Popular Trackrod Rally Yorkshire set to return in September after lay-off

Hugh Hunter and Rob Fagg during the 2018 event. Photo courtesy of Andy Crayford.

The rally, featuring vehicles from right across the spectrum, is to act a test event for Forestry England as it continues to carefully manage high visitor demand as part of easing the restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The two-day spectacular, which is set to be the fourth round of the British Rally Championship as well as points scoring rounds for the British Historic Championship and BTRDA series, will be used to test Forestry England’s capacity for re-starting large scale events.

Competitors will start arriving at noon on Friday for pre-event scrutineering and administration checks at the Filey Brigg Country Park, which will also feature as the Central Service Area on Saturday.

David Hutchinson and Jeff Garnett in their escort in 2018. Photo courtesy of Andy Crayford.

The competitive element of the rally takes place on closed forestry commission roads, mostly within the Dalby and Langdale complexes.

During the three previous Filey-based stagings, the event has attracted, on average, around 130 crews who are mostly from the UK but also from Europe and even further a field.

This year the entry could be as high as 180 as the event resumes it’s role as round four of the planned seven-event British Championship for the first time since 2013.

A spokesman for the event said: “The Trackrod Historic Cup is always popular as it incorporates a vast array of cars from rallying’s heydays of the nineteen sixties, seventies and eighties.

“As in previous years, the historic and British Championship competitors will assemble on Friday evening at 6pm on the Filey seafront for a ceremonial start, being flagged away by the Mayor at 7pm before the traditional spectacular night stage in Dalby Forest.

“Spectators and the general public are free to take photographs with the cars, obtain autographs, and speak with the crews before they start the event.

“On Saturday, after 22 stage miles and 40 road miles, the crews will arrive at Filey Brigg Country Park for a service halt to replace tyres, any faulty components and undertake any necessary remedial work to the cars. They will then return to the forests for a further 22 miles of competitive action before returning to Filey from 3pm for the finish.”