Aberystwyth and District Motor Club are pleased to announce that a Rally Time Trial is planned to take place at Sweet Lamb Rally Complex, on Sunday the 9th of August 2020.

Building on the long and fruitful relationship between the motor club and the Sweet Lamb Rally Complex, developed through the running of the hugely popular and successful Ystwyth Rally over the past two decades, all parties involved are cautiously optimistic as they look to kick-start motorsport in mid Wales. A challenging yet driver-friendly route, as part of a no-nonsense day of competition, will be the ethos of the event.

 

As a result of the suspension of motorsport activities across the UK, and following the Bennett-Evans family’s usual hard work in maintaining the roads at Sweet Lamb Rally Complex, the proposed four mile stage - which is very similar to that which is intended to be used on Wales Rally GB in October - is in optimal condition. A total of six runs - three in each direction - will take place, for a total of 24 competitive miles, for an entry fee of approximately £300.

 

The motor club’s strong links with Rali Bae Ceredigion mean that an experienced organising team has been put together in a short period of time, following the publication of Motorsport UK’s Getting Back on Track guidelines, and the Welsh Assembly Government’s tentative plans to ease restrictions on travel and distancing in Wales.

 

In accordance with these MSUK guidelines, at the time of writing, only one person is allowed to be in each competing vehicle, meaning no co-drivers or passengers will be permitted. Furthermore, no access will be granted to spectators, with security in operation to strictly control this. A limit on the number of vehicles and service personnel will be in place, details of which will be published closer to the date of the event.

 

All competing cars must have a Stage Rally log book or technical passport, and comply with current MSUK Stage Rally technical regulations. A class for Road Rally specification cars with the appropriate log book / technical passport is planned. Dispensation to run in reverse order, so that lower powered cars may enjoy more favourable conditions, has been applied for.

 

Aberystwyth and District Motor Club appreciate the fact that organising this event is likely to mean competitors will travel to Sweet Lamb Rally Complex, on the border of Ceredigion and Powys, from all over Wales, if not from across the UK if Welsh Assembly Government advice allows this in early August.

 

The timetable of the event means that all competitors and their service crew will need to be at the venue early on the Sunday morning of the event, with all activity taking place at the remote and isolated rally complex. The opportunity for interaction with local residents, save for those also competing on the event, is therefore practically zero.

 

The organisers, being residents of Ceredigion, Powys and Gwynedd, are keen to minimise any potential impact on the local area, and are monitoring the situation with regard to travel and business restrictions in Wales. Accordingly, any decision made by the Welsh Assembly Government, either to lift travel and trade restrictions in the coming months, or to limit movement and social interaction in the event of a ‘second wave’ of Covid-19, will be respected and acted upon.

 

Regulations will be published on Friday 3rd July, with entries going live on Sunday 5th July.