News

EVANS BRINGS YARIS RALLY2 TO WELSH CHAMPIONSHIP

Competitor support for this year's Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship is running at a very high level in terms of both quality and quantity, and the championship organisers are delighted that Meirion Evans and Dale Furniss are registering for the championship in their MEM Castrol Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.

This will be the first time a Yaris Rally2 has competed in the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship and they will cap an excellent line-up of Rally2 and R5 cars in class W10 in this year's championship.

With multiple former champion Matthew Hirst not contesting the championship this year, returning contender Liam Clark in his Ford Fiesta Rally2 will be one of the biggest rivals to Evans on the opening round, Rally North Wales on March 28.

However, after a very strong performance on the Wyedean Stages last November, Irishman James Wilson in his Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 could be a major contender for maximum championship points. London-based Irishman Dan O'Brien also returns to the championship in his Fiesta Rally2.

Packing out the W10 class are the increasingly rapid Rob Morris in his Citroen C3 Rally2 with seasoned co-driver Paul Spooner alongside and championship regular contender Bob Morgan who is back with his Skoda Fabia R5. Ford Fiesta R5s are also popular choices with new championship registration Paul Bonas joining regular contenders David Tomlin and Colin Minton in the entry.

With entries still open for the Welshpool-based Get Jerky Rally North Wales, there could still be more additions to the top class of the championship to ensure a fine start to the 2026 PWRC season.

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

EXTENSIVE LIVE STREAMING FOR WELSH CHAMPIONSHIP

News from the Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship

Monday, March 2, 2026

EXTENSIVE LIVE-STREAMING PLANNED FOR WELSH CHAMPIONSHIP

The Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship will enjoy extensive live-streaming from all seven rounds of this year's championship.

Coverage will once again be in the expert hands of the team at Special Stage, with Phill Bramhill leading the commentary team for the season. Live-streaming from the special stages is planned throughout the season with the prime access point being the championship's Facebook page (facebook.com/WELSHRALLYCHAMPIONSHIP).

The dedicated coverage will feature all of the crews running within the Welsh championship and is a tremendous boost for competitors and their sponsors. In 2025 the total coverage for the Welsh Rally Championship reached one million views and that figure is likely to be matched or even exceeded in 2026 as championship registrations continue to grow.

Joint championship co-ordinator Bryn Pierce said: "We're delighted that we can offer our contenders significant live streaming once again in 2026 due to the hugely appreciated support of our sponsors. It's an important part of the championship media package, and we're pleased to be working with the team at Special Stage to bring extensive live coverage. We're looking at one or two developments, including some guest commentators where possible."

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

Pirelli Motorsport UK Welsh Rally Championship

March 28                Rally North Wales

April 11                  Severn Valley Stages

June 13                  Plains Rally

July 11                   Nicky Grist Stages

September 12         Woodpecker Rally

October 24             Cambrian Rally

November 14          Wyedean Stages Rally

Issued by Paul Lawrence on behalf of the Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship. Tel 07778 547918. For enquiries about the championship please contact Suzanne Lednor - joint co-ordinator on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or mobile 07498 298434 (evening only).

M-SPORT RALLY ITALIA AWARD FOR WELSH CHAMPIONSHIP JUNIORS

M-SPORT RALLY ITALIA AWARD FOR WELSH CHAMPIONSHIP JUNIORS

Two young competitors from this year's Pirelli Motorsport UK Welsh Rally Championship will win the opportunity of a lifetime to join the M-Sport WRC team for Rally Italia in October.

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 three of the season, the Plains Rally in June, 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.

According to M-Sport WRC driver Jon Armstrong, the role of the weather crew is very important. Armstrong said: "Weather crews play such an important role during the rally days and the information we get from these crews on the stages is so valuable when choosing tyres and making final adjustments to pacenotes. All the crews are always so grateful for what these guys do, and we wouldn't be able to perform at the level we do without them."

For 2026 the junior awards within the PWRC will only be open to crews in two-wheel-drive cars and are for competitors aged under 25 at January 1, 2026.

This unique prize will include accommodation and transport in Italy, so the winners only have to cover their flights from the UK to Italy. They will then work as part of the M-Sport team across the rally as Irish aces Jon Armstrong and Josh McErlean spearhead the M-Sport challenge in Ford Puma Rally1 cars.

The Welsh championship award winners will get the chance to meet the drivers, co-drivers and key team members and gain an unrivalled insight into how a team at the top of the sport operates.

On behalf of the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship, joint co-ordinator Brynmor Pierce said: "We are truly indebted to Rich Millener and everyone at M-Sport for making this amazing prize available. It really is a unique opportunity for two youngsters to learn so much about rallying at the top of the sport. I look forward to seeing who our leading contenders are and then confirming our two winners after the Plains Rally in mid-June."

Pirelli Motorsport UK Welsh Rally Championship

March 28                Rally North Wales

April 11                  Severn Valley Stages

June 13                  Plains Rally

July 11                   Nicky Grist Stages

September 12         Woodpecker Rally

October 24             Cambrian Rally

November 14          Wyedean Stages Rally

Issued by Paul Lawrence on behalf of the Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship. Tel 07778 547918. For enquiries about the championship please contact Suzanne Lednor - joint co-ordinator on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or mobile 07498 298434 (evening only).