Tuesday 9th June 2020

Wales Rally GB cancelled due to Covid-19

For the first time since 1967, there won't be a Rally GB this year

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Just when you thought things were returning to something almost like normal, you're reminded that the cancellations and postponements will continue for a good while yet. The latest victim is Wales Rally GB, which despite not being scheduled for nearly six months and despite taking place outdoors, has been cancelled because there are "too many unknown factors to make the organisation of such a sizeable sporting fixture a realistic, or sensible, option in these uncertain times." Logic which it's hard to argue with, even if it means disappointment on multiple levels.

Rally GB was first held in 1932, and is one of only two rounds - the other being Finland - that has been a permanent fixture of the WRC since its inauguration in 1973. As you might expect, stoppages have been pretty rare over the decades: it's only been cancelled previously for World War II, for petrol rationing enforced during the Suez Crisis (1957) and for Foot and Mouth in 1967. Rally GB has been in Wales since 2000, with Welsh Assembly Government support since 2003; it's been held in North Wales from 2013.

"As the governing body of UK motorsport, our overriding responsibility and absolute priority is always the safety of all involved whether they be competitors, officials, spectators or the many thousands of volunteers who share our passion for this sport, and we thank them all for their ongoing support and enthusiasm in these difficult times. While significant progress is being made to combat the virus, there remains considerable uncertainty regarding mass gatherings, social distancing and travel restrictions, plus the possibility of a resurgence of viral transmission later in the year", said David Richards, Chairman of Motorsport UK.

With that in mind, the team is now said to be focussing its efforts on making 2021 "even bigger and better" for Wales Rally GB. Quite whether it'll hit the six-figure attendances recent years have seen is hard to predict, though there'll be no shortage of support for getting Rally GB back to its best. Need reminding why? The highlights of last year are below...

 

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• Five things I learned from Wales Rally GB
• Wales Rally GB | Time for Coffee?

[re33]

Not surprised, the Welsh government seem to only begrudgingly support the rally at the best of times. Not to mention the idiotic police, especially in 2003. Just a pity the forests can't be moved somewhere else in the world.

[gpfanuk]

+1
Or the Welsh government!

[das_funky_zeit]

TBH, I lost interested when this became the Wales Rally GB.
In the dim distant past, I marshalled in both North Yorkshire and Kielder Forests with my local motor club.
I remember being star-struck when sharing a table with Juha Kankkunen and other top names the lunch halt in Middlesbrough in the late 80s.
These days, I can't be bothered battling the M62 from the North East to North Wales, to be herded into an overpriced carpark and walk miles to find a stage.

I struggle to find WRC on what ever Sky channel it's hiding on (DAVE-ja-vu+4), or BT Sport, but it's often delayed or postponed because the Sanatogen over 65s football league, 2nd division relegation playoffs have gone to penalties.

Now the Thought-Police have used some dodgy theoretical maths and an "R" Number to probably put an end to it.
Based on the the current anti-car sentiment and "stay in doors, don't go out, don't do anything" mentality being promoted in this country, I can't see it coming back in 2021.

Another hero gone....

[ArnageWRC]

re33 said:

Not surprised, the Welsh government seem to only begrudgingly support the rally at the best of times. Not to mention the idiotic police, especially in 2003. Just a pity the forests can't be moved somewhere else in the world.

It could be argued, if it wasn't for their support, there wouldn't be a British round of the WRC....as nobody else seems to have shown much interest. As for forests, well Kielder, N Yorkshire, Scotland have forests which host rallying....it's the other bits (£$£$£$£, logistics, infrastructure) which may pose a problem with a modern WRC event.

[Frimley111R]

re33 said:

Not to mention the idiotic police, especially in 2003.

Well someone knows how to hold a grudge!

[DelicaL400]

das_funky_zeit said:

Stuff

Is that you Chunder?

[usualdog1]

Such a shame, and great video, although that's probably the best way to see the cars unless you have local knowledge you'll end up 100 yards away in a pen with 10,000 other people.

[Barratt-bhv9d]

das_funky_zeit said:

TBH, I lost interested when this became the Wales Rally GB.
In the dim distant past, I marshalled in both North Yorkshire and Kielder Forests with my local motor club.
I remember being star-struck when sharing a table with Juha Kankkunen and other top names the lunch halt in Middlesbrough in the late 80s.
These days, I can't be bothered battling the M62 from the North East to North Wales, to be herded into an overpriced carpark and walk miles to find a stage.

I struggle to find WRC on what ever Sky channel it's hiding on (DAVE-ja-vu+4), or BT Sport, but it's often delayed or postponed because the Sanatogen over 65s football league, 2nd division relegation playoffs have gone to penalties.

Now the Thought-Police have used some dodgy theoretical maths and an "R" Number to probably put an end to it.
Based on the the current anti-car sentiment and "stay in doors, don't go out, don't do anything" mentality being promoted in this country, I can't see it coming back in 2021.

Another hero gone....

WRC moved to online viewing a while ago, search for WRC Plus, has excellent coverage, live stages, highlights etc.

