Wales Rally GR '22

Wales Rally GR '22

Tuesday 6th December | 5 hours 20 min drive 180 Miles: Leave the hotel in the Cardiff area (Hotel TBC) on a well-tested route through the Brecon Beacons and the Black Mountains, that has been tweaked to ensure we also use some suitable ‘GR’ Yaris roads that pass many of the stages contested in the 2001 classic Wales Rally GB, on route to the first night’s accommodation at the Lake Country House Hotel.

The 2001 classic saw McRae and Burns go head to head for the championship, with the winner taking the overall world title. Sadly the spectators were robbed of an epic battle after McRae crashed out in spectacular style while leading just after the halfway point of the infamous Rhondda stage, handing the 2001 championship to Burns on a plate.

Wednesday 7th December | 5 hours 15 min drive 185 Miles: The second leg of the tour will include some of the best roads southwest Wales has to offer, including the fantastic Elan Valley, perfect GR territory, on route to our overnight stop at Lake Vyrnwy Hotel & Spa near Bala.

The day will see us come across many of the southern stages used on the final Wales Rally GB in 2019. The first ones are located close to Devil’s Bridge and include many rally drivers’ favourites, Meyherin and Sweet Lamb.

The B4518 to Machynlleth, one of our favourite roads, is also on today’s route, and after seeing a recent certain Collecting Cars YouTube film, it is clear it’s also one of ‘Chris Harris’ favourites, as he seemingly helped design the latest DLS Singer to be at home on this very road. One thing is for certain, the ‘GR’ Yaris is also in its element here!

Thursday 8th December | 5 hours 30 min drive 165 Miles: The third leg will start at the rear of the hotel, on the shores of the stunning Lake Vyrnwy, before heading down a beautiful valley towards Aberhirnan Forest that many car clubs use on supercar tours. However, we feel it is far more suited to the ‘GR’ than it is a ‘GT’ so we have included it in this event.

After reaching Bala for a photo stop, the route heads up into the more rugged Snowdonia National Park, via some of the best roads to be found in Wales, passing some of the best spectator stages of WRGB, forests like Penmachno and Brenig found on the side of the infamous ‘Evo Triangle’.

The final day includes another of our favourite stretches of tarmac that is often mentioned in magazines as one of the best roads in the UK, the B4391 near Ffestiniog. From there we will wind our way up the Pen-y-Pass and Llanberis Pass in Snowdonia.

The last stretch of the tour heads up to the very tip of Wales to drive the actual final stage of Wales Rally GB from 2019, the short but spectacular stage 20, around the Great Orme before the short run to the final hotel of the tour, The Quay Hotel & Spa in Conwy.

Friday 9th December | Home Time: Enjoy a lie-in after a memorable few days of winter driving, or enjoy a final chat over breakfast with your fellow drivers and co-drivers before you head home.