Wales Rally GB - Final Round of the WRC

[RaySinKa]

Well it's in Cardiff Bay again and with two Special Stages in the Cardiff Docks Area, that I may be able to see from my lounge window

All the Service Parks will be outside my apartment doors again and five minutes walk to the main arena in Roald Dahl Place.

Anyone considering a visit feel free to get in touch.

Ray

News Announcement.

This year’s Wales Rally GB route provides fans, families and those who are new to the world of rallying with the perfect mix of old and new. For the first time, Cardiff Bay will play host to a special stage which will run twice, on the evenings of Thursday 11th and Saturday 13th November.

The timed test of speed and driver skill will run on the Cardiff Bay barrage and into the dock area. It will be ideal for those who want to enjoy the event in Wales’ vibrant capital, particularly young families, as public transport and parking are easily accessible.

For fans who revel in soaking up the nostalgia of this event, the rally will return to Radnor Forest for the first time in 11 years. The ultra fast 15.1 km stage will run twice on Saturday the 13th and promises rally followers plenty of high speed entertainment.

Other highlights include a return to the Royal Welsh Showground at Builth Wells for undercover remote service on the Friday and Saturday. Margam Park, near Port Talbot, will host the final two competitive stages on Sunday 14th.

For the second successive year, the main service park – the hub of the event – will be based in Cardiff Bay and access will be free of charge for everyone. It is here that fans will have a real opportunity to get up close to the drivers and teams as they race against the clock to service – and often repair – their rally cars.

Organisers have worked hard to keep ticket prices low and for the third year running, the popular ‘Kids for a quid’ offer will apply and has been extended further than ever to include all day passes, remote service and the Cardiff Bay special stage. Wales Rally GB is a great opportunity for families to enjoy a day of top class sporting fun together from as little as £42** for a family of four.

[Lynn-rex]

Ray, shakedown will run on Wednesday evening instead of Thursday.

Enjoy!

[RaySinKa]

Ray, shakedown will run on Wednesday evening instead of Thursday.

Enjoy!

Thank you.

Ray

[revngo]

Sounds a good event Ray, lucky you getting armchair views
Pity I live too far away or I might have taken you up on your offer
Enjoy and post some photos if you get the opportunity to take some

[RaySinKa]

Sounds a good event Ray, lucky you getting armchair views
Pity I live too far away or I might have taken you up on your offer
Enjoy and post some photos if you get the opportunity to take some

I will do, I've been out today and they are starting to set up the garages and start/finish area;


First Of The Garage Areas.


The Start Area - In English.


The Start Area - In Welsh.


A Beautiful Day, Before The Rain Arrived.

Ray

[RaySinKa]

Saturday afternoon and the first of the big teams have arrived.


A View From My Sofa

Ray

[revngo]

Thanks for the photos Ray
How did the event go?

[RaySinKa]

Thanks for the photos Ray
How did the event go?

It doesn't start until Thursday Rev. This is the build up with the WRC setting up the public areas and the teams arriving and building their garages.

I'm going to try to keep a daily photo diary

Ray

[RaySinKa]

Sunday Morning.

What a difference a day makes


This is the view from the lift well on my floor of the apartment block. This will probably be the garage and service area for the Privateers.


Service area again with a view of the Millennium Stadium in the distance on the right.


What was the Start/Finish area seems to be the garage and servicing area for the senior teams this year.


Torchwood fans will recognise this Next year the new owners of the penthouse owners of the apartments behind will have a summer of free entertainment.


The WRC retail shop parked in front of the Pierhead Building. Built in 1897, this Grade One listed building was originally the headquarters of the Cardiff Railway. The Pierhead is even rumoured to be the place where the first million pound cheque was kept after being signed in the nearby Coal Exchange. Cardiff Pierhead Building


The Citroen Team garages.


