Autosportfoto

Chirk castle ready for rallyfest

Family-friendly event with funfairs and entertainment
Aerobatic displays from the Red Bull Matadors
Supercar displays and Hyundai entertainment zone
Massive changes to car parking and spectator facilities since last year
Strictly ADVANCED TICKETS only

The FIA World Rally Championship roars back into Chirk Castle for another family-friendly RallyFest on Saturday 15 November.

The National Trust property will provide a stunning backdrop to one of the centre pieces of this year's eagerly anticipated Wales Rally GB (13-16 November). A festival of top class motor sport action is guaranteed alongside a host of entertainments and activities for the whole family.

RallyFest stages were introduced in 2013 specifically aimed at those spectators who wanted to experience all the excitement of the premier World Rally Championship without venturing into the forests. They featured enhanced facilities and all-day entertainment for all ages - and were an instant success, particularly among those who might have been new to the excitement of rallying.

Indeed the RallyFest at Chirk Castle proved so popular last year that significant upgrades have been implemented by the organisers for 2014.

A substantial increase in car parking together with a completely revised traffic management plan will ensure that visitors can get in and out of the historic medieval venue.

Spectator viewing areas have been significantly increased, too, to ensure that everyone is able to find a good vantage point to enjoy the action of up to 160 cars blasting their way around the specially constructed rally course.

Toilets and catering facilities have also been substantially increased after the experience of last year and visitor access around the site has been completely changed to ensure that those facilities are in the right place for the spectators to use.

The feast of non-stop entertainment includes eye-catching displays and demonstrations by supercars and historic rally cars, stunning aerobatics by the jaw-dropping Red Bull Matadors (weather permitting), two giant screens showing the live action, a funfair featuring a number of rides for all ages, plus some very special attractions courtesy of Hyundai Motor UK. Hyundai returned to the WRC in 2014 and will be celebrating its comeback in style at the RallyFest.

"Chirk is going to be amazing this year," extolled Ben Taylor, Managing Director of Wales Rally GB. "It is a fabulous setting and we've packed a huge amount of quality entertainment into the schedule. It's definitely one of the ‘must see' stages of the rally.

"There were a number of things that went wrong last year. I know; I was there in the crowd and in the traffic. But we have had a proper look at everything and addressed all the areas that caused problems. The biggest issue was that 4,500 people turned up on the day and we simply weren't geared up for them.

"This year we are much better prepared. Everything is ready and I am certain it will be a fabulous event. We just need to remind everyone that we have made it advanced ticket only to give us a better idea of numbers, so please don't try to turn up on the day without a ticket."

In order to control spectator numbers, tickets must be purchased in advance (before 11.59pm on Friday 14 November).

The carefully planned traffic management means that a ‘tidal' one-way system will be in operation. Access to the car parks will be one-way IN only until 11.30am, at which point the direction of travel will be reversed to allow spectators to leave without unnecessary congestion.

Car parks will be open at 8am and all visitors are advised to arrive early to savour the many other activities and attractions in the build-up to the arrival of the WRC superstars at noon.

Full details of arrangements can be found in the on-line Rally Planner available via the official www.walesrallygb.com website which also has full ticket information.

Adult tickets for Chirk are priced at £25 while children get in for just £1. Family tickets (2 adults and 2 children) are available for an amazing £42.

Tickets are also available via the ticket hotline on 0844 847 2251.

WALES RALLY GB RALLYFEST

CHIRK CASTLE, SATURDAY 15 NOVEMBER

Event Timetable

08:00 Gates open
08:00-17:00 RallyFest entertainment
10:00 Supercar parade
10:50 Historic rally car demonstrations
12:00-13:45 World Rally Championship cars
14:05-16:00 Wales Rally GB National cars
Note: Admittance by ADVANCED TICKETS only
All times subject to change

Notes to Editors

About Wales Rally GB: Since its inception in 1932, the rally has been run 68 times. Enforced stoppages have included World War 2, Suez Crisis (1957) and Foot and Mouth (1967). Wales Rally GB is the British and 13th and final round of this year's FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). To date, it is one of only two events (along with Finland) to have retained its status as both a qualifying and scoring round of the WRC since the championship was established in 1973.

Wales Rally GB is held annually and is organised and promoted by International Motor Sports Ltd (IMS), the commercial arm of the Berkshire-based Motor Sports Association, the governing body of motor sport in the UK. The Rally has been branded Wales Rally GB since 2003 with the Welsh Government being the principal funding partner. A move to north Wales in 2013, together with considerable financial investment, delivered a revitalised rally that was widely praised by all involved. The event's official website is www.walesrallygb.com and provides regular news updates as well as a link to copyright-free images.

Media Contacts:

Motor Sport and Welsh Media: Jonathan Gill, Wales Rally GB Media Office, MPA Creative, High Barn, Effingham, Surrey KT24 5PR.
Tel:01372 414120 or 07860 563000
E-mail: Jonathan.Gill@MPACreative.com

National and Lifestyle Media: Zoe Wiggins at HPS Jardine, Atlas House, Third Avenue, Globe Park, Marlow, Bucks SL7 1EY.
Tel:01628 894832 or 07766 088713
E-mail: Zoe.Wiggins@HPSJardine.com