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PIRELLI WELSH RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP RESUMES WITH WOODPECKER

The Pirelli Motorsport UK Welsh Rally Championship resumes after a summer break with the Britpart Woodpecker Stages on Saturday (September 12). The rally starts from Newtown and has the core of its competitive milage in the Radnor complex.

With a compact route and six of the eight stages in Radnor, this is going to be a short, sharp event and the competition at the head of the Welsh Championship is going to be fierce as the title race heads into the last three rounds.

In overall terms, and in championship Class 10 for the R5 and Rally2 cars, it is Dan O'Brien/Michael Gilbey (M O'Brien Group-Ford Fiesta Rally2) who hold a small lead over Bob Morgan/Ade Williams (Winner Garage Skoda Cinderford-Skoda Fabia R5), but closing in fast are multiple champions Matthew Hirst and Declan Dear (Delta Salvage/Witham Motorsport/Speedline Corse UK/Pirelli Skoda Fabia RS Rally2), who are now making up for missing the second round of the season and looking strong as drop scores come into play over the final rounds of the season.

There is more strength in the class including Irish visitors James Wilson and Paul Mulholland (Road Tankers Armagh/Rigual/Emco Wheaton/Pirelli-Skoda Fabia Rally2), along with Colin Minton/Izzie Holman (Ignition Motorsport Rally Team-Ford Fiesta R5).

The consistent pace of Wug Utting/Bob Stokoe (Utting Estates/Geoff Jones (Wales) Motorsport-Subaru Impreza) has put them at the top of Class nine for the non-R5/Rally2 four-wheel-drive cars, but both Russ Thompson/Stephen Link (GPM/PD Extinguishers-Ford Fiesta R5 Proto) and Patrick Naylor/Tom Bishop (Fuchs/GPM/MRF/Bremax-Mitsubishi Evo 9) have the pace to close in, despite a couple of non-finishes, along with Peter Baylis/Paul Godden (Artificial Lawn Company-Mitsubishi Lancer E9).

A gaggle of Subaru Imprezas add more depth to the class with Arwel Parry/Catrin Price (Moduron Arwel Parry Motors/GPrice Photographs), Martyn Andrews/Tim Currie, Rob Aslett/Ashley Aslett ((Retro Race and Rally) and Chris Gash/Dylan Williams. 

Andrew Fox/Jaime-Lee Fox (Severnside Defibs and Training/Fitzgerald Plant Services-BMW 325) are the crew to beat in Class 8 for the over 2000cc 2WD cars, but both Boyd Kershaw/Keegan Rees (Flying Kiwi Rally Team-Ford Escort Mk2) and Mike Brown Jnr/Nikola Brown (LB Passive Fire Ltd/Mymidwife.uk BMW Compact) have taken wins in recent rounds. Colin Griffiths/Marc Morgan (Cefnsuran Farm Self Catering Holidays-BMW 135) add to the quality in the class.

Class 7 for the 1600 to 2000cc cars is yet another of the hotly contested divisions within the Welsh Championship, and the flying Fiestas of Liam Griffiths/Dafydd Evans (Presteigne Tyre Services/KS Morgan/Monnow Marquees), Max Utting/Huw Mathias and Callum Griffiths/William Lewis (Presteigne Tyre Services/Square Meadow Ltd) are likely to be at the heart of the action. But at the top of the title race are the Ford Escorts of Damian Cole/Dan Petrie (Get Connected-Ford Escort Mk2) and Tom Todd/Dan Morefield (Historic Motorsport-Ford Escort Mk1), while Geoff Phelps/Colin Jenkins (Cherry Rock Ltd/Dave Jenkins Motorsport-Ford Escort Mk2) are also firmly in the hunt. Simon Millington/Sam Kelter (Ford Escort Mk2) complete the class pack.

