October 03, 2019 - 1524 views
Colwyn Bay and Llandudno are gearing up towards an exhilarating week of thrills and action as the Wales Rally GB dominates the headlines in North Wales from Thursday (3rd October).
In recent years, Llandudno has featured prominently on the major sporting event’s itinerary staging both Ceremonial Starts and Finishes. The town also made history last autumn when it pioneered the UK’s first World Championship motorsport on closed sections of public roads.
This year, however – and for the very first time – Llandudno will be home to the entire rally bringing considerable business to the town and invaluable international publicity for tourism in the region.
Previously the international event has been sited in the Deeside Industrial Park, Flintshire.
Wales Rally GB, round 12 of the hotly contested 2019 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), will have its busy headquarters in the waterfront Venue Cymru complex – also home to an interactive Big Bang exhibition. Organised to encourage and inspire those studying STEM subjects at schools within North Wales, exhibitors include BAE Systems, F1 in Schools, IET, IMEC, Lab Rascals, the RAF and Techsoft. More than 1,500 students are expected to attend over four days.
Creating a real buzz, the focal Service Park for all four major manufacturer-supported WRC teams will be based around Venue Cymru: Hyundai in the Mostyn Broadway Coach Park, while Citroen, Ford and Toyota will be located in car parks adjacent to Venue Cymru.
The smaller WRC2 and Junior World Championship teams will be accommodated close-by on the Promenade, while those contesting the two-day WRGB National Rally will be positioned on South Parade which will remain closed to through traffic between Ty’n Y Ffrith Road and Vaughan Street from Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 October.
Teams have already begun arriving in preparation for a final official shakedown test in Snowdonia’s spectacular Gwydir Forest on Thursday morning.
Crews will then head off to Liverpool for the Ceremonial Start and then to Oulton Park, near Chester, for the opening speed test on Thursday evening.
Thereafter, the high-speed action is set in the familiar forests of mid and north Wales – as well as a final day blast around the legendary Great Orme – with the competitors returning to Llandudno for overnight halts as well as a mid-day service on Friday and the Ceremonial Finish early on Sunday afternoon. With so much electrifying activity going on at its heart, the entire resort will be alive with adrenalin and excitement.
On Saturday the world’s best drivers and the sport’s fastest-ever cars will be racing up and down Colwyn’s seaside promenade just after sunset – burning rubber around a special two mile floodlit course including dramatic chicanes, donuts and a hairpin.
Fuelling anticipation for the fireworks to follow, the impressive collection of exotic speed-machines – organised by Supercar Driver, the UK’s leading supercar owners club – will be on show in the town centre on Station Road from 11:00 in the morning.
Then, later in the afternoon they will all be unleashed for an eye-catching parade on the competitive seafront speed test course allowing all those on the Promenade not only to marvel at them in motion but also to savour the sounds of their powerful engines in full flow.
Adding to the growing excitement on the water’s edge, the dazzling supercar showcase with be followed by stunt displays in the skies above the bay courtesy of the world famous Red Bull Matador Aerobatic Team and, thereafter, by demonstrations runs by 25 iconic rally cars from yesteryear.
These include a number of legendary MG Metro 6R4s as well as other much loved Group B icons from Nissan, Renault and past masters Audi.
Due to the initial plans for the setting up of the stage, the Promenade In Colwyn Bay will be closed on Wednesday morning and again all day on Friday and Saturday. The Promenade is not expected to fully open again until much later on Sunday.
“We’re thrilled to have WRC action throughout Conwy County, in forest stages as well as on the coast, plus this year to have the manufacturers and teams based with us in Llandudno is very exciting,” said Councillor Louise Emery, Conwy County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development.
“Considering the variety of elements involved, we have more than ever on offer for all, and look forward to welcoming locals and visitors alike to another great event.
