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REGISTRATIONS BOOM IN PIRELLI WELSH RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

As the Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship heads towards the mid-point of the season, a tremendous total of 138 competitors are now registered for the seven-round championship. From 138 drivers and co-drivers, 125 have already scored points across the opening three rallies.

After round three, the Plains Rally in mid-June, it is Liam Clark who heads the overall drivers' title race in his Ford Fiesta Rally2 ahead of the similar car of Dan O'Brien and the Skoda Fabia R5s of Bob Morgan and Matthew Hirst.

Meanwhile, in the co-drivers' overall category, it is Michael Gilbey who has a useful lead over Adrian Williams and Elgan Davies. Top two-wheel-drive car is the Porsche 911 of Ben Smith, while leading the very competitive 1400cc division is Dylan Fowler-Bishop in his Nissan Micra. Mike Simpson tops the historic classes in his Ford Escort Mk2. 

With the PWRC delivering up to 50% of the entry on some of the events, the focus now switches to the Nicky Grist Stages on July 11 when another strong PWRC field will contest the popular event based out of the town of Builth Wells. Already, 45 crews from the PWRC are on the entry list.

In a continuation of the unique partnership between M-Sport and the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship, the leading junior driver and co-driver after round four of the season, the Nicky Grist Stages, will get the chance to travel to Rally Italia and work with the M-Sport team as part of the weather crew for the event. For 2026 the Restruct Junior Challenge within the PWRC is only open to crews in two-wheel-drive cars and is for competitors aged under 25 at January 1, 2026.

The Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship is supported by Pirelli, Ashmores Press Brake Tooling, Restruct, Moduron Arwel Parry Motors, 57 Tyres and LH Motorsport.

HIRST TAKES TOP SCORE IN PIRELLI WELSH RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

Matthew Hirst and Declan Dear scooped maximum points on round three of the Pirelli Motorsport UK Welsh Rally Championship, the Plains Rally on Saturday (June 13).

Unfortunately, the event had to be curtailed with the final three stages cancelled after a serious road traffic accident on the A470 near Dolgellau. With the main road closed, the organisers had no alternative but to cancel the last three stages and declared the results after SS7.

Everyone at the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship sends best wishes to all of those affected by the accident and recognises the hard work and dedication of the organising team from Knutsford and District Motor Club to run the event under challenging conditions. Due to the accident, there was no PWRC podium celebration on this event.

Among the four-wheel drive R5 and Rally2 cars in championship class 10 it was Irish crew James Wilson and Paul Mulholland (Road Tankers Armagh/Rigual/Emco Wheaton/Pirelli-Skoda Fabia Rally2) who led the chase of Hirst and Dear (Delta Salvage/Witham Motorsport/Speedline Corse UK/Pirelli Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) as championship leaders Liam Clark and Michael Gilbey slotted into third in their Ford Fiesta Rally2, finishing one second down on Wilson after dropping time in the final stage. 

Hirst admitted to a modest start on Saturday morning as he returned to competition following an off in April, but he was then able to up his pace and move clear of the rest of the Welsh pack as the day progressed. Similarly, Wilson had a relatively slow start but found his pace in the afternoon stages for another strong PWRC results.

Dan O'Brien had ERC co-driver Liam Regan alongside for the day (M O'Brien Group-Ford Fiesta Rally2) and made good progress to take fourth PWRC contenders. Rob Morris/Daniel James (RMG Groundwork/Construction Hub-Citroen C3 Rally2) just edged Bob Morgan/Ade Williams (Winner Garage Skoda Cinderford-Skoda Fabia R5) and Paul Bonas/Elgan Davies (Rallynuts Motorsport Ltd-Ford Fiesta R5) while Colin Minton/Izzie Holman (Ignition Motorsport Rally Team-Ford Fiesta R5) retired in service with suspension damage.

In class nine for the non-R5/Rally2 four-wheel-drive cars there was a fortunate result for Russ Thompson/Stephen Link (GPM/PD Extinguishers-Ford Fiesta R5 Proto) who set the pace across the morning stages. However, a major misfire struck in the afternoon run through Drws-y-Nant but they held on to the class lead when the final three stages were cancelled.