I'm guessing that by tomorrow morning the Stobart Team garages will appear


I guess they would have liked to have been open for next weekend, still TexMex food in the Bay for Christmas


And the artistic bit but not up to GUP, Rev and others standards

Ray

[Lynn-rex]

Thanks so much Ray for tha daily photo dairy!

Can't wait for this week pics!

[RaySinKa]

Monday Morning

More work on the big teams garages and hospitality areas.


Behind the hospitality area you can spot their soft drink supply, I couldn't spot the Chmmpage!


The Abu Dhabi garages are taking shape.


Where will the cars fit in?


The Citroen hospitality area emerges, there were four security guards around it this morning.


Petter Solberg, on the edge as ever.


Petter's garage being set up, including Christmas Trees


Citroen hospitality area is bigger than Petter Solberg's garage!


Citroen's Garages.


The World Champion's garage.


We'll all be looking in this direction on Sunday, and not for rally cars.


Torchwood, just for Lightmas

Ray

[Rus-Evo]

We need someone to keep an eye on Ray so he doesnt sneak a drive in one of the cars!!

[RaySinKa]

We need someone to keep an eye on Ray so he doesnt sneak a drive in one of the cars!!

The WRC simulator will be there somewhere

Ray

[Lynn-rex]

Very efficient Ray, Monday's photos out!

Ah notice Ogier's garage is next to Loeb.
So he will partner Loeb in this rally.
Dani will then be in the Citroen Junior team with Kimi.

[RaySinKa]

Very efficient Ray, Monday's photos out!

Ah notice Ogier's garage is next to Loeb.
So he will partner Loeb in this rally.
Dani will then be in the Citroen Junior team with Kimi.

I don't have to go to work until 1pm today, so plenty of time for a walk.

I'm sure that Citroen garage set up is the norm.

There other two garages were to the right but only partially set up, maybe tomorrow morning.

The Pirelli tyre compound is outside my lounge window



Ray

[revngo]

Sorry I got my wires crossed re. start of this Rally 

Nice photos btw and lol at seeing Stobart there, had no idea they ran a rally car

[RaySinKa]

Sorry I got my wires crossed re. start of this Rally 

Nice photos btw and lol at seeing Stobart there, had no idea they ran a rally car

No worries Rev.

One certainty is that the Stobart Team are never short of transporter drivers - lol

They have a good interest in motorsport...

BRITAIN’S leading FIA World Rally Championship pairing of Matthew Wilson and Scott Martin will be flying the flag for Great Britain at their home event of Wales Rally GB next week.

The iconic event will also be the last outing for the team’s Ford Focus RS World Rally Car that has racked up an impressive seven podium finishes for the Cumbrian-based squad since their entry into the WRC in 2006.

At just 23-years-old, Wilson will be taking part in the rally for the seventh time, and for the fifth time with co-driver Martin. So the pair have plenty experience of tackling the tricky Welsh stages.

With 68 points to his name already this season the young Briton has delivered a strong performance throughout the year but is keen to finish the year with a flourish and aims to match his best performance of the season - fifth place at Rally Jordan.

Wilson’s preparations ahead of his home event have included a trip to the inaugural Rallyfest North Wales. The festival, which was staged at Conwy and Llandudno, was organised to promote Wales Rally GB and gave motorsport fans a taster of what they can expect to see next week. Wilson performed live for fans in his Ford Focus RS WRC and an official reported the event was attended by over 14,000 people.

Henning Solberg and co-driver Stephane Prévot are the other nominated point-scorers for Stobart M-Sport Ford in Wales. The Norwegian pilot finished fifth at last year’s event and will be aiming for a similar performance at next week’s final round of the championship.

Joining the Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally Team for the first time will be three-times Chinese National Rally Champion Liu Chao Dong and Australian co-driver Anthony McLoughlin.

Stobart Motorsports

Ray

[Lynn-rex]

So have the drivers arrived?

I understand is raining over there.
Going to be a wet & slippery rally?

