ORGANISERS PREDICTING AN OVER SUBSCRIBED ENTRY WITH A FULL CAPACITY 160 CARS EXPECTEDALL TEAMS TO BE BASED IN WRC SERVICE PARK AT DEESIDE

Official entries have opened on the 10 September for competitors wishing to compete in Wales Rally GB (13-16 November), the UK’s concluding round of the 2014 FIA World Rally Championship.After the huge success of last year’s revitalised event which came following a move to a new base in north Wales, the organisers are predicting an oversubscribed entry with teams from the UK and around the globe eager to contest one of the most famous and exciting events on the WRC calendar.A total of 160 entries will be accepted. This figure includes all the major factory teams contesting the full WRC as well as the 12 free entries awarded to top performers from the UK’s 2014 national rallying championships via the expanded Road to Wales scheme. As previously announced, rally crews wanting to be part of the prestigious event are being offered two different options to pit their skills against the sport’s elite.More ambitious entrants can tackle the full WRC event featuring 23 timed sections held over three challenging days in the legendary Welsh forests. To encourage local teams to gain World Championship experience, the organisers are offering a significantly discounted entry for crews where both driver and co-driver hold an MSA competition licence and a UK passport. This initiative was extremely well received when first introduced 12 months ago and is likely to assist even more British teams entering in 2014. For those looking to enjoy a shorter taste of the high-octane atmosphere of the main World Championship event, there’s an equally appealing three-day National Rally. The 98 miles of special stages shadows the full WRC rally, offering single rather than double runs through each of the competitive sections.National crews will play a full part in the event this year, being based in the Deeside Service Park, participating in Thursday evening’s Ceremonial Start in Colwyn Bay and receiving their trophies on the high-profile WRC podium in Llandudno on Sunday afternoon.As well as giving amateurs a fantastic opportunity to compete on the same classic stages as the top stars from the FIA World Rally Championship, the National Rally offers great value.“Wales Rally GB is the showpiece event for the sport in the UK and we look forward to welcoming the world’s top drivers to Wales in November,” said Ben Taylor, Managing Director of Wales Rally GB.“But it is also the climax of the British rallying calendar and it is really important that the event provides an opportunity for our own crews to enjoy a moment in the limelight alongside the WRC teams. We know from last year’s competitors just what a fantastic experience it was for them, so we have made some changes to integrate them fully into the event this year and managed to keep the entry fees the same.”Full information can be found online via the ‘competitors’ navigation on the official www.walesrallygb.com website.

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