With three wins from four starts Michael Jenkins/Jordan Joines (Ignition Motorsport-Ford Fiesta R2) have a clear advantage in Class 6 for the up to 1600cc cars with opposition coming from Christopher Skinner/Mark Williams (Peugeot 205 GTi), Andrew Husselbee/Alex Lewis (Peugeot 306) and Jeffrey Jones/Graham Isaac (Peugeot 106GTi).

New into Class 2 for R2 and Rally4 cars for this event are Dylan Fowler-Bishop/Dan Evans (Restruct Ltd/Total Spray Solutions/JFB Motorsport/Jordan Road Surfacing-Ford Fiesta Rally4) as Fowler-Bishop steps up from his 1400cc Nissan Micra. As well as learning about the new car, Fowler-Bishop will be seeking to get as high up the overall order as he can and will surely be one of the event's giant killers, Class 1, for road rally cars, is dominated by Colin Evans/John Evans (Towy Waste-BMW 318ti).

With Fowler-Bishop out of the way, Class 0 for the 1400cc cars will be all about Geraint Williams/Ifan Rowlands (GW Services/Gwynedd Skip and Plant/Carafanau Hamdden/Ceir Seiont/Cacenau Tyn Twll Cakes-Vauxhall Nova), Luke Watts/Kaz Jenkins (Ian Watts & Son Funeral Directors/Watts Memorials Limited/NJ Auto Repairs-MG ZR) and Joel Lewis/Jamie Mills (Bucknell Auto Services-Peugeot 106 XSi) in a fierce battle of the 1400s. Co-driver Jack Bowen will also score points in this class alongside Perry Gardner in their Vauxhall Nova.

Ben Smith/Steven Smith (Amigos Tequila Flavoured Beer-Porsche 911RS) will set the pace in Class H3 for the Category 2 cars as Jeremy Wells/Martin Saunders (Wells Masonry Solutions Ltd-Ford Escort) lead the chase.

No less than seven Ford Escort Mk2s pack out Class H4 for Category 3 cars over 1600cc and heading the points currently are Mike Simpson/Ian Jones. However, on the Woodpecker they will face a massive challenge from Andy Davies/Owain Davies (GAP Solutions Ltd), who will be fresh from contesting last weekend's Rali Ceredigion. 

Andy Burnell/Andy Boswell (Barnstaple Autocare Solution), John Greves/Russell Thompson (Greves Transport), Charles Hopkinson/Alan Jones and Lyn Davies/Aled Richards (57 Tyres) add further strength in depth, while Yvonne Morgan will score co-driver points alongside Rob Latham.

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.

M-SPORT RALLY ITALIA AWARD FOR WELSH CHAMPIONSHIP JUNIORS

Russell Thompson and Dylan Griffiths have been announced as the two young competitors from this year's Pirelli Motorsport UK Welsh Rally Championship to have been awarded 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, two under 25 competitors in the championship are getting the chance to travel to Rally Italia and work with the M-Sport team as part of the weather crew for the event.

The two co-drivers are elated at receiving such an award. Thompson is co-driver to Jon Greves in a Ford Escort Mk2 while Griffiths is co-driver to Brynli Thomas in a Peugeot 206.

This unique prize will include accommodation and transport in Italy where 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.

Thompson, aged 19 from Wetherby in West Yorkshire, has been rallying since 2022 and has also gained extensive experience alongside Jacob Neal in the Mini Rally Challenge.

Griffiths, aged 20 from Holywell in North Wales, has been involved in rallying since he was a youngster with Rhyl and District Motor Club. He competed on his first road rally as soon as he turned 12 and soon became one of the most sought-after road rally co-drivers in the area. He moved to stage rallying for this season and his first stage rally was Rally North Wales in March.

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 these two young co-drivers to learn so much about rallying at the top of the sport. I think we have two very worthy recipients of this special award."

