For 2010, Wales Rally GB, the final round of the FIA World Rally Championship, has upped its game even further on the spectator front. Fans can look forward to a new competitive stage and Rallyfest zone in Cardiff Bay, a return to the much-loved Radnor Forest stage near Presteigne and a new look and location for the ceremonial start and finish.
Cardiff Bay will be the hub of rally activity when Wales Rally GB returns this November from Thursday 11th to Sunday 14th. New for 2010 is the Rallyfest zone which will take over the bay area for four days and will play host to the Service Park. Fans will be able to see drivers and their engineers working in the service area and enjoy the trade stands, big screens showing rally action and a packed entertainment schedule.
The inaugural Cardiff Bay special stage will run twice, on the evenings of Thursday 11th and Saturday 13th, allowing fans to get up close to the cars driving at competitive speed along the barrage. Prior to the official start on Thursday, spectators with a special stage pass can witness entrants being flagged off at the event’s ceremonial start celebrations. Then on Sunday 14th, the bay will erupt with the sound of horns and cheers as the winning team of Wales Rally GB 2010 is crowned at the official finish ceremony.
For classic rally fans and those who want to soak up the history of the event, the rally will return to Radnor Forest for the first time in 11 years. It’s a fast 15.1 km stage which will run twice on Saturday 13th.
Welsh rally co-driving legend and 2003 World Rally Championship winning co-driver, Phil Mills, will attend this year’s rally as a spectator for first time in 21 years: “For me, this year’s Wales Rally GB is going to be a whole different experience as I won’t be sat in the co-driver seat next to my old colleague and friend, Petter Solberg. It will be very strange but great to see the biggest rallying event in the UK, which also happens to be on my doorstep, without worrying about pacenotes and the weather! I’ll be taking up my spot in the forests and I’m particularly looking forward to the Radnor Forest stage, as it hasn’t been used for 11 years and I remember co-driving on it in 1999.
“For those who haven’t experienced rallying before, the Cardiff Bay special stage is going to be a must-see, as is the Rallyfest zone where you will really be able to soak up the atmosphere of the event. I think it’s key that the sport attracts new fans and Wales Rally GB is pulling out all the stops so people can experience world class rallying here in the UK.”
Andrew Coe, chief executive of Wales Rally GB, said: “Each year, we work hard to bring spectators even more bang for their buck and, for 2010, we’ve done just that again. On top of extending the “Kids for a Quid” initiative to all child tickets – and those under eight go free – we’ve also brought fans Rallyfest – Cardiff Bay packed with rally action. Aside from the competitive special stage on Thursday and Saturday night, Rallyfest is completely free of charge to visit. The great thing about our chosen location for Rallyfest, Cardiff Bay, is it’s easily accessible from Cardiff city centre and is packed with bars and restaurants, so fans and families alike can make an afternoon, evening or even a day of the rally action.”
To keep up to date with news and information about Wales Rally GB, visit www.walesrallygb.com or follow Wales Rally GB on Twitter at www.twitter.com/walesrallygb
****** Wales Rally GB is the British and final round of this year’s 13-round FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). To date, it is one of only two events (along with Finland) to have retained its status as both a qualifying and scoring round of the WRC since the championship was established in 1973.
In addition, this November’s Wales Rally GB is the 10th and final round of the FIA Super-2000 World Rally Championship, the ninth and final round of the FIA Production Car World Rally Championship, and the seventh and final round of the Ford Fiesta Sporting Trophy International.
Wales Rally GB is held annually and is organised and promoted by International Motor Sports Ltd (IMS), the commercial arm of the Berkshire-based Motor Sports Association, the governing body of motor sport in the UK. Cardiff has hosted the rally since 2000 and the Welsh Assembly Government has been title sponsor since 2003.
– Credit: www.walesrallygb.com