Dayinsure Wales Rally GB 2019

[SteveH]

Llandudno is the new home for Wales Rally GB in a sporting coup for the seaside town.                         

For the past six years the event has been located next to the Toyota Engine Plant in Deeside , following the event’s switch to a new base in North Wales in 2013.

Now it's moving to the popular resort town in Conwy , which has been a regular feature in recent years by hosting official Ceremonial Starts and Finishes.

Its seaside streets made history last October when, for the very first time on the British mainland, fans witnessed the spectacle of World Championship motor sport action on closed public roads.

All the teams and manufacturers contesting Britain’s high-profile round of the FIA World Rally Championship will now be based in Llandudno, alongside the international event’s busy headquarters based at Venue Cymru.
This year the event runs from October 3-6.

Cont        https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/llandudno-new-home-wales-rally-16034158


Latest News from Dayinsure Wales Rally GB/ Home page        https://www.walesrallygb.com/home.php


 

[SteveH]

The Wales Rally GB could be switched to Northern Ireland next year despite the Welsh Government having a deal to stage it until 2021, it has emerged.

Motorsport UK chief executive Hugh Chambers has confirmed an agreement is in place to stage the rally in Wales this year and in 2020 and 2021.
However, talks are being held about Northern Ireland hosting it in 2020.
The Welsh Government said it was focused on making this year's event a success.
Mr Chambers told BBC Wales: "In parallel with our discussions with the Welsh Government, we were also talking to Northern Ireland.
"We made the Welsh Government aware, and it was a very grown-up conversation.

"In the event it went to Northern Ireland, we would suspend the contract with the Welsh Government for a year, and the Welsh Government have said they would entertain that.
"They are very aware through their colleagues in Northern Ireland that these discussions are taking place."

Mr Chambers said no decision had been made, and currently there was a deal to hold the event in Wales next year.
He added: "It's arisen because there was interest from Northern Ireland to explore the possibilities around the World Rally Championship being held in Northern Ireland and we have been in exploration of that notion."
Mr Chambers said if the rally went to Northern Ireland, it would return to Wales the following year.

As well as forests, the rally takes in special stages, including around Llandudno's Great Orme
He said traditionally the rally used to visit different parts of the UK and was currently known as the Wales Rally GB because Wales was the "sponsor".
A Welsh Government spokesman said: "Our focus remains on once again delivering a successful event this year from a new spectator-friendly base in Llandudno.

"We will discuss the staging of future events with our partners following a detailed evaluation of this year's event to ensure it continues to provide value for money for the Welsh taxpayer."      ref BBC news

[SteveH]

Full route for Wales Rally GB 2019 announced - and it will start in Liverpool.

The annual international competition - which brings thousands of people into North Wales - will also see the opening speed test being held in Cheshire.

The autumn event - which is being held from October 3 to 6 - last year began in Tir Prince, Towyn , but will this year open on the Liverpool Waterfront.

"We feel strongly that by moving the start to Liverpool and Thursday evening’s curtain-raiser to Oulton Park, this year’s Wales Rally GB will not only get off to its most accessible and exciting start for many years but also entice more people into Wales for the incomparable action which follows in the forests."

The rally base has been moved from Deeside Industrial Estate to Llandudno this year, and a family-friendly Saturday evening street stage will also take place on the promenade at Colwyn Bay.

Mr Chambers added: "The addition of Colwyn Bay will further assist us in our efforts to showcase this remarkable sport to even wider audiences - a quest that’s endorsed by our decision to move the central Service Park hub into Llandudno town centre.

"We must thank the Welsh Government , our principal funding partner, for its willingness to embrace these changes and for its ongoing enthusiasm and support which allows us to bring the World Rally Championship to these shores.”
Following the opening event in Liverpool, an early evening special stage will take place at Oulton Park near Chester.

The event - which is marking its 20th year in Wales - will return to North Wales on the Friday.
 
It will return to the Aberhirnant forest near Bala for a stage in the darkness - the only forest stage run after dark on this year's World Rally Championship calendar.

On Saturday, the event will move to Mid Wales and the forests of Dyfi, Myherin and Sweet Lamb Hafren.
Sunday sees two more forest tests, on the Denbigh Moors, including Brenig which will be the points-scoring Wolf Power Stage finale.

The morning will also see a dash around the Great Orme in Llandudno, with a ceremonial finish taking place within the town.

Ticket information
Early bird tickets are now on sale, with an adult day pass providing access to all stages on the selected day.
Tickets will cost £32 for Friday and Sunday and £35 for ‘Super Saturday’ for those taking on the early bird offer.

Adult tickets for Saturday evening’s seafront showpiece in Colwyn Bay are available in advance for £15.

Oulton Park tickets can be purchased for £25 per adult, with a £25 Grandstand upgrade option also on offer.

The early bird price of the premium four-day World Rally Pass, ensuring access to all 21 competitive special stages on Friday, Saturday and Sunday as well as Thursday’s pre-event Shakedown, is priced at £109.
Children under 16 can access the event for free.

