Wales Rally GB – the final round of this year’s FIA World Rally Championship – is fast approaching (10th – 13th November 2011), with entries for the International event closing on Tuesday, 11th October and potential National participants nearing a deadline of Friday, 14th October to submit applications.
This year’s Wales Rally GB National event has already received an outstanding entry, with some of the UK’s finest amateur drivers being accepted for the first 30 places. Well-known names such as Andrew Burton, Roger Chilman and last year’s winner Nigel Griffiths will go head-to-head for overall honours, while drivers such as Will Onions, Gareth Lloyd and Jason Lepley will be vying for historic honours. Home-grown Welsh talent will be looking to make its mark on the contemporary event, with Sara Williams, Shon Rees and Ieuan Rowlands – among others – all fighting for home pride. The remaining 40 places – of the 70 car total for both contemporary and historic – will be selected by the organisers after the closing date on Friday, 14th October.Wales Rally GB’s National event, which takes place on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th November, will utilise a number of the stages of the expanded 2011 WRC route. Covering 76 miles of competitive driving over some of the most famous forest stages in the UK, the central service facility, start, overnight halt and finish ceremony for the National will all be contained within the Royal Welsh Showground, near Builth Wells.
Competitors in this year’s National Rally will face two stages on Friday in Dyfi Forest, of 6.41 and 4.18 miles, followed by 12.7 miles in Gartheiniog and a 13.26 mile test in Dyfnant. After the overnight halt at Builth Wells, competitors will make the trip to Hafren for a 19.97 miler, followed by a short 2.49 mile Sweet Lamb test, culminating with 17.32 miles in Myherin.
Andrew Coe, chief executive of event organiser, International Motor Sports Limited, is delighted that the National event will again form part of the total Wales Rally GB spectacle. He commented: “We are thrilled to be able to offer an expanded National route and entry this year. Our aim for 2011 was to open up the event to as many spectators and competitors as possible. That’s why we’re taking the rally to forests that we have not visited for many years. We know that the National event was extremely well received last year – by both spectators and competitors – and we’re hoping to build on that for 2011.”Last year’s winner, Nigel Griffiths, added: “It’s great news that the National event is back for 2011, and that it will be visiting Dyfi, Gartheiniog and Dyfnant, as well as Hafren, Sweet Lamb and Myherin. Looking at the current entry list, we know we’ll have our work cut out to win it again!”
Successful applicants for Wales Rally GB National will be notified by Wednesday, 19th October. The entry fee for the event is £675, including VAT.
