Press release: 12 December 2022
Many of the world's greatest gravel forest stages - like Myherin, Sweet Lamb,
Dyfnant, Hafren and Crychan - will come together to form the 2023 Motorsport UK
Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship, with an exciting seven-round calendar
planned for next year.
Organised by the Welsh Association of Motor Clubs, the 2023 series will offer
competitors a good geographical spread and a good date balance, with the first
round taking place at the end of March, the final round at the end of October and
only one event taking place over the months of June, July and August, providing
plenty of time for mid-season car refurbishments in the summer break.
Each event will have an ultra-compact one-day format, with around 45 stage miles
and minimal road mileage.
Thanks to the outstanding work of Rally 4 Wales, the Welsh forest stages are always
in excellent condition. These super smooth world-class road conditions have seen
the Historic and smaller capacity car entries grow and the very successful
introduction of a Road Rally class, whilst it has also attracted top-class competition
from Ireland, Scotland, England the Isle of Man, and of course the home nation of
Wales.
The 2023 season will start with the Get Jerky Rally North Wales on Saturday 25
March. Organised by Wolverhampton & South Staffs Car Club, the event will move
from its traditional base in Dolgellau to Welshpool, which is home to the event's new
title sponsor. An exciting new route is being planned, featuring some classic forest
stages.
Round 2 will be the Rallynuts Stages Rally on Saturday 15 April. Organised by
Midland Manor Motor Club, the event is based at the Royal Welsh Showground in
Llanelwedd and has stages in the nearby mid-Wales forests.
The Plains Rally, which successfully moved to its new home of Bala this year, hosts
Round 3. The Knutsford & District Motor Club event will take place on Saturday 20
May, with another tight and compact route like the one which was so well received
by competitors in 2022.
Round 4 will be the Nicky Grist Stages on Saturday 8 July. Based in Builth Wells,
with the start, finish and service area all located in the town centre, the Quinton
Motor Club event will contain super-smooth stages in the classic mid-Wales forests
in and around the Epynt military range.
The Phil Price Memorial Woodpecker Stages Rally is another hugely popular event
that traditionally features some fantastic challenging stages and very low road
mileage. The Sixty and Worcestershire Motor Club organised event will be based at
Ludlow Racecourse and hosts Round 5 on Saturday 9 September.
The stunning Wales/England border is also the setting for the sixth and penultimate
round of the 2023 Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship, the Wyedean Rally.
Organised by Forest of Dean Motor Club, the event will take place on Saturday 14
October.
The seventh and final round will be the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally, which takes
place on Saturday 28 October. The North Wales Car Club organised event will be
based in Llandudno and incorporates some of the most classic former Wales Rally
GB stages in the north of the principality.
Following on from the success of recent years, each round of the 2023 Pirelli
Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship will be filmed and live-streamed online, with
expert commentary, driver interviews and much more.
Dave Evison, Pirelli Ravenol Welsh National Rally Championship, said: "Firstly I
have to say a massive thank you to all the individual event organisers. Recently the
pandemic held back their thinking, and now with it behind us they are looking to do
things differently. What you might ask? Well, you will have to come and join us to
find out! We have tweaked the class structure and the calendar with seven events,
with the best five scores to count, and we will also use Sportity so that all the
championship information is easily accessible and in one place. The main
ingredients remain - friendly competition on the best stages in the world!"
Further details on the 2023 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship
can be found online at: wnrc.wamc.org.uk.
2023 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship
25 March.......Get Jerky Rally North Wales
15 April.......Rallynuts Stages Rally
20 May.......Plains Rally
8 July.......Nicky Grist Stages
9 September.......Phil Price Memorial Woodpecker Stages
14 October.......Wyedean Rally
28 October.......Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally
For more information, please contact:
Dave Evison
Secretary, Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Paul Evans
Press Officer, Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Picture captions
Bob Ceen/Shaun Layland (Ford Fiesta R5)
Paul Walker/Geraint Thomas (Subaru Impreza)
Andrew Fox/Jaime-Lee Fox (BMW 325)
Ashley Davies/Sam Fordham (Ford Escort Mk2)
Jonathan Brace/Paul Spooner (Ford Escort Mk1 RS1600)
Pictures by Paul Mitchell. Please credit 'Paul Mitchell Photography' if used.
paulmitchellphotography@gmail.
