By Paul Evans
Britain’s round of the FIA World Rally Championship will remain in Wales next year, despite speculation that it was going to up roots and move to Northern Ireland.
In fact, it was a lot more than just speculation, after WRC boss Oliver Ciesla said back in May that a move to Belfast would be vital to the event staying on the world championship calendar.
“Is a move to Northern Ireland key to GB’s future? Yes. I would say it is key,” he said six months ago.
But instead Rally GB is staying in Wales and the Tour of Corsica and Rally Spain have been dropped from the 2020 calendar. But in what looks like the start of a European event rotation system, Rally GB’s guaranteed place each year on the WRC calendar looks far from certain.
Next year’s four-day event will be held later too, starting on Thursday 29 October and finishing on Sunday 1 November. It will be the 13th and penultimate (and the last European) round of the 2020 WRC, before the finale in Japan.
“We are absolutely delighted to be back in Wales next year – even more so after all the hugely positive feedback we’ve already had to what was an incredible 2019 event,” said Hugh Chambers, CEO of Motorsport UK, organiser of Wales Rally GB. “With Wales as the centre-piece, the whole rally benefited from the increased profile and fan support right from the start in Liverpool and the following spectator-friendly opening stage at Oulton Park.
“Every year we challenge ourselves to make our round of the World Rally Championship even better than the previous one and, now Wales has been confirmed for 2020, we can start striving for even more exciting innovations for the WRC’s return in little more than twelve months’ time.”
Next year will be the 21st in succession that Rally GB has been staged in Wales and the 18th as Wales Rally GB with the Welsh Government as its principal funding partner.
“It was amazing to attend some of the stages of this year’s Wales Rally GB, including Llyn Brenig and the finish at Llandudno,” said Dafydd Elis Thomas, the Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism. “It’s a great event, taking advantage of some of the stunning locations north and mid Wales have to offer while showcasing these to a world-wide audience. We look forward to seeing the organiser’s post-event report and hearing the proposals for next year’s event in Wales.”