The Roger Albert Clark Rally

Press release: Monday 6 February 2023

Roger Albert Clark Rally route outline revealed

The provisional route for this year's Roger Albert Clark Rally has been revealed with the event starting in Carmarthen and finishing in Carlisle five days later.

The November 23-27 event will feature as many as 150 special stage miles not previously used on the rally, as it ventures into new regions of Wales and further into south-west Scotland than ever before.

Rally manager Colin Heppenstall unveiled the route outline at the BHRC awards dinner on Saturday night (February 4) and confirmed five full days of rallying and more than 340 stage miles from Thursday to Monday. The competitive route covers some of the best forest stages in Wales, Scotland and Northumberland before the finish in Carlisle on Monday afternoon.

The rally opens with scrutineering and documentation at Carmarthen Showground on Wednesday, November 22, before a ceremonial start in Guildhall Square in Carmarthen on Wednesday evening.

The competitive action begins on Thursday morning (November 23) with a day of 45 stage miles and service at Walters Arena. Friday will be the first really tough day covering around 80 stage miles as the route ventures further into mid-Wales with service at Sweet Lamb.

The first cars will finish Friday’s leg at around 1630hrs and competitors will then complete a transport section to Carlisle where the rally will be based for the remaining three days.

The restart on Saturday morning will be from H&H Auctions at 0730hrs ahead of over 60 competitive miles in south-west Scotland, based on service in the Newton Stewart area. After another overnight halt at Carlisle, Sunday’s action moves into the Kielder complex with nearly 80 competitive miles and service at Kielder Greenside as the route heads east.

Monday will provide a serious sting in the tail with over 80 stage miles, including several long stages, in the central block of Kielder before the first finisher is due back in Carlisle at 1530 hours.

Heppenstall said: “I'm delighted to unveil our provisional route outline for this year. We are planning 340 miles of forest stages and around 850 liaison miles. Importantly, we are expecting to include around 150 miles of stages that have never been used on this event before and we will also be looking carefully at which stages are double used.

“The level of competitor interest at this stage is unprecedented and I know many competitors have been waiting for this information in order to make hotel bookings. We plan to publish the event regulations on February 18 and entries will open on March 1. We will soon publish details of how the entry system will work.” The entry fee will be £4900.

Wednesday 22 November

1000 to 1600: scrutineering and documentation at Carmarthen Showground

1900: ceremonial start in Guildhall Square, Carmarthen

Thursday 23 November

0800: start from Carmarthen Showground

45 stage miles: service at Walters Arena

1530: end of leg at Walters Arena

Friday 24 November

0800: re-start from Walters Arena

80 stage miles: service in Sweet Lamb

1630: end of leg, location to be confirmed

Saturday 25 November

0730: restart from H&H Auctions, Carlisle

60 stages miles: service in Newton Stewart

1930: end of leg at H&H Auctions, Carlisle

Sunday 26 November

0800: restart from H&H Auctions, Carlisle

80 stages miles: service at Kielder Greenside

2000: end of leg at H&H Auctions, Carlisle

Monday 27 November

0800: restart from H&H Auctions, Carlisle

80 stages miles: service at Kielder Greenside

1530: finish at H&H Auctions, Carlisle

Please note: all details remain provisional at this time.

Please follow the event web site for up to date information www.racrmc.org or Facebook @RogerAlbertClark

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Issued by Paul Lawrence, e-mail: paul@tfmpr.com or tel 07778 547918

Photo: the 2023 rally will be the longest yet