• Special competition for local children to design the starting flag
• Winner invited to Ceremonial Start outside Royal Liver Building
• Celebrating the WRC’s grand depart from the city’s historic Waterfront

For the first time in a generation World Championship motor sport is coming to Liverpool when the Ceremonial Start for this autumn’s Wales Rally GB (3-6 October) is staged outside the iconic Royal Liver Building on the city’s vibrant Waterfront.

The grand depart is timed for 4pm on Thursday 3 October and school children in the Liverpool city region are being offered an exciting opportunity to design a special flag to wave away all the leading cars and stars from the official Starting Podium.

The unique flag should represent modern Liverpool and the competition is open to all those studying in Key Stages 2, 3, 4 and 5. The initiative was launched by Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Peter Brennan as he flourished a white flag – the blank canvas to which the winning design will be applied.

“It’s a real coup for Liverpool to be hosting the visually spectacular grand depart in October, and this competition is a wonderful opportunity for youngsters to get in on the action!” he said.

“To be in with the chance of waving a starting flag for this hugely popular sport is, on its own, massively exciting – but for it to be adorned with your own design makes it extra special. This a real once in a lifetime opportunity and I hope youngsters across the city take part and show just how creative a city Liverpool is.”

As the CEO of Motorsport UK, the governing body of UK motor sport and organiser of Wales Rally GB, Hugh Chambers is excited to be bringing the spectacle of the World Rally Championship to Liverpool for the very first time.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to introduce such an amazing sport to those of all ages in the city centre,” said Chambers. “This ‘Design a Flag’ competition will fuel excitement among those of a school age in the build-up to the rally coming to Liverpool, and we very much hope all those inspired to enter will join us on the Waterfront regardless of whether their design is chosen as the eventual winner. Even more importantly, we hope many of those having their first taste of the WRC in Liverpool are so enthused that, in the future, they want to experience even more of what this extraordinary sport has to offer.”

All those whose appetites are whet, will not have to travel far to savour the World Championship in top-flight action. Having left the start, the teams make the short trip to the Oulton Park circuit near Chester for Thursday evening’s opening Special Stage speed test ahead of three exhilarating days of racing against-the-clock on gravel tracks in the Welsh forests.

Providing school children with an engaging project for their summer holidays, the ‘Design a Flag’ competition is open until the end of August. Designs should be on a special template available for download at www.walesrallygb.com/Liverpool-Flag-Competition and then emailed – either by pdf or photographic attachment – together with the entrant’s name, age and contact details to competitions@walesrallygb.com.

Full competition information as well as terms and conditions can be found in the spectator section of the walesrallygb.com website or HERE. Details of a further competition – also open to all KS2, KS3, KS4 and KS5 students in the UK – to design a Toyota rally car livery are also available on the official event site.

While admission to the Ceremonial Start in Liverpool is free for all-comers, a wide range tickets for the 22 competitive stages are on sale. Accompanied children aged 15 and under are admitted free and adult prices start from just £15 with significant savings for all those taking advantage of current early bird offers.