Petrol-heads flock in for Bulldog International Rally bash

Hundreds of rally fans from across the country gathered in Mid Wales to mark the start of the annual Bulldog International Rally.

Petrol-heads from around the UK flocked to Welshpool on Friday and Saturday to meet and greet the drivers and crew before the rally officially began.

Rally competitors and their support crews turned up at Welshpool’s Livestock Market on Friday at Buttington Cross, which was the base for the event.

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Then hundreds of enthusiasts gathered in the Church Street car park in the town on Friday evening. People got the chance to meet the drivers, sit in the cars and have their pictures taken.

The event was held by Welshpool Town Council and Robert Robinson, town clerk, said the council had wanted to celebrate the arrival of the rally a day beforehand. He said: “An informal evening of entertainment took place in Welshpool to celebrate the arrival of the rally in the town.

“It was a very successful evening and hundreds of rally enthusiasts went along and saw the cars at close quarters and talked to the top drivers and crews.”

Councillor Estelle Bleivas, town mayor, opened the event and said she was delighted to see so many people come to the town.

She said she hoped it had provided a boost to the local economy.

The rally was won by Great Britain’s Tom Cave and co-driver Craig Parry, with Ireland’s Keith Cronin coming second.