After a ceremonial start in Conwy, North Wales on Thursday, 26 October, some of the World’s top rally teams will head to Montgomeryshire on Friday, 27 October for Stage 1 of the event, with Newtown hosting the regroup before the teams head out for Stage 2 before heading to Chester.
Last year’s move to an earlier date in October not only delivered better autumnal weather conditions for crews and spectators but also coincided with schools’ half-term break giving many families the chance to enjoy some top class, world championship entertainment over the holiday period.
With a similar date in 2017, accompanied children aged 15 and under are again offered free admission to all the ticketed Special Stages.
Most of these thrilling speed tests will be run against-the-clock on demanding gravel roads set in the legendary Welsh forests. However, adding to challenge and spectacle, the modified 2017 route reintroduces the thrill of two night stages in the daunting Dyfnant and Aberhirnant forests in Mid Wales on Saturday evening.
In total, the 20 special stages offer in excess of 300 competitive kilometres (180 miles) with a fast-moving schedule featuring many of the established Welsh classics: mythical names such as Hafren, Myherin, Dyfi and Gartheiniog are all included.
The premier league WRC teams again will be based at the Deeside Rally Village, in the grounds of the Toyota UK engine manufacturing plant. While admittance to the Rally Village is totally free, tickets for the gripping action are now on sale, with savings for those booking in advance compared to on-the-day.
Tickets for the 2017 Dayinsure Wales Rally GB go on sale today (Wednesday) and offer savings for those buying in advance. Even more so for those with school children on half-term holidays as all aged 15 and under enjoy free admittance when accompanied by an adult.
Ken Skates, Wales’ Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, said: “This year’s Wales Rally GB promises to be another spectacular event and a fitting way to draw Wales’ Year of Legends to a close. “Wales is home to some of the world’s most legendary rally stages – the event is our opportunity to showcase the epic Welsh landscapes and scenery as some of the legends of the sport test their skills against what the Welsh landscape throws at them."
The opening day’s schedule features three special stages, all set to the West of Newtown. Myherin and Hafren are world-renowned as true classics while, with its jumps and water splashes, the shorter Sweet Lamb test is always a fans’ favourite.All three stages are tackled twice, once either side of a lunchtime regroup on the busy streets of Newtown before the cars head back to service, stopping off en route in Chester to meet the fans.
The schedule for Saturday, October 28 is even longer and, concluding under the cloak of darkness, no less challenging. The morning’s itinerary takes the competitors to the famous forests of southern Snowdonia, just to the north of Machynlleth.
Photo: The Wales Rally Gb in Newtown (Photo ©Owain Betts)