This is what the route will look like
Thursday, October 3:
Shakedown:  Gwydir
Ceremonial Start:  Liverpool
SS1:  Oulton Park
Overnight:  Llandudno

Friday, October 4:
SS2:  Elsi 1
SS3:  Penmachno 1
SS4:  Dyfnant 1
SS5:  Aberhirnant 1
Service:  Llandudno
SS6:  Elsi 2
SS7:  Penmachno 2
SS8:  Slate Mountain
SS9:  Dyfnant 2
SS10:  Aberhirnant 2
Service and overnight:  Llandudno
 
Saturday, October 5:
SS11:  Dyfi 1
SS12:  Myherin 1
SS13 : Sweet Lamb Hafren 1
Regroup:  Newtown
SS14:  Myherin 2
SS15:  Sweet Lamb Hafren 2
SS16:  Dyfi 2
SS17:  Colwyn Bay
Service and overnight:  Llandudno
 
Sunday 6 October:
SS18:  Alwen 1
SS19:  Brenig 1
SS20:  Great Orme
SS21:  Alwen 2
SS22:  Brenig 2 (Wolf Power Stage)
Ceremonial Finish:  The Promenade, Llandudno

Full story...with Maps etc.    https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/full-route-wales-rally-gb-16312461

[SteveH]

BRC section win in Belgium for reigning champion from Rhos on Sea.

2018 British Rally Champion Matt Edwards and co-driver Patrick Walsh in their Pirelli-backed Ford Fiesta R5 took a dramatic win on the classic Renties Ypres Rally – the exciting overseas round for the British Rally Championship.

For Rhos on Sea's Edwards and his M-Sport team they repeated their 2018 win in fine style to take maximum BRC points, sixth overall and with it the Tony Pond Award for the highest placed British crew.    Cont. https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/17745376.brc-section-win-in-belgium-for-reigning-champion-from-rhos-on-sea-draws-him-level-in-the-standings-with-rival-tom-cave/

[SteveH]

COLWYN Bay is gearing up for an evening in the World Championship motorsport spotlight

This year’s Wales Rally GB is coming to the town on Saturday October 5, with the world’s top drivers and the sport’s fastest ever cars racing against the clock on the promenade.

Whetting appetites for the spectacular wheel spinning action to follow in the early evening, Colwyn will be revved up by an afternoon packed with dazzling air displays by the Red Bull Matadors Aerobatic Team, exotic supercars, evocative historic rally cars plus a host of other attractions including face painters, roving characters and free funfair rides for children.

Alun Pritchard, Wales Rally GB’s events partnership manager who lives in Old Colwyn, said: “We’re creating a real fun fuelled festival atmosphere both in town and on the seafront.     ref Pioneer

Cont https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/17873729.wales-rally-gb-come-colwyn-bay/

[SteveH]

FULL details of Llandudno’s central role in hosting next month’s Wales Rally GB have been revealed.            ref Pioneer

In recent years, the town has featured prominently on the major sporting event’s itinerary, staging both Ceremonial Starts and Finishes.

Llandudno also made history last autumn when it pioneered the UK’s first World Championship motorsport on closed sections of public roads.

This year, however – and for the very first time – it will be home to the entire rally bringing considerable business to the town and invaluable international publicity for tourism in the region between October 2 and 6.

Previously,, the international event has been sited in the Deeside Industrial Park, Flintshire.

Wales Rally GB, round 12 of the hotly contested 2019 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), will have its busy headquarters in the waterfront Venue Cymru complex – also home to an interactive Big Bang exhibition.   Cont...........

Lots more information........    https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/17888784.llandudno-gears-welcome-world-rally-championship/

[Bri Roberts]

Will the Wales Rally GB be racing around the Great Orme this year?

[DVT]

Yes, Orme is being used but only for the International section on Sunday.  Route info can be found on ...

https://www.walesrallygb.com/spectators/route-information/

... my son is co-driving in the National section and is disappointed that they're not doing the Orme stage!  National competitors only do Friday and Saturday stages.

[Bri Roberts]

Thank you, DVT.

I empathise with DVT Jnr.

[DVT]

Further to the above route that SteveH has published, the Nationals (club competitors) only tackle 8 stages and not quite the same order as the Internationals, as follows (this is subject to change):

Friday 4th October
[National 1] Elsi (International Stage 2)
[National 2] Penmachno (International Stage 3)
[National 3] Slate Mountain (International Stage
[National 4] Dyfnant (International Stage 4)
[National 5] Aberhirnant (International Stage 5)

Saturday 5th October
[National 6] Dyfi (International Stage 11)
[National 7] Myherin (International Stage 14)
[National 8] Sweet Lamb (International Stage 15)

So, the Nationals on Friday will be run after the Internationals except for Slate Mountain where they will be first.  On Saturday they tackle Dyfi after the Internationals have had their first run, but tackle Myherin and Sweet Lamb after the Internationals have had two runs.

There could be 90 Internationals and 60 Nationals but if they do not get 90 International entries they will make up the numbers from any National reserves that are on the list.  That makes for a maximum entry of 150.

All sounds confusing I know!

[DVT]

Entry list for the international section (59 entries):

https://www.ewrc-results.com/entries/54471-wales-rally-gb-2019/

[SteveH]

Related rally news...........

RHOS-on-Sea rally hero Matt Edwards has successfully defended his title as British Rally Champ this weekend.

Edwards and co-driver Patrick Walsh were crowned the 2019 champions after a stellar campaign in Britain’s premier rallying series at the Galloway Hills Rally in Scotland last weekend on Saturday, September 14.

https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/17903781.rhos-on-seas-matt-edwards-caps-off-stellar-campaign-win-british-rally-championship/

[DVT]

The entry lkist for the National section has been published today - click on link below (pdf file) ... my son co-driving car 239 !!

https://d2cx26qpfwuhvu.cloudfront.net/wrgb/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/16170927/2019-WRGB-National-Rally-Entry-List-19-09-16.pdf

[Bri Roberts]

DVT, will the Great Orme stage be free on the Sunday morning and if so, how much is the car parking likely to cost?

[DVT]

I'm sorry, I am not involved in any way with the event, for reasons not for discussion on here!

As far as I can tell from the spectator info on their website (link in previous posting) you will need a day pass and there will be a charge for parking on the Orme.