24 January 2023
East Yorkshire Rally to start from Beverley Town Centre
• State-of-the-art rally cars start the Reed Group East Riding Stages Rally from Beverley’s historic Saturday Market on Sunday 26 February
• 140 cars race twice around four rally stages on closed roads in East Yorkshire
• Unique FanZone in the Market lets families get close to the rally cars all day long
Picture: Paul Marshall of Motorsport Photography UK
Beverley and District Motor Club are thrilled to be bringing the sights and sounds of
state-of the-art rally cars to a special FanZone area in the heart of Beverley town centre.
The Reed Group East Riding Stages Rally will start from the historic and beautiful Saturday marketplace in Beverley on Sunday 26 February, with 140 crews arriving to take part in the 45-mile closed road tarmac rally. The FanZone, sponsored by Visit East Yorkshire, will host the ceremonial start of the rally and the final prize giving, with a winners podium arena within the market square.
Fans will be able to enjoy the ceremonial start and meet some of the UK’s leading drivers and teams as the exotic rally cars line up to be waved away. These modern rally cars are incredible examples of advanced engineering - and the top ten alone are probably worth over £10 million.
The rally’s Event Director, Richard Vincent, is delighted to have appointed ex-works rally driver and microphone raconteur Kevin Furber to host the FanZone and introduce the rally crews. Spectators will be able to watch the rally’s own TV channel on a massive display screen, featuring live interviews and live rally highlights from the competition cars on the stages.
“Our 2022 event was so well received by competitors and local residents, that Visit East Yorkshire and Beverley council have been very happy to support us in our planning and allowed us to start from this fantastic location,” commented Vincent. “We’re delighted to be able to take the event to the next level, by bringing a fabulous FanZone to Beverley town centre, and I’m very happy that Kev Furber will be our FanZone host with his wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm for rallying.”
Event Safety Officer Chris Dunhill added, “It’s all about bringing rallying, an exciting sport by it’s very nature, to the general public - and showcasing how safe we’re making these events.”
Event Director Richard Vincent with FanZone host Kev Furber. Picture: Paul Marshall of Motorsport Photography UK
FanZone host, Kev Furber, said, “As a competitor myself, there’s nothing more thrilling than seeing that spectators are being encouraged to come along to an event. On international rallies, a marketplace like this is very commonly used for the cars to come together, and that’s what we’re going to replicate here. Rally crews will know that the Ypres Rally in Belgium is a fantastic event that really embraces spectators. The ultimate dream over the next five years is that’s exactly what Beverley and District Motor Club are going to deliver here in Beverley.”
Local retailers, coffee shops, cafes and eateries will be open for business and the event organisers, in association with Visit East Yorkshire, have not only arranged for the giant display screen to show live action from the competition stages throughout the day, but have also planned an impressive array of Rally Simulators and 3D Virtual reality experiences to ensure that visiting Beverley marketplace will be a fun day out, with a great family friendly atmosphere.
The event schedule will see rally cars lined up in vast numbers between 8am and 9am and then a steady stream of cars will pass though the FanZone throughout the day, with the winners receiving their awards at approximately 5pm. Competitors, their service crews and friends and family are encouraged to arrive early to take part in the FanZone activities prior to each crew’s official start time. This will allow time for interviews, autographs, and fan interactions and give rally crews the opportunity to promote themselve and their sponsors.
The beautiful market town of Beverley, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, is steeped in history. Beverley’s famous market dates back centuries and is a vital part of community life. It is held in the town centre, on Saturdays and attracts thousands of shoppers every week. The busiest market is on Saturdays and there is a friendly atmosphere and a vibrant mix of stalls, selling food from around the world, fruit and vegetables, freshly baked goods, arts and crafts, and clothing.
The Visit East Yorkshire FanZone in Beverley marketplace will create an easy access focal point, with ample surrounding carparks, plus the market area road infrastructure, all to be used exclusively for the rally.
For updates on the rally, visit our website www.bdmc.org.uk/east-riding-stages or follow us on facebook @BeverleyMotorClub
Whether you’re a returning competitor, a new competitor, marshal or spectator, we look forward to welcoming you to our corner of Yorkshire in February.
For more information, please contact our press officer
Peter Scherer petersch@live.co.uk
or visit our website www.bdmc.org.uk/east-riding-stages