The Pan Celtic Gravel Rally
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The Gravel Rally is a micro-adventure that plants your tyres firmly on the earth beneath you, paying homage to the spirit and roar of the traditional motor rally scene that can be found echoing around the forests and mountains in Snowdonia. The course tackles a range of terrain, from mountain balcony road to deep immersive forests, with stunning lakes, open moorland and green lanes, The Gravel Rally promises to whisk you away into a challenge unlike any other.
Its 2nd edition, taking place in 2023, introduces a brand new element to our rally repertoire – The Night Stage. Powered by Exposure Lights and synonymous with motor rallying for over a century, such foray into this test of nerves and skill will pit the Rally Riders against a 16km course. Twists, turns, descents, rises and some super quick single-track will all have to be navigated – in the dark. Lights are a must, as is a pinch of courage, a splattering of luck and a large scoop of crazy!
The night stage is held on Friday 5th May and is optional to taking part in the Gravel Rally the following morning on the 6th. However, to fully experience the thrills and spills of rallying and to be in with the chance of being crowned Overall Gravel Rally Champion 2023, all stages need to be completed.
As with all things rallying, there are 2 basic standards – World Class and Continental Class. The combination of both night and day rallying garners World Class status. Riding the day stages is classified as Continental Class. There are 2 distances within each classification – Long and Short.
The Gravel Rally’s first edition in 2022 pitted riders against some of the harshest weather conditions imaginable. Will it be the same this year, who knows? One thing is for sure, no amount of rain could dampen the spirits of these pioneering and intrepid Rally-ers. It’s their sense of adventure, the strength of will and sense of camaraderie that have become synonymous with this event.
