Can-Am Firenza heads for Ulster with XS Racing

News from XS Racing (Chesterfield)

The sensational Chevrolet-powered Can-Am Firenza of Mick Strafford will head for the lanes of Ulster this summer with XS Racing to contest round five of Dunlop/WONAGO.com MSA British Historic Rally Championship, the Historic Ulster Rally (19/20 August, 2011).
 
The car has been prepared and developed by XS Racing and has proved a massive hit with fans, as the roar of the V8 combines with Strafford’s spectacular driving style. But before the serious competition in Ulster, the 4.7-litre Firenza will wow visitors to the Goodwood Festival of Speed (1-3 July) after Mick was invited to take the car to the rally stage of the annual celebration of motor sport.
 
“We'll run the side exhaust for as long as we can,” said Strafford.” It seemed to go down rather well with the fans at Donington recently!” In May, the Firenza was in action at the Cornbury Rally Show when it was also driven by a star guest, Jan Hettema. The South African veteran rallied the Can-Am Firenzas in period and was elated to get the chance to drive the car, 38 years after he last drove such a car in South Africa. “Jan came over and spent the week with us; he drove the car three times each day and loved it,” said Mick. On a recent trip to the UK, the car’s creator Basil Van Rooyen visited the XS workshops to see the car.

After Goodwood, the mighty XS Racing Firenza will be in action on the rally stage at the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power (16/17 July) and will then switch to full on competition in Ulster and then the Tour of Flanders (9/10 September). Straight after Ulster, it will also run at the Oulton Park Gold Cup (29/30 August).

“We’re going to Flanders again where we hope to finish higher than last year,” said Strafford.” I know that there's a lot more to come out of the car with a bit of testing we're hoping to make good use of the new facility at Blyton Park.”

Elsewhere, XS has been busy with a variety of projects including entering the Triumph TR7 V8 of Steven Smith on a shakedown rally at Abingdon ahead of an entry on the Ypres Historic Rally at the end of June. Before then, the XS crew will tend the Ferrari 308GT4 of Andrew McAlpine on Tour Britannia (17-19 June).

XS Racing specialises in all types of historic rally preparation and parts supply across a wide range of cars. XS Racing can be contacted on 01246 233777.