Rally manager Colin Heppenstall is MN’s expert guide to the stages.
Thursday, November 25 Four stages and 35 competitive miles in the western end of Kielder.
Colin Heppenstall: “Thursday afternoon is made up of stages we know and love. We have a lovely 12-mile Kershope stage with long straights, square 90s and a bit of all sorts. It goes up high at Glen Dhu and with the clouds down it could be foggy up there, you get all sorts of weather in Kershope.”
Friday, November 26 Eight stages and 108 competitive miles in the central block of Kielder.
Colin Heppenstall: “Friday is the longest day with 108 stage miles. The stages in the central block of Kielder are different and they are even different between the stages. Falstone is a completely different stage, very closed in and half the stage hasn’t been used for at least seven or eight years.”
Saturday, November 27 Eight stages and 76 competitive miles in southern Scotland.
Colin Heppenstall: “The stages in Scotland will be a bit more familiar to competitors as they’ve done them for the last two events. I haven’t changed the stages too much and Greskine is exactly the same stage. Only this rally uses Craik which is a lovely stage. They’ve done some harvesting and most of the stage is actually Tarmac chippings so it’s very hard. It’s like driving on a road and is so smooth.”
Sunday, November 28 Six stages and 73 competitive miles in mid-Wales.
Colin Heppenstall: “Sunday takes the rally into classic Welsh stages where the R.A.C. hasn’t been before in Dyfnant, Gartheiniog and Dyfi. Rally4Wales has done a fantastic job on the regrading and these stages haven’t been used for at least two years, probably since Wales Rally GB. These stages have a different nature and are much wider.”
Monday, November 29 Five stages and 38 competitive miles in south and west Wales.
Colin Heppenstall: “We’re basing Monday out of Walters Arena, which is different to other Welsh stages. If it’s wet it can be slippery in places and in other places it is just like any normal forest stage. We finish with 10 miles in Crychan and another long, very wide, sweeping classic Welsh stage. I think the competitors will love it to finish the event off.”