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GB countdown: The route

The route of this week's Dayinsure Wales Rally GB (27 - 30 october) builds on the format of recent British WRC encounters, with a handful of new additions and revisions to keep the drivers on their toes.

Organisers say this year's route is the longest and most challenging since the event moved from Cardiff to its current base in Deeside, in the north of the country, in 2013. And a big part of this year's challenge will be a complete absence of mid-leg servicing.

All but one of the 22-stages are set on gravel tracks in the forests of mid and north Wales. Stages such as Myherin and Hafren to the east of Aberystwyth are to be run in reverse for the first time in more than 20 years while the returning Pantperthog stage hasn't been included since 1997.

The route also presents a new home for Saturday's spectator-friendly RallyFest which after three years at Chirk Castle, moves to nearby Cholmondeley Castle.

Following the Clocaenog shakedown and the ceremonial start, held on Thursday evening at the Eirias Park in Colwyn Bay, competitors will tackle three days of stage action - all of which are run without a midpoint service.

Friday's route will use the Myherin, Sweet Lamb and Hafren stages, run in the reverse direction to 2015, followed by Dyfnant using the same route as last year. Between the two visits to these stages there will be a regroup and tyre fitting zone in Newtown. At the end of the day competitors will cross the border to the English city of Chester for an autograph signing session.

Saturday's first stage in Pantperthog forest has not been used on Rally GB for 20 years. This is followed by the Dyfi stage which will run in the reverse direction from last year whilst Gartheiniog is the same as 2015. These three stages will be repeated before a single run through the Aberhirnant stage, with the same route as last year. The day rounds off with a new 1.8km asphalt stage at Cholmondeley Castle.

Three stages make up the final day, starting with Clocaenog, a stage last used in 2014. This will be followed by Alwen, run to the same route as last year, and then Brenig which will be run partly in the reverse direction from last year. All three will be repeated, with the second pass of Brenig counting as the live TV Power Stage.

The rally route of 1295.94km includes 965.73km of liaison sections and a total stage distance of 330.21km.

Zdroj: wrc.com