RE: Wales Rally GB: PH Guide
Saturday 7th November 2015
It's November; the clocks have turned back, the temperatures are dropping and they're playing Christmas songs on the radio... In better news, November also means it's time for Wales Rally GB! Thousands will descend on the Welsh forests in their thermals and hats for the final round of the World Rally Championship next weekend. If you've never been to a rally before, the experience is like no other.
Wales Rally GB: PH Guide
If you're joining us in Wales for the WRC next weekend here's everything you need to know!
You can hear the cars coming from miles away - the sound of a 300hp WRC car, the exhaust crackling through the trees followed by the shriek of a marshal's whistle and air horns as it get closer. The smell of the pine trees, bacon cooking on camping stoves, burning clutches, melting rubber and unburnt petrol - it really is something you'll never forget.
As we'll be in Llandudno next week for our inaugural Wales Rally GB Sunday Service, we've put together a beginner's guide to the rally to complement the Wales Rally GB guide. Essentially if you haven't been before, here's the guide you need for tips and advice to make the most of a great weekend!
Introduction
Preparation
Saturday
Sunday
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Discussion
Arriving an hour before a stage is leaving it a bit late in all honesty. With many spectators arriving the night before the later you leave it the further away from the stage you'll be, with quite possibly an hours walk to the stage from your car.
I'd also make a torch an essential item realistically. if arriving for the first stages at 9am Friday, 7:30am Saturday and 8:30am Sunday it is going to be still quite dark. and when leaving the stages for the afternoon runs, it'll be dark by 5pmish. the light on your phone isn't adequate enough to spot all the dangers a forest floor will present.
A power bar will be a good idea to charge cameras/phones if your staying put during stages.
A small camping chair or stool will come in handy for the wait.
I really would recommend hanging about for the National crews. some of them are in it purely for the spectacle so will be "balls out" at every opportunity.
Plan your clothing and waterproofs, and then double it. there's nothing worse than sitting around all day in wet cold clothes.
And lastly. As a marshal for this event I cant stress enough the importance of listening to the marshals instructions. With the whole of British rallying under scrutiny at the moment there is a real risk to its continued future if people still conduct themselves as they did on stages earlier this year.
I'd also like to apologise in advance for any of you who encounter the jobs worth marshal, sadly not all of us are able to use some leniency. If they are instructed by their sector official that no one can move from the designated zones then they really will try and keep you there, despite you being in a safe area.
The problem of "once a year marshals" is still an issue to regulars, however with marshal numbers in decline we need them as a necessary evil to keep the event safely staffed.
Please also don't hate us because we allow the media to stand where we say you are not allowed too. they sign on to the event like marshals so do get more freedom to roam. But if the safety cars are all happy with where they are, even if it is in a prohibited location, then we cant do anything to move them. however they should still be conducting themselves safely while on stage, as they are being scrutinised too as some media personnel are contributing to the issues around British rallying.
If you do encounter media or marshals that are taking the piss with things then report it to a radio car, take a note of the media persons number, or a marshals name and report it to the radio car. They can be removed from the stage if required. (media personnel will all have white tabard with a florescent section with a number on, this is their media accreditation number)
I'd also make a torch an essential item realistically. if arriving for the first stages at 9am Friday, 7:30am Saturday and 8:30am Sunday it is going to be still quite dark. and when leaving the stages for the afternoon runs, it'll be dark by 5pmish. the light on your phone isn't adequate enough to spot all the dangers a forest floor will present.
A power bar will be a good idea to charge cameras/phones if your staying put during stages.
A small camping chair or stool will come in handy for the wait.
I really would recommend hanging about for the National crews. some of them are in it purely for the spectacle so will be "balls out" at every opportunity.
Plan your clothing and waterproofs, and then double it. there's nothing worse than sitting around all day in wet cold clothes.
And lastly. As a marshal for this event I cant stress enough the importance of listening to the marshals instructions. With the whole of British rallying under scrutiny at the moment there is a real risk to its continued future if people still conduct themselves as they did on stages earlier this year.
