Rally Wales non-spectator point spectating

[zac510]

Howdy, I've never been to Rally GB but have just booked in for this year with a couple of friends. I was wondering what it is all like with regard to spectating outside the spectator areas.

Is it taboo or can you get a better view?

How do you be careful not to step on private property?

[sihorton]

One place i would say to go and watch is walters arena in the Rheola stage.
Good view and you see the cars for about a minute.
Always a good atmoshpere too

the Halfway stage is always good too, but very cold.

Si

[HrRACING]

Which stages were you looking to do?

Think ive done all of rally gb stages at least a couple of times.

For once being almost a local isnt such a bad thing...

[zac510]

We'll be there Friday and Saturday, dunno what the good stages are although I recognise a few stage names.

I read on another forum that on Saturday once you get into the spectator points you can't leave. Is that true?

[mel tyres]

You need to do the BRECHFA Stages they are wicked, theyre only 4 miles from me and easy to get to if your local

[GolddustMini]

i managed to walk past a sign saying " no spectators beyond this point" last year (it was dark and i couldnt read the sign ) i just wandered til i found a nice safe corner and an organisers pickup truck slowed beside me, i basically said "im hoping to find a nice vantage point to get some good pictures from which wont be obscured by other specators, they were fine with it, just told me to have a good day, enjoy myself, keep in a safe place and out of any ditches and that was that. loads of people headed down past me as the day went on so it wasnt a problem


so yes i think you can get out of the spectator areas, but you need to ensure you get their early and that you keep yourself safe so as not to disrupt the stage and get it cancelled.


think im heading down this year on the saturday, i did epynt last year was ok but didnt find such a good corner after all, hopefully ill be more successful this year

[StockHatch782]

We go on an enormous commando mission into the forest, which is nearly as fun as watching the rally, to a good place to watch. As long as you're sensible about it, no-one shold really have a problem. Just don't stand anywhere dangerous. Standing at a marshalpoint can be quite good, because they're chosen for their safe location and usually have a decent view.

[zac510]

I was in Brecon on the weekend and looked at a big national park map - it seemed like some of the stages on Saturday (the area north of the A40) were in some kind of Government area, is this true?

[JimW]

The Army own/lease quite large areas of land for training in that area. Rallies use the area all the time and usually (!) there are no conflicts of interest.

Regards

Jim

[zac510]

OK thanks Jim, so we're definitely not standing on some farmer's property.

[HrRACING]

No, but there are some serious issues about crossing the wrong parts of the army ranges.

The area is called Epynt.

[StockHatch782]

Last time I was on Epynt, there was an exercise going on. The soldiers ran with their rifles to the edge of the stage, watched a rally car go past, then crossed the stage and continued firing at their 'enemy'.

It was all very civilised and polite, if a little strange to see such different activities running simultaneously. It's a great place to watch a rally, though.

[HrRACING]

Originally Posted by StockHatch782

It's a great place to watch a rally, though.

Some of it is, although some is very very bland. The best part of Halfway was taken out when Grondholm, that polish chap and Delecor binned it in 2000 i think it was.

[zac510]

The organisers have put maps and diagrams of the carpark/spectator sections up:
http://www.walesrallygb.com/308_376.php

Click on the stages or the carpark names on the right hand side.