[DelicaL400]

Barratt-bhv9d said:

WRC moved to online viewing a while ago, search for WRC Plus, has excellent coverage, live stages, highlights etc.

WRC + is broadcast on BT Sport. Highlights are on ITV4.

[rallycross]

No one is watching anyway (sadly).

Best thing they could do is move Rally GB as far away from Wales as possible, they (event organisers and welsh traffic police) need a good kick up the arse to make them step up. They don't exactly make a good job of it for spectators and don't seem to care if the event comes back or not so maybe its time to let the money flow to somewhere in the UK more deserving of running the event.

Maybe run the event in North of England and Scotland, ideally in November when it would be a much tougher/better to watch event.

Include some formidable stages like Kielder, Grizedale, Dalby etc and maybe get some laps round a few circuits like they used to.

The Welsh Government and Welsh police don't deserve a top class UK event on their patch give it to someone else who is keen to do it, make it a great event, don't ripp off the paying spectators with high prices and very limited access.

[ArnageWRC]

rallycross said:

..... 'give it to someone else who is keen to do it, make it a great event, don't rip off the paying spectators with high prices and very limited access'.

As I said earlier, there hasn't been anybody else wanting to do it - and if they have, then they haven't put up enough £££££. However, there are rumours that Northern Ireland are keen to host it - but then it would be a Tarmac event, which I'm not sure RallyGB should be.

And I say this as somebody who is/hasn't been a fan of keeping the event in Wales for so long, I don't think it's helped the sport and event in the long run. But, it's better than not having the event at all

[Slippydiff]

ArnageWRC said:

re33 said:

Not surprised, the Welsh government seem to only begrudgingly support the rally at the best of times. Not to mention the idiotic police, especially in 2003. Just a pity the forests can't be moved somewhere else in the world.

It could be argued, if it wasn't for their support, there wouldn't be a British round of the WRC....as nobody else seems to have shown much interest. As for forests, well Kielder, N Yorkshire, Scotland have forests which host rallying....it's the other bits (£$£$£$£, logistics, infrastructure) which may pose a problem with a modern WRC event.

Exactly this

das_funky_zeit said:

TBH, I lost interested when this became the Wales Rally GB.
In the dim distant past, I marshalled in both North Yorkshire and Kielder Forests with my local motor club.
I remember being star-struck when sharing a table with Juha Kankkunen and other top names the lunch halt in Middlesbrough in the late 80s.
These days, I can't be bothered battling the M62 from the North East to North Wales, to be herded into an overpriced carpark and walk miles to find a stage.

I struggle to find WRC on what ever Sky channel it's hiding on (DAVE-ja-vu+4), or BT Sport, but it's often delayed or postponed because the Sanatogen over 65s football league, 2nd division relegation playoffs have gone to penalties.

Now the Thought-Police have used some dodgy theoretical maths and an "R" Number to probably put an end to it.
Based on the the current anti-car sentiment and "stay in doors, don't go out, don't do anything" mentality being promoted in this country, I can't see it coming back in 2021.

Lockdown getting to you ? Or were you just having a bad day generally

DelicaL400 said:

das_funky_zeit said:

Stuff

Is that you Chunder?

[Jon_S_Rally]

re33 said:

Not surprised, the Welsh government seem to only begrudgingly support the rally at the best of times. Not to mention the idiotic police, especially in 2003. Just a pity the forests can't be moved somewhere else in the world.

I'm guess you don't know why it's called WALES Rally GB? The Welsh government back the event. Who else in the mainland UK wants to? We're in danger of it going to Northern Ireland already. While I love Irish tarmac rallying, and WRGB isn't perfect, we should probably be grateful to even have a WRC round.

das_funky_zeit said:

TBH, I lost interested when this became the Wales Rally GB.
In the dim distant past, I marshalled in both North Yorkshire and Kielder Forests with my local motor club.
I remember being star-struck when sharing a table with Juha Kankkunen and other top names the lunch halt in Middlesbrough in the late 80s.
These days, I can't be bothered battling the M62 from the North East to North Wales, to be herded into an overpriced carpark and walk miles to find a stage.

I struggle to find WRC on what ever Sky channel it's hiding on (DAVE-ja-vu+4), or BT Sport, but it's often delayed or postponed because the Sanatogen over 65s football league, 2nd division relegation playoffs have gone to penalties.

Now the Thought-Police have used some dodgy theoretical maths and an "R" Number to probably put an end to it.
Based on the the current anti-car sentiment and "stay in doors, don't go out, don't do anything" mentality being promoted in this country, I can't see it coming back in 2021.

Another hero gone....

Blah blah blah, it was better in the old days When are people going to realise that rallying has to move with the times? You can watch highlights of every rally (if there were any at the moment) on ITV4 for free. It's on at the same time, on the same day, after basically every event. If you want more coverage than that, for £10 per month, you can sign up to WRC All Live and watch every stage live online. While I would like to see more free-to-air coverage, I don't think it's anything like as bad as some people think it is. Some have just convinced themselves that everything is awful, because it isn't on Grandstand anymore and because it's not the 1970s or 1980s

usualdog1 said:

Such a shame, and great video, although that's probably the best way to see the cars unless you have local knowledge you'll end up 100 yards away in a pen with 10,000 other people.

