A POPULAR closed road rally running on the Herefordshire border will take place this weekend.

The Three Shires Stages Closed Road Stage Rally taking in Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire will take place on Sunday (September 5).

Based this year at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern, the event is being organised by Cheltenham Motor Club.

Hills Ford’s involvement as the main title sponsors for this event with all the knowledge and support that they bring has been welcomed by the Cheltenham Motor Club.

The “Three Shires Stages” Closed Roads Special Stage Car Rally was run for the first time in September 2019.

This form of motorsport is still new to the UK mainland and has now been made possible because of new Road Traffic Act 1988 (Motor Racing England) Regulations passed in late 2017, which allows public roads to be closed for motorsport.

With the fantastic new base for Rally HQ and the Service Park at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern, the event this year offers competitors a total of 14 stages comprising five stages in the three counties of Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire with an increased total stage mileage of 66.

Three of these stages also have official spectator viewing areas where the competing cars can be seen going by three times during the day.

Advance ‘roaming’ tickets can now be purchased from https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/three-shires-stages-sponsored-by-hills-ford-tickets-162024709267 which offer a significant discount compared to on the day individual stage/car park prices.

Spectators will also have free access to the Service Park where competitors will return twice during the day. It is strongly recommended that spectators purchase tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.

The event has been been invited to join the Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship as the second round in 2021.

This is a top national championship in the UK and guarantees entries from some of the top drivers and cars in this country.

The event is also a round of the hugely popular Fuchs Lubricants Motorsport UK British Historic Rally Championship and the Peugeot ‘Lions Cup’.

With entries received from over 200 competitors in less than ten minutes, the 140 car entry has easily been filled.

The event will be professionally run under the close scrutiny of Motorsport UK officials.