Rally Wales GB - Program

The final round of the FIA World Rally Championship takes the contenders to Wales for a new-look event that revisits some of the world’s most iconic forest rally stages in what is viewed as the sport’s traditional homeland in the UK.

This year Rally GB moves to the north of Wales and is based at Deeside in Flintshire. The location has enabled the organiser to create an almost entirely new event with a ceremonial start at Conwy Quay on Thursday, immediately followed by challenging night stages in Snowdonia. Friday’s stages are well known but the two loops of three stages are separated by just a remote service in Newtown. On Saturday crews head further north and also take in asphalt spectator stages against the backdrop of historic Chirk Castle. Sunday’s final day of competition covers more stages not run for a number of years and includes the Clocaenog Power Stage and another two spectator stages before closing with the famous Great Orme asphalt stage.

In addition to the WRC contenders, the FIA WRC 2 and WRC 3 crews will be back in action, all fighting for personal honour now that each of the Championships has been provisionally sealed.

CHANGES TO THE ROUTE SINCE 2012

Some of the stages on this year’s Wales Rally GB have not been used for 15 years, providing a challenge to competitors old and new. In total there are six completely new stages and the remainder are a mix of roads used in previous years.

WALES RALLY GB

— Round: 13/13
— Base and service park: Deeside Industrial Estate
— Surface: Gravel
— Weather: The climate in the north of Wales is milder than in the rest of Northern Europe. Average temperatures vary between 4°C and 10°C, with monthly rainfall of around 150mm.
— Sunrise and sunset on the first day of the rally: 7.39am/4.19pm
— Local time: GMT
— Currency: Local currency is the pound sterling (€1 = £0.84).
— Website: www.walesrallygb.com
— Technical information: Spare parts (gearbox, differentials, subframes, steering racks and turbochargers) are to be shared with the Finland and Australia rallies.
— Tyres: 24 Michelin Latitude Cross tyres to be chosen from 24 soft compound and 16 hard compound tyres.
— Reconnaissance: Tuesday, 12 November from 7.30am to 4.30pm and Wednesday, 13 November from 7.30am to 4.50pm.
— Qualifying Stage: Thursday, 14 November from 10.45am on a 3.11km-long stage at Llandegla (31.79km from the service park).
— Route: 22 special stages (13 different stages). 312.38km of timed sections. Total distance: 1,502.44km.

WALES RALLY GB ITINERARY

THURSDAY 14 NOVEMBER
7.00am: Free practice
10.45am: Qualifying stage – Llandegla (3.11km)
12.30pm: FIA Post-Event Press Conference (Media Centre)
1.30pm: Selection of start order (Deeside)
3.00pm: Start (Deeside)
7.05pm: SS1 – Gwydyr (6.95km)
7.38pm: SS2 – Penmachno (10.51km)
8.42pm: SS3 – Clocaenog 1 (7.52km)
10.01pm: Flexi Service A (45 min)

FRIDAY 15 NOVEMBER
6.30am: Service B (15 min)
9.37am: SS4 – Hafren 1 (32.14km)
10.20am: SS5 – Sweet Lamb 1 (4.26km)
10.37am: SS6 – Myherin 1 (32.13km)
12.28pm: Service C (Newtown – 15 min)
1.43pm: SS7 – Hafren 2 (32.14km)
2.26pm: SS8 – Sweet Lamb 2 (4.26km)
2.43pm: SS9 – Myherin 2 (32.13km)
5.38pm: Flexi Service D (45 min)

SATURDAY 16 NOVEMBER
6.00am: Service E (15 min)
8.29am: SS10 – Gartheiniog 1 (14.58km)
8.58am: SS11 – Dyfi 1 (21.90km)
10.33am: SS12 – Gartheiniog 2 (14.58km)
11.02am: SS13 – Dyfi 2 (21.90km)
12.45pm: SS14 – Dyfnant 2 (21.34km)
2.22pm: SS15 – Chirk Castle 1 (2.06km)
2.34pm: SS16 – Chirk Castel 2 (2.06km)
3.45pm: Flexi Service F (45 min)

SUNDAY 17 NOVEMBER
6.30am: Service G (15 min)
8.56am: SS17 – Dyfnant 2 (21.34km)
9.56am: SS18 – Penllyn (14.12km)
11.06am: SS19 – Clocaenog 2 – Power Stage (7.52km)
12.03pm: SS20 – Kinmel Park 1 (2.18km)
12.11pm: SS21 – Kinmel Park 2 (2.18km)
1.01pm: SS22 – Great Orme (4.58km)
1.11pm: Finish and podium (Llandudno)
4.00pm: FIA Post-Event Press Conference (Media Centre)