2014 Wales Rally GB - Preview | Federation Internationale de l'Automobile

2014 Wales Rally GB - Preview

07.11.14

The FIA World Rally Championship contenders head to the wintry Welsh forests for their final challenge of the season

2014 WALES RALLY GB

Building on the success of its move to the north last year, Wales Rally GB returns to Deeside with a further refined route in a more compact three-day schedule. The final round of the 2014 FIA World Rally Championship always poses a big challenge to competitors, the unpredictable late autumn/early winter weather having the potential to throw up any conditions.

With the FIA World Rally Championship and FIA Junior WRC Championship titles sealed, the focus is firmly on the battle for the FIA WRC 2 Championship crown. Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah and Finland’s Jari Ketomaa are now the only two drivers with a chance of taking the title and the two Fiesta drivers will be fighting hard for this prized support championship trophy. For the top World Rally Car contenders, Wales Rally GB provides the opportunity for an all-out fight to the finish and the honour of securing victory on one of the most historic rounds of the Championship.

The closing ‘iRobot Power Stage’ – Brenig 2 – will be broadcast live on the national and international TV feed.

WALES RALLY RALLY – ROUTE GRAPHICS

THE 2014 ROUTE

New this year is a ceremonial start on Thursday evening at the Eirias Park Stadium in Colwyn Bay. Friday’s route will be largely familiar to the crews with traditional stages run in mid-Wales. On Saturday, however, three new stages in the famous Clocaenog forest (SS9/14, SS10/15 and SS11/16) will pose an additional challenge, as will Brenig and Alwen, both new stages on Sunday, the breath-taking scenery in Brenig the backdrop for the closing Power Stage.

RALLY DATA

Total distance:
Stage distance:
Number of stages:

1,363.91 km
305.64 km (22.4%)
23

MEDIA ACCREDITATION

The accreditation centre is located at the Wales Rally GB Media Centre adjoining the Deeside Service Park, Zone 3, Deeside Industrial Park, CH5 2TW. The opening hours are:

Monday 10 November
Tuesday 11 November
Wednesday 12 November
Thursday 13 November

14:00 - 18:00 hrs (for media recce only)
14:00 - 18:00 hrs
10:00 - 18:00 hrs
08:00 - 18:00 hrs

WALES RALLY GB TIMETABLE AND MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES ORGANISED BY THE FIA

Wednesday 12 November
Mandatory rally by rally photographers briefing,
Photographers’ Room

Thursday 13 November
Shakedown (P1 & P2 drivers)
Shakedown (P1, P2 & P3 drivers)
Shakedown (non-priority drivers)
FIA Press Conference, Press Room, Rally HQ
Autograph session, Eirias Stadium, Colwyn Bay
Ceremonial Start, Eirias Stadium, Colwyn Bay

Friday 14 November
First car arrives for remote service and Media Zone, Newtown
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone, Deeside
End of day ‘Meet the Crews’, WRC Stage, Service Park

Saturday 15 November
First car arrives for mid-day service and Media Zone, Deeside
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone, Deeside
End of day ‘Meet the Crews’, WRC Stage, Service Park

Sunday 16 November
Prize-Giving and podium ceremony, Llandudno
FIA Press Conference, Press Room, Rally HQ

17:00 hrs

08:00-10:00 hrs
10:00-12:00 hrs
12:00-14:00 hrs
14:00 hrs
18:00 hrs
19:00 hrs

11:03 hrs
18:20 hrs
During the 45' service

13:03 hrs
19:49 hrs
During the 45' service

13:20 hrs
16:00 hrs

FIA PRESS CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE

Thursday 13 November

Sunday 16 November

Martin Koci, FIA Junior WRC Championship
Alastair Fisher, FIA Junior WRC Championship
Nasser Al-Attiyah, FIA WRC 2 Championship
Jari Ketomaa, FIA WRC 2 Championship
Sebastien Ogier, Volkswagen Motorsport
Kris Meeke, Citroen Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team
Mikko Hirvonen, M-Sport World Rally Team
Elfyn Evans, M-Sport World Rally Team
Hayden Paddon, Hyundai Motorsport N

Winning FIA Junior WRC Championship crew
Winning FIA WRC 3 Championship crew
Winning FIA WRC 2 Championship crew
Champions of the FIA WRC 2 Championship
Top three crews in the overall classification
Representative of the winning entrant

ADDITIONAL MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES

‘Meet the Crews’: On Friday and Saturday the top three drivers will attend a ‘Meet the Crews’ session for media and fans. This will take place on the Michelin Experience WRC Stage at the earliest opportunity during the 45’ service.

Autograph Signing Session: On Friday and Saturday selected crews will be available for a 15 minute autograph session. This will take place in the service park during the end of day service at the teams’ service areas.

FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSIFICATIONS

The provisional classifications for all the WRC Championships can be found on the following link:

http://www.fia.com/championship/world-rally-championship/2014/classifications

STAGE CHART

Shortly after the finish of the event, a downloadable stage chart showing the progressive positions of the leading crews during the rally will be available. This is copyright free for editorial purposes and available at the following link:

http://www.fia.com/championship/world-rally-championship/2014/rally-great-britain-stage-chart

2014 Wales Rally GB - Preview

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