2012 WRC Welsh Rally of Great Britain Preview

[Xosé Estrada]

Britain’s round of the FIA World Rally Championship has moved from its traditional November date to earlier in the season, providing a very different challenge for the competitors. As summer begins to draw to a close, there is little threat of Rally GB’s renowned fog, snow and ice, potentially leaving the crews to enjoy warmer and drier conditions on some of the most popular gravel stages in the sport.

The event celebrates its 80th anniversary this year and will start in the north Wales coastal resort of Llandudno on Thursday evening, where crews will also select their road positions for the opening day of competition. Friday is by far the longest day of the event with 146.46 competitive kilometres over six stages and just a single remote service in Newtown before returning to Cardiff that evening. Saturday takes the contenders to the Epynt military ranges for two identical loops of three stages before rounding the day off with the new Celtic Manor stage. Sunday is the shortest day of competition, but with a 15.33 kilometre Power Stage at Likes Land Rover at Walters Arena to conclude the event, there will be no cruise to the finish.

The 10th round of the series also plays host to the crews competing in the FIA Super 2000 World Rally Championship.



CHANGES TO THE ROUTE SINCE 2011

Wales Rally GB once again returns to its traditional stages, all of which have been used many times since the event found its home in Wales. New this year, however, is the Celtic Manor Stage. This 3.04 kilometre sealed surface test weaves it way around the grounds of the luxurious Celtic Manor Resort, venue of the 2010 Ryder Cup.

This year, the service park also returns to Cardiff Bay, surrounding Rally Headquarters at the Wales Millennium Centre. There are all-new locations for both Media Accreditation and the Media Centre in Dance House, Pierhead Street, Cardiff, CF10 4PH. The entrance and location is confirmed on Page 5 of the WRGB online Media Guide, which is available in the Media Restricted Area of www.walesrallygb.com. There is no access from Rally HQ in the Wales Millennium Centre to Dance House.

RALLY DATA



Total distance:
Stage distance:
Number of stages:
1,604.05 km
324.92 km
19



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[Paul M Jones]

I can't go this year, It's only thirty miles away too!

 

[Kenny Paton]

If only we could update Rally Championship 2000, we could run some stages ourselves.