Revised route announced for Rally GB.

The organisers of November's Network Q Rally of Great Britain have announced a revised route, designed to benefit businesses in the Vale of Neath and spread the competitive mileage more evenly over all three legs of the 1,000-mile event.

The provisional route (announced in May) took competitors to the Rheola Forest special stage, near Neath, during Saturday's second leg. However, traffic restrictions required for the rally would have disrupted a Saturday Market at Rheola. By rescheduling the Rheola stage to run twice during Sunday's third and final leg, the market can operate as normal.

The revised route - with its more even spread of competitive driving - should be welcomed by participants and spectators alike. The first leg (Thursday evening and Friday combined) includes 87 miles of competitive driving; Saturday's second leg now features 83 competitive miles and Sunday's third leg offers a substantial 67 competitive miles.

There are no changes to the two SuperSpecial stages in Cardiff - the opening stage on Thursday and the end-of-leg stage on Saturday - designed to bring rally action to within easy reach of the Welsh capital.

Access to all 17 special stages is by tickets, which are now on sale.

Regulations for the Rally are due for publication on Monday 20 August. They will confirm that the maximum entry for this year's event will be 120 cars (was 150 in 2000).

Revised route of the 2001 Network Q Rally of Great Britain:

Thursday 22 November
START Cardiff City Hall 18.30 hours
SS 1 Cardiff SuperSpecial 1 (1.5 miles)
Cardiff IN 19.55

Friday 23 November
Cardiff OUT 06.00
Service A Swansea 06.52
SS 2 St. Gwynno (8.5 miles)
SS 3 Tyle (6.5 miles)
SS 4 Rhondda 1 (16.5 miles)
Service B Swansea 10.39
SS 5 Crychan (8.0 miles)
SS 6 Halfway (10.8 miles)
Service C Swansea 14.44
SS 7 Brechfa 1 (18.5 miles)
SS 8 Trawscoed 1 (16.3 miles)
Service D Swansea 18.49
Cardiff IN 20.34

Saturday 24 November
Cardiff OUT 07.00
Service E Swansea 07.52
SS 9 Resolfen (28.9 miles)
Service F Swansea 10.12
SS10 Margam 1 (17.5 miles)
Service G Swansea 12.10
SS11 Brechfa 2 (18.5 miles)
SS12 Trawscoed 2 (16.3 miles)
Service H Swansea 16.15
SS13 Cardiff SuperSpecial 2 (1.5 miles)
Cardiff IN 19.05

Sunday 25 November
Cardiff OUT 06.00
Service I Swansea 06.52
SS14 Rheola 1 (16.8 miles)
SS15 Rhondda 2 (16.5 miles)
Service J Swansea 11.12
SS16 Rheola 2 (16.8 miles)
SS17 Margam 2 (17.5 miles)
Service K Swansea 14.16
FINISH Cardiff City Hall 15.49