World Rally Championship R11 2018 - Wales

[tbtstt]

Popped up to Wales last weekend with a mate to check out a day of WRC action. I was advised to get there early, so we arrived Friday night, slept in the car overnight and then roamed the stage (Myherin) for the day.

I was there to spectate rather than for photography, but I couldn’t resist taking a few snaps…









The vast majority of cars in the International group were R5 cars competing in the WRC2 class. I am a huge fan of the R5 category and it was brilliant to see such a strong entry.









Always good to see a sideways Escort!









Still the best shape in modern rally!









There was (predictably for a Welsh forest) zero phone reception in the stage, so it was only on the way home that we learned Ogier had taken the win after Tanak broke down shortly after passing us.

Having now seen them in person I would say that the current specification World Rally Cars deserve every bit of hype surrounding them: they are unbelievably rapid and really move around on the stage. Was worth sleeping in a cold car to see them!

[Steve_PPP]

Awesome mate. I'm really missing rally action these days, haven't been to Rally GB in 5 or 6 years now after going every year since '99.

Great photos.... maybe next year!

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by Steve_PPP

Awesome mate. I'm really missing rally action these days, haven't been to Rally GB in 5 or 6 years now after going every year since '99.

I haven't been to a rally for a few years - and I was a bit wary of Rally GB as I heard that it was difficult to roam on the stages - but a mate wanted to attempt it over a couple of days with an overnight car sleep, so we decided to give it a try.

The timing of the rally worked out really well, as the stages on the Saturday were the furthest South of the event, so they were the closest (relatively speaking!) to home. We got lucky with the weather as, although it rained Friday night, it wasn't that cold so sleeping in the car wasn't too bad.

Originally Posted by Steve_PPP

Great photos.... maybe next year!

I would certainly like to make it there again next year: will be keeping a close eye on the weather before I commit to a similar plan though!

[Banstead Stig]

Steve, was this in Welsh Wales?

Nice pics.

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by Banstead Stig

Steve, was this in Welsh Wales?

Deepest, darkest, Welsh Wales!

[Banstead Stig]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

Deepest, darkest, Welsh Wales!

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by Banstead Stig

Myherin was actually the most Southerly of all the stages (hence why we picked it) and I'd say it was mid-Wales: every other stage on Saturday was in that area and stages on the other days were all much further North.

It's a little frustrating that the "Rally of Great Britain" takes place exclusively in Wales, but when you see the stages there you can understand why: there is nowhere else in the UK that offers similar terrain.

[Steve_PPP]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

Myherin was actually the most Southerly of all the stages (hence why we picked it) and I'd say it was mid-Wales: every other stage on Saturday was in that area and stages on the other days were all much further North.

When i used to follow the rally around (used to do all 3 days each year) Myherin was pretty much the furthest north! Well... I guess Sweetlamb and Hafren are slightly further up but we're talking a few miles as all 3 stages were in the same loop.

Was much easier down the stages in the valleys/brecon beacons than trekking all the way up to north wales.

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by Steve_PPP

When i used to follow the rally around (used to do all 3 days each year) Myherin was pretty much the furthest north! Well... I guess Sweetlamb and Hafren are slightly further up but we're talking a few miles as all 3 stages were in the same loop.

Was much easier down the stages in the valleys/brecon beacons than trekking all the way up to north wales.

Yeah, the access roads to Myherin and Sweet Lamb/Hafren were very close together, like you say those are very closely bunched.

Myherin ran first thing Saturday morning and the second pass was mid-afternoon, so the timing worked out well to get back on the road at a reasonable time. It was also one of the car parks offering overnight parking, so it was the easy choice!

Just for reference here is this years map:

https://walesrallygb.com/documents/2...ap_(05_04).pdf

Definitely didn't favour those coming from the South!

[Steve_PPP]

Yeah. Compare that route to as recent as 2012!



Crychan, Halfway, Rheola, Rhondda, Resolfen, Margam/Port Talbot were all awesome stages. Shame they're not used anymore.... even Brechfa & Trawscoed which were further West (just past Carmarthen) were good fun.
Of the current route, i've not done any stages north of Hafren...

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by Steve_PPP

Yeah. Compare that route to as recent as 2012!



Crychan, Halfway, Rheola, Rhondda, Resolfen, Margam/Port Talbot were all awesome stages. Shame they're not used anymore.... even Brechfa & Trawscoed which were further West (just past Carmarthen) were good fun.
Of the current route, i've not done any stages north of Hafren...

Wow. I must confess I didn't realize that Rally GB had withdrawn it's coverage of Wales quite so much.