Competitors Spectators Marshals Residents

A dedicated spectator viewing area will be set up at The Little Cow Shed, Havenstreet with a shuttle bus running to spectator parking at the Isle Of Wight Steam Railway at the other end of the village, stopping at the White Hart on the way. There will be excellent viewing of an exciting junction as well as panoramic views along Firestone Copse Road and Rowlands Lane from the steep hill opposite. There will be catering and toilets available at the Cow Shed.

Firestone Copse provides some vantage points for the more intrepid rally fans. It is not recommended to try and view along Rowlands Lane as the adjacent land is private and the hedges are tall.

Spectators not using the Cow Shed spectator area should be in place at least 30 minutes before the first car is due and must not walk along the stage route at any time.

Spectating is free of charge, but please spectate safely!

Rally Schedule

The following schedule is approximate and may be subject to change.

• 09:00 First cars leaving Service
• 09:15-10:30 Special Stages 1&2
• 10:30-11:30 Morning Service
• 11:15-12:30 Special Stages 3&4
• 12:30-14:15 Lunchtime Service
• 14:00-15:15 Special Stages 5&6
• 15:15-16:30 Afternoon Service
• 16:00-17:15 Special Stages 7&8
• 17:30 Final cars returning to Service
• 18:00 Awards presentation

Spectator FAQs

Where should I park to view the action?

For the Spectator Area, park at the Steam Railway and use the shuttle bus which will take you through the village also stopping at the White Hart Inn. Do not park in Havenstreet, or on the closed roads leading up to the stage route – these must be kept clear for emergency access.

For the Service Area, park in Newport town centre or Seaclose car park (which is free of charge at weekends!)

What facilities are nearby?

On Stage, hot food, drinks and toilets are available at the Spectator Area at the Little Cow Shed, White Hart Inn and Steam Railway. At Service, hot food and drinks are available from catering outlets and the Riverside Centre.

How long will the road closure be in place?

The closure will be between 6am and 8pm. If you arrive early to park in Firestone Copse car park you can expect to be stuck in there all day.

This is my first rally – what can I expect?

Rally spectating is quite different to many other forms of motorsport. The stages run over a large area and there are no facilities if you venture away from the defined Spectator Areas. Remember; you will be outside in the winter – warm clothing, waterproof coats and welly boots are a must!

The rally cars will run in a seeded order of fastest to slowest at 30 second intervals. Before they pass by you will see several Safety Cars which are marked 000, Safety Delegate, 00 and 0. These cars are there to check the stage is safe for competitors and are your warning that the stage is about to go live with competitors. Follow their instructions if necessary – failure to do so will mean the stage is delayed or cancelled altogether. In areas with spectators but limited visibility you will find marshals use whistles to warn of approaching cars. Once all the competitors have passed by, you will see the Sweeper car, which has a chequered flag on its door panels. Keep vigilant though; there may still be vehicles moving on the stage such as Rescue or Recovery crews!

It is definitely worth making a stop at the Service Area to watch the teams in action repairing damage, changing tyres, or just telling tales of the action out on the stages. You can get up close to the cars and most crews will be only too happy to talk about their cars and how their rally is going.

Is there disabled access?

The Service Area is a sealed surface with level access and is an ideal place to take in the event if you are less mobile.

Access to the Spectator Area is a little more difficult with loose and uneven surfaces, though we are aiming to put a ramp in place to navigate the step up from the road. It is also possible to view the action from the junction of Main Road and Stroud Wood Road, though any suitable parking is located some distance away.