Wales Rally GB will be back for at least next three years WG confirms deal for huge event

ONE of the most spectacular events in the rallying calendar will return to Wales for at least the next three years.

The Welsh Government has announced an extension of its support for the Wales Rally GB which has gone from strength to strength since it moved to North Wales in 2013.

This year’s event will see thousands of fans flock to the region from November 12-15 to watch the 19 stages which cover 191 miles in just three days.

Transport Minister Edwina Hart announced the Welsh Government have made a deal to secure the event for the next three years.

International Motor Sports (IMS) said the partnership will allow them to start working on plans to make the concluding round of the FIA World Rally Championship even bigger in the future.

Ben Taylor, Managing Director of IMS, said they were delighted to have agreed a new deal with the Welsh Government.

He said: “The move to North Wales has been a great success in recent years; we can now look forward to building on that platform and implementing exciting new plans to grow the event still further. The Welsh Government’s extended support for this international event is fantastic news not only for rallying in Wales but also for the motor sport sector in the UK.”

Wales Rally GB is one of Wales’ long standing flag- ship events and has been exclusively hosted in the country since 2002. Last year’s event attracted around 45,000 visitors from outside Wales and is estimated to have boosted the economy by almost £10m. And with this November’s event seeing the return of the iconic Great Orme and famous Myherin stages, last seen in 2013, this year is expected to attract bigger crowds than ever.

Ms Hart said: “The Rally provides an ideal platform to showcase Wales’ many assets, including our spectacular scenery, with last year’s coverage estimated to have reached an international audience of 60million.

Ms Hart added that the work between the Wales Rally GP and Wales’ advanced materials and manufacturing industry was massively raising the profile of Wales on an international basis. The Toyota Manufacturing Plant based in Deeside, hosts the event’s service park which attracted 19,500 visitors last year.

Ms Hart added: “The value of the relationship between the staging of Wales Rally GB and Wales’ Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Industry should not be underestimated and is doing much to raise the profile of this sector internationally.

“With an agreement now in place I look forward to seeing the organisers build on previous success and deliver an even greater event in 2016.”