I'd also like to apologise in advance for any of you who encounter the jobs worth marshal, sadly not all of us are able to use some leniency. If they are instructed by their sector official that no one can move from the designated zones then they really will try and keep you there, despite you being in a safe area.
The problem of "once a year marshals" is still an issue to regulars, however with marshal numbers in decline we need them as a necessary evil to keep the event safely staffed.
Please also don't hate us because we allow the media to stand where we say you are not allowed too. they sign on to the event like marshals so do get more freedom to roam. But if the safety cars are all happy with where they are, even if it is in a prohibited location, then we cant do anything to move them. however they should still be conducting themselves safely while on stage, as they are being scrutinised too as some media personnel are contributing to the issues around British rallying.
If you do encounter media or marshals that are taking the piss with things then report it to a radio car, take a note of the media persons number, or a marshals name and report it to the radio car. They can be removed from the stage if required. (media personnel will all have white tabard with a florescent section with a number on, this is their media accreditation number)
be prepared for long tailbacks when leaving stages too. as many people will only hang around for the top 10 then move on to another stage. this causes bottlenecks for people leaving the stage against people arriving.
factor this into moving about for the day.
And as above poster, don't expect actual car parks (with the exception of parts of sweet lamb), its mainly single track forestry roads with cars on either side. which makes moving about difficult.
Also be aware of the local plod out with speed vans and radar guns when moving about the stages
factor this into moving about for the day.
And as above poster, don't expect actual car parks (with the exception of parts of sweet lamb), its mainly single track forestry roads with cars on either side. which makes moving about difficult.
Also be aware of the local plod out with speed vans and radar guns when moving about the stages
moribund said:
But don't let any of that put you off, seeing any of the top 10 contenders attack a stage literally feet in front of you has to be one of the all-time great Motorsport experiences.
Last year there was a synchronised gasp from about 1,000 people when Latvala exploded out of the woods sideways onto the bit we could see. The speed was properly shocking, and I've been going for years!
Didn't mean it as a negative, more a forewarning. the sooner the planning is done the easier it is for moving about.
Dyfnant will be a good stage for viewing. The night running is spectacular. Depending where you are you can see the cars lights tracking through the forest for miles as they get brighter and the cars louder the faster they approach.
Getting there for 8 will be ok for the stage running at late morning will be ok. Just expect a walk from the car and not to be straight out of the car to the stage. Expect densely populated areas of viewing too.
As a general rule if there's a bunch of media on a particular part then it should be a decent view. These guys are out to make money from their pics so know the best places to hunt out.
I can recommend the hairpin from car park j on Dyfnant. It's where I marshalled last year along with hundreds of spectators and just up from Irish corner. If you want a wild experience spectate with these guys. They really are bonkers!
The stage is run in reverse this year from last years route.
Google rally maps and check out their stage layout in googlemaps. Make a choice from there for where you think you'll get to from whichever car park you arrive at.
Here's a video I made of the hairpin last year, this year you'll see the car approach the other way and see them burst over a slight crest into the hairpin, before disappearing down a straight away from you to a 90right.
http://youtu.be/4Lsn0QNE69s
Getting there for 8 will be ok for the stage running at late morning will be ok. Just expect a walk from the car and not to be straight out of the car to the stage. Expect densely populated areas of viewing too.
As a general rule if there's a bunch of media on a particular part then it should be a decent view. These guys are out to make money from their pics so know the best places to hunt out.
I can recommend the hairpin from car park j on Dyfnant. It's where I marshalled last year along with hundreds of spectators and just up from Irish corner. If you want a wild experience spectate with these guys. They really are bonkers!
The stage is run in reverse this year from last years route.
Google rally maps and check out their stage layout in googlemaps. Make a choice from there for where you think you'll get to from whichever car park you arrive at.
