World’s oldest hillclimb course to be used downhill for first time
History will be made in November when Britain’s Shelsley Walsh hillclimb course is used downhill for a rally special stage.
Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb
The 112-year-old English venue will host the opening two special stages of the Roger Albert Clark Rally on the morning of Friday 10 November.
It is believed to be the first time that it has been used for a rally special stage, and also the first time that it has been used downhill for competitive motorsport.
The opening stage will run from the hill startline to the finish, in the usual direction, but the second will run back down the hill before turning left at Kennel Bend to finish on the gravel access road across the top of the main spectator car park.
Several chicanes will be added to the hill to control speed on the descent. Cars will complete both stages in batches of up to 30 cars.
After the Shelsley Walsh stages, the rally will head into the Welsh forests for the opening day of action on the four-day event that aims to re-create the spirit of the RAC Rallies of the 1960s and 1970s. The main element of the event focuses on historic rally cars, with a separate event for all other two-wheel-drive cars.
Mark Constanduros from Shelsley Walsh said: “We are really delighted to welcome such a prestigious rally to Shelsley Walsh. This is the first time we have held a competitive rally at the venue, so there is a lot to do, but we are really looking forward to having a different motor sport discipline taking place here.
“Last year at Classic Nostalgia we had Group B rally cars, this year we have Group A and WRC cars and now the year will finish with historic rallying: I can’t think of anything better!”
Shelsley Walsh is the world’s oldest motorsport venue using its original course and was first used in 1905.
Story by Paul Lawrence
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