Wales’ newest motorsport event, the Aberystwyth-based Get Connected Rali Bae Ceredigion on September 8, was formally launched at a seafront media event in the town on Friday.

[aoa id=”1″]The occasion signalled the countdown to the first competitive stage rally ever to be held on closed public roads in Wales. The rally, which will be have 120 cars competing, has proved so popular that it is oversubscribed.

Organising committee chairman Phil Pugh spoke about the origins of the event, the economic benefits it would bring to the region and the way it had been embraced by the motorsport community on a national scale.

He praised the outstanding efforts of the organising committee and thanked the event’s sponsors, partners and supporters who had made the event possible.[/aoa]

Clerk of the course Wayne Jones said he was pleased to see a large contingent of Welsh competitors taking part, together with entries from all corners of the UK and Ireland.

Assistant clerk of the course Andrew Edwards confirmed that the start, finish and service area would be based at Aberystwyth University and that four special stages in the Cambrian Mountains – Bont-Goch, Nant-y-Moch, Ystumtuen and Pendam – would be contested once in the morning and again in the afternoon, providing a total of 44 competitive miles and 44 road miles.

The route has been carefully chosen to provide some of the best rallying roads in the area that, because of their character, will not only be great to drive, but will provide some of the best spectating opportunities found anywhere in the world.

Following scrutineering sessions on Aberystwyth Esplanade on Saturday afternoon, September 7, the action gets underway on Sunday morning.

There will be three Fanzones, each offering stage-side viewing, with food, toilets, commentary and mineral water handed-out courtesy of Radnor Hills.

The rally, which has the hashtag #baewatch, will be broadcast online using social media platforms, hosted by WRC presenters Becs Williams and Emyr Penlan.