Organisers of the Rallynuts Stages Rally, Midland Manor Motor Club have taken the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 running of the popular Builth Wells based event.
Previously postponed from its 18th April date due to the developing Covid-19 situation, the rally, which attracted an almost capacity entry in 2019 and is a round of the MRF Tyres BTRDA Rally Series and Pirelli Motorsport UK Welsh Rally Championship, had attempted to run the rally on the 8th August 2020.
However, following the latest advice from the Welsh and UK Government and Motorsport UK (the sport’s governing body), event organisers have elected to cancel the 2020 edition of the rally, meaning the 47th running of the rally will take place in April 2021.
On 17th March Motorsport UK suspended all motorsport activity due to the potential increased risk to competitors, officials, spectators, and communities which was later extended until the end of June as the country entered the lockdown phase.
Despite being in the advanced stages of planning for the 2020 running of the event, organisers were faced with Welsh restrictions on access to forests used on the rally, as well as uncertainty over availability of accommodation, meaning the possibility of cancelling the event at a later date was significantly increased.
After lobbying competitors who had originally entered the April date, around a third said they would not enter in August and coupled with the uncertainty of any restrictions, the event would carry the burden of significant financial risk, as well as inconvenience to competitors, officials, and businesses in the area.
With the sport of rallying also posing a challenge when adhering to social distancing guidelines, and after consultation with each of the event’s five championships and Motorsport UK, the Organising Committee voted to concentrate their efforts on the 2021 running of the rally.
Joint Clerks of the Course, Chris and Keith Ashley said “Despite our best efforts to run the Rallynuts Stages Rally in 2020 we have no choice but to cancel the event this year. Of course, we are disappointed not to be able to bring our loyal competitors another classic event in the Mid-Wales forests, but at this time, the health and wellbeing of everyone on the event and in the local area around Builth Wells must be a priority.
The
Welsh Government currently have many restrictions in place, including the ban
on travel unlike here in England as well as a restriction on the hospitality
sector until 26th September. As an English motor club organising an
event in Wales, we would certainly want to protect the local community and
alleviate any additional risk to the region, so if we can reduce any impact
then, of course, we will do so.
Our efforts will now be concentrated on producing another quality event next April and we would like to thank our sponsors Rallynuts Motorsport and championships for their unrivalled support.”
The event was also due to be a round of The West Wales Rally Spares HRCR Stage Masters Rally Challenge, the Brian Dennis Motorsport/Marsh Commercial Welsh Historic Rally Championship and the IPS Rally Challenge.
