Wales Rally GB In Route Setback

By Paul Evans

A press conference planned to take place in Llandudno tomorrow morning, in which the route of this year’s Wales Rally GB (5‐7 October) was going to be unveiled, has been postponed amid confusion over the event’s innovative final Power Stage plans.

We understand the final Power Stage was to include the Great Orme and part of Llandudno town centre. The organisers were hoping that a big crowd would come to Llandudno for what would have been a spectacular final stage and podium ceremony.

However, rules state that the Power Stage should be representative of the rally – and whilst Wales Rally GB is a gravel forest event, the Great Orme / Llandudno stage would be all-Tarmac.

The event ran the Great Orme stage in 2015 without any issue.

As a round of the FIA World Rally Championship has to finish with a Power Stage, for which extra WRC bonus points are scored, this setback might force a rethink of the entire final day’s itinerary.

Elfyn Evans, last year’s event winner, was going to attend tomorrow’s launch.

A statement, issued by the event organisers, reads:

‘It is with regret that we have postponed tomorrow’s launch of the 2018 Dayinsure Wales Rally GB route. We have some exciting plans in store for this year, but we are still in discussions with the FIA to obtain their approval for the proposed changes. We will unveil the full itinerary and put tickets on sale as soon as possible and look forward to another fantastic event.’