Northumberland’s Kielder Forest steps in to host British Rally Championship after Welsh stages cancelled

Kielder Forest will host the British Rally Championship in April after the Severn Valley Stages were cancelled due to the impact of Storm Darragh.

Kielder Forest, the largest in England, has had its own struggles with weather, with more than 150 trees felled during the extreme winds of Storm Éowyn. However, Forestry England say they are “delighted” to host the event in April to ensure that a key national motorsport even takes place.

Alex MacLennan of Forestry England said: “We were able to adapt the event stages to ensure minimal disruption to the working forest and also avoid wildlife conservation areas such as the Kielder ospreys. The scale of Kielder Forest made it possible to be more flexible than smaller forest locations across the UK!”

Organised by the Roger Albert Clark Rally Motor Club, the rally will be called the Carlisle Stages, despite taking place in Northumberland. Shifting from the more traditional October date, there’s an opportunity for a scenic podium in front of Kielder Castle.

Reece Tarren, British Rally Championship manager, said that he was very thankful to the club for stepping into fill the gap left by the Severn Valley Stages’ cancellation.



Northumberland’s Kielder Forest steps in to host British Rally Championship after Welsh stages cancelled
A Ford Escort in Kielder Forest

Colin Heppenstall, Carlisle Stages Clerk of the Course, said: “The Kielder Forest provides an excellent backdrop for a round of both championships, and we will be able to provide 50 stage miles in a compact route to make the most of the event. Of course, the rally can be entered by anyone and will be available with a recce, so we look forward to welcoming everyone in April.”

The British Rally Championship Carlisle Stages will take place in Kielder Forest on Saturday, April 12.

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View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/british-rally-championship-kielder-northumberland-30915909

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