Network Q RAC Rally 23-25 November 1996

The 1996 Network Q RAC Rally starts from Chester Racecourse at 07.00 on Saturday 23 November. Leg 1 covers 126 miles on ten special stages in Scotland and northern England, including the 37-mile (59 kilometres) Pundershaw stage, the longest in the FIA World Rally Championship. After two laps of a brand new spectator 'superspecial' at Croft Circuit, the first leg ends in Leeds City at 23.00.

Leg 2 leaves Leeds at 07.30 and follows the traditional Sunday pattern of mixed-surface spectator stages, including Leeds, Rother Valley, Clumber Park, Donington (two stages), Chatsworth, Tatton and Oulton Park (two stages). The second leg covers 33 miles on nine special stages, ending at Chester Racecourse at 18.10.

The final leg leaves Chester just after midnight on Monday morning and covers 137 miles on 12 special stages, including the very best Forest Commission roads in Wales. The first car is due to finish at Chester Racecourse at 17.00, where - following the success of last year's pioneering experiment - all prizewinners will receive their trophies on the finish ramp. The event covers a total of 1200 miles (1932 kilometres), including 296 miles (477 kms) on 31 special stages. The average stage length will be 9.6 miles (15 kms).

Spectator charges will be £5 per car at all Forestry Commission stages and £7 per person (£1 for children under 16) at all other stages.

The event is the final round of the 1996 FIA World Rally Championship and will be run in every respect as a full World Championship event.

Detailed route information will be published within the next two or three weeks.

The Official Programme will be published by TRMG: tel 0181-441-9500, fax 0181-441-3080.

The above information provided courtesy of Colin Wilson (100350.3476@compuserve.com) of the RACMSA