Pacific Forest Rally on now!

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Cars by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

May 31, 2025

26 rally cars showed themselves on the 2000 block of Granite Avenue in Merritt Friday, January 30th, 2025 with this official watching over the 5:30 start that saw the cars moved to a terminal point to start their timed rally.

The Pacific Forest Rally is a thrilling performance rally racing event held annually in the rugged terrain surrounding Merritt, British Columbia. In 2025, it’s scheduled to take place from Thursday, May 29th to Saturday, May 31st.
Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect:
Event Overview:
* Dates: May 29 – 31, 2025
* Location: Merritt, British Columbia
* Courses: The rally features challenging gravel roads with tight corners, steep climbs, and dramatic elevation changes in the Thompson-Nicola region. The rally stages are typically rough, with a gravel and rock base.
* Championships: The Pacific Forest Rally is a significant event, being part of both the Canadian Rally Championship (CRC), the North American Rally Cup (NARC), and the Western Canadian Rally Championship (WCRC), attracting top rally teams from across North America.
Schedule Highlights (subject to minor changes):
* Thursday, May 29: Set up and potentially tech inspection and reconnaissance (recce) for competitors.
* Friday, May 30:
   * Tech inspection and recce continue.
   * Rally Car Display (Parc Exposé): 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM in downtown Merritt (Granite Ave). This is a great opportunity for spectators to get up close to the rally cars and meet the teams.
   * Ceremonial Start: 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM, leading into the first set of stages.
   * Possible night stages (e.g., Mab stage).
* Saturday, May 31:
   * Full day of stages, stages, stages! This is the main day for competitive racing.
   * Morning & Midday Spectator Stage (e.g., Kirby stage): Multiple passes starting around 10:05 AM.
   * Afternoon Spectator Stage (e.g., Brookmere stage): Multiple passes starting around 5:00 PM.
* Sunday, June 1: Clean up.
Spectator Information:
* Spectator Guide: An official Spectator Guide is usually released closer to the event, providing essential details like stage maps, spectator locations (e.g., Mab, Kirby, Brookmere), stage entry times, vehicle pass times, turn-by-turn directions to forest spectator points, and important safety information.
* Viewing Areas: There will be designated spectator areas, and while some are easily accessible, others may require driving on gravel roads. Lowered vehicles are generally not recommended for forest access.
* Amenities: Forest spectator areas are remote and typically have no toilets or concessions, so plan accordingly and bring your own supplies.
* Safety: Always prioritize safety by following official instructions, staying in designated spectator zones, and being aware of your surroundings.
Volunteering:
The Pacific Forest Rally relies heavily on volunteers for its success, especially for road blocking, time control, and spectator management. If you’re interested in getting involved, volunteer registration is typically open well in advance.
The Pacific Forest Rally offers an exciting experience for motorsport enthusiasts, showcasing high-speed action and the spirit of rally racing in a beautiful natural setting.