Forest stage rallying in Wales is to be put on hold for months as NRW (Natural Resources Wales) deals with widespread damage to the Welsh forests from storms and wintery conditions.

Natural Resources Wales is to close the forest plantations that it manages to all, including suspending their usage and access for motorsport such as stage rallies, as they work to clear the widespread damage from storms and make safe.

In December last year, Storm Darragh hit the country, bringing strong 90mph+ winds and heavy rainfall, causing destruction to many homes, businesses and the land across Wales. Rally fans will also remember that Darragh also caused the cancellation of the Grizedale Stage Rally in December, where Forestry Commission England closed the Grizedale Forest complex in the Lake District at the time.

NRW are the land managers for many of the forests in Wales and say that “Storm Darragh took a significant toll on the land”, they have already reported that many forestry tracks, walking trails and mountain bikes routes were obstructed by widespread fallen trees. However, NRW have still not yet been able to survey all of their land and forestry plantations.

“The impacts we have seen will likely affect planned forest and harvesting operations for years to come” a representative of NRW has said.

A contractor who works in Forestry also said (via a third party) that the priority would be to harvest all of the downed plantation stock before the wood deteriorates, as the land owner works to reduce any financial loss.

The below images were published by NRW teams who used drones to survey parts of the areas affected.

The resources and volume of work required is expected to take months which will leave motorsport events with no option but to cancel or reschedule in hope of opportunities to run later on in the year.

Commination that Xlerate has seen from NRW to one motorsport (non stage rally) event organisers said the following:

“I regret that, on this occasion, we are unable to facilitate your event across the WGWE, within the Mid Wales region.

We are unable to offer you and your participants, including the preparation of such an event, safe passage across the estate at this time.

This is due to a number of factors, whilst not an exhaustive list includes’ the recent impact following storm Darragh and current resources available in our Mid Wales Land Management teams.

We will be undertaking ongoing forest operations in all forests across our area for a considerable period and will be limiting or closing access in these areas, whilst we clear and assess storm damage areas and restore the forest to enable our communities and stakeholders safe enjoyable access for the future.

I have considered your application carefully and acknowledge this response will be disappointing.

On balance I do not wish to enable any such event without having assurances of our due diligence to ensure you safe passage to host your event this year”

Rally North Wales was scheduled to run on 29th March using Forest such as Garthieniog and Dyfnant and is the first stage rally event in Wales to impacted. As a round of multiple national rally Championships including The British Historic Rally Championship, BTRDA Gravel Rally Championship and the Welsh National Rally Championship; The Wolverhampton & South Staffs Car Club, organisers of the event is thought to be considering alternative dates.

The following month, the Severn Valley Stages, a round of the Motorsport UK British Rally Championship was planned to run on April 12th using the Coed Sarnau, Hafren and Myherin complexes, but due to the scale of the damage caused through the Welsh Forest, this event is also expected to be cancelled or rescheduled at a later date.

Jonathan Jackson is the Head of Rallies and Cross Country at Motorsport UK, our governing body for Motorsport, and following a meeting with NRW, recently informed Championships and Events that NRW is expected to close the Forest until at least the end of April. Xlerate also understands that events beyond April may also be affected due to lack of access to the land which is needed to plan and survey potential rally routes.

The length of time that is being faced and the number of events which are impacted by this will have an impact on national rally Championships, including the British Rally Championship, the British Historic Rally Championship, BTRDA Rally Series and the Welsh National which all included a number of rounds in Wales during this period, as they all will have to consider the options moving forward.

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