NO PIKES PEAK FOR RALLYING
In famous stage off limits due to excessive wear
The Pikes Peak rally stage will be unavailable to rally and cross-country events in 2018 after significant damage was caused to the roads last year.
The stage, in the Cambrian mountains, has been used on events ranging from Wales Rally GB to the Red Kite Stages, but due to excessive wear on the tracks from multiple events, it is not available for competition for the 2018 season – other than for use on Wales Rally GB.
The nearby Myherin stage is also off limits to cross-country events, but not to stage rallies.
The land on which the Pikes Peak and Myherin stages are situated is run by Natural Resources Wales, a Welsh Government body.
NRW has confirmed that it is working to offer other areas of land for motorsport events.
An NRW spokesperson told Motorsport News: “We build and manage forest roads across Wales primarily to source timber and for other commercial reasons, such as helping the renewable energy sector.
“Wherever possible we also allow the use of these roads for motorsports events such as rallying.
“The section of forest road known as Pikes Peak provides access to a major wind farm.
“It is built to a much higher standard than an average forest road, and has to be maintained to this higher standard because it carries very heavy wind farm machinery, and high- voltage cables run underneath it.
“Unfortunately, previous rallies have caused significant damage to the road and has exposed the cables.
“The risk to health and safety and the cost of repairs is just too great, therefore we are limiting the use of Pikes Peak for car parking only.
“We are also unable to offer Myherin and Tarenig forests for cross-country rallies because the area is very wet and easily damaged, and we are looking to reduce the number of times they are used for stage rallying to reduce the damage to the road.
“There are lots of other forest roads across Wales that can be used for motorsports, and we are working with organisers to offer alternative routes to ensure their events can go ahead.”