Dayinsure Wales Rally GB

Fast gravel roads in remote forests. Picture-postcard scenery as British autumn offers a fantastic myriad of colours.
Familiar itinerary in mid and north Wales with few changes from 2016. Based around Deeside service park.
After a Thursday night curtain-raiser, Friday’s opening leg includes classic Myherin, Sweet Lamb and Hafren stages. All are driven twice, with just a pause for fresh tyres splitting the passes.
A marathon 17-hour Saturday includes a double loop of stages in Dyfi and Gartheiniog, before two night tests close the action.
Final leg is the most northerly, with the picturesque Brenig again forming the final live TV Power Stage.

Tree-lined forest tracks are not technically difficult, but are treacherous in muddy conditions.
Unpredictable weather can bring, rain, ice and fog.
Inconsistent and ever-changing grip as isolated patches of mud or ice can trap the unwary.
Logs piled high close to the edge of roads must be avoided at all costs.

Founded in 1932, 367 crews entered the inaugural Royal Automobile Club Rally.
Introduction of forest roads in 1960 transformed the rally into what we know today.
Route formerly included loops around England, Scotland and Wales but the rally has been based solely in Wales since 2000.
Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium hosted the WRC’s first indoor stage in 2005.

It moves forward in the calendar to become the penultimate round.
A return to England for the first time since 1999. A short spectator-friendly parkland test at Cholmondeley Castle closes Saturday’s leg.
Ceremonial start returns to Colwyn Bay while Llandudno hosts the finish.
No mid-leg service on any of the three days.

Superb viewing at Sweet Lamb’s famous arena on Friday. Drivers tackle the test twice.
As the climax to Chester Rally Week, competitors will pause in the historic city for the first time in 20 years on Friday evening.

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