The 59th Wales Rally of Great Britain takes place this weekend, the fourteenth and final round in the 2003
FIA World Rally Championship.
GB will also play host to the seventh and last round in the 2003 FIA Junior WRC.
A classic world championship rally run as usual on smooth gravel forest roads in mid, south and west Wales. Conditions are varied and unpredictable but not expected to be particularly cold.
The event is based at Cardiff but the stages are essentially located north and west of Swansea.
New this year:
Rally GB is now sponsored by the Welsh Development Agency with support coming also from the Welsh Assembly.
There is a new scrutineering location, outside the official headquarters in the Cardiff City Hall. This area - called the 'Rally Village' - will be the site of the parc ferme, trade and display areas, and the official start and ceremonial finish.
The official finish of the event will be at Margam Park [after stage 18] but the cars will then be led to a ceremonial finish at Cardiff.
There are some new personnel: the Chairman of the organising committee - effectively the Sporting Manager - and deputy clerk of the course is the Australian Claire Parker. Parker has been a co-driver and has worked with Telstra Rally Australia in the past.
There is a new Shakedown location, close to the Service Park at Felindre.
For the first time there will be the same Service Park location for all four days.
FIA World Rally Championship news:
Three drivers are able to win the title, following news that Ricard Burns will not take part owing to illness. All of them start this final round with only one point between them.
Peugeot continues to be the only manufacturer able to beat
Citroen to the Manufacturers' title.
