Please click HERE for the mileage chart showing the distances between spectator car parks - uploaded 24 August 2011
The International cars will be flagged off in Mostyn Street, Llandudno from approximately 14:30 on Thursday 10 November.
After the afternoon running of the first three competitive stages, the official Opening Ceremony will take place later the same evening on Conwy Quay, in front of Conwy Castle, from approximately 17:56. Free, family-friendly, medieval-themed entertainments, including stilt walkers, a roaming magician, a medieval magic show and hog roast, will be taking place from 16:00 onwards with fireworks over the castle heralding the arrival of the first cars shortly before 18:00. Conwy town centre will also have late night shopping until 20:00, traditional fairground rides, hot chestnut stalls, minstrels and street performers to keep visitors entertained.
Llandudno will also host the early evening remote service and overnight Parc Fermé on Thursday.
The cars participating in the National Rally will start from the Builth Wells Service Park at approximately 09:00 on Friday 11 November.
The podium celebrations for the cars in the International rally, the culmination of an extremely close World Rally Championship, will take place in the grounds of Cardiff Castle from three o'clock (15.07) on Sunday afternoon. Viewing is free of charge.
Cars participating in the National Rally will return to the Builth Wells Service Park for a Finish Ceremony at approximately 14:05 on Saturday 12 November.
At the heart of the event and new for 2011, the base for the main event Service Park will be at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells for three days. Fans will be able to watch drivers bring their cars in to be repaired and serviced in undercover buildings, as well as enjoying the trade stands, food village and big screen showing footage.
Please see Event Timetable for approximate times when the cars will arrive. Servicing times will vary during these days.
The Service Park will be open for spectators as follows:
Shakedown will take place at the Builth Wells Service Park on Wednesday 9 November from 09:00-13:00.
The Shakedown stage will use a short gravel section within the area of the Showground also being used for the event Service Park.
The top cars and drivers are allowed to make as many runs as they wish as they maike final preparations and adjustments to their cars for the competitive stages. This is therefore an ideal opportunity to get your maximum view of the top teams. It will also be possible to see the cars being prepared in the undercover buildings and to visit the trade stands.
Fans holding a World Rally Pass will be granted access to Shakedown. Alternatively tickets will be available for purchase at the gate, subject to availability.
The Great Orme stage comprises 3.3 miles of tight twisting, demanding tarmac road that follows the contours of the headland mountain which is set in the Irish Sea. The Orme is a very famous stage and was historically used on the Lombard RAC Rally, the last time being 30 years ago. It has many dangers, other than the normal contours, including the 3" high kerbs located on the seaward side, after which there is a small wall adjacent to a vertical drop to the sea.
Access to the Great Orme is very limited, due to the obvious dangers of the stage being located on the edge of a cliff face. No pedestrian access is allowed through the start or finish - the only access is by ticket only which will grant access to the road via the top of the Orme. Once on the Orme, spectators will have access to two viewing sites.
Providing a full day of entertainment, there will be catering, commentary, merchandise and a big screen available to spectators on the Great Orme. Entertainment in advance of the WRC stage will include:
Viewing Point 1 (a fairly easy walk taking about 10-15 mins from the car park)
This location offers good long viewing with limited close viewing options and limited facilities for spectators with disabilities. Spectators will not be allowed to climb areas of the Orme due to dangers involved.
Viewing Point 2 (mainly a flat walk taking about 20 mins from the car park)
From this location spectators will have the opportunity to view the cars at close quarters and see some spectacular driving as crews reach the highest point of the stage, coming into view from round a fast left into a fast right. This sequence is very fast and the cars will then power away along a very quick stretch of road which has ample viewing points. Catering and other facilities (big screen, commentary and merchandise) will be available at this location.
General advice
As the weather at the time of the event can be wet and extremely cold and the Great Orme Stage will be very exposed with little shelter, please make sure you dress accordingly with a water and wind proof jacket and sturdy footwear. As some of you may be departing in the dark, please bring a torch with you.
