Race is on to a Wales Rally GB route revealed legendary finish line

THE Wales Rally GB route has been announced and tickets are now on sale.

The four-day UK round of the FIA World Rally Championship will see 20 special stages across North Wales, offering 180 miles of action on some of the world’s most challenging forest tracks.

Taking place from October 26-29, the modified route will reintroduce two night stages in the Dyfnant and Bala’s Aberhirnant forests, and see cars speed through Gwydyr Forest in Snowdonia for the first time since 2013.

Ben Taylor, Wales Rally GB managing director, said the event is expected to “live up to its legendary status”.

“The arrival of a new generation of more exciting cars has really caught the public’s imagination and we are expecting them to draw even bigger crowds when they make their UK debut in the autumn,” he said.

“Having had such a great event in 2016, we have fabulous foundations for 2017. We have stuck by the majority of the route, with the added bonus of challenging night stages.”

The event starts with three special stages in mid Wales’ Myherin, Sweet Lamb and Hafren forests. All three will be tackled twice before drivers head back, stopping off en route in Chester to meet fans.

Saturday will take competitors to southern Snowdonia’s forests, including Dyfi and Gartheiniog, before head- ing east to the day’s fifth special stage in Dyfnant forest, en route to the RallyFest at Cholmondeley Castle, Cheshire.

The event’s concluding Power Stage through Brenig will be screened live to TV audiences around the globe. Official celebrations then switch to Mostyn Street, Llandudno, which draws not only the event but Wales’ Year of the Legends to a close.

Teams will be based in Ruthin, just a short drive from the Deeside Rally Village where the cars are based.

Last year’s event attracted more than 90,000 visitors and delivered almost £9m of economic benefit to the Welsh economy. Ticket details can be found at wales rallygb.com.