Llandudno is gearing up to make history.
For the first time ever in mainland Britain, the spectacle of world championship motor sport will be seen on closed sections of public roads when the FIA World Rally Championship comes to town.
The highlight of this year’s Dayinsure Wales Rally GB (4-7 October) is sure be Sunday morning’s momentous Great Orme Llandudno Street Stage.
“We wanted to bring a slice of Monte Carlo to the coast of north Wales!” explains Ben Taylor, managing director of Dayinsure Wales Rally GB. “It’s going to be a spectacular event with a huge crowd, as admission is totally free.”
In rally sport, cars race against-the-clock in a time trial rather than wheel-to-wheel but, even so, the action is going to be fast and furious as all the top WRC class crews battle for vital seconds.
The ground-breaking speed test will start on the west side of the Great Orme and then enter Llandudno via North Parade. The route then sees the drivers blast up and down either side of Gloddaeth Street before a flying finish – quite literally as there’s a jump – on South Parade parallel to the Promenade where the winners’ podium will be positioned.
With huge numbers expected to pack into the seaside town, a plan has been devised to build a safe race track. More than 2,500 metres of crowd fences are being installed along with more than a kilometre of steel, concrete and water-filled plastic barriers.
The organisers are also bringing in big TV screens, public address commentary systems and more than 1,000 grandstand seats for fans wishing to get an even better vantage point – double the number originally ordered due to huge public demand.
These unreserved seats are priced at just £20 for adults (£25 on the day subject to availability) and £10 for children aged between 2 and 15 years old.
While the rally stars and latest generation of superfast turbocharged, four-wheel-drive cars arrive for two blasts around the street stage on Sunday morning, the whole town will be buzzing with attractions during the entire weekend.
“We have worked closely with Conwy County Borough Council and our partners to create a motor sport festival,” explains Taylor. “There’ll be two days of wonderful entertainment for all ages based on the Prom. We have a display of historic rally cars, a special Toyota showcase and the Dayinsure Family Fun Zone which includes many great activities such as climbing walls, segways, a bungee trampoline, remote control racing cars plus an indoor marquee filled with kids’ amusements. Again all this is totally free.”
The family entertainment also includes eye-catching mountain bike displays from legendary Red Bull-backed Belgian trail-biker Kenny Belaey, amazing car stunt shows from Paul Swift and his renowned precision driving team plus rubber-burning SuperMoto bike demonstrations.
Racing through the streets of Llandudno is certainly a new encounter that last year’s rally winner Elfyn Evans is relishing. “It’s going to be a surreal experience,” he admits. “Obviously I have great memories from celebrating my victory in the centre of town last year, but this time we’ll be using the streets as the stage. The atmosphere will be pretty special – it’s a great place to finish the event, but I guess I would say that, wouldn’t I!”
It is a weekend Councillor Louise Emery, Conwy County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development, is certainly savouring: “We’re thrilled to once again be Host County for this prestigious World Championship event,” she says.
“Even more so with the changes introducing an even better experience for both visitors and competitors, so we’re very excited about this year’s itinerary. Developments highlight commitments within our Events Strategy 2018-2022, and further underline that Conwy County is the right environment for great events.”
Full details of the history-making Great Orme Llandudno Street Stage – including grandstand and Rally Xtra hospitality upgrades – can be found on the official www.walesrallygb.com website.
Plentiful free parking will be available in Bodafon Fields, leaving a short walk up the Prom to the action. Regular paid parking will still be available in many locations in the town as well as on the Great Orme.
While general admission to the whole stage is free, adult tickets for the other 20 special stages start at just £15, with the premium four-day event pass remaining at £99 for the ninth successive year. Accompanied children aged 15 and under are admitted free to general admission areas.
Dayinsure Wales Rally GB in Llandudno
(provisional timetable subject to change)
Saturday 6 October
10:00-16:00 Dayinsure Family Fun Zone
11:00, 12:30, 14:00 3 x Kenny Belaey stunt bike performances
All day Rally Car Legends static display
Sunday 7 October
08:00-16:00 Dayinsure Family Fun Zone open
08:00 Power Stage live on big screens
08:45, 10:30, 11:30 3 x Kenny Belaey stunt bike performances
09:15-11:00 World Rally Championship action 1
11:00-12:00 Track parades, SuperMoto and Paul Swift stunt shows
12:00-14:30 World Rally Championship action 2
13:15 Winners’ Podium Ceremony
14:30 Stage closes