Wug Utting/Bob Stokoe (Utting Estates/Geoff Jones (Wales) Motorsport-Subaru Impreza) moved up to second in class as Patrick Naylor and Tom Bishop (Fuchs/GPM/MRF/Bremax-Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) stopped in the first stage. Chris Gash/Dylan Williams (Subaru Impreza) took third as Martyn Andrews/Tim Currie (Subaru Impreza) retired on what became the final stage when the engine cut out and refused to refire.

Meanwhile punctures caused by the same rock in the second run of Drws-y-Nant forced both Geoff Smith/Joe Dunn (Liberty Express Ltd-Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) and Arwel Parry/Catrin Price (Moduron Arwel Parry Motors/GPrice Photographs-Subaru Impreza) to stop and change wheels, costing them both any chance of a good result.

Boyd Kershaw/Keegan Rees (Flying Kiwi Rally Team-Ford Escort Mk2) took a clear win in Class 8 for the over 2000cc 2WD cars ahead of Andrew Fox/Jaime-Lee Fox (Severnside Defibs and Training/Fitzgerald Plant Services-BMW 325). Kershaw also finished as best two-wheel drive car on the overall event.

Max Utting/Huw Mathias (Ford Fiesta ST Max) claimed top points in Class 7 for the 1600 to 2000cc cars on Utting's first rally of the year. They finished 23s ahead of Geoff Phelps/Colin Jenkins (Cherry Rock Ltd/Dave Jenkins Motorsport-Ford Escort Mk2) while Damian Cole/Ian Allsop (Get Connected-Ford Escort Mk2) narrowly fended off Tom Todd/Dan Morefield (Historic Motorsport-Ford Escort Mk1) for third as Simon Millington/Sam Kelter (Ford Escort Mk2) rounded out the finishers.

The 1600cc Class 6 was a case of survival of the fittest with Michael Jenkins/Jordan Joines (Ignition Motorsport-Ford Fiesta R2) winning the class as Christopher Skinner/Mark Williams (Peugeot 205 GTi), Jeffrey Jones/Graham Isaac (Peugeot 106 GTi) and Andrew Husselbee/Alex Lewis (Peugeot 306 RWD) all retired.

Colin Evans/John Evans (Towy Waste-BMW 318ti) topped Class 1 for road rally cars, as Richard Phillipson/Brian Cammack (BL Mini 1000 MK3) retired on the first run of the Drws-y-Nant stage.

Class 0 for the 1400cc cars was one of the most hotly-contested classes and there was another impressive victory for Dylan Fowler-Bishop/Dan Evans (Restruct Ltd/Total Spray Solutions/JFB Motorsport/Jordan Road Surfacing-Nissan Micra). Geraint Williams/Ifan Rowlands (GW Services/Gwynedd Skip and Plant/Carafanau Hamdden/Ceir Seiont/Cacenau Tyn Twll Cakes-Vauxhall Nova) finally had a trouble free rally and claimed a strong second place as little more than a minute covered Luke Watts/Matt Rogers (Ian Watts & Son Funeral Directors/Watts Memorials Limited/NJ Auto Repairs-MG ZR), Gethin Rhun Price/Steven Brown (R Keith Price Haulage-Nissan Micra), Matthew Jackson/Sasha Heriot (Nissan Mica kit car) and Joel Lewis/Jamie Mills (Bucknell Auto Services-Peugeot 106 XSi). Brynli Thomas/Dylan Griffiths (WA Motorsport/PR Signs/Cresta Taxis-Peugeot 206) completed the finishers as Ed James/Kevin Lane (EJM Preparation/SJG International-Nissan Mica kit car) posted a late retirement.

Mark Tugwell/Steve Pugh (Metalways-Ford Escort Mk1) had Class H3 for the Category 2 historic cars all to themselves and were pleased to record a strong run after a major engine failure on Rally North Wales.

Class H4 for Category 3 over 1600cc cars was all about Ford Escort Mk2s and there was a frustrating first stage retirement for Andy Davies/Owain Davies (GAP Solutions Ltd. Instead, Mike Simpson/Ian Jones took a clear class win ahead of Steve Chaplin/Rich Suter (Ford Escort Mk2) and John Greves/Russell Thompson (Greves Transport).

For 2026 the Restruct Junior Challenge within the PWRC is only open to crews in two-wheel-drive cars and is for competitors aged under 25 at January 1, 2026. In a continuation of the unique partnership between M-Sport and the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship, the leading junior driver and co-driver after round four of the season, the Nicky Grist Stages in July, will get the chance to travel to Rally Italia and work with the M-Sport team as part of the weather crew for the event.

The Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship now switches to round four the Nicky Grist Stages on Saturday July 11, with a route taking in classic stages in the Epynt region from a base in the town of Builth Wells.

The Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship is supported by Pirelli, Ashmores Press Brake Tooling, Restruct, Moduron Arwel Parry Motors, 57 Tyres and LH Motorsport.

Pirelli Motorsport UK Welsh Rally Championship - remaining rounds:

July 11                   Nicky Grist Stages

September 12         Woodpecker Rally

October 24             Cambrian Rally

November 14           Wyedean Stages Rally

CLARK TOPS WELSH FIELD IN TOUGH SEVERN VALLEY RALLY

Liam Clark and Michael Gilbey were the stars of the Severn Valley Rally as they claimed victory in the event's Interclub section and netted maximum points on round two of the Pirelli Motorsport UK Welsh Rally Championship (Saturday, April 11).

By every measure, the Severn Valley was a tough event with overnight rain leaving the stages in Sarnau and the Myherin complex slippery. Changeable weather during Saturday threw everything at competitors with rain, snow, hail, thunder, lightning and even some sunshine. Through it all, Clark and Gilbey steered their Ford Fiesta Rally2 to a commanding victory and maximum points after a problem free day.

On behalf of everyone involved in the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship, a vote of gratitude goes to the organisers and marshals who dealt with tough weather conditions and a significant mid-day delay to give everybody the 51 stage miles planned, which included a challenging final 18-mile stage in Myherin. 

In Class 10 for the R5 and Rally2 cars, Clark and Gilbey were clear victors with a 40s margin over Dan O'Brien/Rob Fagg (M O'Brien Group-Ford Fiesta Rally2). However, O'Brien was frustrated to have to stop in the final stage after fellow Welsh contenders James Giddings and Aled Davies (Fordpad-Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) rolled and temporarily blocked the stage. The Mitsubishi was soon moved, but O'Brien was left to cruise through the stage and take a notional time.

The same stage also claimed James Wilson and Craig Nelson (Road Tankers Armagh/Rigual/Emco Wheaton/Pirelli-Skoda Fabia Rally2) as they went off in the testing conditions. 

Up into third in the class came Bob Morgan/Ade Williams (Winner Garage Skoda Cinderford-Skoda Fabia R5) while Paul Bonas/Elgan Davies (Rallynuts Motorsport Ltd-Ford Fiesta R5) and Colin Minton/Izzie Holman (Ignition Motorsport Rally Team-Ford Fiesta R5) both survived the day to finish back in Llandrindod Wells.

Unfortunately, a serious accident befell David Tomlin/Paul Spooner (Axon Commercial Catering Equipment-Ford Fiesta R5) on SS4 and the championship sends Spooner very best wishes for a swift recovery after he was taken to hospital in the aftermath of the accident. 

With Giddings out early in the final stage, it was Patrick Naylor/Tom Bishop (Fuchs/GPM/MRF/Bremax-Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) who swept through to win Class nine for the non-R5/Rally2 four-wheel-drive cars, with a 40s advantage over Craig Jones/Elwyn Manuel (CMJ Motors-Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9). However, Jones was badly delayed by windscreen wiper problems in the heavy rain of the final stage.

Father and son Wug and Max Utting (Utting Estates/Geoff Jones (Wales) Motorsport-Subaru Impreza) were next up and well clear of Chris Gash/Dylan Williams (Subaru Impreza), Arwel Parry/Catrin Price (Moduron Arwel Parry Motors/GPrice Photographs-Subaru Impreza), Martyn Andrews/Tim Currie (Subaru Impreza) and Rob Aslett/Ashley Aslett (Retro Race and Rally-Subaru Impreza). 

Parry was relieved to chalk up a finish after a frustrating retirement before stage one on Rally North Wales. Out of luck after an off were Keith Gapper/Paul Price (Total Spray Solutions-Subaru Impreza) while Gary Bollands/Nigel Baldwin (GB Motorservices/CiderOnline /GB Furniture Solutions-Subaru Impreza Wagon) were also sidelined in the final stage.

