Brian Culcheth
Triumph World|February - March 2018

THE SPRINT'S THRILLING DEBUT

Brian Culcheth

REFLECTING ON THE disappointing result in the East African Safari detailed last issue, I was surprised how the roads in Africa had taken such a toll on the car. After the extensive World Cup Rally test programme, I considered we had a really strong car. On the WCR we had kept the suspension in top condition by changing the front struts and rear shockers at every major service point in South America, but we did not have that level of service available in Africa. The Mercedes driver Eugen Bohringer told me in the early 1960s that to win the Safari you must drive very cautiously, yet by the 1970s everyone was going flat out.

Early in 1972 I received a call from Ray Henderson at Triumph in Coventry to ask if I would be available to try a new car for them at Bagshot. I was intrigued, and when the car arrived on a trailer I was introduced to the first ever Dolomite Sprint, CKV 2K. This was incredibly exciting, for here was a car that was not due to be launched until the following year with the first ever 16-valve engine fitted in a production car. The Sprint was completely stripped out and thrilling to drive, being quicker than the 2.5 and more nimble.

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