… 2015 Rall Wales GB Route details and Timetable …
This year’s Wales Rally GB (12-15 November) is set to be an even bigger stand-out hit with competitors and fans alike.
Mike Faulkner and Peter Foy, National Rally winners
The concluding round of the 2015 FIA World Rally Championship will again be based in Deeside, with the majority of the timed Special Stages set in the legendary forests of north and mid-Wales.
November’s three-day schedule includes 19 Special Stages totalling 312km (191 miles) of established classic tests and welcomes back the famous Myherin and iconic Great Orme stages last seen in 2013. The route features the family-friendly RallyFest at Chirk Castle, as well as the unique challenge of two stages run in darkness on Saturday evening.
After two years of hosting the Ceremonial Finish, the seaside town of Llandudno in Conwy County will this year play host to the Ceremonial Start, while the Finish will switch to Deeside, extending the opening times of the hugely popular Service Park into Sunday and ensuring that teams and fans can share in the end of season champagne celebrations.
Once again, access to the Service Park, as well as to the Start, Finish and the regroups in Newtown on Friday and Llandudno on Sunday morning will be free of charge. Last year, these areas provided more than 40,000 visitors with a fabulous chance to experience all the atmosphere of the FIA World Rally Championship for free.
Tickets now on sale
Wales Rally GB tickets went on sale today (Wednesday). New for 2015, organisers have created a completely revised ticketing policy, moving to electronic tickets, reducing advanced prices and simplifying the ticket buying process.
The price of the premium four-day World Rally Pass, providing access to all 19 special stages as well as Thursday’s pre-event Shakedown, has again been held at £99 for the sixth year. Befitting the value of this prestigious ticket, fans will still receive their pass and lanyard by post.
Forest Passes have been reduced by 25 per cent from £33 in 2014 to just £25 – these give access to all the stages on the selected day (except Saturday’s RallyFest at Chirk Castle).
Chirk Castle is the only RallyFest stage this year and tickets have been held at last year’s price of £25 for an adult ticket, but a family ticket allows entry for two adults and up to three children for just £45.
All adult tickets include free car parking* and a free programme worth £9. Children aged 8 and under go free, while those aged 9-15 can view the action for just £1 under the on-going ‘kids for a quid’ scheme.
Fans can still turn up on the day of the event, but entry to any single stage will be priced at £30 on the gate, making a significant discount for the advanced booking offer. And, thanks to the new electronic system, advanced tickets will be available for purchase until the day before the event and customers will have the convenience of printing their own online tickets. This process also enables a reduction in booking fees for all customers and the removal of postage charges for all e-tickets.
Full details of all 2015 Wales Rally GB tickets – including terms and conditions – can be found on the official www.walesrallygb.com website.
Ben Taylor, Wales Rally GB Managing Director: “The event has received many plaudits and awards since it moved to its new base in north Wales, but we are far from resting on our laurels. We are always looking at ways to improve the rally for both competitors and spectators and this year’s revised route combines the best bits from the past two years for those in the cars – Myherin is a real favourite with the drivers and the Great Orme provides one of the sport’s most dramatic settings.
“But it is on the commercial side that we have taken the most significant steps this year. We have completely revised our offering to customers with a new ticketing strategy that encourages fans to buy in advance to get the best prices, while the move to e-ticketing not only makes the process easier but also saves them more money on the booking fees and postage costs. Getting people to buy in advance makes a substantial difference to our ability to plan the event properly, so we have cut the Forest Day Passes to just £25 this year, which is incredible value for money.
“Of course, the whole event would not be possible without the amazing support of our partners, principally the Welsh Government, Conwy County Borough Council, Natural Resources Wales and all the other authorities and organisations who make bringing a World Championship event to the region possible.”
Ken Skates, Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism: “We’re looking forward to the 2015 event and building on the past two years which have been such a success with fans and competitors alike and have given a major boost to the north Wales economy. Wales Rally GB remains one of our flagship events and the RallyFests have worked well to extend the appeal of the Rally and the new ticketing policy will also serve to make the event even more accessible.”
Cllr Graham Rees, Cabinet Member for Tourism, Marketing & Leisure at Conwy County Borough Council: “We’re very proud of our partnership with Wales Rally GB. As Host County we’re thrilled to welcome the event back to north Wales again this year, and we know many fans will be looking forward to the return of the exciting Great Orme stage in Llandudno.”
Tim Jones, Natural Resources Wales Executive Director Operations North and Mid Wales: “This major event attracts thousands of people into our forests, bringing a variety of social and economic benefits to the communities who live here. So we are pleased to be working with the WRGB again this year to provide some of the legendary Welsh forest stages of the event.”
Elfyn Evans, M-Sport Fiesta RS WRC driver: “It goes without saying that Wales Rally GB is always the highlight of my season and this year’s event looks set to be one of the best yet. Incorporating some iconic stages, the organisers have done a brilliant job and it looks like it’s going to be a fantastic event for competitors and spectators alike.
“I’m particularly pleased to see the return of Myherin. It’s one of those stages that epitomises Welsh rallying and is a real pleasure to drive. For a driver, there really is no better feeling than competing on your home event and this year’s route has all the makings of a real classic.”
Thursday, 12 November 2015
Fans get their first chance to see the stars and cars from the FIA World Rally Championship in action during the official pre-event Shakedown taking place in Clocaenog Forest on Thursday morning. It’s during this final warm-up that the teams make their last minute preparations for the competitive sections ahead. A huge crowd is guaranteed for the Ceremonial Start in Llandudno town centre on Thursday evening which will be preceded by the popular Autograph Session in its Venue Cymru conference centre.
Friday, 13 November 2015
The dramatic high-speed competition blasts off in spectacular fashion with three stages in the legendary forests of mid-Wales to the east of Aberystwyth, each tackled twice either side of a lunchtime regroup on the busy streets of Newtown. The demanding 20-mile (32km) timed section through the renowned Hafren Forest is followed by the shorter Sweet Lamb stage with its fabulous viewing opportunities that make it hugely popular with spectators. The third of Friday’s tests sees the return of the famous Myherin stage, rated by many of the sport’s top drivers as one of their favourites on the entire WRC calendar.
Saturday, 14 November 2015
Saturday offers another long, challenging and action-packed day, starting with back-to-back runs through the classic Gartheiniog and Dyfi forests to the north of Machynlleth. The route returns to the bustling Deeside Service Park in mid-afternoon via the fast and tricky Dyfnant and Aberhirnant stages and the well-established, family-friendly RallyFest at Chirk Castle. With additional lights fitted during a 30-minute service in Deeside, the crews then set out for a second run through both Dyfnant and Aberhirnant, this time under cover of darkness, before returning to Service for Saturday night’s entertainment.
Sunday, 15 November 2015
Sunday is a shorter – but no less spectacular – day set entirely in north Wales. The Brenig and Alwen stages introduced last year both feature again, with the second run through Brenig being Wales Rally GB’s concluding ‘Power Stage’ screened live to TV audiences around the globe. In-between comes the iconic test around the Great Orme, followed by a regroup in Llandudno, giving the public another great chance to see the cars up close. This year’s Ceremonial Finish and prize-giving have been relocated to the Service Park at Deeside, ensuring that celebrations can take place among the teams and fans to create a memorable finale to the 2015 WRC season.
*Separate parking charges may be in place on the Great Orme.
2015 WALES RALLY GB
Thursday 12 November:
18:30 Ceremonial Start: Mostyn Street, Llandudno
Overnight Deeside Service Park
Friday 13 November:
09:24 SS1: Hafren 1
10:07 SS2: Sweet Lamb 1
10:24 SS3: Myherin 1
11:54 Regroup: Newtown
13:32 SS4: Hafren 2
14:15 SS5: Sweet Lamb 2
14:32 SS6: Myherin 2
18:04 Service: Deeside Service Park
Overnight Deeside Service Park
Saturday 14 November:
07:29 SS7: Gartheiniog 1
07:58 SS8: Dyfi 1
09:38 SS9: Gartheiniog 2
10:07 SS10: Dyfi 2
11:50 SS11: Dyfnant 1
12:48 SS12: Aberhirnant 1
14:26 SS13: Chirk Castle RallyFest
15:37 Service: Deeside Service Park
18:18 SS14: Dyfnant 2
19:16 SS15: Aberhirnant 2
21:09 Service: Deeside Service Park
Overnight Deeside Service Park
Sunday 15 November:
08:26 SS16: Brenig 1
08:53 SS17: Alwen
10:11 SS18: Great Orme
10:23 Regroup: Llandudno
12:08 SS19: Brenig 2 (Power Stage)
14:00 Ceremonial Finish: Deeside Service Park
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