Wales Rally GB: Greatest demand in years as competitor entry levels soar for revitalised event.
Next month’s Wales Rally GB (13-16 November) will feature a maximum 160-car field after organiser, International Motor Sports, confirmed it had received a substantially over-subscribed number of entries for the first time in many years.
Entries for the International rally closed last week with no fewer than 72 teams representing 26 nations lining up to face the 23 challenging special stages run against the clock in the legendary Welsh forests.
These will be complemented by 88 crews contesting the National event, which provides amateurs with the chance to tackle the same timed sections immediately after their WRC counterparts.
[pullquote cite=”Ben Taylor, Managing Director of Wales Rally GB” type=”left, right”]”This is great news on many levels, it underlines the event’s massive appeal both at home and abroad, it’s also fantastic news for the fans who will be treated to some truly memorable top class action.”[/pullquote]
In total, 105 entries have been received for Wales Rally GB National – these have been accepted on a first come first served basis with those not currently successful being placed on a Reserve list.
The regular WRC teams include:
Volkswagen Motorsport’s – Wales Rally GB winner, Sébastien Ogier
Cumbrian-based M-Sport World Rally Team – Elfyn Evans
Citroen Total Abu Dhabi WRT – Kris Meeke
Hyundai Motorsport – Thierry Neuville
RK M-Sport World Rally Team – Former F1 star Robert Kubica
Britain’s Matthew Wilson makes a welcome return in another of the M-Sport run Ford Fiestas but will face a stern test in the ultra competitive WRC2 category from multiple Scottish Rally Champion David Bogie, and two promising young Welsh pretenders: Tom Cave and Osian Pryce.
Jimmy McRae ensures Britain’s most famous rallying family is back on the entry list; the five-time British Rally Champion is turning back the clock behind the wheel of an historic Vauxhall Firenza.
The classic rally cars are well represented with Steve Perez’s in the Lancia Stratos, Stuart Larbey’s great sounding MG Metro 6R4 as well as numerous Ford Escort RS1600s, Subaru Imprezas and Mistubishi Evolutions.
There’s also a significant rallying rookie among the National ranks. BT Sport presenter and former England cricketer Graeme Swann will be searching for rather less spin on the hallowed forest tracks than he looked for on the test pitches at Lords!
Click here to view the full International entry list
Click here to view the full National entry list
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