I live in Norfolk, so I'm not sure I could be much further away from the rally I have always found plenty of quiet spots to watch from though. Spectator areas are common practice all over the world now because, unfortunately, so many people are idiots, and can't be trusted not to stand in dangerous places. However, go to most of the GB stage car parks, and you can usually walk past the spectator areas and find yourself a nice spot. Just make sure you get their in good time, then you can walk up the stage and find somewhere. I've never been asked to move from anywhere, so long as you are sensible.

You do see more of the rally on TV obviously, but the cars are miles better in person. Given that 2021 is the last season before we lose them, I would recommend trying to see them, as the 2022 cars likely won't be as good!

[aeropilot]

rallycross said:

Best thing they could do is move Rally GB as far away from Wales as possible

Can't argue with that, as even back in the good old days of the RAC when it was really the rally of GB, as competitors/service crew, we all hated the bit of it that was in Wales as it was nightmare with the roads and getting around.
It was the worst bloody place in the UK to confine it to.

Like F1, the WRC is entering its death spiral into history with the head on rush for killing off ICE.

[Dynion Araf Uchaf]

aeropilot said:

Can't argue with that, as even back in the good old days of the RAC when it was really the rally of GB, as competitors/service crew, we all hated the bit of it that was in Wales as it was nightmare with the roads and getting around.
It was the worst bloody place in the UK to confine it to.

Like F1, the WRC is entering its death spiral into history with the head on rush for killing off ICE.

I'm not sure that it needs to move from Wales ( although it might be nice). but I would like to see the (re) introduction of the Sunday spectator stages around the parks and stately homes. Although they might have to be on a Saturday.

I think this would encourage more spectators and therefore more media coverage, if the RAC is going to your town to local press might follow it. Back in the day 20000 spectators at each Sunday stage was a normal occurrence, So 8-9 stages would see 160k people watching the event live.

I think this is the main reason rallying has withered on the vine, it's not accessible as part of a day out for a family of 4.

My 2021 itinerary would be:

Thurs - city centre super special then 5 night time forest stages finishing at 2 am.
Fri, late start day 11.30, with 9 forest stages finishing at 10 pm.
Saturday 8 am start , spectator stages around the midlands, I'd go with the following
Knowlsley, , Temple Newsam, Chatsworth, Clumber, Sutton Park, Weston Park, Loton, Trentham, Knowlsley 2

It'd be nice to have a loop of Silverstone, Cornbury, Blenheim, Badminton, Castle Combe then up to Loton, but that might be a bit far.

Sunday, usual 4 stages inc power stage.

I can but dream.

[aeropilot]

Dynion Araf Uchaf said:

I think this is the main reason rallying has withered on the vine, it's not accessible as part of a day out for a family of 4.

The reason rallying has withered on the vine has nothing to do with that at all.

[Dynion Araf Uchaf]

aeropilot said:

The reason rallying has withered on the vine has nothing to do with that at all.

And yet you proffer no alternative theory?

[aeropilot]

Dynion Araf Uchaf said:

aeropilot said:

The reason rallying has withered on the vine has nothing to do with that at all.

And yet you proffer no alternative theory?

The problem with rallying is the issues around getting people to compete in it, and the issues with venues, regulations, car types, costs and everything else. Local motor clubs are dying and closing, the sport is struggling to bridge the gap between grass routes level and international in the UK.
It has nothing to do with spectators or lack thereof.

[Dynion Araf Uchaf]

aeropilot said:

The problem with rallying is the issues around getting people to compete in it, and the issues with venues, regulations, car types, costs and everything else. Local motor clubs are dying and closing, the sport is struggling to bridge the gap between grass routes level and international in the UK.
It has nothing to do with spectators or lack thereof.

]
All your points are valid.

However to increase participation you need to get people interested and watching the sport. that's where speccie stages of yore come in. The more people that watch it live the more likely it will gain media coverage which in turns drives interest. It is therefore relevant that encouraging spectator attendance can improve rallying's growth chances.

[MG CHRIS]

Dynion Araf Uchaf said:

aeropilot said:

The problem with rallying is the issues around getting people to compete in it, and the issues with venues, regulations, car types, costs and everything else. Local motor clubs are dying and closing, the sport is struggling to bridge the gap between grass routes level and international in the UK.
It has nothing to do with spectators or lack thereof.

]
All your points are valid.

However to increase participation you need to get people interested and watching the sport. that's where speccie stages of yore come in. The more people that watch it live the more likely it will gain media coverage which in turns drives interest. It is therefore relevant that encouraging spectator attendance can improve rallying's growth chances.

Rallying has an issue in the uk the rest of the world goes nuts for it however, and the modern wrc cars are the fastest they have ever been. Half the issue in the uk is the we only need mk2 escort types and the rest is just cost involved to compete.
Circuit racing/rallycross and single venue rallying is far cheaper for your son and dad type crews over traditional rallying.