The world’s finest rally drivers descend on mid and north Wales today as the Dayinsure Wales Rally GB kicks off in Llandudno.
A total of 150 drivers will compete in stage 11 of the FIA World Rally Championship, which was won by Dinas Mawddwy driver Elfyn Evans last year.
The rally kicks off tonight in Towyn on the north Wales coast, before heading to Blaenau Ffestiniog on Friday with a new Slate Mountain stage at Llechwedd from around 10.40am.
With the stage being run twice in succession, it gives rally fans a chance to see the cars fly in anger for the second time some seven minutes after the first run of the 1.63km gravel stage.
Saturday morning will see a tough day as the crews head further south again to Ceredigion and the forests of Myherin and Sweet Lamb for the two opening stages, near Devil's Bridge.
Then it's onto the forests of Dyfi, Gartheniog and Dyfnant near Machynlleth, with all the stages being repeated in the afternoon.
With only a tyre-fitting zone in Newtown that day, only a limited repair can be made to the cars if anything goes wrong, before the cars arrive back in Deeside that night for a proper service.
The final day of the event on Sunday sees a shorter day with only five stages, but with points to play for on the power stage in Gwydir, the cars wont be any slower with the Elsi stage as well in the forests above Bala.
The showdown for the final stage of the Dayinsure Wales Rally GB will be around the Great Orme stage in Llandudno, and with the added bonus of racing on closed public roads it will no doubt be a great spectacle for the thousands of rally fans surrounding the mountain on the Orme and on the streets of Llandudno.
On Saturday and Sunday from 8am until 4pm there will be entertainment for all ages on the prom in Llandudno, including a display of historic rally cars, a special Toyota showcase and the Dayinsure Family Fun Zone.
There’s the added excitement this year of thrilling three-way title fights for both Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ WRC Championships as well as Elfyn Evans gunning for back-to-back GB victories after his 2017 success.
"There really is something for everyone," said Ben Taylor, managing director of Dayinsure Wales Rally GB.
"We have an unsurpassed breed of stunning cars, the most exciting title race in memory, a local hero in Elfyn Evans, all the classic stages in the Welsh forests plus an amazing finish on the streets of Llandudno - it adds up to an incredible four days of epic entertainment. Even the weather seems to be set fair!"
Here is the route in full
2018 Dayinsure Wales Rally GB Route
Thursday, 4 October
19:00 - SS1: Tir Prince
Friday, 5 October
07:56 - SS2: Clocaenog 1
08:32 - SS3: Brenig 1
09:47 - SS4: Penmachno 1
10:40 - SS5: Slate Mountain 1
10:47 - SS6: Slate Mountain 2
13:11 - Service: Deeside Rally Village
14:37 - SS7: Clocaenog 2
15:13 - SS8: Brenig 2
16:28 - SS9: Penmachno 2
19:02 - Service and overnight: Deeside Rally Village
Saturday, 6 October
08:35 - SS10: Myherin 1
09:15 - SS11: Sweet Lamb Hafren 1
10:28 - SS12: Dyfi 1
11:02 - SS13: Gartheiniog 1
12:08 - SS14: Dyfnant (Live TV)
13:15 - Regroup: Newtown
14:52 - SS15: Myherin 2
15:32 - SS16: Sweet Lamb Hafren 2
16:45 - SS17: Dyfi 2
17:19 - SS18: Gartheiniog 2
19:37 - Service and overnight: Deeside Rally Village
Sunday, 7 October
07:22 - SS19: Elsi
08:08 - SS20: Gwydir 1 (Power Stage)
09:16 - SS21: Great Orme Llandudno 1
10:29 - SS22: Gwydir 2
12:18 - SS23: Great Orme Llandudno 2
13:15 - Ceremonial Finish: The Promenade, Llandudno
Full information, including ticket details and an in-depth Rally Planner, can be found on the official Wales Rally GB website.