Rally North Wales (Bulldog) - CANCELLED

UK Rally Ltd statement 24th March 2014

Posted: March 28, 2014 8:49 AM

UK Rally Ltd, the promoter of the MSA British Rally Championship, shares the disappointment of the organisers of Rally North Wales in making the difficult decision to cancel the event and has issued the following statement:

The cancellation of Rally North Wales, a round of the MSA British Rally Championship, MSA British Historic Rally Championship and MSA Welsh Rally Championship was the result of the combined effect of a shortage of entries on all constituent parts of the rally.

The issues that faced Rally North Wales are not unique and the remaining events face similar challenges. However, most benefit from additional income from local authorities and external partnerships, both of which were lacking in this case.

The team at UK Rally Ltd has always strived to deliver the highest of professional standards, acting in the interests of stakeholders of the sport to manage wide-ranging aspirations.

UK Rally Ltd is on public record, it is run as a not-for-profit organisation with revenue re invested in promoting and developing a broad mix of media including TV, social and new media platforms, presence at non motorsport promotional events, media and open days, plus the search and activation of sponsorship.

During its tenure it has succeeded in fulfilling its objectives, developed new talent who are succeeding at international level and sustained a commercially viable series, despite experiencing one of the harshest of economic recessions on record.

Following a consultation with all its current stakeholders, UK Rally will submit a tender for the next period and if successful will work with the MSA in support of a new strategy.

Should the tender be unsuccessful, the team will continue to work to the utmost professional standards to ensure a smooth hand over.

2014 is predicted to be another difficult year as competitor numbers are down across the board, as a result of motorsport trailing behind the economic recovery. However, while there are promising signs of sponsorship upturn, leading agencies suggest that more favourable football and rugby properties are available and motorsport will need to 'stand in line'.

In the face of these challenges the stage rally community must unite, set aside vested interest to give focus on evolving and sustaining the sport we all share a passion for.

STATEMENT FROM MSA

Posted: March 23, 2014 8:52 AM

The Motor Sports Association, governing body of UK motor sport, regrets that Wolverhampton & South Staffordshire Car Club has been forced to cancel next month’s Welshpool-based Rally North Wales, owing to a lack of entries. The event had been due to form the opening round of the 2014 MSA British Rally Championship.

Rob Jones, MSA Chief Executive:

“We are naturally disappointed for all those involved with this event. Like everyone that organises motor sport events, they have put in many long hours of their own free time simply to get it ready for the competitors and spectators. It is a bitter blow for the team to have to cancel the event at such a late stage, but they cannot of course ignore the financial realities which they faced.

“We have been working closely with the event organisers to assist them over the past few weeks, and must now identify with them the issues which led to this situation. Stage rallying is a critical part of the fabric of British motor sport and the MSA has to be prepared to consider radical changes which is why the current tender for the BRC invites free ranging initiatives from prospective promoters.”

2014 Rally North Wales cancelled

Posted: March 23, 2014 8:49 AM

Wolverhampton & South Staffordshire Car Club Ltd regrets to announce it has been forced to cancel next month’s Welshpool-based Rally North Wales (April 5th) due to insufficient entries and the consequential potential loss of more than £10,000.

When the Entry List officially closed at 21.00 hours today (Friday 21st March) less than 80 paid entries had been received.

“We needed 106 entries just to break-even this year. With less than 80 entries the Club was facing a potential loss of in excess of £10k, which we simply cannot afford. Cancelling last year’s rally cost the Club a similar amount and wiped out any contingency funding for this year.” said Guy Weaver, Chairman of W&SSCC Ltd.

He continued by saying,
“I wish to put on record the Club’s thanks to Clerk of the Course, Kevin Witton and his organising team for their hard work over the last year in producing what we believe would have been an excellent event. The Club cannot sustain this level of loss for a second consecutive year. All entry fees received will be returned in full.”

The event would have been the first of seven rounds in the 2014 MSA British Rally Championship and a qualifying round of the MSA Mintex British Historic and the MSA Pirelli Welsh Stage Championships.

BRC Manager Mark Taylor said,
"I feel for the organising team who have done all they can under the circumstances, committing many months of tireless work to run what was shaping up to be a first class rally. The forests are apparently in first class condition; arguably the best in Europe and it is a real shame that the rally has a significant gap in the finances to make it viable.

"It would seem that alongside current uncertainties and lack of available sponsorship, motorsport seems to be lagging behind in the economic recovery, taking its toll on stage rallying."

The first round of the Championship will now be the Pirelli Carlisle RB Foundation Rally on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th May. The Championship regulations provide for the loss of a qualifying round, which now means that the BRC will be decided over six qualifying events and seven rounds, with competitors discounting their two single worst scores.

RALLY NORTH WALES 4/5 April 2014

Posted: March 18, 2014 11:18 AM

Some of the forest stages which helped rejuvenate last November's Wales Rally GB and were praised by FIA World Rally Championship drivers, including reigning Champion Sebastien Ogier, will soon host Rally North Wales, when three of the MSA's most prestigious Rally Championships come together for the first time this year.

From newcomers to committed Championship contenders, the three individual rallies within the Welshpool-based event offer superb gravel road special stages which, for the majority of participants, will only be used once. On the sporting menu are WRGB classics such as Dyfi, Dyfnant, Gartheiniog and Penllyn.

