NEW CLOSED-ROAD EVENT IN WALES

Three motor clubs in Wales have joined to organise Wales’ first closed-road asphalt rally.

Aberystwyth and District, Lampeter and District and Newtown and District Motor Clubs – with the Teifi Valley Motor Club expected to join – have united to form the Cardigan Bay Rally, which is set to feature 40 miles of action on public roads.

The event will be based on the westerly coast of Wales. It is likely to use parts of Aberystwyth, a popular holiday town for beaches and watersports, and has the backing of the local council.

Ceredigion County Council cabinet member Councillor Dafydd Edwards told the TivySide Advertiser: “It’s uplifting to know that road closure rules have changed within England and Wales and we can use our popular rural roads that are better than roads on the continent.

“On a personal note I think this event will raise the profile of the area, not only during the event, but after the event with tourists.”

Organiser Andrew Edwards told Motorsport News: “We have spoken to members of the public along the route and the result was overwhelmingly positive. The Motor Sports Association has been very supportive and we are in constant discussion to move planning for the event forward.”

Motorsport News understands the event is hoping to run in 2019 if it can organise it in time but the intricacies of planning a closed-road event could delay the organisers.

If it does go ahead in 2019, both England and Wales are set to host a fully closed-road stage event with Rally Tendring and Clacton – the first of its kind held in south east England in April this year – and the Cardigan Bay Rally making up the calendar.

The government in Scotland is yet to pass a bill that would enable the new closed-road legislation, but talks are ongoing. Bosses of the Mull Rally and the Jim Clark Rally are campaigning for the bill.