While the world of rallying, like many other activities, has been forced by the Covid-19 outbreak to take a sabbatical, the organisers of the Kielder Forest Rally aren’t sitting idle.

For the team is well advanced with the planning for the 2021 event which will see the rally based in the attractive market town of Hexham while the competitive action will take place just up the road in the vast expanse of Kielder Forest.

The iconic Kielder stages have been world famous in rallying circles for many years, hosting the famous Lombard RAC Rally, for a long time Britain’s round of the World Rally Championship and most, if not all, of the sports top international stars, not to mention hordes of enthusiastic spectators, made an annual pilgrimage to the North Tyne Valley, while latterly the home grown talent has had the opportunity to shine with the British Rally Championship basing a round of that series in Kielder country.

The 2021 Kielder Forest Rally will feature a compact event with some six stages totally 45 miles which will include all the classic Kielder forest tracks and whether “Blasting trough Bewshaugh” or “Sideways in Shepherdshield”, the action is sure to be spectacular with the many blind brows and deep ditches providing a stern challenge for the cars and their crews.

Rally headquarters for the Kielder Forest Rally will be the spacious Hexham Auction Mart, conveniently sited just off the main A69 trunk road with acres of space and some excellent facilities including the renowned “Farmers Café”.

It offers plenty of room for the service area plus a large function suite for all the necessary administration.

Clerk of the course, Steve Waggett, said, “We have secured Hexham Auction Mart and the support of Hexham Town Council for our event and basing the rally here will provide the competitors and their support crews with all the facilities they may need before, during and after the event.

"We have some exciting plans for a ceremonial start, fit for an event whose inclusion in the prestigious BTRDA National Rally Championship is a fantastic and welcome opportunity for us and all our team look forward to welcoming competitors to the 2021 Kielder Forest Rally”.