The final route survey for the 12th Roger Albert Clark Rally has just been completed and rally manager Colin Heppenstall reports that the stages are in prime condition ahead of the 27-29 November event.From a base in Sunderland, crews will tackle 150 stage miles in 20 special stages. A challenging opening leg on Friday night will be followed by two days of largely daylight rallying on Saturday and Sunday. Friday’s leg covers 40 stages miles with 60 stage miles on Saturday and a further 50 miles on Sunday.“The stages have all been re-graded and are well settled,” said Heppenstall, who drove the full route last weekend. “Many of the roads have not been used since last year and those that were used on the Pirelli Carlisle Rally in April were all regraded soon after that event and have settled nicely over the summer and the very dry autumn.”Heppenstall says that the Clintburn stage, used twice on the opening leg on Friday evening, will include four miles of roads never before used for rallying. “It’s very fast and flowing section on top quality roads,” he said.The revised route for Sunday starts with a double run through Harwood, a stage some crews described as the best stage of the season when it was used on last year’s rally. “Harwood is a superb stage,” said Heppenstall. “Our new format will put all the crews through twice with only a quick management service in between and over 23 competitive miles to get Sunday off to a great start.”Heppenstall says that the stages should hold up very well, even for those running towards the end of the field. “It is probable that we’ll be starting around 70 two-wheel drive cars, so even those at the tail of the field should find the stages in very good condition.”