Was at Cardiff most of last week for WRC and saw a number of Discovery 4 and Freelander 2 HSE's being used as official cars. All FL2 HSE were 10MY and had registration starting AK10---, similar to one on "Spooks" previous week.
A local dealer has about 20 pre reg ones all with same AK reg.

"Lookers" had an Alfa Guilietta on display at millenium centre. All FL2's (3) Gone
2011 Mercedes C180 CGI Gone
FL2 GS Auto SD with heated leather, factory tints, alloy spare and a few other bits.

Ye was nice seeing all the land rovers, and in the car parks

The rally itself was a big disappointment. Thursday, I went along wanting to see the opening and cardiff bay stage, got told tickets for the stage were sold out, ok nevermind i thought, at least the opening is free for everybody (it stated that on the website and all the marketing emails) to be told the opening is to be done where the stage is, and you need to buy a ticket to get there which have all sold out. Went round the TINY service area and went home.

Friday stage i wasn't going to bother with, but wasn't going to service area as was so disappointed from thurs, There was no fireworks or displays / shows like previous years, and seeing a car get worked on is nothing new to me.

Saturday was alright, parking was utter chaos in epynt.

Sunday, margam was actually enjoyable. but my friend headed to resolven only to be told that there was mis-print on the map and the car park was somewhere else, too far away for him to get to in time to see any car.

Trade stands are getting less and less.

WRC GB really needs to get the service area back in swansea, have a cardiff millenium stadium super special again and more organisation on the stages!

I went up to Resolfen late Saturday night and camped in the forest......... Found a nice spot just by car park K.

There was a grey FL2 with RALLY TV (or similar) down the side, plus the pre-course safety car that I saw was a silver D4.

James

Agree not a lot for spectators at Cardiff compared to previous years. I had no problem moving about with "organisation" car pass and "senior official" personal pass. I did feel for some of spectators who had payed lots of cash to see not a lot.
I spent a lot of time in service areas and at Builth Wells.

Still back to OFF ROAD this weekend, scrutineer at Border Hill Rally near New Galloway. 50 very fast off road vehicles, tomcats, bowlers and Simborgini derivatives. Good spectating over all forrest.
This forrest is owned by Fred Olsen Group. All FL2's (3) Gone
2011 Mercedes C180 CGI Gone
FL2 GS Auto SD with heated leather, factory tints, alloy spare and a few other bits.

Lets face it - until the WRC is re-routed back into the whole of GB it wont get any better will it. As a seasoned rally supporter I gave up with 'Rally GB' years ago.

In-fact how can they get away with calling it 'Rally GB'?

Love Wales - but the stages are so inaccessable and congested.

So miss having a day at the Country Houses, Scottish Borders, The Lakes and not forgetting Dalby Forest.

In my opinion, theres a lot of people (that I know) dont go anymore, and as for the media attention - I didnt even realise it had been on.

When I was a lad I used to follow the Lombard as it was called, did the Scottish and been to Wales more times than I remember. This was all before the big ticket prices, closed roads and car parks that you couldn't escape from . You could , if you timed it right see around three stages in a day, camp out in the car and do the same again next day.

Last time I went we had a two hour walk from the car park to the stage and back again in thr dark. Now I'm not averse to some exercise but the fact that I had to pay for priviledge really was taking the Pee!!

I agree bring the Rally GB back to mainland , run plenty of spectator stages- Harewood hill climb used to be good as did Olivers mount as a final stage. But don't miss out the yorkshire forests. I have even seen it run through my local park in the snow when rally cars were really something to behold and 4 wheel drive had only just taken off.

I haven't been in a long time , coverage in TV is non-existent and you can't beat the smell and the sound first hand anyway.

Bring back the Lombard is whatIi say - 5 days without sleep, thousands of miles driven and lots of exitement - Lets how Loeb would do then........ There's always a way forward!

2008 Freelander Td4 GS - Stornoway Grey - Now Gone - Sob
2011 Freelander Td4 GS 150 - Rimini Red - in its place - Better x far x 4!!

Second that DR, Its well over twenty years since I remember walking for miles in Kielder Forest in snow, just to watch 40 – 60 cars flying past, we could hear them from miles away, a quick flash as they went by and then the next one. You were really lucky if one came off, as everyone ran over and pulled them out. All this at 2.00am in the morning great stuff, we would then get back to the car and motor on down to Hamsterly Forest for the next stage.

It was all about Group B cars like the Peugeot 205, MG Metro 6R4, Audi Quattro S1, Lancia Delta S4 and even the Rwd Opel Manta’s and Ford Escorts, probably not as fast as the current crop, but its not the same, how can you call it a rally, when it lasts only 2 and half days and they drive over the same stages, just not as exciting as it was in the group B era.

[Bring back the Lombard is what i say - 5 days without sleep, thousands of miles driven and lots of excitement - Lets how Loeb would do then........[/quote]

I first marshalled on the RAC Rally in 1966 when due to the deep snow Wallasey Motor Club ran the only stage in North Wales just above Llyn Brenig near to The Sportsman's Arms.
60/70 marshals cleared the uphill stage entrance with shovels and any other device that could be used to move snow and the majority of the stage was cleared by towing a Morris 1800 (which would you believe was fitted with a works sump guard) behind a Land Rover 80 and acted as a snow plough.
We then moved on to marshal stages for three more days all over the country.
After this early experience I went on to act as stage commander several times in Clocaenog Forest then as age crept on moved to saftey radio but the majority of enthusiasts from the North West gave the whole thing a miss from the day it became Rally GB and we were asked to be on stage four hours before the first car so gravel crews, tire crews and countless hangers on could ponce through the stages.

As DrownedRat says bring back The RAC, but this will never happen as the organisers have sold out to corporate entertainment and TV.

Bill T. Life Honorary Member of Wallasey Motor Club.
Licenced MSA Radio Operator for 35+ years.
Rallying is the only sport.