WALES Rally GB returns to Powys later this week (27-30 October) with the county hosting six timed stages and a mid-day service in Newtown of the penultimate round of this year’s FIA World Rally Championship.
This year the rally has a new headline sponsor of Dayinsure and takes place some two weeks earlier than previous years which ties in with the schools half term break - thus hoping to attract the whole family to watch the best drivers in the world tackle the slippery forestry stages.
The rally will be fought over 22 timed stages in mid and north Wales with a maximum 160 car field, the capacity line-up includes the world’s top rally stars.
Last year’s Wales Rally GB winner and World Rally Champion for the fourth successive time Sébastien Ogier will be favourite for victory having retained his world title this year and Volkswagen secured the manufacturers championship.
UK and Welsh Interest centres on Elfyn Evans from Machynlleth who drives for the Ford team however his name appears on the entry list but there is increasing doubt if the Welsh star will actually appear due to a shortage of available cars.
Kris Meeke from Dungannon is the new British star in the making - the Colin McRae protégé has won two WRC rounds this year and is hoping to round off his season with a third win driving his Citroen DS3 WRC.
The rally is based in Deeside but the dramatic high-speed action blasts off early Friday morning with stages near Llanguirig and features double runs through the well-known Myherin, Sweet Lamb and Hafren stages, either side of a remote service halt in Newtown.
The Saturday stages are based around Machynlleth in the famous Dyfi complex before heading to the feature stage at Cholmondeley Castle Rally Fest at 3.30pm. Sunday features stages in North Wales including; Clocaenog forest before the finish in the centre of Llandudno at 3.30pm.
On Friday October 28, the event will be going through Llanidloes at approximately 7.45am and 1.30pm with the remote service in Newtown at around 12.30. The National Rally which uses just one run through the stages runs in between the two WRC passes.
As in previous years local road closures will operate in the area’s the rally passes.
Myherin 1 - 8.20am, Sweet Lamb 1 - 9.11am, Hafren 1 - 9.24am, Dyfnant 11.15am, Remote Service Newtown - 12:36.
Myherin 2 -1.55pm, Sweet Lamb 2 - 2.45pm, Hafren 2 - 2.58pm, Dyfnant 2 - 4.49pm.
For more information on the event go online at walesrallygb.com or www.facebook.com/walesrallygb. You can also follow them on Twitter @WalesRallyGB