Roger Albert Clark, MBE, (5 August 1939 – 12 January 1998) was a British

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 rally driver during the 1960s and '70s, and the first competitor from his country to win a World Rally Championship

World Rally Championship

The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...

 (WRC) event when he triumphed at the 1976 RAC Rally.

Biography

He made his debut at club level in 1956, and went on to win the first of four British Rally Championship

British Rally Championship

The Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship is a yearly rallying series based in the United Kingdom. It comprises seven events with eight scoring opportunities throughout the British Isles. The first championship was run in 1958 and it has been licensed by the MSA Motor Sports Association since...

 titles in a Ford Cortina GT

Ford Cortina

As the 1960s dawned, BMC were revelling in the success of their new Mini – the first successful true minicar to be built in Britain in the postwar era...

 in 1965, and in a Ford Escort RS (1972, '73 & '75), all with co-driver Jim Porter.

His most notable successes came in the RAC Rally, his country's biggest rally race. He won twice, in 1972 with Tony Mason

Tony Mason (co-driver)

Tony Mason is a British former rally co-driver and television presenter. In 1972, he navigated the late Roger Clark to victory in the RAC Rally and the team also finished second in the event twice in 1974 and 1975, the only British crew to do so in a period spanning 35 years...

 and then again in 1976 with Stuart Pegg when it was part of the WRC, a feat that would not be emulated for over fifteen years. He also won the Acropolis Rally in 1968, the Circuit of Ireland

Circuit of Ireland Rally

The Circuit of Ireland International Rally is an annual automobile rally, which was first held in 1931 making it the second oldest rally in the world. The most recent event was held in 2010....

 in 1970, and the Scottish Rally

Scottish Rally

The Scottish Rally is the highlight of the Scottish Rally Championship. Taking place in June of every year, the warm weather and unique forest stages draws competitors from around the world....

 on six occasions, among a total of 40 national and international victories.

In 1975 he was one of two recipients of the Segrave Trophy

Segrave Trophy

The Segrave Trophy is awarded to the British national who accomplishes the most outstanding demonstration of the possibilities of transport by land, sea, air, or water. The trophy is named in honour of Sir Henry Segrave, and has been awarded in most years since 1930.A subsidiary award, the Segrave...

, 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

Order of the British Empire

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...

 in 1979.

Both of his sons followed their father into motorsport. Olly Clark has been a competitor in the Time Attack UK series (winning the championship in 2008), Network Q Rally of Great Britain and the FIA Cup for Drivers of Production Cars, while Matt Clark is now chief engine builder at the family-owned tuning

Engine tuning

Engine tuning is the adjustment, modification or design of internal combustion engines to yield optimal performance, to increase an engine's power output, economy, or durability....

 company. His brother Stan Clark was also a racing driver.

In 2004, a historic rally event was established to recreate the route of the "classic" RAC Rally, since the current race is now restricted to south Wales

Wales

Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...

. The event was named the Roger Albert Clark Rally (also RAC Rally) in his honour. Competitors are limited to vehicles released prior to 1972, and traces a route through stages in Scotland and northern England which are no longer part of the modern itinerary.

External links

• Profile of Roger Clark, World Rally Archive
• Profiles of Clark family drivers at rallybase.nl:

Roger Clark • Oliver Clark • Matthew Clark

• "Triumphant History Makers", obituary of Roger Clark, Stafford Hall, Vicnet.net
• Roger Albert Clark Rally, official site
• Roger Clark Motorsport (RCMS), official site