In Class 8 for the over 2000cc 2WD cars Andrew Fox/Jaime-Lee Fox (Severnside Defibs and Training/Fitzgerald Plant Services-BMW 325) had the category to themselves this time around and steered the BMW through to a good haul of points.

Class 7 for the 1600 to 2000cc cars was a scene of considerable attrition and it was Geoff Phelps/Colin Jenkins (Cherry Rock Ltd/Dave Jenkins Motorsport-Ford Escort Mk2) who coped best with the conditions to chalk up a good finish after a frustrating early retirement on round one with major engine woes.

Tom Todd/Dan Morefield (Historic Motorsport-Ford Escort Mk1) took the runner-up slot from Damian Cole/Ian Allsop (Get Connected-Ford Escort Mk2) while Steve Chaplin/Rich Suter (Ford Escort Mk2) and Jeremy Harris/Alexandra Harris (Kilcot Garage Ltd/Gurneys Family Butchers/Edge Communications-Ford Escort Mk1) both made it to the finish.

In the 1600cc Class 6 Neil Commons/Christian Brown (Ford Fiesta R2) had the least dramas to win the class from Christopher Skinner/Mark Williams (Peugeot 205 GTi) and Michael Jenkins/Jordan Joines (Ignition Motorsport-Ford Fiesta R2) after Jenkins went off in SS4 and collected a stage maximum.

Class 1 for road rally cars lost Colin Evans/John Evans (Towy Waste-BMW 318ti) at service so it was Richard Phillipson/Brian Cammack (BL Mini 1000 MK3) who battled home to win the class.

Dylan Fowler-Bishop/Dan Evans (Restruct Ltd/Total Spray Solutions/JFB Motorsport/Jordan Road Surfacing-Nissan Micra) won Class 0 for the 1400cc cars. In a different Nissan Micra for the occasion, Fowler-Bishop was on typically attacking form and, despite a first stage delay, finished the rally just over two minutes clear of Gethin Rhun Price/Steven Brown (R Keith Price Haulage-Nissan Micra) with Joel Lewis/Jamie Mills (Bucknell Auto Services-Peugeot 106 XSi) taking third.

Frustrated to retire before the opening stage with engine issues were Geraint Williams and Ifan Rowlands (GW Services/Gwynedd Skip and Plant/Carafanau Hamdden/Ceir Seiont/Cacenau Tyn Twll Cakes-Vauxhall Nova) while Jeffrey Jones/Graham Isaac (Peugeot 106 GTi) got no further than SS4. Also out after a strong first stage went Matthew Jackson/Sasha Heriot in their Nissan Micra after alternator issues at the start of the second stage.

Class H3 for the Category 2 cars was all about Ben Smith/Steven Smith (Amigos Tequila Flavoured Beer-Porsche 911 RS) who took another class win despite struggling with the loss of third gear in the Porsche's gearbox. Gary Smith/Phil Clarke (Ford Escort Mk1) led the chase of the Porsche from David Hopkins/Siobhan Pugh (Hopgrove Construction/Ribbons of Treorchy/Mosley's Rolling Road/WOS Performance-Ford Escort Mk1).

Neal James/Steven James (Valley Auto Sport/Classic Car Storage Ammanford-Ford Escort Mk2) were next up from Jeremy Wells/Martin Saunders (Wells Masonry Solutions Ltd-Ford Escort Mk1) as Jon Adams/James Wardle (Ford Escort) joined the list of retirements.

In Class H4 for the over 1600cc Category 3 cars there was an impressive debut for Rob Latham/Daniel Thomas (Ford Escort Mk2) who took a fine victory on a tough day. They had around 25s in hand over the Escort of Mike Simpson/Dale Gibbons with John Greves/Russell Thompson (Greves Transport) and Lyn Davies/Aled Richards (57 Tyres) next up. Out on SS4 went James Chambers/James Brown (Superfast Properties Ltd).

For 2026 the Restruct Junior Challenge within the PWRC will only be open to crews in two-wheel-drive cars and is for competitors aged under 25 at January 1, 2026. In a continuation of the unique partnership between M-Sport and the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship, the leading junior driver and co-driver after round four of the season, the Nicky Grist Stages, will get the chance to travel to Rally Italia and work with the M-Sport team as part of the weather crew for the event.

The Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship is supported by Pirelli, Ashmores Press Brake Tooling, Restruct, Moduron Arwel Parry Motors, 57 Tyres and LH Motorsport.