Deeside based Wales Rally UK all set for a new-look route this year

This year’s Wales Rally GB which takes place from 4-7 October will feature an exciting new-look route and a shift of focus to the forests and venues of north Wales say organisers.

The four day event is set to be overhauled on the back of  change in the law by the Welsh Government which now allows for closed-road motorsport in Wales.

Organiser and promoter of Britain’s round of the FIA World Rally Championship – IMS says the overhaul the event’s four-day itinerary will benefit visitors and competitors.

“The benefits are most valuable in north Wales where a number of smaller forests can be extended simply by closing a short stretch of road, creating new speed tests worthy of the WRC” say IMS.

Final details of the competitive route will not be announced until FIA approval and tickets go on sale next month, organisers of the Deeside based rally have decided to share the outline route to assist fans, marshals and accommodation providers to make plans for the rally.

As in 2017, the event will blast off with a curtain-raiser at Tir Prince on Thursday evening, before Friday’s north Wales stages, many will be in Conwy County.

Classic forest tests around Aberystwyth, which in recent years have been included in Friday’s schedule, will now feature as part of a jumbo ‘Super Saturday’ bill in mid-Wales.

The rally moves back to north Wales on the Sunday with a new Power Stage venue.

Ben Taylor, Managing Director of Dayinsure Wales Rally GB said;

“We are taking full advantage of this new legislation to deliver a fresh take on this thrilling event,

The new WRC cars and Elfyn Evans’ historic victory brought us record crowds last year and we are expecting even bigger numbers in October. Shifting the focus to north Wales is not only closer to cities such as Liverpool and Manchester but it also allows us to challenge the crews with some spectacular special stages that have never before been included on this rally.

We won’t announce the final route until the middle of April, when tickets go on sale, but we know lots of people are already making their plans and booking hotels and other accommodation in the region, so it’s only right that we share the changes with them.”

Outline plans for a lengthened WRGB National Rally have also been confirmed.

Allowing amateur crews to share the world championship spotlight, this autumn’s National Rally will run to a longer two-day format and will include all of the special stages on both Friday and Saturday.

After 85 miles of action on some of the world’s best forest tracks, the winners will be crowned on their return to the busy WRGB Rally Village late on Saturday afternoon.

The final route for the 2018 Dayinsure Wales Rally GB – and the WRGB National Rally – will be announced in April when tickets go on sale.

Last year’s event attracted 103,438 visitors, a record since the rally moved to north Wales in 2013, and delivered £9.4m of economic benefit to the country.

The Rally Village will again be located alongside Toyota UK’s engine manufacturing plant in Deeside, and will be home to all the teams for the duration of the world championship event.

Fans will be able to watch the crews bring their cars in to be repaired and serviced in their dedicated service areas as well as enjoy the on-site activities.