Eirias Stadium plays host to world’s fastest rally cars and crews
Thousands of fans enjoy opportunity to meet their motor sport heroes
Tänak tames Shakedown stage as competitors complete final preparations
Dayinsure Wales Rally GB roared spectacularly into life yesterday (27 October) with a show-stopping Ceremonial Start at Parc Eirias in Colwyn Bay and final preparations in the form of the traditional pre-event Shakedown.
Appropriately enough in Wales’ ‘Year of Adventure’ and with north Wales having just been voted No.4 in Lonely Planet’s Top Ten ‘Best in Travel 2017’ list – the only UK destination to achieve such a prestigious accolade – the flame-spitting FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) cars are ready for a flat-out blast through the famously unforgiving forests, crewed by the fastest and most fearless drivers and co-drivers on the planet.
To give fans a foretaste of the high-octane action ahead, all 66 international crews participated in the Shakedown in Clocaenog Forest, borrowing part of the route that will be run twice on Sunday, the final day of the 2016 edition of Dayinsure Wales Rally GB.
Ott Tänak was quickest behind the wheel of his DMACK World Rally Team Ford Fiesta RS WRC, but raising hopes of a first home triumph in 16 years, Abu Dhabi Total World Rally Team duo Kris Meeke and Craig Breen were hot on the rapid Estonian’s heels in a brace of Citroën DS3 WRCs.
Recently-crowned four-time FIA World Rally Champion Sébastien Ogier was fourth-fastest, while a high-profile guest enjoyed a fast-paced thrill ride alongside M-Sport World Rally Team’s Eric Camilli, as Matt Gotrel – who formed part of the all-conquering men’s eight rowing team that won gold in the Rio Olympics back in the summer – climbed into the cockpit of one of the Blue Oval’s potent little ‘pocket rockets’.
Once the dust had settled and the mud washed away, the cars and their driving crews headed north to Colwyn Bay and the Ceremonial Start at Parc Eirias, with an autograph session attracting thousands of fans who left with selfies aplenty and broad smiles on their faces.
Under the floodlights, all competitors drove over the start ramp to enthusiastic applause, with the world champion amongst others flagged off by Welsh Assembly Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, Ken Skates in front of live news crews from media heavyweights the BBC, ITV and S4C.
The action gets underway in anger tomorrow (Friday), with the longest day of the rally and a predominantly reversed route compared to previous years posing a fresh challenge.Saturday takes place closer to Wales Rally GB’s Deeside base and includes the hugely popular, family-friendly RallyFest stage at Cholmondeley Castle before the winners are crowned in Llandudno on Sunday.
