Roger Clark (rally driver)

The son of a motor dealer also named Roger Clark, after an education at Hinckley Grammar School where he gained 5 O Levels, like his younger brother Stan Clark - also later a rally driver - he joined his father's business as an apprentice. He learned about cars as a mechanic, and then helped the business take on new sales franchises. By 1975 there were four Roger Clark Cars Ltd. garages in the Leicester area, retailing under franchise agreements Alfa Romeo, Ford, Jensen, Lotus, Renault and Porsche. ==Career==

Club racing Clark passed his driving test in 1956, and immediately joined the Leicester Car Club, Later rallying career Clark remained very loyal to Ford, but did on rare occasions compete in other makes. Due to undertake the 1974 BOAC 500 in a Porsche 911 Carrera, the assigned car did not start the event. However, many spectators did see a Porsche UK demonstrator Carrera compete the event, carrying the number plate 2 ANR. In 1975 Clark and Porter were recipients of the Segrave Trophy, bestowed upon "the Briton who accomplishes the most outstanding demonstration of the possibilities of transport by land, sea, air, or water." He was awarded the MBE in 1979. ==Post-professional rallying==

Clark never really retired from the sport of rallying, merely dropping back to club events again after his commercial sponsorship and supply of competitive cars dropped off, in part due to the new 4x4 Audi Quattro driven era. Clark died from the effects of a stroke on 12 January 1998. A bronze statue of Clark was later erected in his memory at Mallory Park. ==Roger Albert Clark Rally==

In 2004, a historic rally event was established to recreate the route of the "classic" five day long RAC Rally across the country, as the current rally format by the FIA WRC is scheduled under the existing shorter rally franchise layout, and is undertaken mainly in Wales. The event was named the Roger Albert Clark Rally (also called the RAC Rally) in his honour. Competitors are limited to vehicles released prior to 1982, and traces a route through classic stages in Scotland and northern England, such as the Kielder Forest and Grizedale Forest which are no longer part of the modern WRC rallies' itinerary. The rally was held annually until 2014, and later on odd years since 2017. ==Personal life==

Clark married Judith Barr in 1965, and the couple had two sons. ==Racing record==

Complete IMC results Complete WRC results Complete British Saloon Car Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.) † Events with 2 races staged for the different classes. ==Career record==

• Acropolis Rally, Winner: 1968 • Tulip Rally, Winner: 1968 • Circuit of Ireland, Winner: 1968, 1969, 1970 • Scottish Rally, Winner: 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1973, 1975 • Cyprus Rally, Winner : 1978,1980 ==References==