Wales Rally GB – Deeside confirmed as base and new venues revealed.

The routes for the Wales Rally GB have been revealed this morning, here’s the full press release and details:

Few events will showcase Wales’ 2016 ‘Year of Adventure’ better than the Dayinsure Wales Rally GB, when Britain’s annual round of the high-octane, adrenalin-charged FIA World Rally Championship comes to North Wales from 27-30 October.

To highlight Wales’ position as a leading global destination for adventure tourism, the competitive route for this year’s event – as announced today (Wednesday) – is the longest and most challenging since the rally’s widely-acclaimed move to a new home in the north of the country in 2013.

Since relocating to Deeside, the world class sporting spectacle which runs through some of Wales’ most stunning scenery, has gone from strength-to-strength. Last year it attracted 87,000 visitors, an over-subscribed 160-car entry, international crews from 25 different countries, and delivered almost £10m of economic benefit to the Welsh economy as well as extensive global TV and media coverage.

Building on that success, the penultimate round of the 2016 WRC will again be based at the Deeside Rally Village alongside the Toyota UK’s engine manufacturing plant with the majority of the timed Special Stages set in the legendary forests of north and mid-Wales. While admittance to the Rally Village is totally free, tickets for the dramatic action are now on sale at 2015 prices, and with significant savings for those booking in advance compared to on-the-day.

This year’s extended three-day competitive schedule is certain to be a big hit with both competitors and fans, not least as the earlier date at the end of October promises better autumnal weather and also coincides with schools’ half-term break. To encourage more families to check out the top class entertainment over the holiday period, children aged under 16 will be admitted free.

The 22 Special Stages offer a total of 336 competitive kilometres (208 miles) and include many of the established classic tests plus some exciting new additions and revisions. Adding to the spirit of adventure, famous stages such as Myherin and Hafren are to be run in reverse for the first time in more than 20 years while the Pantperthog stage hasn’t been included since 1997.

The route also presents a new home for Saturday’s family-friendly RallyFest which, after three years at Chirk Castle, moves to nearby Cholmondeley Castle – a venue which is already well known to motoring and motor sport enthusiasts thanks to its annual Power and Speed festival.

There are location changes, too, for the popular Ceremonial Start and Ceremonial Finish both of which are free events hosted in Conwy County. The event begins on Thursday evening at Parc Eirias in Colwyn Bay, as in 2014, while the winners will be crowned on Mostyn Street in the seaside town of Llandudno on Sunday afternoon. Sebastien Ogier, the reigning World Champion, completed a famous hat-trick of victories last year – and the Frenchman will be aiming to become only the second man in Rally GB history to win four successive events come October. Thursday 27 October:

18:30 Ceremonial Start: Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay
Overnight Deeside Rally Village

Friday 28 October:
08:16 SS1: Myherin 1
09:07 SS2: Sweet Lamb 1
09:20 SS3: Hafren 1
11:09 SS4: Dyfnant 1
12:32 Regroup: Newtown
13:54 SS5: Myherin 2
14:45 SS6: Sweet Lamb 2
14:58 SS7: Hafren 2
16:47 SS8: Dyfnant 2
19:09 Service: Deeside Rally Village
Overnight Deeside Rally Village

Saturday 29 October:
08:20 SS9: Pantperthog 1*
08:48 SS10: Dyfi 1
09:24 SS11: Gartheiniog 1
10:21 Regroup: Corris
11:02 SS12: Pantperthog 2*
11:30 SS13: Dyfi 2
12:06 SS14: Gartheiniog 2
13:13 SS15: Aberhirnant
15:17 SS16: Cholmondeley Castle RallyFest
16:30 Service: Deeside Rally Village
Overnight Deeside Rally Village

Sunday 30 October:
08:32 SS17: Clocaenog 1
09:08 SS18: Brenig 1
09:28 SS19: Alwen 1
Refuel: Ruthin
10:32 SS20: Clocaenog 2
11:14 SS21: Alwen 2
12:08 SS22: Brenig 2 (Power Stage)
13:29 Ceremonial Finish: Mostyn Street, Llandudno