Posted: June 26, 2021 7:19 AM - 1742 Hits
WAS (Sat) 22 May 21 / WAS (Sat) 14 Aug 21
Counting Round - 2021 BTRDA Rally Series
Posted: June 26, 2021 7:19 AM
The organisers of the Plains Rally, Knutsford & District Motor Club Limited,
regret to announce the cancellation of this year’s event.
After careful and detailed consideration, the Plains Rally, scheduled to run on
Saturday 14th August, and a qualifying round of the Fuchs Lubricants
Motorsport UK British Historic Rally Championship, Fuchs Lubricants RACRMC
Asphalt/Rally2 Mixed Surface Rally Championship, Crew 25 Rally
Championship, MRF Tyres BTRDA® Rally Series, Pirelli Motorsport UK Welsh
Forest Stage Championship, ANWCC Forest Rally Championship, SD34 Stage
Rally Championship, and 2021 Lion Cup, has sadly been cancelled.
The current spread of delta variant CV19, and the ability to travel, is a major
concern for the organisers. Most of the organising team are based in
Northwest England, and while there are no travel bans in place, between
Northwest England, and Wales, the current official advice is to avoid travel
to/from areas of high infection. The organisers have a duty of care and social
responsibility to the residents of the local communities that our event passes
through, and we feel that it’s important that we respect the official advice and
not travel at this time to conduct the necessary pre-event public relations
work, which, on completion, would allow us to move forward to a fully
authorised event. The organisers are also concerned that as delta variant CV19
continues to spread, travel restrictions, be they voluntary, or mandatory,
would lead to a loss of entries and marshals, since we will be respecting official
travel advice, we cannot expect others to ignore it. Equally, the question of
inviting spectators to the event, was a cause for concern. As enthusiasts, our
natural inclination, is to invite spectators and welcome them with open arms,
allowing them to enjoy a full spectator experience. But, while spectators are
enjoying that experience, the event organisers are responsible for their safety
under Motorsport UK Regulations; while CV19 restrictions remain in place, that
responsibility extends to ensuring spectators stay within their own bubble and
maintain social distancing, we must also work within, and respect Local
Authority guidance to protect public health under CV19 legislation, and we
simply do not have the necessary resources to achieve these requirements.
It is hugely disappointing that we have had to cancel the event, but we take
our responsibilities to the sport, the residents of the local communities the
event travels through, and members of the public visiting these communities
and forests, be they spectators, or engaged in other leisure pastimes, very
seriously. With the help of NRW and R4W, the organisers had planned a
compact route, utilising classic mid-Wales stages, all of which being in
exceptionally good condition. We are incredibly grateful to everyone that has
helped us develop our event, and sorry that all their hard work can’t deliver
the event we were looking forward to. Our attention now turns to the 2022
Plains Rally on Saturday, 21st May.
Les Sharp
Clerk of Course
Posted: January 15, 2021 12:02 PM
The organisers of the Plains Rally have taken the decision to postpone the event scheduled for Saturday 22nd May. While the decision to postpone was difficult, the organisers feel that it was the only sensible decision given the current position with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic. A qualifying round of the following prestigious National and Regional Rally Championships: