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News from Wales Rally GB 30 Nov - 2 Dec 2007 |
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Monday, 14 May 2007 |
New, spectator friendly, Service Park in Swansea.
No interruption of Cardiff ’s Millennium Stadium Stage
Few changes to the route which ran successfully in 2006
Return of competitive driving in darkness
Wales Rally GB celebrates its 75th Anniversary this year and while closely following the outline of last years proven route, the successful Service Park concept developed over the past six years at Felindre will see the competitive hub of the event move to a new site within SA1 Swansea Waterfront.
“2007 will be the seventh year that the Rally Service Park has been
located in Swansea and the Council is delighted to play host and
support it once again this year. The new venue at SA1 Swansea
Waterfront will add a new and exciting dimension to what is already a
very successful event”, said Councillor Gerald Clement, Swansea
Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Recreation & Tourism.
The £400 million development – a joint venture between the Welsh
Assembly Government and the private sector - is an extension of Swansea
City Centre and will provide a more easily accessible location for
spectators, bring rally teams closer to their accommodation and provide
permanent facilities for working media.
“SA1 is a benchmark for waterfront regeneration and everyone can
benefit from the new social, leisure and business opportunities that it
offers. Moving the Service Park – the competitive hub of Wales Rally
GB - to this impressive waterfront setting will introduce SA1 to a
world wide audience and should encourage even more visitors to the
rally”, said Gareth Hall, Director, Welsh Assembly Government’s
Department of Enterprise, Innovations and Networks (DEIN).
http://www.sa1swanseawaterfront.com
Cardiff will continue as Host City, staging the Ceremonial Start on the
evening of Thursday 29th November and the Finish in the afternoon of
Sunday 2nd December. Both will be in a new location near City Hall.
The Special Stage inside Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on Saturday 1st
December will include motorsport-themed entertainment prior to the
first rally car starting the one kilometre timed test at 7 pm, which
will then run without interruption.
The provisional three-day competitive route will feature three forest
stages in the Vale of Neath on Friday, three stages on both Forestry
Commission and Military roads north of Brecon on Saturday and two
forest stages in Carmarthenshire on Sunday. With the exception of the
Cardiff Special Stage inside the Millennium Stadium, all other timed
stages will be run twice, on the same day.
One of the original characteristics of World Championship rallies was
competitive driving at night. Subject to FIA approval, this challenge
could return to Wales Rally GB on both Friday and Saturday when the
final special stage on each Leg will be run in darkness.
“This would be fantastic” said Guy Wilks, runner up in the 2005 FIA
Junior World Rally Championship and outright winner of the opening
round of the 2007 Tesco 99 Octane British Rally Championship. “The
organisers should be credited for reintroducing what was once a feature
of World Championship Rallies. Competitive driving in darkness is a
challenge for both the driver and co-driver and provides great
atmosphere for spectators”, he added.
The final route and timetable of this year’s Wales Rally GB, the final
round of the 2007 FIA World Rally Championship, will be formally
launched in June after consultation with the FIA and the registered
manufacturer teams.
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