Friday 12th July 2019

Wales Rally GB | Time For Coffee?

This year is the 75th running of a GB rally, and marks 25 years since McRae's first win - time to get excited!

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Yes, alright, it's the middle of July. And Wales Rally GB isn't until the start of October, when sunny afternoons and mild evenings will be nothing more than fond and distant memories. But people get delirious about Christmas months before the event, and this is much more exciting than that.

No, really. While it's trendy not to get behind rallying nowadays, the spectacle remains just incredible. Sure, the days of production-derived stage stars are a long way behind us, but what we have instead are vehicles blessed with almost supernatural abilities on any surface. The speed is just extraordinary, and to see them up close is a real privilege - anybody frustrated with the access of modern motorsport should watch a WRC round. Specifically Wales Rally GB. And what better year than an anniversary year?

Its first running, in 1932, was inspired by the Monte Carlo rally, with an end destination of Torquay and 342 competitors taking one of nine different 1,000-mile routes to the English Riviera. The winner was the driver who made it with the fewest penalty points, and that was Colonel A.H. Loughborough in a Lanchester 15/18. But Motor Sport magazine suggested the RAC might be seen as "meek and mediocre" against the Monte. So there you are.

Along with Rally Finland, Rally GB is the only event to have featured on every WRC calendar since its inauguration in 1973. Indeed it was once an event often dominated by Scandinavian drivers, only Roger Clark's '72 and '76 triumphs breaking their monopoly until McRae's first win in 1994.

There's an onboard video of that below to mark a quarter of a century since the milestone - which was followed up by successes in 1995 and 1997 as well - plus last year's highlights as well to show what phenomenal machines the latest WRC cars are. Because rallying is always awesome. With a win back in 2017, Elfyn Evans will be keen to repeat that on such a significant year for his homeland in 2019. Only 82 days to go...

 

[V8 FOU]

Let's hope it's another win for the boyo! Elfyn Evans.

[TopazCerb]

I was planning to head over to Wales to catch some of the action but unfortunately something else has come up during that weekend.

If anyone is looking for some accommodation in Llandudno, I have a 4 bedroom house booked from Friday 4th - Monday 7th October. Total cost £475.

PM me for more details.

[Jon_S_Rally]

Come on, who is going to be the first to spout all the usual nonsense about rallying being st since Group B was banned?

Not sure I'll make it to GB this year. Was planning to go over for Spain instead, but can't now unfortunately.

As an aside, I'm not sure it's strictly fair to say that it's been part of every World Rally Championship since the '70s. For 1996, it was only a round for the 2-litre cars, so it wasn't part of the main championship. The 4WD field was pretty light because of it.

[steveb8189]

Jon_S_Rally said:

Come on, who is going to be the first to spout all the usual nonsense about rallying being st since Group B was banned?

The rallying is incredible but it's a shame how much of the tech now filters down to the road cars. The imprezza looks to have an almost standard interior.

[Turbobanana]

PH said:

Indeed it was once an event often dominated by Scandinavian drivers, only Roger Clark's '72 and '76 triumphs breaking their monopoly until McRae's first win in 1994

Assuming you count Spaniard Carlos Sainz, winner in 1990 & 1992, as Scandinavian?

Edited by Turbobanana on Friday 12th July 12:39

[rossub]

I expect there are more people in the McRae podium pic than there will be watching the rally itself this year

[Jon_S_Rally]

steveb8189 said:

The rallying is incredible but it's a shame how much of the tech now filters down to the road cars. The imprezza looks to have an almost standard interior.

That's the way of things these days. It's the same across virtually all motorsport now.

rossub said:

I expect there are more people in the McRae podium pic than there will be watching the rally itself this year

Not been lately then?

[ArnageWRC]

75 years of the event formally known as the RAC Rally; 2003 was the first Wales Rally GB....

Have to say, I think October is far too early for the event - it should/ needs to be mid/late November.