The penultimate round of the 2016 FIA World Rally Championship is hosted in Wales, home to some of the best-known gravel stages in the world. The roads in the autumnal leaf-strewn forests are not technically difficult, but the weather at this time of year can be changeable and wet, resulting in muddy and slippery conditions.

Dayinsure Wales Rally GB moves forward a couple of weeks in 2016 but is a formidable challenge that always delivers exciting and unpredictable action. The driver and co-driver world championship titles may have been provisionally sealed, but the fight for the Manufacturers’ Championship, as well as the support series titles, is still game on. Volkswagen Motorsport and Hyundai Motorsport continue their season-long battle, the Germans looking to secure a fourth crown while the Korean manufacturer is chasing an all-important first win in the FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers.

In the FIA WRC 2 Championship, series leader Elfyn Evans has already completed his scoring rounds, but his three rivals - Teemu Suninen, Esapekka Lappi and Jan Kopecky - are all registered in Wales and will be looking for maximum points to halt the Welshman in his tracks. The Junior WRC Championship has, subject to confirmation by the FIA, been won by Simone Tempestini, but the Italian now has his sights set on the title in the similar FIA WRC 3 Championship as he looks to hold off second-placed Michel Fabre.

THE 2016 ROUTE

For the fourth year the event is based in Deeside in North Wales and, for the first time since 2014, the start ceremony returns to Colwyn Bay. On Friday, the famous Myherin, Sweet Lamb and Hafren stages will run in the reverse direction to 2015 and crucially there is no midday service on this opening day. An autograph session is also planned in the historic city of Chester that evening. The first stage on Saturday - Pantperthog - has not been used in 20 years and the previous spectator stage at Chirk has now moved to Cholmondeley Castle, in England, and will run on asphalt. Again, there is no service for the crews during the day and another autograph opportunity for fans. Two loops of three stages round off the action on Sunday before the finish podium in Llandudno town centre. Both Brenig stages on Sunday will be broadcast live.

RALLY DATA

MEDIA ACCREDITATION

The Accreditation Centre is located in the commercial area of the Deeside Service Park, Zone 3, Deeside Industrial Park, CH5 2TW. The opening hours are:

RALLY GB TIMETABLE AND MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES ORGANISED BY THE FIA

FIA PRESS CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE

MANUFACTURER ENTRIES, RALLY GB

ADDITIONAL MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES 

‘Meet the Crews’: On Friday and Saturday the top three drivers will attend a ‘Meet the Crews’ session for media and fans. This will take place on the WRC Stage in the service park at the earliest opportunity during the final service.

Autograph Signing Session: On Friday and Saturday selected crews will be available for a 15 minute autograph session. This will take place in the service park during the end of day service at the teams’ service areas.

FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSIFICATIONS

The provisional classifications for all the WRC Championships can be found on the following link:

http://www.fia.com/events/world-rally-championship/season-2016/standings

STAGE CHART

Shortly after the finish of the event, a downloadable stage chart showing the progressive positions of the leading crews during the rally will be available. This is copyright free for editorial purposes and available at the following link:

http://www.fia.com/events/world-rally-championship/season-2016/stage-chart-11