Members of Wolverhampton and South Staffs Car Club face one of their biggest organisational challenges ever when they stage their showcase annual rally in March – seven months ahead of its regular position in the calendar year.

The Bulldog International Rally of North Wales has been moved from October to March 28 so that it can form part of the British Rally Championships.

The event will get the 2009 BRC season underway, as well as forming the opening round of the Dunlop/Gambia British Historic Rally Championship.

It will also incorporate a number of clubmen events too, including the Welsh National Stage Rally Championship and the BRC Challenge.

The West Midlands-based organising team, under rally manager Kevin Witton, will certainly have their hands full to get the event up and running, as they have hardly had time to collect their breath since organising the Bulldog National and Clubman Rally in October 2008.

Witton said: “My organising team spent most of their Christmas break driving around North Wales to find the best possible places for the rally start and finish.

“We need venues close to the motorway network for ease of access as this is an international event and people will be coming from all over the UK and abroad.

“We also need hundreds of hotel rooms for the weekend as well as large areas of hard standing where the competitors can safely service their cars.

“The work load to source all of this is enormous, especially as it is borne by motor club members who do it voluntarily for their love of rallying in their spare time.”

He added: “With so many crews expected to compete on this season opener we have decided to split the events between two main towns.

“The International event will be based at Bala whilst the Historic and National crews will run from Llangollen. This should ensure there is sufficient space for everyone.

“All competitive driving will take place on the forest tracks in the classic Welsh stages of Aberhirnant, Dyfi, Dyfnant and Gartheiniog which are universally recognised as being some of the best gravel rally stages in the world.

“Although there is work to be done I am confident the event will live up to expectations.”

More details are on the event website: www.bulldog-rally.co.uk