EVANS HEADS PIRELLI WELSH RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE DUST

Round four of the Pirelli Motorsport UK Welsh Rally Championship, the Nicky Grist Stages on Saturday (July 11) was a major test for everyone, as soaring temperatures and thick dust made this a tough day of rallying. 

To the great credit of all the marshals and the organising team from the Quinton Motor Club, the event ran as planned, despite several incidents, to give everyone a challenging day over some classic stages. Such was the heat inside the competing cars that several crews were forced to retire due to driver or co-driver feeling unwell, but the organisers ensured that plenty of water was available for everyone involved in the event. 

The battle for maximum PWRC points in class 10 for the R5 and Rally2 cars came down to a straight fight between Meirion Evans/Dale Furniss (Castrol-Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) and Matthew Hirst and Declan Dear (Delta Salvage/Witham Motorsport/Speedline Corse UK/Pirelli Skoda Fabia RS Rally2).

It was a close-fought battle, with Evans dropping time in the morning running first on the road of the main field and being a sweeper, and Hurst having a couple of moments as well as a scare when the power steering pump failed on his way back to service. After a tremendous afternoon of competition, Evans took top Welsh points by just 2.2 seconds after a fine contest. Third in class went to Dan O'Brien/Liam Regan (M O'Brien Group-Ford Fiesta Rally2) 

Next up were Rob Morris and Daniel James (RMG Groundwork/Construction Hub-Citroen C3 Rally2) after another encouraging performance that took them into the overall top 10 on a rally packed with quality contenders. Bob Morgan/Ade Williams (Winner Garage Skoda Cinderford-Skoda Fabia R5) and Colin Minton/Izzie Holman (Ignition Motorsport Rally Team-Ford Fiesta R5) wrapped up the class finishers, while there were retirements James Wilson/Paul Mulholland (Road Tankers Armagh/Rigual/Emco Wheaton/Pirelli-Skoda Fabia Rally2) and Paul Bonas/Elgan Davies (Rallynuts Motorsport Ltd-Ford Fiesta R5).

James Giddings and Aled Davies (Fordpad-Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) bounced back into competition and scooped maximum points in class nine for the non-R5/Rally2 four-wheel-drive cars, despite dropping a chunk of time in the afternoon with a spin in the second run of the Monument stage. Nik Elmosre/Cliffy Simmons (CDS Taxis & Private Hire/Calico Interiors/Bells Hotel and Country Golf Club-Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) led the chase of Giddings, and was only 12 seconds back at the finish, with Martyn Andrews/Tim Currie (Subaru Impreza) and Wug Utting/Nick Starkey (Utting Estates/Geoff Jones (Wales) Motorsport-Subaru Impreza) next up. Utting lost time early when a tyre blew out on the opening stage and pitched them into the undergrowth but they fought back for another good finish.

Rounding out the class nine finishers were Rob Aslett/Ashley Aslett (Retro Race and Rally-Subaru Impreza) but retirements included class pacesetters Russ Thompson/Stephen Link (GPM/PD Extinguishers-Ford Fiesta R5 Proto). Others to retire were Geoff Smith/Joe Dunn (Liberty Express Ltd-Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) with a first stage misfire, Arwel Parry/Catrin Price (Moduron Arwel Parry Motors/GPrice Photographs-Subaru Impreza) and Gary Bollands/Nigel Baldwin (GB Motorservices/CiderOnline/GB Furniture Solutions-Subaru Impreza Wagon).

Mike Brown Jnr and Nikola Brown (LB Passive Fire Ltd/Mymidwife.uk BMW Compact) were impressive in Class 8 for the over 2000cc 2WD cars but had to push hard in the afternoon to battle ahead of Boyd Kershaw/Keegan Rees (Flying Kiwi Rally Team-Ford Escort Mk2) with just over two seconds splitting them at the finish. Andrew Fox and Jaime-Lee Fox (Severnside Defibs and Training/Fitzgerald Plant Services-BMW 325) were next up.

