BAJA GB 2007, August 17-19th, 2007
Britain’s new round of the 2007 FIA International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas
For immediate release
Thursday, May 31st, 2007
BAJA GB 2007 SET TO BENEFIT FROM ?100,000 INVESTMENT
IN FORESTRY ROAD IMPROVEMENTS AND TRACK UPGRADES
Phase one of competitive sections completed in Hafren forest in mid-Wales;
Second phase in Myherin and Tarenig set for mid-June completion;
Massive interest shown in Baja GB from foreign crews;
FIA appoints Baja GB officials from Finland, Bahrain, Jordan and France
NEWTOWN (Wales): Baja GB 2007 will benefit from ?100,000 worth of investment in road construction and improvements in the Hafren, Myherin and Tarenig forests of mid-Wales. Britain’s first ever international Baja-type motorsport event is the third round of the FIA International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas and takes place over the weekend of August 17th-19th.
Officials at Baja Wales Limited have now confirmed that the first phase of improvements to the Hafren forest selective section has been completed, providing a near-60km special stage through some of the Forestry Commission’s prime Welsh forestry. Parts of the route have been used on previous RAC rallies, although the new Baja stage will feature a challenging and daunting new ascent and new bridge section.
This Hafren (Severn in Welsh) stage takes place in the shadow of Plynlimon, the official source of the River Severn, Britain’s longest river. The upper reaches of the Severn meander through the middle of the Hafren forest en route through Mid-Wales and the Midlands and on to an eventual entry into the Bristol Channel.
~We are delighted to report that the first crucial phase of improvements in Hafren forest have been completed,~ said Chris Tomley, chairman of the organising committee. ~Over the coming days we will be carrying out passes through the forest to pinpoint specific spectator access points, points of interest for the media and places to position safety and medical crews over the Baja weekend.~
The second phase of route improvements involves the upgrading and extending of a planned special stage in Myherin and Tarenig to the south of the A44 trunk road, near Llangurig. This project is set for completion towards the end of June and will eventually give Baja GB organisers the benefit of a superb 55km special stage through the heart of the upper reaches of the Wye Valley.
~The road-building programme and improvements being made to the forest stages are a major boost to the future potential of Baja GB and other motorsport events in mid-Wales,~ said rally director John Horton. ~By specifically developing the roads in these three adjacent forests this event will deliver the greatest concentration of competitive sections with very little mileage on the public road.~
These two special stages will be repeated and used on Saturday, August 18th and Sunday, August 19th, but the competitive action is set to get underway with a timed super special stage in Radnor forest on Friday, August 17th.
The Radnor super special will use approximately 10km of the special stage used during the inaugural Baja GB in 2006. Overall special stage distance will be in the region of 420km over the three days.
Although event officials have yet to formally accept entries for the August event, interest from both car and motorcycle competitors has been exceptional. Organisers have already received enquiries from as far afield as Dubai, Russia, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany and France.
Meanwhile, the sport’s governing body, the FIA, has confirmed that officials from Finland, Jordan, Bahrain and France have been appointed to assess Britain’s first ever FIA-status Baja event.
This year’s Baja GB has the full backing of the Welsh Assembly Motorsport Initiative, the Forestry Commission Wales and the Motor Sports Association (MSA). It is open to cars complying to both FIA T1 and T2 regulations, although there will also be a national class for non-homologated vehicles. Officials will also be running a separate event for motorcycle competitors under the auspices of the Auto Cycle Union (ACU) Bikesport GB.
Foreign competitors wanting to obtain discounted rates on logistics, ferries and travel should contact Abergavenny-based David Higgs, Allsports Logistics, Tel: +44 (0) 1873 850 025, Fax: + 44 (0) 1873 858 513, E-mail: daihiggs@aol.com
Officials, media and competitors wishing to reserve accommodation for Baja weekend should contact Mrs Yolanda Jaquet, Tel: 01982 560732, E-mail: bajabooking@btinternet.com.
Regulations will be available from www.BajaWales.com by mid-June. Entry fees for competitors in both the Baja GB and Y Rali Bryn Cymru will be ?1,200, while fees for motorcycle competitors will be ?200. Further entry information is available from Wendy Tomley (E-mail wt@BajaWales.com).
Ends
For further media information:
Neil Perkins, Baja GB Press Officer, NDP Publicity Services, NCH Building, Upper Bar, Newport, Shropshire, Tel: +44 (0)1952 825078, Fax: + 44 (0) 1952 825001, Mobile: + 44 7831 123153, E-mail: ndppublicity@compuserve.com. www.ndp-publicity.com (press releases).
www.BajaWales.com