RAC RALLY TO FEATURE WELSH STAGES FOR THE FIRST TIME
Classic event goes across the border for first time
This year’s Roger Albert Clark Rally will include special stages in Wales for the first time in the event’s history.
After a two-year break, the event returns in November and will start with a Welsh leg on Friday November 10 before heading north for the following three days.
Speaking to MN at Autosport International, Rally manager Colin Heppenstall revealed that the rally will open with with around 40 stage miles in mid-wales from a base in the Welsh borders.
Saturday’s route will include the classic Yorkshire forests before heading north and west into Kielder in a day covering around 100 stage miles. Sunday’s route will take in famous stages in southern Scotland before a final 80-mile leg in the main block of Kielder forest on Monday ahead of a mid-afternoon finish. The draft route contains around 280 stage miles.
“We’ve always looked at taking the event into Wales,” said Heppenstall. “Now that we are re-launching the rally on a wider platform we felt the time was perfect to include Welsh stages. We think this will add to the appeal for UK crews as well as visitors from Europe.”
Negotiations are on-going with towns and cities for the event start, overnight halts and finish and the route is likely to take in several spectator-friendly special stage venues including the asphalt stage at Oliver’s Mount near Scarborough.
Heppenstall reported a busy show as many competitors made serious enquiries about the event. “The fresh format seems to have really captured everyone’s imagination,” he said.