Famous hillclimb venue Shelsley Walsh to run downhill in RAC Rally

The 112-year-old venue will host the opening two special stages of the Roger Albert Clark Rally on the morning of Friday November 10.

It is believed to be the first time that the Worcestershire venue 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 and 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.

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 recreate 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, commercial manager of the Shelsley Walsh founder and event organiser the Midland Automobile Club, 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 motorsport 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."

Following event documentation at Brightwells in Leominster, the rally cars will gather at Shelsley Walsh for the start of the rally at around 9am on the Friday.

After the pair of Shelsley Walsh stages, the rally cars will have a short service halt in the main paddock and a regroup control.

Shelsley Walsh is the world's oldest motorsport venue still using its original course and was first used in 1905.