After a successful return to the British Rallying calendar in 2015, this year’s North Wales Rally Services

Rally North Wales on April 2 is all set to go one better with the inclusion of a series of top-line rally championships.

The Dolgellau based event has attracted the attentions of the Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship and the crowd pleasing series will join returnees from the ever popular Pirelli MSA Welsh Rally Championship.

Regulations for the Wolverhampton and South Staffordshire Car Club organised event have been released this week and competitors can look forward to some of the “best stages in the world” according to nine time world Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb.

The all-gravel event takes in stages utilised by the final round of the World Rally Championship, Wales Rally GB and organisers have provided a compact six-stage route in the Dyfi and Gartheiniog forest complex. – Organisers admit last year’s event was a “toe in the water” exercise for the team and providing a cost effective format coupled with world class stages certainly proved popular with the 99 crews who took part. In fact, the event attracted many impressive entries from the likes of David Bogie in his new Fiesta R5+, Norwegian Martin Berglund in the Mitsubishi Mirage R5 and event World Rally star Elfyn Evans who debuted the all new Fiesta R2T under the M-Sport banner.

With the experienced gained from last year’s event, the organising team have devised an equally thrilling route to entertain both competitors and spectators.

“We really started from the ground up last year and tried several new things which were perhaps a little risky.” said clerk of the course Richard Hinton. “So we have managed to take the good bits and make them better to give everyone a fantastic days rallying on some classic Welsh stages.

“It’s an honour to be joined by the Mintex MSA British Rally Championship and of course we are delighted to welcome back the Pirelli MSA Welsh Rally Championship.

“The ANWCC Forest Rally Championship and REIS ASWMC Loose Surface Championships also return to the event. The Defender Challenge by Bowler Motorsport is another new inclusion on the event and they will certainly provide some great entertainment towards the rear of the field.”

The signs are looking good on the stages as well. “We have completed several route surveys over the last few months and the stages are looking in fantastic condition,” he says.

“They really should suit everyone whether in a World or Historic Rally car.  We have two events running during the day, a National A event for the MSA BHRC and Defender contenders with 49 miles on offer and a 41 mile National B event for remaining crews.  It should be a great days rallying for everyone.”

The event regulations are now available and you can also enter online at www.rallynorthwales.co.uk