Disabled
There will be limited disabled parking at both car parks but access to the Great Orme Stage is not recommended for less-abled spectators who may be in wheelchairs.
More information can be found HERE
Clocaenog is a large forestry complex located west of Ruthin, last used by the rally of Great Britain in 1996. The recent harvesting work has created two clear unobstructed viewing areas showcasing a very fast stage with several areas that are quick and technical.
Making their return to the Rally of Great Britain and the World Championship after an absence of 15 years, these iconic special stages situated high in the shadow of the Snowdonian Mountains are sure to be a driver favourite. Wide roads with an excellent surface and long sweeping corners make for fast stages which should delivery excellent viewing.
Another stage returning after a long absence, the 21lm of classic forest roads are a mixture of long fast stretches with wide sweeping bends, hairpin turns and tight technical sections to start and finish.
The Hafren stage route is characterised by very long corners and at its highest point passes very close to the source of the River Severn.
This car park gives spectators the chance to see the cars in action in two contrasting settings on this classic Welsh stage. This stage, as well as Sweet Lamb and Myherin, is always popular with rally fans travelling from the Midlands or the North.
Located straight after Hafren, this short stage offers extensive viewing from the hillside around the Sweet Lamb Bowl. There is easy access to the spectator car park for this stage from the A44. The cars are visible for over 2 miles as they traverse a deep watersplash, jumps and hairpin bends before crossing the River Wye and climbing the other side of the valley.
Situated to the south of the A44, this forest has been the scene of a large wind farm development in recent years. The roads vary from narrow forestry tracks to wide roads over the open moorland. All three branches of the car park give access to viewing points in clear felled areas of the forest.
Following on from the popularity of the Epynt stages in 2010, the Halfway and Crychan stages will once again utilise both gravel and tarmac, providing competitors with a significant challenge for both driver and car over the demanding roads.
Located on the Epynt Military Ranges, the Halfway stage is partly reversed to that used in 2010 and now starts with a fast tarmac section over open moorland before moving into the classic narrow and twisty grave forest tracks of Halfway forest. The final section of the 2010 stage is not being used this year.
By entering through car park P (Dixies), you will also be able to view the tarmac hairpin section of the Crychan stage, which is only 100m away from the famous Dixies crossing.
Due to the very compact timing of this day, there will only be a relatively short time gap before the cars come through the Stage for their second run. There is no need to attempt to move between car park s - enjoy the Halfway stages to their full by visiting the variety of viewing points on offer within your chosen car park.
The stage has been reversed from 2010 and now has two distinct sections. Firstly it starts in Crychan forest with its dense network of roads making the stage very twisty in places, passing through a large number of junctions. After emerging from the forest the route then travels over a 9km section of tarmac with tricky junctions and crests including the ideal spectator viewing hairpin at Dixies, where cars can be easily seen approaching and departing from the junction. Access to this tarmac section on Crychan is not accessible from Crychan - you need to go to car park P (Dixies) instead.
There is no need to attempt to move between car parks- enjoy the Crychan stages to their full by visiting the variety of viewing points on offer within your chosen car park.
This is a short 4km stage, which, on the second run, will be used for the live televised Power Stage.
Due to limited parking, access to this stage is ONLY available to World Rally Pass holders.
Anyone turning up without such a pass will be turned away. There will be no on the day cash payment option.
Due to the close proximity to the Ranges Live Firing Area and the possibility of live ammunition in the undergrowth, spectators must not, under any circumstances, walk to any other locations other than those advised.
www.visitcardiff.com/ or contact the Cardiff Visitor Centre on 08701 211258 or visitor@cardiff.gov.uk
Visitors to the Conwy and Llandudno area can find more information at http://www.visitllandudno.org.uk/
Please click HERE for a link to the frequently asked questions.
A variety of hospitality packages to suit all budgets are available to enhance your Rally experience. More information can be found on the HERE.
A full range of merchandise is available by clicking here
Keep updated with all the action from all the stages! Rally Radio will be broadcasting live on 87.7FM. Tune in to hear all the latest stage times, driver information and updates on the event schedule!
