Good news for local rally fans as a new date is revealed for the previously postponed Mid Wales Stages.
Newtown and District Automobile Club have confirmed the Grooms Garage Mid Wales Stages 2018 will take place on 27 May.
It had been due to take place on 4 March, but heavy snow and the winter conditions saw organisers postpone it as set up crews could not access the stages.
"Having trawled the British rallying calendar, the organisers managed to find a new date which would fit with championships and volunteers and have worked hard to retain many of the key features of the event for crews to enjoy," said a statement from the automobile club.
The one-day, 44 stage mile event will be based from The Hafren in Newtown and will utilise world-class forest tests in the Hafren Forest complex, as used on the World Rally Championship round, Wales Rally GB.
The event will also head into the Carno forest complex as used by the Forest Experience Rally School. This rarely used venue will provide a unique twist to the format which provides competitors with a compact, fun event across legendary forest tests.
The planned Sweet Lamb stage which was scheduled to be part of the route will not be available next month due to lambing season.
Returning to the Mid Wales Stages despite its date change, will be the Pirelli MSA Welsh Stage Rally Championship, the Restruct Ltd & www.jelfmotorsport.com Welsh Mixed Surface Championship, the Brian Dennis Motorsport Welsh Historic Rally Championship, the West Wales Rally Spares HRCR Stage Masters Challenge, the ANWCC Forest Rally Championship and the FMP Rally Challenge.
Each competitor who had originally entered the March event have been contacted individually and had their entries automatically transferred to the new date if required, with over half taking up the option.
Clerk of the Course Wayne Jones is hoping to attract other crews who may not have been able to make the original date.
“We are indebted to the championships and landowners who have been extremely helpful; in sourcing a new date for the event to run and of course our competitors who have supported us in coming back again in May,” he said.
“We hope that the new date will encourage other competitors and marshals to join us for a compact and enjoyable day’s rallying in stages which are in great condition thanks to being widely underused."
More details and event regulations are now available at www.midwalesstages.co.uk
Photo ©Mark Griffin
