Andrew plots ahead for Dayinsure Wales Rally GB

Andrew Kellitt from Shrewsbury is route co-ordinator for Britain’s round of the FIA World Rally Championship, mapping out the Kellitt all-important timed stages – the competitive element of a near 1,000-mile route – which starts on October 26 and finishes three days later.

He said: “The stages are run mainly on forest roads in Wales and on the private tracks at Cholmondeley Castle, just north of Whitchurch. These are the roads where the crews drive as fast as possible, with the shortest accumulated time for the 21 stages determining the winner.

“My job is to plan the route for the crews, which includes 730 miles of what we call ‘liaison section.’ This liaison section runs on public roads, where the crews must adhere to the same traffic laws you and I drive to. But once they leave the public roads and arrive at the start of a stage, they can drive as fast as they can with speeds regularly topping 110mph in the forests and parkland.

“These are the most talented rally drivers on the planet and to have the opportunity to work with them and watch them in action is a real privilege.”

Mr Kellitt, whose work in the sport takes him all around the world, said he is delighted to see his route coming to the Shropshire border.

Andrew added: “As the name Dayinsure Wales Rally GB would suggest, the event is supported by the Welsh government and remained wholly within Wales until last year, when we went to Cholmondeley for the first time.

“Britain’s round of the World Rally Championship had a great tradition of touring up and down the country, so the opportunity to bring it back across the border into England.

"On a personal level, it’s a real treat to be dealing with venues like Cholmondeley, which is just up the road from home and easily accessible for me to go and check the roads and, of course, the all-important spectator areas.

“Cholmondeley Castle is what we call a RallyFest stage, a real family day out on October 28, complete with everything from face-painting to rock climbing, caving and Segway riding.”

“I’m fortunate in that the rally’s base on Deeside isn’t too far from Shrewsbury,” he said.

“I’ll be onsite and living in a hotel for just over a week during the event. During that time, it can be quite a high-pressure environment with long hours, so coming home from there to take a walk by the river or a quiet pint in town makes a very welcome change.”

Full ticket and event information can be found on the official www.walesrallygb.com website and via the event's social media channels.