The Get Jerky Rally North Wales has revealed an exciting new line up of stages and format ahead of the launch of the 25 March event.
An all-new partnership with Trailhead Fine Foods and the high protein Get Jerky brand of beef jerky snacks has allowed the popular loose surface stage rally to move location to the Powys market town of Welshpool for the 2023 running, opening up an exciting new set of stages for the top quality field expected to head to the rally.
The Wolverhampton and South Staffordshire Car Club organised event will shift its headquarters to the Welshpool Livestock Market on the outskirts of the town, offering impressive facilities and ample space to house the large entry. The move will also see new stages introduced to the roster, including those famed for their pivotal role in events such as Wales Rally GB.
Thanks to the backing of Welshpool Town Council and Mayor Cllr Alison Davies, the rally will enjoy a town centre start and finish ceremony which will take place in the main street itself. After being flagged away on Saturday morning, crews will head into the forests for eight stages and almost 45 miles of competitive action.
Familiar names such as Dyfi will be being joined by the infamous Dyfnant Forests, not seen on the event in many years. Four stages will make up the morning loop, before a mid-point service at the now traditional Dolgellau Farmers Market halt, before heading back out for the second loop, albeit in a reverse order. A return to the Welshpool town centre finish will be a welcome sight for those lucky enough to have completed the testing route.
Crews in two-wheel-drive machinery will run at the head of the field in a reverse seeded format, with a short gap separating them from the four-wheel-drive contenders who will still be able to sample the resilient world-famous stages which are reported to be in excellent condition after a recent route survey.
The event is once again proud to be a round of the Fuchs Lubricants Motorsport UK British Historic Rally Championship and they will be joined by the ever-popular Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship which is set to provide a top-shelf list of crews. Also returning will be the ANWCC Forest Rally Championship, West Wales Rally Spares HRCR Stage Masters and the MINI Rally Challenge who will complete the opening loop.
Guy Weaver, Wolverhampton and South Staffordshire Car Club Chairman is delighted to see the fresh look to the event.
“We are entering a very exciting time for the rally thanks to our partnership with Get Jerky,” he says.
“We expect to see another bumper entry this year and we can continue to offer a top-class event with an exciting new format, new home but all the same ingredients that has always held the event in such high regard. Welshpool is the perfect location for the rally and bringing the event to the people of the town is exciting for us, but we of course haven’t forgotten our roots in Dolgellau and will continue to visit there for service. I’d like to thank the authorities and Council in Welshpool for their support and of course to Trailhead Fine Foods Managing Director, Arwyn Watkins.”