"This year, the majority of our participants will drive competitively over the special stages only once, so we expect the already non-damaging forestry roads to be in prime condition, especially for crews with Historic cars and those competing in the smaller-engined classes", said Rally Manager Kevin Witton.

Only those entered in the 80-stage-mile National A rally (which qualifies for the MSA British Rally Championship) will contest the Dyfi Main and Gartheiniog 2 stages.

The organisers, Wolverhampton & South Staffordshire Car Club Ltd, welcome both championship and non-championship drivers and co-drivers in any category of car - current or Historic - in all three rallies, providing their vehicles comply with the Event Supplementary Regulations.

Contenders in the MSA Mintex British Historic Rally Championship and the NGK Spark Plugs BRC Challenge Trophy (the integrated support series within the MSA BRC) will compete over five, single-use special stages totalling 50 miles.

The National B rally, primarily to accommodate contenders in the televised Pirelli MSA Welsh Stage Championship, will be decided over 44 miles of competitive driving, divided into four single-use stages. Non-championship-registered drivers in all categories of cars are also eligible to enter.

This year's 'mini rally', designed especially for newcomers to forest special stages, features three special stages and 22 quality stages miles for £275. It is open to anyone with a non-turbocharged, two-wheel drive car up to 1600c, which complies with MSA General Regulation R46. With no opportunity for service between the three stages, this further reduces the cost for participants.

To further encourage entries, all entry fees can be paid in two instalments.

Full details are on the event website (link below)

This year's compact event begins in Welshpool Town Centre with a Ceremonial Start on the evening of Friday 4 April. All three rallies finish, at various times, in the Town Centre on Saturday 5 April.

Rally HQ and the main Service Area will be on the Welshpool Livestock Sales site at Buttington Cross, on the outskirts of Welshpool. There will also be a Service Area in Dolgellau.

Rally Guide 1, Supplementary Regulations, entry forms and spectator information can be downloaded from the event website.

Regulations / On Line Entry

Posted: February 23, 2014 7:35 PM

Available at:

• Rally North Wales

Rally North Wales welcomes all

Posted: February 12, 2014 3:04 PM

Everyone welcome! Is the message from the organisers of Rally North Wales, the opening round of the MSA British Rally Championship, based in Welshpool and using the “Best stages in the world” according to nine times WRC champion Sebastian Loeb.

The all-daylight event takes place on Saturday 5th April, with a ceremonial start in Welshpool town centre from 17:00hrs on Friday. There is plenty of action for everyone, with three events in one; Rally North Wales hosting the British Historic and Welsh Rally Championships as well as the BRC.
v The BRC cars will be first on the road, crews in the all two-wheel drive championship relishing the opportunity to get back in the Welsh forests. With three spectator areas, there is ample opportunity to see the action and get closer to the cars in service areas in Welshpool and Dolgellau.

“The organising team has bounced back with renewed energy, returning to a one day format and devising an event that will satisfy the aspirations of everyone who enjoys our classic forest stages.” said Rally Manager Kevin Witton.

Rally Guide 1

Posted: February 4, 2014 11:33 AM

Available at:

• Rally North Wales

Preliminary Details

Posted: January 23, 2014 12:19 PM

• One-day (Saturday) event in popular mid-Wales forests.
• Two separate Rallies; one National A and one National B status.
• A qualifying round of three major MSA Rally Championships; MSA BRC, Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship (MSA BHRC) and the MSA Pirelli Welsh Forest Rally Championship.
• Both rallies open to modern and historic cars.
• Both rallies open to non-championship-registered drivers and co-drivers. April’s Rally North Wales – organised by W&SSCC - will revert to a one-day format with Scrutineering (and Reconnaissance for MSA BRC crews) on Friday 4th April.
  
  Based in Welshpool the all-daylight event will comprise of two distinct rallies, a National A and a National B.
  
  The National A rally will be the opening round of the MSA British Rally Championship and round two the Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship.
  
  MSA BRC contenders will run first on the road and compete over 80 stage miles.
  
  Teams in the MSA BHRC and the BRC ‘Challenge’ (the support series to the MSA BRC) will compete over 50 miles of single–use special stages on good quality forest roads.
  
  The National A rally will, in addition, be open to non-championship-registered drivers provided that their cars – current or Historic - comply with the events Supplementary Regulations.
  
  The National B rally, primarily to accommodate contenders in the Pirelli MSA Welsh Forest Rally Championship, will also offer its 45 miles of single-use stages to non-championship-registered drivers in all categories of cars.
  
  Rally HQ and the main Service Area will be on the Welshpool Livestock Sales site at Buttington Cross on the outskirts of Welshpool. There will also be a Service Area in Dolgellau.
  
  Welshpool Town Centre will host the Ceremonial Start on Friday evening and the Finish on Saturday.
  
  “Despite the disappointment of being forced to cancel last year’s Morris Lubricants sponsored Rally due to the vast amount of snow, the organising team have bounced back with renewed energy and devised an event that will satisfy the aspirations of everyone who enjoys competing on our classic forest stages. The return to the one day format will keep overall costs to a minimum and together with the single-use of most stages, should make our event a very attractive proposition to everyone. There will be more news of an opportunity aimed at newcomers to stage rallying in the coming months”, said Rally Manager Kevin Witton.

Event / Club Websites

Posted: January 23, 2014 12:18 PM

• Rally North Wales
• Wolverhampton & South Staffs Car Club (Bulldog Rally)