IN DYFNANT WEST ON FRIDAY 23 MARCH TO REDUCE SUBSTANTIAL FINANCIAL LOSS
Wolverhampton & South Staffs Car Club - organisers of the Welshpool-based Bulldog International Rally of North Wales - have been forced to cancel the two, 8.97-mile Dyfnant West special stages (SS1 and SS2) on the evening of Friday 23 March.
Rally Manager, Kevin Witton explains; "Today (Tuesday 20 March) we have 30 fewer paid entries compared with this time last year. That represents a shortfall to the club - run by unpaid volunteers - of £16,500. We cannot, and will not, cut corners to save money which could jeopardise the safe running of the five events which make up 'The Bulldog Rally'; by cancelling these two stages, the club can save on its forestry charges and set-up costs and reduce the potential loss by £10,000".
"By withdrawing the two Friday stages - which only affect 27 teams in the International section of the Rally (Round two of the six-round British Rally Championship) and the two entries of the 'Bulldog Production Rally' - we avoid impacting on Saturday's route and timetable for everyone already entered.
"All Saturday's special stages are scheduled to run - including the ninth and final spectator stage in Dyfnant East - and provide the full quota of stage miles for The National and Historic Rallies, and 80 miles of competitive driving for those in the International Rally. Despite Friday's changes, everyone can look forward to the prospect of driving over some of the finest quality Forestry Commission gravel roads in Wales", concluded Witton.
Friday's cancellation has no effect on the Bulldog Challenge, the Bulldog Historic or the Welsh-National qualifying Rally, which have always been designed and timetabled as compact one-day events.
The Ceremonial Start in Welshpool Town Centre is unaffected and begins at 17.00hrs, with free entertainment followed by an autograph-signing session in Church Street car park in advance of the first cars being flagged away at 18.00hrs.
Rally HQ is based at the impressive Welshpool Livestock Sales Site, Buttington, on the junction with the A483 and the A453.
All individual rallies return to Church Street car park in Welshpool for their Ceremonial Finishes, beginning with the Bulldog Historic at 13.30hrs, the National Rally at 16.45hrs, the Bulldog Challenge at 18.30hrs and The Bulldog International at 19.00hrs.
