Route announced for Rally GB 2020!

[doubled1978]

ewrc-results.com shows it as one leg, so yes very unlikely all 38 stages were run in one lot! But the date listed for the event is 3rd-4th May

I don’t think there was an overnight halt as such back then, so it probably would count as 1 leg. They used did used to go straight through, perhaps an hour rest here and there... it was hard enough spectating let alone competing!

[AndyRAC]

I am somewhat cautious though, as IMS/MSUK have been known to lean on hyperbole in the past. I do wonder if it could have been a return to the forests around Epynt, with the itinerary looking similar to 2011?

Exactly, which is why I said what their 'radical', maybe different to what others mean by radical. Their BRC announcement a few years ago got people talking, then when it was revealed, it was.....nothing of the sort.

Epynt would be a welcome return; Halfway, Crychan, plus the option of some tarmac - and it can accomodate plenty of spectators, and other facilities.

[Steve Boyd]

and there is Coed-y-Brenin

Coed-y-Brenin is currently off-limits to rallying due to mountain biking & other activities, though there were times when the RAC, Welsh International and Gwynedd Stages would have had three or four stages there. Stages have also been run in the past in Beddgelert & Drws-y-Nant, though they are a bit on the short side for modern events.

[Steve Boyd]

I don’t think there was an overnight halt as such back then, so it probably would count as 1 leg. They used did used to go straight through, perhaps an hour rest here and there... it was hard enough spectating let alone competing!

It was usual to have a service and rest halt in Aberystwyth with cars spending a few hours in the re-group giving crews enough time for a couple of hours sleep and a shower before tackling the run south on the Sunday.

[AnttiL]

Surely 'radical' plans must've been more than just some different Welsh stages, or doing them in a different direction/combination.

The fact that Iain Campbell mentions that the old rally 'toured around the country' means there were thoughts of using stages elsewhere, like the Lake District ?

I agree with you and I also thought maybe they would have done one day in Grizedale instead of Mid-Wales? Just adding two new or new-old stages isn't really "radical".

Or maybe they would have driven one day on tarmac like mole55 suggested?

[AnttiL]

I wrote in my blog about the crazy 1985 RAC itinerary, partly the same thoughts we've had in this thread https://itgetsfasternow.com/2020/04/...ac-rally-1985/

I also heard there will be more old BRC maps in rally-maps soon.

[doubled1978]

Coed-y-Brenin is currently off-limits to rallying due to mountain biking & other activities, though there were times when the RAC, Welsh International and Gwynedd Stages would have had three or four stages there. Stages have also been run in the past in Beddgelert & Drws-y-Nant, though they are a bit on the short side for modern events.

I remember that the Coed-y-Brenin complex was quite big and there were a few stages in there, I didn’t know it was not really available to rallying anymore tho..shame.

[AndyRAC]

Yes, Coed-Y-Brenin, lots of Yorkshire, Sherwood Forest (which hosted the Dukeries) and many more have been lost; due to a combination of not being used and/or Mountain bike centres...

[doubled1978]

[QUOTE=AnttiL;1245898]I wrote in my blog about the crazy 1985 RAC itinerary, partly the same thoughts we've had in this thread https://itgetsfasternow.com/2020/04/...ac-rally-1985/

A really good read that, and you’re dead right there was a lot cruising when the rallies were so long. I remember 1991, we went to Dalby on the last day and it was literally like a parade, nobody trying....
Today when you spectate, every stage the guys are on it as every km matters...and normally most of the top cars are still in the rally at the end. It’s unusual to have only a few top cars left.
I think I said earlier, when you really break it down it’s the sense of adventure that I really miss, more or less everything else is better now, yes the cars themselves were pretty cool at various times. The route often had competitors and spectators trying to use the same roads at the same time, resulting in some outrageous driving (from both), today it would all be caught on camera phone and rallies banned immediately with some of the stuff I’ve seen on public roads.
Lastly I can’t not mention how bad the timing was, the rallies were almost always running late...massive gaps in the running order, you could have a few cars through and then no cars for 20 minutes or something...guys running way out of position in the order, honestly it was all over the place at times.

[HKSjbg]

...many more have been lost; due to a combination of not being used...

When you say ‘lost’ what exactly do you mean? I understand in the case of Wykeham, for example, it’s lost because a landslide means there’s no longer any through-route there... Some forests that used to be rally stages are quite clearly, even from google maps, overgrown and there’s no longer a wide enough track between the trees.

I had assumed that after rallies like the Dukeries, the Sunseeker and Tour of Hamsterley were lost (revived as a circuit rally in the case of the Dukeries) there was just no appetite to bring rally cars back into those forests, likely from local council do-gooders.

Is it a bit over simplified to say if there is a forestry logging route maintained then the roads should be suitable for rallies?