Happy birthday to russell brookes !! obviously he's more synonymous with chevette and Manta400, but this is the astra mk2 club! However, due to a nuance with homologation Russell ended up in the group A kadett for some national events in 1987. The two colour photos are from 1987 manx national rally where he scored a 1st in class, 5th outright. Also, kayel graphics national rally where he scored 1st in class and 4th outright (while giving some clubman spec 6R4 a run for their money) The black and white photo is Russell and Mike broad standing in between the manta400 and the mockup of the new group S 4x4 astra. Russell had meant to be testing the astra 4S during the 1987 season for a full assault on the new group S category starting in 1988. As we now know Jean-marie Balestre (president of FISA) pulled the plug on group B and group S in may 1986, effective at the end of the 1986 season. That goes some way to explain the car swapping in 87, and Russell finishing his competitive career in sierras

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