Here are some common concerns that individuals may have, along with ways we can address them:

Answering Your Questions

As a local resident, we understand that you may have various concerns or questions regarding the upcoming closed-road rally in Shropshire. To address these concerns, we have implemented a comprehensive communication plan to keep residents and busineses informed about the event well in advance.

We are committed to minimising disruptions as much as possible and will work closely with local authorities, including the police, to enforce effective traffic management and safety measures. Additionally, we encourage residents to share their concerns and we will actively incorporate community input into our planning process.

Our goal is to ensure a positive experience for both participants and residents alike. We are here to address any specific concerns you may have as we work together to deliver a successful and enjoyable rally event for the entire community.

Q: What are the risks to residents and the potential damage caused by vehicles driving at high speeds?

• The risk assessment process started at the end of 2025 and will continue to evolve continuously, as this is a vital element of any closed road event. As a regular closed road rally within the UK, we work in collaboration with the other closed road rallies around the country, and through this network an ever widening garnering of knowledge is gained to ensure we identify any potential risk and provide the best solution to mitigate this risk.

• Our governing body, Motorsport UK (MSUK) provides specialist safety experts who oversee all our safety decisions and actions and look over every document and decision we make, with the guidance of a MSUK Steward and Safety Delegate, who are assigned to us very early in the consultation proceedings. Also, we have specialists who are trained to consider the needs of residents, their property and other local amenities, such as post boxes and telegraph poles. If any property is considered to be at risk, additional 'stage furniture' (in real terms straw bales) is placed on the roads specifically to slow down the competing cars. We are happy to oblige if a resident requires a personal visit from one of the team to discuss additional safety measures if they feel their property will be particularly vulnerable.

• In addition, the drivers are given information at their arrival to the rally, highlighting all areas where these bales are placed or any other item that is considered a higher risk, so that they have the information needed to drive appropriately.

The reason we have so many safety marshals and security staff (around 300 people) in attendance is because we want everybody to be as safe as possible. The marshals will be allocated to specific areas to help the locals choose a safe to watch and advise when it is safe to enter the stage or not. By listening to the safety marshals, the risk to the residences will be limited.

Q: Many local roads are very small and in very bad repair. It is difficult for council to believe that the event will not cause further damage?

• Narrow roads are the normal choice for a closed road rally and the condition of the roads has been carefully evaluated by the organising team and would not be chosen if they seemed unsuitable. Competitors are not used to a perfect asphalt surface and drive accordingly. Damage to the tarmac by rally traffic is extremely unlikely, but if this does occur the club would arrange prompt repair in consultation with the Highways Agency. From experience of other events across the country, and the last pastevents that we have rallied, minimal damage has occured and been fixed. Normally this has been the movement of mud and gravel, with no other change made to the road surface and so we are anticipating the same outcome this year.

Q: With 300+ marshals and other officials it is difficult to imagine how a small village with one car park and one toilet at the village hall will cope?

• The advantage of having roads closed for the competing cars, is that there will be roads joining the closed section that temporarily become 'dead-ends' as no one will be able to join the route via those junctions. As many of the marshal locations will be at these junctions, the reality is that the marshals have the option to park their vehicles on these roads. We will be hiring multiple 'porta-loo' cubicles at each venue for the duration of the event, we would not expect the officials/marshals to use local amenities. In general the response from local residents is very positive, we hear many stories about locals inviting the marshals to park on their driveway, use their toilet and bring them tea, coffee and cake!

Q: What are the timings for the closure of the roads and when will I know these times?

• To begin the process the Hills Ford Stages 2026 provides documentation to Motorsport UK of the planned stages.
• A team os specialists will lay out the a detailed safety plan – whether it is a marshal at a road junction or pathway, or large straw bales to protect street furniture or to act as measures to slow competitors down. All these amendments on the routes cause an adjustment to the timings. However, even then, during the live running of the event times can change, due to the natural proceedings of the rally, such as a temporary stoppage of a stage to resolve a safety issue or a resident emergency. With this in mind the Hills Ford Stages sets in motion a number of main processes to manage the actual timing reaches the residents

Q: Who do I talk to about my concerns or if I need help whilst the rally is going on?

• A Community Liaison team acts as the intermediary between the residents and the Hills Ford Stages Officials. They work with the the organisers from the start, getting to know the residents and their concerns and pass on the latest information as it happens, so they can pass this on to the residents.
• AThe Community liason team are experienced in closed road events and can guide residents on what to expect and advise the residents at every stage
• It is planned to also have a Iive news feed via the website and on social media such as face book and/or another dedicated App for residents to be kept informed.

Please see the sections below for more details behind the organiseation of the rally.

Resident F.A.Q's

Here we want to give a quick understanding of what Cloased Road Rally is all about. Hundreds of hours are put in behind the scenes to ensure w bring a posative, prosperous and safe event to your region

Lets take a deep dive into the detail

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What goes on behind the scenes to design a safe event for you,
What are the local benefits
What are our carbon offsett obligations
What do we give back to the local communities
What is a Safety Action Group

BECOME A PART OF THE RALLY

Marshalling offers an unbeatable combination of excitement, camaraderie, and personal fulfillment, making it a truly enjoyable experience for volunteers who love motorsport and want to be part of the action.

Lets Get Involved

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Marshalling a motorsport rally can be an incredibly fun and rewarding experience. Here's why:

Find out more

the details count

In collaboration with various stakeholders, including councils, parish councils, police, residents and professional bodies in order to bring the the best that motorsport has to offer.

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Safety is a paramount concern in professional motorsports events, with stringent regulations and protocols in place to ensure the well-being of competitors, officials, residents and spectators alike. This will involves continual meetings with includes a Safetry Action Group to monitor progress. The rally organisers, many of whom hold vairing positions of authority in the community, from Police officers to high ranking officials

Look at the process in detail

Carbon Conscious

Understanding our carbon footprint and assessing the environmental consequences of our actions are important in fulfilling our obligations to offset our impact on the environment.

How we Calculate

Motorsports future

In a proactive step, we have made a commitment to back the Severn Valleys TreaScapes project throughout 2024. This initiative is dedicated to the planning and creation of green areas along a specified corridor. This aligns with our steadfast dedication to local environmental stewardship and our pledge to establish a positive legacy for the motorsport community and beyond.

How We Calculate

Become a rally driver

If you have a passion for rally driving and are eager to learn more, you're in the right place! Rally driving is an exhilarating sport that requires skill, focus, and dedication.

Start your journey

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Whether you're interested in honing your driving skills or understanding the intricacies of rally, there are plenty of resources and opportunities available to help you pursue your passion. From rally schools and training programs to online forums and community events, you can immerse yourself in the world of rally driving and embark on an exciting journey of learning and discovery. So, if you're ready to take the wheel and explore the thrill of rally racing, let's get started!

Learn more