The Welsh Rarebit Endurance Rally Debuts in October

27 June 2005

The latest addition to the growing calendar of Endurance rallies, the Welsh Rarebit will be one of the toughest, lasting three days and covering almost 700 miles of competition on some 30 special tests and selective sections.

The new event makes its debut on 14-15-16 October 2005, over three legs, returning each night to the west Wales university city of Aberystwyth, which offers accommodation to suit all pockets.

Organised by Clwb Modur Cymru Cyf (The Motor Club of Wales), the Welsh Rarebit will share much of its route with the well-established Circuit of Wales, an historic road rally and touring trial.

Both events will be decided by special tests over famous Forestry Commission roads like Crychan, Brechfa, Dovey, Penmachno. Clocaenog, Dyfnant and Hafren, plus some forests never before used for motor sport. The famous asphalt roads of the Eppynt military ranges will also feature.

While the historic cars will be limited to an average speed of 30mph both on the public highway and in the forests, the Endurance Rally cars will be able to average 40mph on the private road sections. The Endurance Rally cars will also face a number of other driving tests (but the organisers promise no reversing).

Organiser Denis Cardell explains the philosophy: "Back in the 1950s and 1960s, if you wanted to compete in motor sport lasting more than ten minutes, you went road rallying. It was cheap and you could use the same car that you used for work.

"Costs have now risen to the point where you need a specialist car costing £100,000 or more if you want any chance of success, and the same amount again to indulge in a full season at British Rally Championship level.

"The new Endurance regulations turn the clock back, offering affordable rallying and also creating a level playing field for competitors, by limiting events to 1400cc standard cars running on inexpensive control tyres."

Entries will cost £650 per car until 1 August. The entry fee includes morning coffee, afternoon tea and a hot evening buffet each day, plus the prizegiving lunch. Early entries include Owen Turner (Rover Metro), who has already won two of this year's Endurance Rallies.

For further information visit www.historicrallies.co.uk.

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