Yeah I get that's your opinion of the article, but you have to state the real reasons if it's not finance. Just in general will do, you dont have to name your sources.
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The 2023 Welsh championship has been confirmed:
https://wnrc.wamc.org.uk/
2023 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship
25 Mar - Rally North Wales
15 Apr - Rallynuts Stages Rally
20 May - Plains Rally
8 Jul - Nicky Grist Stages
9 Sep - Woodpecker Stages
14 Oct - Wyedean Rally
28 Oct - Cambrian Rally
They’ve dressed up the absence of the Red Kite Stages as “… and only one event taking place over the months of June, July and August, providing plenty of time for mid-season car refurbishments in the summer break.” which is understandable as it’s out of their control. But looking back on this thread it seems there’s a bit of a theme developing with a lack of early summer rallies left in this country. Kielder, Argyll and NG seems all there is between June and early July which leaves a big gap for a few championships
The Nicky Grist/Quinton, Woodpecker & Cambrian (though that did move to mid February for a few years) are the only events that are on a similar date as 15-20 years ago. All the rest have been moved;
25 Mar - Rally North Wales - Mid/late October.
15 Apr - Rallynuts Stages Rally - Late May/early June.
20 May - Plains Rally - Mid/late September.
8 Jul - Nicky Grist Stages
9 Sep - Woodpecker Stages
14 Oct - Wyedean Rally - Early February.
28 Oct - Cambrian Rally
And I recall the Red Kite being early/ mid January when run in the Epynt forests. Then in April when in Brechfa & Trawscoed in 2010.
With rising summer temperatures and associated risk of fire if a turbo car goes off think a summer break is perhaps not a bad thing. Dont like getting bitten to death by midges and dust in the camera anyway!
I reckon it's more about trying to avoid the complaints that inevitably come when competitors get stuck in the dust cloud of the car in front... though if they just allowed 2 minute gaps like the rest of the civilised world does, it wouldn't be a problem anyway :laugh:
You're partly correct... Schedule 3 of the UK Motor Vehicles (Competitions and Trials) Regulations 1969 specifies standard conditions, one of which is a maximum scheduled interval between the first and last car of 3 hours on daylight events, 2 hours at night.
MSUK have the ability to increase that 'where necessary or expedient', but it can also be side-stepped by running categories within the same event on different permits (like WRGB having a 'National' event tagged on the back).
They manage it everywhere else in the world. I don't understand people's aversion to the idea of giving competitors a reasonable gap in dusty conditions on the island of Great Britain.
Interesting that Stephen Petch has unveiled a Fabia for next year instead of the Festa Rally2. Did think as main Hyundai dealers that he may get an i20. Wonder if we will see any others switching from the Ford.