N Wales rally base confirmed in Deeside !"
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N Wales rally base confirmed in Deeside !"
Prices 'slashed' from £130 to £99 - i.e. Put back to 2011 prices because they finally found the point of diminishing returns. It remains to be seen how much the stage prices are and whether they are going to distiguish between the traditional stages and those with 'spectator facilities'.
"...the move to North Wales has a number of significant advantages. Most importantly, perhaps, we are closer to the sport’s traditional heartlands, some iconic rally forests, as well as being within a short drive of some of the larger conurbations in the UK such as Liverpool, Manchester and the Midlands."
" Taking those factors into account, as well as our new ticket pricing policy which is designed to cater for both hardcore rally fans and a wider family audience, we are confident that the 2013 Wales Rally GB will be a highlight on the motor sport calendar.”
Cant argue - it makes sense on all levels... :)
I cant wait - WRGB based less than 15 miles from me now !! :bounce:
I cant wait for the route to be announced. Press release says it will be ready by end of May.
They also mention that new pricing policy will be introduced, but so far it only seems to be the same as 2011. Let's wait and see, and hope for a change for good this time!
It shows how far we still have to go when there is no mention of this news on the BBC Sport website... :(
In fact to find it at all I had to look under News; Wales; North East Wales... how well hidden is that ??!!! :rolleyes:
BBC News - North East Waleshttp://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/wales/22290596
To be perfectly honest - why would they mention it?? It's not a 'National' sporting event.......
That's what you get when you let the tourist board run things. They want people to come to Wales when it is sunny and enjoyable, so that sensible people can have a sensible vacation at a sensible price. What they have completely ignored is that rally fans are not sensible people. Where the idea of standing around a freezing Welsh forest at four in the morning to get splattered with wet, slushy mud from a passing rally car would likely have the tourist board looking aghast, they clearly don't understand that to a rally fan, that's half the fun.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mintexmemory
Absolutely, the planning, the open air cooking etc. The other thing that 'marketing' companies can't get into their heads (though they keep trying) is that rally fans are not circuit racing crowds or concert goers and not prepared to be treated like cattle when they can find alternative access to the stages.Quote:
Originally Posted by Prisoner Monkeys
Now all we have to do is hope for a good route. The relocation to Deeside should help in that respect. Everyone wants to see a return to the classic forest stages of yesteryear, and I count myself among them, but I also think that the move to Deeside creates a unique opportunity to make some modern classics.
Abandon all of the stages that were first run after the rally moved to Cardiff, and replace them with new stuff. Balance that against the likes of Clocaenog and all the good old stuff, and make an entirely new event out of it. After all, that's the point of moving to Deeside. No-one wants to see the same route as has been run in previous years, with the only difference being that the rally is based in Deeside, rather than Cardiff. That's the kind of decision the tourist board makes.
The 2011 route should be a good starting point: 2011 Wales Rally GB - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I've heard that most of Clocaenog is out of bounds due to a Windfarm development going in there...
Have they actually started building the new w/farm yet? Thought they were still arguing over it.
Cloccy as of yet isn't wholly out of bounds , I wouldn't worry too much yet
If what I hear is true, route will be a good one. Shame Bulldog Rally of NW didnt run, but I suspect Cambrian will have a good entry ;-) oh and its a bit late for Citroen and VW to enter the Plains now.
Don't we get the official announcement today? - The Plains stages were always going to be 'in' - I'll be at Sweet Lamb bowl on SaturdayQuote:
Originally Posted by MJW
Friday apparently for official announcement.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mintexmemory
Let the planning for the 2013 event begin! My sixth in a row, cant wait for it. I hope all those promises for a better route to be finally fullfilled
We should meet up! I'll be wearing my 'sick dogs' XXL t-shirt ;) - I'm doing shakedown to finish this year for only the 2nd time.Quote:
Originally Posted by makinen_fan
Yes we should meet at some point with our sick dog t-shirts :p . I will be doing the whole event as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mintexmemory
I wanted to do Plains rally as well as a 'warm-up' but cost is too high for just 2 stages.
Well I'm travelling from Ludlow to Sweet Lamb on Saturday morning (aiming to arrive at about 11 am) and there is space in the car if you want to join me and and my lady friend if I'm passing anywhere near you (starting from Travelodge at Woofferton). Just doing the one stage but will catch the Historics and the 1400 class fields as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by makinen_fan
PM me if you are interested
I guess from your flickr pics that you are London-based so the route from Ludlow to Sweet Lamb won't be passing near you! (Wondered why Dim liked the post!!)
Indeed i am London-based. I send you a PM now about the Plains rally, many thanks for offering that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mintexmemory
I do not know about dimvii :p Appreciating your kind offer maybe ;)
Probably a good thing - most of the motorsports media has been concentrated on the McLaren-Honda deal that was announced last night.Quote:
Originally Posted by MJW
Though the decisions to wait until Friday was probably more incidental than intentional.
Lookin forward to hearing what the route is. I'll be happy if hafren is kept in the route. Off to thenPlains Rally myself this morning so hopefully they announce stages in gartheiniog and Dyfi again.
Dyfnant & Sweet Lamb (obviously Great Orme too) are on the route. Only a few hours to the announcement of the whole itinerary.
Do we know which day Dyfnant is on yet? I'm excited :)
Voiceofrally:
Hafren, Sweet Lamb, Myherin, Dyfnant, Dyfi, Gartheiniog, Penllyn, Penmachno, Clocaenog, Gwydnr, Great Orme all included. 3 night stages!!!
But which three?
Thursday the 3 night stages?
Yes Gwdyr, Cloc and Penmachno - then all repeated on SundayQuote:
Originally Posted by MartijnS
It looks like you're right. That's what Rally of Portugal did in 2012. The difference is that Gwydyr and Penmachno will be in the itinerary on Sunday too.Quote:
Originally Posted by MartijnS
I forgot to write that there are two more stages to be announced.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BKdq2eMCEAEyRml.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by Mintexmemory
according to this Clocainog is not repeated on Sunday
According to the document above it refers to Spectator stage A in Mid Wales on saturday and Spectator stage B in Mid Wales on Sunday - I think it may be Powis Castle near Welshpool?, makes sense from looking at the map, with maximising the draw from the population bases for the weekend - hopefully after the media and nightly tv coverage have encouraged casual spectators out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kielder
Now we can see on the image that makien_fan posted that the first one will be on Saturday and the other one on Sunday. You're right that those will be the spectator stages.Quote:
Originally Posted by MJW
Yes one is in Mid-wales and the other North-Wales. Any ideas what those may be?
You edit fast, but I caught you :p .Quote:
Originally Posted by MJW
Now we can start to make our plans. Some friends of mine live in Cardiff, so most likely I'll go there to follow the rally one or two days.
My mistake - of course that is to make time for the spectator stage!Quote:
Originally Posted by makinen_fan
Well that looks compact and testing - no doubt the FIA stewards will complain about the lack of 5 star accommodation, I'm genuinely excited. I have my accomodation booked at Halkyn for Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday nights and just the one in-car 'slumber' on Friday night, Dyfnant I think.
Ticket price news?
BTW, Great Orme as the last stage & PS of the rally will be very interesting. I can imagine that the helicopter camera won't lose the track of Ogier through the stage :) .