Liam Griffiths/Robbie Sandford (Presteigne Tyre Services/KS Morgan/Monnow Marquees-Ford Fiesta ST Maxx) swept to an impressive victory in Class 7 for the 1600 to 2000cc cars as Fiesta STs dominated the top three, including Max Utting/Huw Mathias Ford Fiesta ST in third. Geoff Phelps/Colin Jenkins (Cherry Rock Ltd/Dave Jenkins Motorsport-Ford Escort Mk2) and Damian Cole/Ian Allsop (Get Connected-Ford Escort Mk2) scored well in tough conditions, with Tom Todd/Dan Morefield (Historic Motorsport-Ford Escort Mk1) and Gary Smith/Les Forsbrook (Ford Escort Mk1) next. Out of luck were Jeremy Harris and Alexandra Harris (Kilcot Garage Ltd/Gurneys Family Butchers/Edge Communications-Ford Escort Mk1) who retired in the second run of the Monument stage.

Michael Jenkins/Martin Haggett (Ignition Motorsport-Ford Fiesta R2) claimed maximum points in a very competitive 1600cc Class 6, but Neil Commons/Christian Brown (Ford Fiesta R2) was never too far away while Christopher Skinner/Mark Williams (Peugeot 205 GTi) wrapped up the class finishers. 

Riley Chester with new co-driver Jack Morris (Peugeot 208 Rally4) had a strong run in Class 2 for R2 and Rally4 cars against some fierce competition and took maximum Welsh points. Colin Evans/John Evans (Towy Waste-BMW 318ti) again headed class 1 for road rally cars with another sideways performance.

Ed James/Kevin Lane (EJM Preparation/SJG International-Nissan Micra kit car) scooped top points in class 0 for the 1400cc cars this time around, despite struggling with major gearbox dramas later in the day. But James had enough in hand over Luke Watts/Matt Rogers (Ian Watts & Son Funeral Directors/Watts Memorials Limited/NJ Auto Repairs-MG ZR).

Dylan Fowler-Bishop and Emma Clarke (Restruct Ltd/Total Spray Solutions/JFB Motorsport/Jordan Road Surfacing-Nissan Micra) were unusually far down, but still bagged points for third after taking a stage maximum in Bowlsey 2. Joel Lewis and Jamie Mills (Bucknell Auto Services-Peugeot 106 XSi) were among the retirements, while poor Geraint Williams/Ifan Rowlands (GW Services/Gwynedd Skip and Plant/Carafanau Hamdden/Ceir Seiont/Cacenau Tyn Twll Cakes-Vauxhall Nova) went out even before reaching the start of the first stage. 

Neal James/Gerallt Davies (Valley Auto Sport/Classic Car Storage Ammanford-Ford Escort Mk2) scooped maximum points in Class H3 for the Category 2 cars as the opposition evaporated in the heat.

Mark Tugwell/Steve Pugh (Metalways-Ford Escort Mk1) suffered yet more major engine dramas while David Hopkins/Siobhan Pugh (Hopgrove Construction/Ribbons of Treorchy/Mosley's Rolling Road/WOS Performance-Ford Escort Mk1) retired after Pugh was taken unwell in the heat. Jeremy Wells/Paul Rumary (Wells Masonry Solutions Ltd-Ford Escort) and Jon Adams/James Wardle (Ford Escort) also failed to make the finish.

With Andy Davies/Eurig Davies (GAP Solutions Ltd-Ford Escort Mk2) posting a penultimate stage retirement in class H4 for Category 3 cars over 1600cc, top slot in the class went to Mike Simpson/Ian Jones (Ford Escort Mk2) from Charles Hopkinson/Alan Jones (Ford Escort Mk2). John Greves/Russell Thompson (Greves Transport-Ford Escort Mk2) also retired while maximum co-driver points went to Jack Bowen, who partnered Yorkshireman Matthew Stroud for the occasion.

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 this event 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.