2015 King of Wales Spectator Info
Spidertrax | Thom Kingston | CC BY 3.0
We’re just a few days away from the 2nd installment of this year’s Ultra4 European Tour. King of Wales, formally King of the Valleys, is set for this Friday in its familiar Walters Arena home. For those heading out, or thinking of heading out, below is a ton of information that will be helpful in making the most out of your trip, courtesy of Ultra4 Europe. Be sure to subscribe to our blog, we’ll be posting race recaps and videos of this race as the action unfolds later this week.
Spectator Information
Maxxis Tyres King of Wales 2015
August 7-9 2015
Walters Arena, Glyn Neath, South Wales. SA10 9LW
FREE to watch, FREE to camp, £5 parking charge for the weekend.
Overview:
The ULTRA4 Europe Maxxis Tyres King Of Wales (formerly Valleys) is an off- road racing weekend in its 4th year and is part of the pan-European ULTRA4 Europe Series. The “King Of Europe” events echo their American heritage of hardcore off-road racing, known as “ULTRA4”. The ULTRA4 King Of The Hammers (USA) is known as the most arduous one day off-road race on the planet, a race that has been likened to Mad Max meeting the Burning Man festival, a mecca for all things mechanical! With nearly 4 foot diameter tyres being thrust forward by snarling 500 horsepower engines, the machines raced are like no other in any motorsport.
At the 2015 Maxxis Tyres King of Wales we have competitors entered from across the globe, with teams from the USA, Belgium, France, UK, Holland, Malta and Portugal all vying for a chance at the top spot. The attrition rate is painful, only 20% of the entries have achieved a finish in years gone by.
2015 has plenty of new features to spice up the already epic race weekend. This year we have several UTV’s or Side By Sides from the British Championship taking on our notoriously rocky prologue course throughout Friday afternoon. Lightweight with 1000cc engines, these vehicles are remarkably capable.
In our main event for the 2015 weekend we have 3 classes racing, all mimicking the USA series as we work towards a global rulebook. Legends, Modified and then the all-out Unlimited ULTRA4 class.
Racing starts in earnest on Friday 7th August in the afternoon following the SXS race. The Prologue, presented by Gigglepin Winches.com, is a short course with rocks, jumps, mud and flat-out sections, plus excellent viewing for spectators. All 3 classes will race against the clock attempting to gain the top starting position for the next day.
30 mins after the main Prologue, the top seven teams (as voted for by our competitors), known as the “Magnificent 7” will take their turn to attack the Prologue course. This will give all the other teams a chance to get out alongside the course and watch the top guys get their foot down.
Saturday morning racing starts in earnest at 0900hrs. The racing format is simple, a total distance of around 175km has to be completed over 2 days by each team in the fastest time possible. The course is live until 1800hrs or until the prescribed amount of daily laps has been reached, whichever is
sooner!! 2015 sees the introduction of “Formula 1 style” live pitting in the main pit area aka “Valley Town”. Spectators will be able to watch first hand the pitting as teams come round each lap for repairs, fuel and spare parts! We will have live commentary to keep you up to date with what’s happening.
Saturday evening we have Wilderness Lighting Night Stage at 2200hrs, a short sharp blast around these mythical Welsh forests, the first time ULTRA4 Europe has run competition at night.
Sunday is a return to the racing proper for those who are still able to compete, and the completion of the entire race distance. The course will close promptly at 1600hrs, with the prizegiving will follow as soon as possible after.
There’s loads for competitors to play for, with prizes and purse for: Maxxis Tyres King of Wales Overall 1st, 2nd 3rd
Class winners, Ultra4, Legends, Modified
SXS 1st/2nd/3rd
Maxxis Tyres King of Wales Prologue presented by Gigglepin Winches, top 1/2/3 1st/2nd/3rd overall Diesel powered racers
€1000 up for grabs if the overall winner is using King Off-Road Racing Shocks €1000 to the fastest through the King Shock Shock Zone, of any make shock 1st, 2nd, 3rd Place in Wilderness Lighting Night Stage
Things to do at Maxxis Tyres King of Wales 2015:
Get on the bus….This year we have a bus service that will ferry people to the best viewing areas, such as
- The Maxxis Bowl, where you can meet the Maxxis Babes, and eat at our Cypriot BBQ, “Bar B King”;
- The Belly Basher, cheer our teams on as they try to drive over the infamous gatekeeper rocks, then up the welsh slate waterfall and on to the next section;
- The Dragons Tail, another rocky outcrop with boulders the size of a small car that will vex our eager competitors;
- The now infamous Odyssey Batteries Arena, where new obstacles have been put in place to give the crowds a cheer!
