Wales Rally GB success attracts funding package
A multi-million pound funding package to support this year's Wales Rally GB has been announced by the Welsh Government following the huge success of last year's event.
The event came to the Shropshire border for the first time last year when a specially designed stage at Chirk Castle near Oswestry was held, bringing in thousands of visitors to the area.
Last year's event also saw stages held around Mid Wales including a stop in Newtown during November.
Rally bosses say the event was one of the most successful on record, providing the region with a multi-million pound boost, attracting thousands of spectators and watched by 600 million viewers worldwide.
The interim results have been warmly welcomed by Welsh Government economy minister Edwina Hart who today announced funding support for the rally for the next two years with the aim of replicating the success.
The minister said: "The people of North and Mid Wales are incredibly supportive of the event and local authorities and businesses have all reported increased economic activity in the area due to the rally.
"We want to maximise the benefits coming to Wales and build on this momentum which is why I have agreed in principle funding for Wales Rally GB over the next two years."
The Welsh Government will provide up to £1.5 million per annum to support the staging of the Rally in 2014 and 2015, subject to evaluating agreed targets.
Andrew Coe, chief executive of Rally organiser International Motor Sports, said: "The move to a new base in north Wales really revitalised the event in 2013 and we are already making exciting plans to build on that success with an even bigger and better Wales Rally GB in November."
Thousands of fans flocked to Chirk Castle to witness the colour and noise of world class motor racing in November.
However some rally-goers were stuck in the heavy congestion on the roads leading to the venue, with some drivers reporting delays of up to two hours as the A5 and A483 became clogged up with traffic.
