Traders in the Newtown area of Mid-Wales will earn around £100,000 from the annual Mid Wales Stages run by Newtown and District Automobile Club on Sunday 21 June.
 
The special stage rally, which puts up to 150 cars into competition over the gravel forest roads in the Hafren and Myherin complexes, will give Newtown a massive mid-summer boost as competitors, their support crews, officials and spectators spend money in and around the town.
 
Up to 1000 bed nights will be booked in hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs in and around Newtown, while other spending will be a timely boost to local restaurants, garages and shops.
 
The event organisers, using figures generated by the Welsh Assembly Government, estimate that the rally will bring around £100,000 into the local economy, as competitors arrive during Saturday for pre-event administration and scrutineering.
 
As well as being a round of several Welsh rally championships, the Mid Wales Stages Rally is also round four of the Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally Championship. This is one of the most significant and prestigious championships in British rallying and television coverage of the British Historic Rally Championship will also bring the region to the attention of a significant audience.
 
"Over 130 crews are expected to tackle this popular event, bringing with them their service crews and supporters," said clerk of the course Chris Tomley from Newtown and District Automobile Club. "All of them require accommodation, food and drink in the surrounding area for Saturday night and during the event. Add to this the volunteer officials, marshals and safety crews on the stages and at rally HQ, which comprise another 300 people, and one can see the considerable benefit this event makes to the local economy."
 
The Mid Wales Stages offers competitors the only chance of the year to tackle classic forests used on Wales Rally GB, including Hafren and Myherin. Central servicing will be located at the Sweet Lamb rally complex near Llangurig, with the rally again based at Coleg Powys in Newtown.
 
More details will be available from the club's website at: www.newtown-mc.co.uk

Issued by Paul Lawrence on behalf of Newtown and District Automobile Club.