GERMAN RALLY ACE RETURNS FOR DÉJÀ VU DOWN
Armin Schwarz, a two-time German Rally Champion (1987 and 1988), European Rally Champion (1996) and a driver who has competed in 119 World Rally Championship events will return to Northern Ireland as a guest of Déjà Vu Down ’26 on the 11-13 September. Armin will be remembered by the Ulster fans for his one-off appearance on Toshiba Antrim Stages in 1999 when he blitzed his NI Rally Championship rivals in a masterclass of loose surface driving. His spectacular run in a Ford Escort WRC on that October day left the local drivers and spectators in awe of his speed and highlighted the gulf between national and world level rallying.
Armin started his professional career with the Audi Team then switched to Toyota Team Europe in 1990 winning Rally Catalunya in 1994 in a Celica GT 4. After spells with Mitsubishi, Ford and Hyundai he became Skoda’s lead driver in the World Rally Championship between 1999 and 2005. The talented German was employed by six different works’ teams in his enduring career so matching him to a suitable car for the Déjà vu tour should not be too difficult.
The car’s owner will get a free entry and have the pleasure of sitting with one of the most entertaining drivers of our time and Armin’s time behind the wheel will add to its provenance and possible value of their car. The wide variety of cars driven by Armin include:
Audi – 200 Quattro & Quattro Sport S2
Toyota – Celica GT4 ST165, ST185, ST205 & Corolla WRC
Mitsubishi – Evo I & Evo II
Ford – Escort WRC, Fiesta Rally 2
Skoda – Octavia WRC, Fabia WRC
Hyundai – Accent WRC
Lancia – 037 Rally, Fulvia 1.6 Coupe HF & Stratos HF
If you own any of these cars or replicas and you would be willing to have Armin use it on Déjà Vu Down ’26 please contact: Alan Tyndall 0044 7887 827150 alan@rpm-motorsport.com
Entries close on Friday 14th. August and there are still a few left for the rally reunion weekend and the Gala Dinner. The event will be based at the La Mon Hotel near Comber in County Down with Registration and a Welcome Reception on the Friday afternoon and evening of the 11th. September.
The 160-mile run over old ‘Circuit’ and ‘Ulster’ rally stages starts at 9.30 on Saturday the 12th. September with the lunch-halt (12.00 – 14.00), which is open to the public on the purchase of a programme per car, is at the Modern Tyres Depot In Newry.
The Gala Dinner that evening, (£100.00 per person), is at La Mon Hotel and finally there is a Cars & Coffee gathering at the Lisburn Island Centre (10.30 and 12.30) on Sunday 13th. September where admission is by the purchase of one programme per family.
The proceeds from the programme sales (£10.00 each), as do all the proceeds of the weekend go to the TinyLife and Marie Curie charities.
The remaining entries and Gala Dinner tickets can be purchased on line HERE
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