The countdown to this year’s Dayinsure Wales Rally GB (4-7 October) has commenced. The clock started ticking with the official high profile launch of the 2018 FIA World Rally Championship at last weekend’s Autosport International Show at Birmingham’s NEC.
The spectacular 13-round series blasts off later this month with the prestigious Monte Carlo Rally (25-28 January) and travels the globe before reaching the legendary Welsh forests in the autumn.
While there is nearly nine months of thrilling world championship action before the WRC returns to headline in Wales, there is less time for fans to wait than in recent years as Dayinsure Wales Rally GB has advanced from the penultimate to the 11th round on the calendar. As a result, it has moved forward by three weeks to a new date at the start of October.
Whetting the appetite for the excitement ahead to UK audiences, manufacturer teams representing Citroën, Hyundai, M-Sport Ford and Toyota revealed their latest 2018 World Rally Cars at the Autosport show.
All the big-name drivers, co-drivers and team principals were present to share their views on the new season, which promises to be another dramatic and exciting world championship.
The introduction of more powerful cars produced a memorably thrilling series in 2017 with record crowds flocking to the Welsh stages to witness history as home hero Elfyn Evans claimed his maiden WRC victory.
“The stars really aligned last year with Sébastien Ogier and the M-Sport team clinching their respective World Championship titles and Elfyn, of course, winning the event outright. Now, judging by the incredible anticipation from all those at the WRC launch, we are going to be treated to a repeat performance come October,” enthused Dayinsure Wales Rally GB Managing Director, Ben Taylor.
“It was wonderful to have all the WRC teams and drivers launching their new cars right here in Britain. It reflects the importance of the UK market to the sport and gives us a great opportunity to build awareness of our earlier date, as well as maintaining the momentum after the huge success of last year.”
In the meantime, all those wanting to follow the globe-trotting WRC en route back to the UK are spoilt for choice with both live and highlight television coverage on Channel 5, BT Sport, S4C and Red Bull TV.
Tickets for the 2018 Dayinsure Wales Rally GB will go on sale when the competitive route is revealed in April.