The Swansea Bay Rally that was due to take place on 17 July in the forests around Resolven and Rhondda in South Wales has been postponed.
Part of the route that is traditionally followed by competitors in this annual event goes through Welsh Assembly Government woodlands that are affected by the recent outbreak of the tree disease caused by the Phytophthora ramorum (P. ramorum) infection.
P. ramorum can be spread by tree needles and soil clinging to people or vehicles and, as the cars would travel between infected woodlands and uninfected areas several times during the course of the rally, there would be a high risk of spreading the disease.
Forestry Commission Wales met with the rally organisers, Port Talbot Motor Club, last week to try to identify an alternative route away from the woodlands affected by P. ramorum.
As the organisers were not able to find roads in the area that meet the standard required for the championship that the rally forms part of, they have taken the decision to postpone the event.
Forestry Commission Wales District Forest Manager Dai Jones said, “We are treating the outbreak of Phytophthora ramorum in South Wales very seriously and we are determined to minimise the impacts of this disease on woodlands.
“We are disappointed that the Swansea Bay Rally has been postponed but the risk of allowing a large number of cars to travel between areas that are infected by this serious tree disease and those that are not is too great.
“We hoped that, by working with the rally organisers, we could identify an alternative route but, as this has not been possible at this time, we look forward to welcoming the event back in future.”
P. ramorum is a fungus-like pathogen that kills many of the trees that it infects. It was found on Japanese larch trees in South West England last year, and in woodland managed by Forestry Commission Wales on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government in the Afan Valley, near Port Talbot, Dulais Valley near Crynant and Garw Valley, near Bridgend in June.
The outbreak in South Wales is the first time P. ramorum has been found on Japanese larch trees outside of South West England.
However, the situation is changing rapidly as surveys are undertaken and it is likely that the infection has spread more widely.
Forestry Commission Wales is holding discussions with other rally organisers to consider options for the events that are due to take place later this year.
The public woodlands remain open and signs at forest entrances ask visitors to observe some simple biosecurity precautions to minimise the spread of infection.
