The Get Jerky Rally North Wales returns to Welshpool for the second successive year on Saturday as some of the most closely fought rally series in the country head for the nearby forests to do battle.
Sponsored once again by the Welshpool-based Get Jerky brand of beef jerky snacks, the popular gravel stage rally, organised by Wolverhampton and South Staffordshire Car Club has attracted an impressive entry of more than 100 cars that will tackle world-famous stages such as Dyfnant and Gartheiniog in an action-packed day of motorsport in the region.
A revised format for 2024, sees the Welshpool Livestock Market become the hub of the rally all weekend, with pre-event formalities taking place at the facility on Friday
The location will also host the ceremonial start at 7:30am on Saturday, mid-event service and then the finish celebrations at around 4:45pm.
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The stages themselves will be alive with top-drawer talent from the Fuchs Lubricants Motorsport UK British Historic Rally Championship and Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship. They will be joined by contenders in the ANWCC Forest Rally Championship, West Wales Rally Spares HRCR Stage Masters and the MINI Rally Challenge.
Mid Wales interest in the national class is led by Llanrhaeadr’s Dale Furniss who co-drives former British Rally champion Gwyndaf Evans in a Ford G2.
The Dolgellau driver has not been on gravel since 2014 but is always an entertaining watch.
Having supported son Elfyn in the World Rally Championship for many years, appearances are rare, but the popular driver makes his first appearance in the event since 2010.
Abermule’s Mark Higgins is also in action with Teifi Valley’s Carl Williamson co-driving in a Triumph TR7 V8.
The three-time title holder is also the man behind many of the James Bond car scenes but swaps the tux for a Triumph for the weekend.
Newtown co-driver Jonny Evans joins Andrew Stokes in a Ford Escort Mk1 while Brecon duo John Morgan and co-driver Llinos Jones-Edwards will also be action in a Ford Escort Mk2.
Brecon’s Bob Gibbons and Jon Harris will compete in a Ford Escort Mk1 RS1600 in the interclub class while Julia Perry will co-drive Whitchurch’s Guy Butler in a Mini Cooper S 1600 in the Mini Challenge.
The Welshpool Livestock Market hosts the start with crews leaving from 7:30am on Saturday. Access is free and offers a chance to view the cars up close.
Two excellent viewing areas are available in the forests with Big Ray offering the first opportunity from 9:15am.The stage is accessed from the A487 at Esgairgeliog and is run twice during the day, the second pass at 2:20pm.
Dyfnant is also run twice, with the first passing at 10:50am and the second, and final stage of the rally at 4pm The test can be found off the B4395, just north of Llangadfan on the A458.
Access to each spectator stage costs £15 per car, per location and 50 per cent of the car park proceeds are donated to local charitable organisations.
Crews will then return to Welshpool Livestock Market at 4:45pm for the finish celebrations and once again access is free for all.
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