Ceredigion will welcome the FIA European Rally Championship next weekend.

JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion is set to host the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) between August 30 and September 1. It is the first time in nearly 30 years that the rally has been held in the UK.

Rali Ceredigion, first held in 2019, has quickly established itself as one of the most ambitious in the world.

This year, it is set to host Europe's top drivers from the ERC and the Probite British Rally Championship.

The event is believed to be setting a new world record for carbon offsetting in rallying, with an expected 200,000kg CO2e being positively offset.

More than 140 competitors from 14 countries will take on the three-day, 183km event.

European Rally Championship leader and last year's champion, Hayden Paddon, will be looking to repeat his Rali Ceredigion victory from 2022.

Paddon currently leads the ERC by just 13 points, making Rali Ceredigion a key event in the race for the championship.

The rally begins with a Rali Show and Ceremonial Start from 3.30pm on Friday, August 30 followed by two runs through the popular Aberystwyth street stage from 6pm.

The bulk of the action takes place on Saturday, August 31 with two loops of three stages.

The stages include runs through Brechfa, the Llyn Brianne test along the famous reservoir, and the classic Nant y Moch, a staple of Rali Ceredigion, before two more passes through the Aberystwyth street stage.

Sunday, September 1 sees two loops of two stages, including the Hafod Power Stage, which offers additional ERC championship points for the fastest crews, before the finish back in Aberystwyth in the afternoon.

Hayden Paddon, ERC championship leader, said: "I really enjoy the Ceredigion stages, they’re unique and different to anything else we have in the championship.

"There are a lot of narrow lanes, very undulating, it’s almost a bit like a Finland rally on Tarmac.

"There are still a lot of people who are very passionate about rallying in the UK and Wales and it’s going to be nice to go back there and put on a show."