Organisers of the biggest rally in the North of England are promising this year’s event will be the best yet, based at its new home at Myerscough College.
Myerscough’s Bilsborrow campus will be the central base for the Legend Fires North West stages, which will be held on Saturday, 23 March.
The route will comprise of 50 stage miles over 12 special stages, of which approximately 35 miles are on closed public roads. Entries will open in the next few weeks, with the College’s state-of-the-art Motorsport Centre making the venue the perfect choice for hosting the event’s Central Service & Scrutineering.
Following the change in the Road Traffic Act Legislation in 2017, organisers, Motorsport North West, took a year’s sabbatical to concentrate on the vast amount of work needed to pursue the possibility of a number of ‘Closed Road’ Special Stages for the 2019 event. Following over twelve months of painstaking planning it will become the first special stage tarmac rally in the North of England to take advantage of the new laws allowing use of the public highways for motorsport.
Belinda Oldham, Head of Motorsport at Myerscough College and University Centre said she was pleased that the event would be based on site: ”We are delighted that the North West Stages rally is back for 2019 and the College is looking forward to welcoming the hundred or so competitors onto our beautiful campus.
”The organising committee have worked tremendously hard to get to this point and with the combination of closed roads and private venues it should be a fantastic event for both competitors and spectators.
”The College continues to offer students experiences of working at prestigious events on the motorsport calendar in addition to their course studies and this is a big opportunity. We’re pleased to be able to continue to offer these unique opportunities to Myerscough students as part of their enrichment.’’
Dave Read, Event Director for the North West Stages, said: ‘’We have worked closely with Wyre Council for a number of years having run Special Stages on the Council owned Fleetwood Waterfront in the past, so it made sense to seek their support for Closed Road Special Stages.
‘’We’re delighted to be moving to the facilities at Myerscough College, which is well known for their motorsport courses. Moving the base (to Myerscough) still allows some of the traditional area to be used, but opens up other options in the Lancashire Fells.
‘’The choice of Myerscough College for the rally headquarters was a really a bit of a no-brainer. Geographically it’s bang in the middle of the action with stages to the west and stages to the east making it the ideal location for central servicing on the day.
‘’The College also boasts a rally heritage having a long-established motorsport department with stage rallying a core element of their activities and a number of lecturers having strong links to the sport. It has long established links with a number of Lancashire based Motor Clubs who have been instrumental in the organising of the event for many years.
‘’By bringing the rally to Myerscough and engaging with staff and students that in itself provides valuable educational benefits providing first-hand experience of the running of a major motorsport event. All in all it’s a win, win scenario for both the College and the rally organisers and is the start of what is hoped will become a long-term relationship.
‘’Wyre Borough Council, with whom the organisers have worked closely, are confident the rally will bring significant levels of income to the area at what is a relatively quiet time in tourism terms.’’
The Legend Fires North West Stages rally is the largest multi-venue tarmac rally in the North of England, attracting thousands of people who compete and watch the action. Myerscough College has played a significant role in the event for a number of years, and the last time the event was run in 2017, a total of seventeen students supported seven cars competing.
The facilities at Myerscough College include seven motorsport garages, a number of different competition cars for the continuing development and expansion of motorsport teaching, and a new motorcycle workshop.
Myerscough HE Motorsport tutor, Simon Moss, said: ‘’It’s fantastic news for Myerscough College & University Centre, that the new-look Legend Fires North West Stages rally will be hosted here this year.
”Occasions like this give the students crucial real life experience on events where they’ll be working alongside potential employers. The students will get to experience, first hand, a major event and such experience looks great on their CV when they apply for jobs within the industry.’’
