Land Rover Discovery:

Engine: 4.6litre 8cyl vee formation

Transmission: Manual, permanent 4WD

Tyres: Goodyear Wrangler MT/R 

Preparation:  Richards 4x4

Class: Modified Production 2D

Sponsors:

Bearmach PLC

Richards 4x4

Richard Hopkins

Richard is probably the UK's quickest modified production class off road racer.  Success has come his way too, in the past he has won his class in the Hillrally championship, the All Wheel Drive Club (AWDC) national championship and the British Off Road Championship.  He has also competed on the Baja 1000 in Mexico, the Spanish Baja and the Paris Dakar and is one of very few drivers of production based vehicles to have achieved an AWDC "Red" seeding, for the fastest drivers.

In 2001 he showed that he was not only a good speed event driver when he won his class in the pilot round of the World 4x4 Championship at Trentham Gardens, an event which combined the disciplines of trials with that of competitive safaris.

He claims to have no ambitions, but he won't be here just to make up the numbers.  Richard's speed is undoubted and  his Land Rover Discovery is well prepared, by his own firm, Richards 4x4.  Rarely though has Richard been up against such close class competition.  Paul Clackett and his Range Rover are reliable and Simon Dowdeswell's confidence and speed in his Land Rover 90 is growing with every event.  Richard Hopkins will not have the class all to himself this year, but he has proved before that he can rise to a challenge and his talent behind the wheel is certain.  With the added support of Bearmach 4x4, Richard is one to look out for, if for no other reason than he is always spectacular.