The FIA World Rally Championship will return to the heart of the historic city of Chester for the first time in 20 years on 28 October. The stars and cars from the Dayinsure Wales Rally GB (27-30 October) will visit the iconic walled city having completed their first day of competition in the legendary forests of mid-Wales.
As the climax to a special ‘Chester Rally Week’, the crews will start arriving in Chester at just after 18:30 on the Friday evening, passing under the famous Eastgate Clock – said to be England’s most photographed clock after Big Ben – before stopping for autographs and selfies on Eastgate. Another photo opportunity will follow when the cars proceed over the official Dayinsure Wales Rally GB ramp and through the official Time Control on Bridge Street en route to an overnight halt at the busy Deeside Rally Village in neighbouring Flintshire. Encouraging everyone to come to meet the WRC heroes and share in the high-octane atmosphere, public admission will be totally free of charge.
"It’s going to a fabulous occasion and I’d like to thank all those in Chester who’ve worked so hard to make this possible,” said Ben Taylor, Wales Rally GB Managing Director. "We are constantly looking at exciting new ways to widen the rally’s appeal to both existing fans and new audiences and this special evening in central Chester will certainly do just that. The city has a particularly strong link with the WRC events of the past, so returning to these hallowed streets makes this return all the more exciting.”
Indeed, Chester has long been associated with Britain’s round of the FIA World Rally Championship. It first hosted the Ceremonial Start and Finish back in 1979 – an event won by the legendary ‘Flying Finn’ Hannu Mikkola – and was last included 20 years ago in 1996. Most famously, perhaps, the late, great Colin McRae was crowned as Britain’s first-ever World Rally Champion at Chester Racecourse in 1995.
Honouring that milestone achievement, the traditional pre-event charity Forum – an occasion that always attracts many of the sport’s top names from both past and present generations – will be hosted at the Racecourse on Wednesday 26 October.
The Forum is one of a number of initiatives that will take place in the week of the rally, all of which are designed to celebrate the city’s link with the International Rally of Great Britain – in all its various guises.
Read more at dayinsure.com