A MAJOR sporting event is expected to put more than £100,000 into the local economy when it is held in Leominster later this year.

Brightwells is set to host the Roger Albert Clark Rally – the biggest and toughest special stage rally in Britain for 20 years with a particular focus on cars from up to 1981 – in November.

The expansive facilities at Brightwells will be the base for all pre-event activities on Thursday, November 9 and will then host the rally cars at the end of the opening leg on Friday, November 10.

Organisers say bringing this major sporting event to Leominster is projected to put more than £100,000 into the local economy at a quiet time of the year for the tourism industry.

Hotels and businesses in and around the town are expected to benefit significantly from the event, which will deliver at least 1,000 hotel nights as well as money into pubs, restaurants, garages and other retailers. Some overseas crews and event officials will arrive in the area during Wednesday, November 8.

Around 120 cars from across the UK and Europe are expected to start the rally, which opens with special stages on forest roads in Wales on Friday (10 November).

The competing cars will return to Brightwells in the late afternoon of Friday for a main service halt before the entire event moves north.

Brightwells has extensive links with the classic car market as a leading auction house within a business first started in 1846. As well as classic cars, auctions for 4x4s, cars, vans, plant, machinery, fine art and antiques are all part of the business mix at the company’s impressive Easter Court facility.

Richard Binnersley, joint managing director of Brightwells, said: “It will be a hugely exciting weekend for rally fans to enjoy, bringing people in who will follow the event around the country. The business community and Leominster Town Council are very eager to welcome plenty of visitors, looking forward to providing some of our renowned Herefordshire hospitality and fare to our guests.”

Paul Lawrence, press officer for the Robert Albert Clark Rally, said: "For a small town like Leominster in November it's an appreciable amount of money that doesn't cost the town anything."

Spectators are being encouraged to go to Shelsley Walsh, just over the county border, for the first stages of the rally.

Rally manager Colin Heppenstall said he was delighted to be starting the rally at Brightwells in Leominster. “The facilities at Brightwells are perfect for all the pre-event scrutineering and documentation,” he said. “The enthusiastic support of everyone at Brightwells has allowed us to bring the event to Leominster and make a significant contribution to the local economy.”

More details about the Roger Albert Clark Rally are available at www.racrally.org