Welsh Championship reveals 2018 calendar, backs Red Kite’s move south
The Welsh Rally Championship has unveiled its calendar for 2018.
The biggest change affects the Red Kite Stages, which moves down to south Wales and takes in stages like Resolven, not used in a competitive rally since Wales Rally GB in 2012. Heavy logging in the area has meant the forests haven’t been available for rallying.
The Mid Wales Stages also returns. It didn’t run last year for financial reasons. It was scheduled to be the opening round of the British Rally Championship as well as the second round of the Welsh series in ’17.
Championship organiser David Evison said: “I know that all our championship contenders will be delighted to see the Mid Wales Stages back in, while the revamped Red Kite will give them the chance to tackle a great new set of stages.”
“Competing in the championship will take crews to many of the finest forest stages in the UK.”
The Cambrian Rally also returns for 2018. It was halted after one stage in 2017 due to extreme ice and snow.
After the Cambrian and Mid Wales Stages is the Rallynuts Stages, previously the Severn Valley, which keeps its place despite moving from June to April. The Plains, Red Kite, Nicky Grist Stages and the Woodpecker follow– all of which remain from last year.
The Wyedean Stages, which was contested on November 12 this year and crowned Callum Black the 2017 champion, will once again be the season-closer.