendous Welsh weather.

“I can’t wait for this year’s Lombard,” said Lindsey. “Not only do we come through home territory, but I will finally get to drive in ‘Killer Kielder’, and many of the famous forests like ‘Rest and Be Thankful’, ‘Ae’, ‘Boltby’ and ‘Slaley’ that we saw in the original Lombard rallies, with the likes of Toivonen, Hannu Mikkola, Carlos Sainz and, of course, Colin McRae.

“There is a special spectator stage in Dalry, Castle Douglas, in Scotland, where Colin’s father, Jimmy, will be driving one of Colin’s cars along a seven-mile selectif, and that will be quite an experience to watch.”

Lindsey is already a published author and has written this book to capture the stories of those who took part in the Lombard Rally 2007, when 120 crews endured four days of rallying, including the longest day in British rallying 18 hours and more. Tony Mason, undoubtedly the most famous UK Lombard co-driver and commentator, has contributed the foreword to the book.

“I was amazed at some of the stories being told as we waited on Welsh mountains for selectif starts, in forests, at supper halts, and, of course, in the bar. Everyone helps each other out in endurance rallying, unlike in many other motorsports, and there is a real community spirit.”

She added: “It is a fantastic event and anyone can take part. Some of the cars were bought on eBay for literally a couple of hundred pounds, and it really adds to the excitement when you can compete and win without needing a huge bank account or years of experience.”

The book will be available from this month through Digital Dales Publishing, Croft House, Warcop.

ABOVE: Getting the award for first in class in the Lombard 2007 Dave Wright, Lindsey Annison and organiser Kenny Owen.

INSET: Dave and Lindsey in action during last year’s rally.