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Stage is set for new look Rally GB and court action

publication date: Jul 8, 2009
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author/source: Robin Roberts
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Swansea has been dropped from the route of this year's renamed Rally GB, and it has also relinquished its pioneering carbon neutral status as organisers cope with the withdrawal of sponsorship by the Welsh Assembly Government.

Organisers have drawn up a new-look Rally GB as today's deadline is reached for the Welsh Assembly Government to do a U-turn on its withdrawal of sponsorship.

In April, WAG said it would not support this year's event or the 2010 rally and claimed it was because uncertainty about the international status and running of the event breached their original sponsorship agreement after backing it for over a decade.

Late last month, the FIA confirmed the UK round of the WRC would be included in next year's calendar. WRGB organiser, International Motor Sports Limited, has given WAG until today (8July) to reverse its decision and restore funding for the event before it commenced a civil action for breach of contract.

IMS has unwritten the event to ensure it goes ahead this year and it is thought they are likely to be seeking about £2 M in damages for each year left to run. They are also seeking another major sponsor.

IMS chief executive Andrew Coe said, "The 8 July deadline stands but we are keen to resolve the matter without going down the legal road because the only people who will gain from that are the barristers."

He added, "We have to launch the event to the public and the media to get the publicity machine going on it and we cannot compromise our ability to sell tickets for the event by delaying any longer."

Rally GB 2009 will be formerly launched in Cardiff on 14 July but it will be a different event to that of the last few years.  Swansea has no part in the event's timetable, there is no super-special stage at the Millennium Stadium because of clash with rugby calendar but the remote service zone at Builth Wells showground will be expanded and move undercover.

This year's event will move its administration headquarters to the Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay and there will be areas set aside in the plaza and adjacent docks for competitors for the event from 22-25 October.  After trumpeting the fact that  last year saw the first ever carbon neutral rally, this year the lack of support from WAG means the 350kms event it will no longer be measured for its carbon footprint. "The money simply isn't there to do it," he added.
  
" We all know WAG is strapped for cash and the Ryder Cup is a major headache for them in terms of funding "- Andrew Coe, chief executive IMS
Last year's rally launch was all smiles

To keep down costs, the organisers have decided to virtually copy the format of last year's event but expand the Mid Wales stages around Builth Wells and give it a more prominent role, which should please rally fans. The service park formerly at Swansea has relocated to Cardiff Bay.

"So far as possible we want this year's event to look and feel the same to competitors and spectators, but there will be some changes," said Mr Coe.  "Support for the rally in Wales has been tremendous and the decision to withdraw by WAG was premature because we have maintained in all our correspondence that we expected the 2010 event would be in the WRC."

Looking ahead, Mr Coe said the Wales was a very good location for Rally GB but other UK regions have approached the organisers with proposals to run it in their area and these would be fully considered in due course, but he considers it will stay in Wales for the next three years.

"We are looking at alternatives because we have to do that, we have to have a long term view to safeguard motorsport in the UK," he added. ©ROBIN ROBERTS  

          


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