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Stages are set for Wales Rally GB blockbuster

Leading crews ready to rock on Wales Rally GB following successful recce
Elfyn Evans eager to conclude rookie season in style on home soil
Sébastien Ogier targeting final victory of the campaign as ‘early Christmas present'
The Service Park is set up and the recce has been run - Wales Rally GB is ready to rev into life to conclude the 2014 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) in style.

As the finishing touches were put to the Deeside Service Park on Wednesday, Wales Rally GB's 64 international crews focused their efforts on recceing the event's 23 high-speed stages, taking advantage of the opportunity to perfect their pace notes ahead of the flat-out action through the forests over the next few days.

In rallying, pre-event preparation is absolutely key, as just one late call or a corner taken in the wrong gear can spell disaster.

Leading British contenders Elfyn Evans and Kris Meeke and their respective co-drivers Daniel Barritt and Paul Nagle have taken painstaking care to ensure their notes are as accurate as possible as they prepare to take on what is widely renowned as one of the most demanding events on the calendar.

"Friday's stages look very good, whereas Saturday's appear to be pretty muddy - but that's all part and parcel of the challenge of Wales Rally GB," M-Sport rookie Evans reported.

"It's fantastic to be finishing the season on home turf, although I haven't done this rally before in a WRC-spec car so it's going to be another learning experience and it will be important to find a comfortable balance. I can't wait to get out there!"

Whilst the destiny of the 2014 Drivers' crown has already been decided - with Volkswagen Motorsport's Sébastien Ogier wrapping up the laurels for the second year in succession in Spain last month - there is still plenty of pride at stake on Wales Rally GB. With every driver ‘off the leash' and with little to lose, nobody will be holding back - least of all the new world champion.

"I'm a lot more relaxed now than I was before Spain, that's for sure, but it won't change my approach to the rally and the objective is the same as it always is - to fight for victory," the Frenchman asserted.

"There are a lot of variables on Wales Rally GB, and the changes in grip in particular are not always easy to judge. I want to finish on the podium at the very least - and I must admit, to win the final rally of the season would be a pretty cool early Christmas present!"

Following a shakedown at Clocaenog on Thursday morning, Wales Rally GB will officially begin with a spectacular Ceremonial Start at Eirias Stadium in Colwyn Bay the same evening, with the action itself revving into life in mid-Wales at the crack of dawn on Friday morning.

The 64 international crews - together with 96 national entrants - will then return to north Wales for more high-octane thrills at the weekend, with the winners being celebrated in Llandudno on Sunday afternoon.

All tickets are still available via the official www.walesrallygb.com website or ticket hotline on 0844 847 2251. RallyFest tickets are priced at just £25 for adults and must be purchased in advance. Tickets for Chirk Castle must be booked by 10pm on Friday night (14 November) for collection at the venue on Saturday morning.

Full ticket information as well as detailed Rally Planner are available on the www.walesrallygb.com website.

WALES RALLY GB

2014 FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP - ROUND 13

Event Timetable*

Thursday 13 November

08:00 Official Shakedown - Clocaenog
17:30-21:00 Opening Ceremony at Eirias Stadium, Colwyn Bay
Friday 14 November

05:30 Start - Deeside
07:44 Gartheiniog 1 (Stage 1)
08:14 Dyfi 1 (Stage 2)
09:24 Hafren Sweet Lamb 1 (Stage 3)
09:58 Maesnant (Stage 4)
11:22 Remote Service - Newtown (15 mins)
13:03 Gartheiniog 2 (Stage 5)
13:33 Dyfi 2 (Stage 6)
14:43 Hafren Sweet Lamb 2 (Stage 7)
15:17 Maesnant 2 (Stage 8)
18:30 Service - Deeside (45 mins)
Saturday 15 November

06:40 Service - Deeside (15 mins)
07:52 Clocaenog East 1 (Stage 9)
08:08 Clocaenog Main 1 (Stage 10)
09:18 Aberhirnant 1 (Stage 11)
10:10 Dyfnant 1 (Stage 12)
12:00 Chirk Castle (Stage 13)
13:33 Service - Deeside (30 mins)
15:00 Clocaenog East 1 (Stage 14)
15:16 Clocaenog Main 1 (Stage 15)
16:26 Aberhirnant 1 (Stage 16)
17:18 Dyfnant 1 (Stage 17)
19:59 Service - Deeside (45 mins)
Sunday 16 November

07:05 Service - Deeside (15 mins)
08:33 iRobot Brenig 1 (Stage 18)
09:00 Alwen 1 (Stage 19)
09:55 Kinmel Park 1 (Stage 20)
10:04 Kinmel Park 2 (Stage 21)
10:51 Alwen 2 (Stage 22)
12:00 iRobot Brenig 2 ‘Power Stage' (Stage 23)
13:19 Ceremonial Finish - Mostyn Street, Llandudno
* All times are for the first car and subject to change

Ends/.

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

ENDS
WRGB 28/2014