Calling All Petrol Heads – Elfyn Is Coming Home!
Published on 24 Sep 2018 by Gwion LlwydThe beginning of October will see North Wales play host to the 2018 Wales Rally GB. The four day event is part of the FIA World Rally competition and consists of 23 stages covering 198km of competitive rallying throughout North and Mid Wales. The defending rally team champions, M-Sport World Rally Team, includes one of our own, Elfyn Evans. To show him support in taking that title again, we are calling all petrol heads – Elfyn is coming home!
Elfyn Evans is Dolgellau born with rally driving is in his blood as the son of Gwyndaf Evans, winner of the 1996 British Rally Championship. Sponsored by his fathers Ford dealership in Dolgellau, Elfyn has been competing since 2007. 2017 saw him join the M-Sport Rally Team (a privately owned world championship rally team) and now Elfyn travels the world competing on the international circuit including Australia, Argentina, Sweden, Mexico and Monte Carlo – he is a bit of a hero in our neck of the woods!
In terms of the Wales Rally GB event itself, the North Wales sections will take place on Friday 5th October and Sunday 7th October for the finish. The 5th October is where the gravel roads in the Clocaenog Forest, Penmachno Forest, Brenig Reservoir and Blaenau Ffestiniog will make up the eight stages. The 6th October moves to Mid Wales for the longest day of the event where drivers will compete 9 stages over 90 miles. Back up North on the 7th October for 3 stages in the Conwy and Snowdonia forests before the grand finale in Llandudno with an incredible, show stopping run around the Great Orme and the streets of Llandudno for a finish at the pier.
The event is well organised and certainly enables you to make the most as a spectator. At each of the 23 stages, there are designated car parks and viewing locations which you need pay to enter (this can either be done online in advance or at the gate on the day). Toilets and catering vans are also available at each stage and marshalls are there to help. Just remember it can be muddy, cold and wet (it’s October) and so always make sure you are wrapped up warm and wearing the appropriate clothes to make it a really exciting day out.
For more information, please visit: https://www.walesrallygb.com/home.php
The online brochure will give you all the information you need to plan and make the most of getting involved: https://www.walesrallygb.com/spectators/rallyplanneronline.php