Chester is best
Interesting to read David Evans’s column in the November 1 edition on Wales Rally GB. It was surprising to read some of the driver feedback particularly in relation to Chester.
To give some background it is our company (Lightning House) which acts as the interface between the City of Chester and Rally GB itself. Part of that remit is that we don’t purely deliver the rally itself but that there are other events over the week within the city and that’s where Chester Rally week has come from, this has included historical displays within various locations in the city over the last two years seeing in themselves over 300 per cent rise in footfall on comparable weeks.
But the interesting fact is when, on the Friday, we spoke to Sebastien Ogier, Jari-matti Latvala and Kris Meeke they all got it and all three were taken with the historical significance of the city in regards the event and also the sheer beauty of the architecture.
In 2016 Seb was on the podium taking pictures of the clock and various other landmarks we have. It’s all well and good the crews enjoying it but what about the fans? Well how about this, a crowd of 10,000 in 2016 and nudging 12,000 in 2017, a high demographic of families with around 40 per cent having never seen a rally car in person before.
That’s a huge number of people who may well venture to the service park or hopefully Cholmondeley and then if we’re all doing our jobs properly become the marshals or competitors of the future. We’ve not even touched on the massive media coverage something like a city centre halt can generate.
There is a huge amount more we could do within the city and we’re blessed with a hugely supportive local authority, but indeed as David Evans says until some of those within the sport realise the benefits above and support it financially we’re all hamstrung with the level we can work at.
May I just take this opportunity to thank all the volunteer marshals and officials who make this event possible, to do what you see takes a team of around 70-80 persons, my cap doffed to you all. Brynmor Pierce Via email