Here's a video I made of the hairpin last year, this year you'll see the car approach the other way and see them burst over a slight crest into the hairpin, before disappearing down a straight away from you to a 90right.
http://youtu.be/4Lsn0QNE69s
AdamST said:
Thanks for the quick reply
The plan is to find a good spot and just stay there for the second pass, seems pointless moving to another stage when it's so busy.
I will check out the rally maps, oh and liking the tip r.e media never really though of that.
Probably a silly question but Is it worth pre booking my tickets or just buy on the gate? Will it get me into the forest quicker ect?
Im not exactly sure how the tickets on the gate work this year, as they don't state if its £30 a car or per person.The plan is to find a good spot and just stay there for the second pass, seems pointless moving to another stage when it's so busy.
I will check out the rally maps, oh and liking the tip r.e media never really though of that.
Probably a silly question but Is it worth pre booking my tickets or just buy on the gate? Will it get me into the forest quicker ect?
In previous years it was £20pp on the gate, so maybe safe to assume that. If buying online, sooner rather than later is advisable as they still need to be posted out to you.
If I was spectating I'd probably be sticking to the one stage a day. The lower level boys and the nationals are just as, if not more committed to putting on a show. And if you've never heard a historic Escort BDA screaming through the trees then it's definitely worth a look.
orangeknight said:
A great response and some good info there, thank you. We are going to get to Sweetlamb on Thursday night in the camper and have a beer or 2 etc….
I appreciate that there are "safe" spectator areas set up but obviously the whole of Hafren can't possibly have these set up. As you see on TV quite often there spectators literally all over the stage, whether it be 1's, 2's or whatever with, unfortunately, very little regard for their own safety!!! Are you free to roam into the Forest and deeper into the stage to pick your own viewing points??
It depends who you ask regarding freedom to roam. FIA, WRGB Officials will advise you to stick to the designated spectator pens "that have been chosen for your viewing pleasure and spectacle". I appreciate that there are "safe" spectator areas set up but obviously the whole of Hafren can't possibly have these set up. As you see on TV quite often there spectators literally all over the stage, whether it be 1's, 2's or whatever with, unfortunately, very little regard for their own safety!!! Are you free to roam into the Forest and deeper into the stage to pick your own viewing points??
But the truth is as long as your smart about where to stand, then you should be ok. If you get somewhere and a marshal says you shouldn't be there, then just move on a bit out of their sight.
A sound tip that I usually pass on, if possible try and find a safe place in the tree line and above the road. And don't stand on the outside of the corners.
Alex Langheck said:
You certainly can - and I would suggest that is the proper way of watching the rally....there is still something special about sleeping in a forest at a rally.
I miss those days! Need powered digs now as my brother that comes with me now needs a device to keep him alive at night!Posh marshalling for me now. Get to shower between days as a luxury too
It was much busier than what it was in 2013 judging by your pics and my vid.
They were quite well penned in on the hairpin and on the edges of it. But we also alowed people to roam about further up the stage away from us.
Unfortunately this year with all the issues surrounding photographers both official and hobbyists in rallying there's a massive clamp down on where you are permitted to go.
Basically your either in the penned areas with the spectators, unless a signed on photographer/tv person, then you get to stand infront of the tape. So bring a zoom lense
There is now a zero tolerance approach to people standing in prohibited areas, whereas media used to do so at their own risk, being signed on to the event and all that. But this year the orders have come for no special acces to anyone without a signed letter from rally HQ & the FIA
They were quite well penned in on the hairpin and on the edges of it. But we also alowed people to roam about further up the stage away from us.
Unfortunately this year with all the issues surrounding photographers both official and hobbyists in rallying there's a massive clamp down on where you are permitted to go.
Basically your either in the penned areas with the spectators, unless a signed on photographer/tv person, then you get to stand infront of the tape. So bring a zoom lense
There is now a zero tolerance approach to people standing in prohibited areas, whereas media used to do so at their own risk, being signed on to the event and all that. But this year the orders have come for no special acces to anyone without a signed letter from rally HQ & the FIA
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