Things happening in Valley Town:
Watch the live pits in Valley Town, listen to the live commentary as the teams come in for refueling, repairs etc, and check out the carnage as we talk to the racers live!
New for 2015 is an RC/Scale Crawlers section at Valley Town, where kids of all ages can come and run their radio controlled rock crawlers around. It’s free, come and have a go!
Make sure to visit the ULTRA4 Europe shop – we will have event and series clothing for sale, including T-shirts, caps, hoodies and more. New for 2015, with help from the team at the Off Road Armoury, is an A2 laminated course map available for purchase. Featuring all the spectator areas and course highlights this limited edition item is a great souvenir to take home and put on your wall. Keep your eyes peeled as we may do some driver signing at the Maxxis Trailer Saturday after racing!
Stuck for parts? Or just looking for advice? Visit our vendors who are setting up camp in Valley Town to help you! We have shops onsite from Series Sponsors King Off-Road Shocks, Wilderness Lighting and Allisport, Event sponsors Gigglepin Winches, Off-Road Armoury will also have booths along with additional vendors Wrex Racing and RED Winches.
You can eat in Valley Town as well! For 2015 we have some fantastic BBQ food from Alex and Philon and the rest of the team at Bar B King, these guys know how to make a feast! You can even preorder your food for theweekend by emailing Alex at Barbkingcatering@gmail.com.
Food is freshly cooked to order so if they have something that whets your appetite, get your order in! Please note all food is cooked from fresh, and they may only have a small amount of “walk in availability” so if you don’t order, don’t be surprised if they have run out! Breakfasts also available.
Timetable of events:
Thursday 6th August
1400hrs – Gates open to public (to set up camping etc)
1400hrs – King Shock Tuning, with King Shocks USA and Off Road Armoury
Friday 7th August
0800hrs – Registration & Scrutineering continues
0830hrs – 1100hrs Pre-Running of course open (subject to availability)
1145hrs – SXS King of Wales
1615hrs – Maxxis Tyres King of Wales Prologue presented by Gigglepin Winches for
4400, 4500, 4800 classes
1800hrs – Magnificent Seven Prologue (Top 7 drivers as voted for by our competitors)
2000hrs – ULTRA4 Racing videos shown in the Heritage 4×4 Insurance Hub with thanks to Off Road Armoury.
Saturday 8th August
0900hrs – Maxxis Tyres King of Wales 2015 starts, cars leave 2 by 2 in 1 min intervals
1800hrs – Course closes
1930hrs – Drivers Signing at the Maxxis Trailer
2200hrs – Wilderness Lighting Night Stage starts
Sunday 9th August
0800hrs – Maxxis Tyres King of Wales 2015 day 2 starts 1600hrs – Course closes
1800hrs – Maxxis Tyres King of Wales 2015 Prize Giving Marshalls Awards after Prize Giving
All Times subject to change
Camping Information:
Free camping available from Thursday 6th August at 1400hrs.
Please! No open fires on site.
Fresh water available.
You are responsible for your own litter, please take it home with you. Campsite to be clear by 1200hrs Monday 10/8/15
A list of local accommodation is available here: Click
Thank you to our Series Sponsors: Euro4x4 Parts, King Off Road Racing
Shocks, Maxxis Tyres, Outback Import, Wilderness Lighting.
Thank you to our Maxxis Tyres King Of Wales Event Sponsors: Heritage 4×4
Insurance, Offroad Armory, Gigglepin Winch.com, Odyssey Battery, Bar-B-King. Wooldridge Demolition, Goodwinch, West Coast Offroad
Please support the companies that support us!