Preparation WRC
“ The atmosphere is just such a joy to be part of,” he recalls.“ Rally GB came around in that autumn slot, and it was just something everyone looked forward to. I loved going out to watch it, and as a younger driver, coming through the ranks, I loved just being part of it.”
If the scale of the event is on another level, so too is the performance of the top-level driving out on stage – and for those who love to watch a rally car in full flow, Cave says, the WRC competitors take the pace and perfection to another level.
“ It’ s a huge difference – I can’ t really describe it,” he says.“ When people go and watch Rali Ceredigion, you get a flavour of it, but to see what level the top guys are operating at in the WRC, there’ s no margin for error – and they’ re doing that for three days.
“ It really is an eye-opener how quick the pace is. I’ ve not been involved in WRC for a while now, but I still know how high the pace is at WRC2 level. It’ s full-on. Even the current BRC guys will have a shock at how quick it is.”
The move from Wales, where the last British round of the WRC was
held, to the Grampian region of Scotland, also marks an opportunity for the world’ s top drivers to be tested on some of the most fearsome and spectacular gravel stages in the UK.
This month’ s Grampian Rally was an eye-opener for what is to come, and Cotton adds:“ It was the perfect chance to showcase the territory, the stages and what people can expect from the region and its forests.
“ One of the forests they use is pretty much the biggest in the region, so it’ s likely a number of those stages will feature on the WRC event. They are very technical but super-fast too – they are very, very good stages and people will really enjoy them.”
WRC entrants Jon Armstrong and co-driver Shane Byrne took overall victory on the Voly Grampian Forest Rally, commenting that the stages were fast and challenging
Below: Tom Cave knows the BRC and WRC drivers will relish the Scottish stages in 2027
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