Now we wait for Ray's Tuesday pics.

[RaySinKa]

Tuesday morning in Cardiff Bay, starts cold and a very strong north easterly wind.

Welcome to Wales WRC.

Sorry about the pictures by it was hard to hold the camera steady in the wind whilst using the zoom


This morning a roof on the ground. What will it be tomorrow?
Watching the setup of these mobile offices, garages, hospitality suites is fascinating. F1 has it a lot easier with their gigantic mobile trucks and purpose built pit garages.


Loeb's car hidden away for the night.


Raikkonen's car doesn't qualify for protection , nor does he get such a bold name plate on his garage.


Raikkonen's car.


He needs a bigger name board!


Another roof? Look back tomorrow!


Not much activity at the Prodrive team.


They need a roof! I pity them if they plan to work in the open, budgets must be tight.


View of one of the minor team's service area, taken from the top of the multi storey car park.


Another view of one of the minor team's service area, taken from the top of the multi storey car park.


The third service park. The Pirelli service park is in the distance and a little to the right behind my apartment block.

Last night there were a number of cars making short test drives on the local roads. I couldn't see them but I sure could hear them, no doubt my neighbours will start complaining soon.

Look back tomorrow for updates.

Ray

[RaySinKa]

So have the drivers arrived?

I understand is raining over there.
Going to be a wet & slippery rally?

Now we wait for Ray's Tuesday pics.

I'm sure the privateers have arrived and probably sleeping in their transporters.

The top drivers are probably hiding away in warm hotel rooms somewhere near.

It is very cold today, judging by the number of "penguin people" walking around (as you can see in the picture or the Abu Dhabi roof) but as I don't feel the cold I'm still in a t-shirt, shorts and sandals There is a little rain and a strong north easterly wind blowing, so it will be no fun for the riggers and mechanics out there.

It is an improving forecast towards the weekend but it will be a different world out on the forestry tracks of the Special Stages.

Ray

[Lynn-rex]

Thanks Ray, grateful for those photos.

Wow, you're so fit, still in t-shirt, shorts & sandals!


Edit - typo error.

[RaySinKa]

Thanks Ray, grateful for those photos.

Wow, you're so fit, still in t-shirt, shorts & scandals!

Crazy most people say

I have my fat to keep me warm is what I say

Ray

[RaySinKa]

Lots of noise from the tyre guns in the Pirelli Service Park, I can hear it quite clearly over the sounds of the ship unloading its cargo next to it.

Always some entertainment living here.





Ray

[Lynn-rex]

Btw Ray, have you spotted Ken Block's garage?
Not sure whether he's participating in this rally.

Since this is the last rally maybe we get confirmation where Dani & Kimi be driving next year.
Rumours, Dani will leave Citroen for Ford.
Hopefully Kimi stays put in WRC.

[RaySinKa]

Btw Ray, have you spotted Ken Block's garage?
Not sure whether he's participating in this rally.

Since this is the last rally maybe we get confirmation where Dani & Kimi be driving next year.
Rumours, Dani will leave Citroen for Ford.
Hopefully Kimi stays put in WRC.

Strange that you should mention him, this new just in;

Monster driver Ken Block has suffered a ‘significant’ testing accident ahead of this week’s Rally GB.

The team has confirmed that Block will not start this week’s final WRC round of the year in his usual Ford Focus RS WRC following the shunt, with M-Sport being forced to prepare a spare Focus for the American.

Both Block and his co-driver Alex Gelsomino were unharmed in the accident, but a source said: “It was a pretty big crash. The roll cage was damaged, which meant it would be really tight to get the car turned around and ready for the start in Cardiff in a couple of days. As it is, the M-Sport boys are going to be flat-out getting the spare car ready.”

The accident happened yesterday morning in near-freezing conditions at the Greystoke test stage.

Today, Block has joined the rest of the Rally GB competitors on the recce in Wales.

Ray