Rally of Great Britain, 1998 Rd 13 WRC Stage Details

22 November 1998

LEG 1 - Cheltenham-Cheltenham (570.35 km) Sunday 22, November
07.27      Start from from Cheltenham

    SS1    Cheltenham 1       1.75 km (1.12 miles)
    SS2    Cornbury           4.15 km (2.45 miles)
    SS3    Silverstone 1      8.69 km (5.34 miles)
    SS4    Silverstone 2      8.69 km (5.34 miles)
    SS5    Millbrook          7.13 km (4.54 miles)
    SS6    Millbrook          7.13 km (4.54 miles)
    SS7    Silverstone Super  1.96 km (1.21 miles)
    SS8    Silverstone 3      6.98 km (4.23 miles)
    SS9    Silverstone 4      6.98 km (4.23 miles)
    SS10   Towcester          3.23 km (1.99 miles)
    SS11   Donington 1        6.29 km (3.91 miles)
    SS12   Donington 2        6.29 km (3.91 miles)
    SS13   Cheltenham 2       1.61 km (0.87 miles)
19:51      Arrival in Cheltenham


LEG 2 - Cheltenham-Cheltenham (732.08 km) Monday 23, November
05.00       Start from from Cheltenham
    SS14    Radnor            23.85 km (14.67 miles)
    SS15    Myherin 1         16.86 km (10.37 miles)
    SS16    Tywi              19.87 km (12.23 miles)
    SS17    Esgair Dafydd      8.70 km (5.35 miles)
    SS18    Crychan           21.98 km (13.53 miles)
    SS19    Cefn               9.16 km (5.63 miles)
    SS20    Sweet Lamb        25.70 km (15.72 miles)
    SS21    Myherin 2         16.86 km (10.37 miles)
21.48       Arrival in Cheltenham


LEG 3 - Cheltenham-Cheltenham (589,95 km) Tuesday 24, November
05.00       Start from Cheltenham
    SS22    St Gwynno         13.81 km (8.54 miles)
    SS23    Tyle              10.65 km (6.59 miles)
    SS24    Rhondda           36.28 km (22.56 miles)
    SS25    Resolfen          44.58 km (27.34 miles)
    SS26    Rheola            24.89 km (15.47 miles)
    SS27    Argoed             9.04 km (5.59 miles)
    SS28    Margam            27.08 km (16.81 miles)
16.58       Finish of the rally in Cheltenham

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SS 1, 13    Cheltenham       1.75 km
Uses a mixture of asphalt (73%) and gravel (27%) roads within the
Cheltenham Race Course complex.

SS2    Cornbury           4.15 km
A mixture of Tarmac (43%) and gravel (57%) roads within the surroundings
of
Cornbury Park. The stage starts on gravel before emerging at Crane Hill
Gate House on to fast tarmac roads through the deer park towards Cornbury
House. A sharp right alongside the house leads on to a section of
undulating tarmac culminating in a hairpin left on to the gravel farm
road.
An exciting series of high speed jumps and 90 bends along the other side
of the house leads to the finish. 

SS 3, 4, 8 ,9    Silverstone      8.69 km (stages 8 & 9 are slightly
shorter)

An intriguing test of driving skills combining the pristine surfaces of
the
Grand Prix Circuit from the Pits exit road through Becketts, Stowe, Vale
and Club before hairpining right at Abbey on to a very fast demanding
gravel section linking on to the Stowe Circuit. It then crosses the
International Circuit into an all-new stadium area which overlooks a high
speed 100 metre powerslide, on gravel, before returning to the Grand Prix
Circuit at Abbey, under the bridge and via a special slalom section in
front of the Brooklands hospitality suites. The final section includes the
sweeping Luffield and a quick trip into the pit lane entrance road before
the flying finish along the start/finish straight. Competitors tackle the
stage twice starting at 30 second intervals.

SS 5 & 6    Millbrook          7.13 km
Vauxhall's test circuit is specifically designed to put car and driver
through the ultimate series of challenges and Millbrook promises to be
even
more demanding and spectacular in 1998 with a revised route and the
addition of an extra 1.5 miles of gravel roads. The Stage offers
unrivalled
viewing of several sections of the stage from one point and includes a
number of blind crests and flat out sweeping bends. For safety reasons,not
all of the stage will be open to spectators.

SS 7    Silverstone Super  1.96 km
Two competitors start side by side but on different tracks. Most of the
time they will be side by side but by the end of the stage they will have
driven on exactly the same route but in a different order.  The tracks
start on tarmac then through two very fast right handers on to gravel to
the respective yump and water splash before both brake very hard to their
respective tight, difficult hairpins. The tracks then split as one goes
under and the other goes over the bridge crossing to the last tarmac
corners to complete the circuit. They then continue on the other track to
a
dramatic climatic finish.

SS 10   Towcester          3.23 km
Starts in front of the racecourse and almost immediately goes into a
series
of sharp loose surface bends before going through to the centre of the
racecourse. After two very narrow cattle grids, which will call for
precise
driving, the cars go on to the tarmac roads alongside Easton Neston House.

SS 11 & 12   Donington 1        6.29 km
A classic spectator stage that uses parts of the racing circuit and gravel
roads around the circuit and infield. Excellent viewing around the outside
of the circuit and on the infield where there will be a series of
specially
constructed and floodlit high speed jumps. Fans will be perfectly placed
to
watch the front runners cope with the last of the day's light as darkness
descends and adds difficulty for the remainder of the field. Competitors
tackle the stage twice starting at 30 second intervals.

SS 14    Radnor            23.85 km
Fast roads, tight hairpins and steep climbs

SS 15 & 21    Myherin 1         16.86 km
For the first time on the Rally, this stage will be used both in the
morning and the afternoon. It is a fast flowing stage with good spectating
but the high sections can be affected by fog or low cloud.

SS 16    Tywi              19.87 km
A demanding stage is set high above the Elan valley.

SS 17    Esgair Dafydd      8.70 km
Another stage new to the Rally this year.

SS 18    Crychan           21.98 km
Last used in 1995, this is a stage enjoyed by both drivers and spectators.

SS 19    Cefn               9.16 km
This is the shortest of the Mid-Wales stages and offers fast sweeping
bends

SS 20    Sweet Lamb        25.70 km
Shortened this year to include only the southern half of the Hafren Forest
and into Sweet Lamb. For spectators, there are spectacular jumps, a
watersplash and an exciting parabolica.

SS22    St Gwynno         13.81 km
A steady climb from the start before levelling out past the main spectator
area where large areas of trees  have been felled to give uninterrupted
viewing for some distance followed by a wide, smooth and fast road to the
finish. 

SS23    Tyle              10.65 km
A smooth, fast flowing forest road high up on the top of Rhigos mountain.

SS24    Rhondda           36..28 km
Extremely testing stage with some high speed sections interspersed with
tighter, twisty roads.

SS25    Resolfen          44.58 km
The longest stage of the event. A fast stage with sections across open
moorland before steept drops where competitors pass each other going in
opposite directions on the other side of the valleys on three occasions
with a new finish location for this year. 

SS26    Rheola            24.89 km
Uphill from the start then running alongside part of the Sarn Helen Roman
road. Very fast and smooth with some steep drops to test the competitors
before a downhill section to the finish.

SS27    Argoed             9.04 km
A short stage but still difficult for the crews. The first half is tight,
uphill and slippery while the remainder is smooth and fast.

SS28    Margam            27.08 km
The last stage of the event. A difficult forest road with many tight,
slippery sections and big drops before opening into a smooth fast middle
section followed by a tricky downhill run into the beautiful Margam Park.