Competitors in the Pirelli Motorsport UK Welsh Forest Rally Championship begin the second half of their championship season this weekend (Sunday June 23rd) with their only visit of the year to the South Wales valleys for the Red Kite Stages
Scott Faulkner currently holds a one-point advantage at the top of the overall driver's table. The Mitsubishi Evo IX driver took maximum points on the last two rounds of the Championship, the Rallynuts Stages and the Plains Rally, but still holds the narrowest of leads over Matthew Hirst, the overall winner of round two, Rally North Wales and the 2018 Junior champion. Currently in third place, a further three points back is early season Championship leader Tom Llewellin.
Unfortunately, Scott Faulkner will not be competing this weekend. His car needs further work following the last event and he plans to be back in action on the Nicky Grist Stages next month. So that means we are likely to see a new Championship leader on Sunday evening.
Matthew Hirst's co-driver, Declan Dear leads the overall standings in his category, two points ahead of Gareth Parry with Bob Stokoe holding third place.
Meanwhile, reigning Champion Dylan Davies is scheduled to make his first appearance of the season, partnered by Mark Glennerster in a Subaru Impreza.
Faulkner and Parry also lead the Group N Championship, five points clear of Surrey based duo Wug Utting and Bob Stokoe in their Subaru Impreza. Zak Hughes and Tom Woods hold third place in their Ford Fiesta.
It's Tom Llewellin, son of double British Rally Champion David Llewellin, who leads the two-wheel drive category in his historic Specification Mark II Ford Escort with a healthy 20-point advantage over fellow, for this event, Escort driver Chris Powell. Perry Gardener lies in third place.
Looking to make up ground in the two-wheel drive standings following a non-finish on the Plains Rally, his second of the season, will be BMW stalwart Colin Griffiths in his 2.8 litre Compact. Former two-wheel drive champion Andy Fox, meanwhile, has teamed up with Den Golding in the E30 BMW and should benefit from Den's extensive knowledge of the South Wales stages. Also looking for a strong points haul on only their second Championship appearance of the season will be Rudi Lancaster and Guy Weaver in their RS 1800 Escort.
Top two-wheel drive co-driver is Jim Lewis, co-driver to Chris Powell, ahead of Caron Tomlinson and Keaton Williams.
Tom Llewellin also tops the junior drivers category from Gethin Price and Zak Hughes. Leading the junior co-driver standings is Tom Murphy with a five-point advantage over both Keaton Williams and Rhys Stoneman. Rhys is in the Subaru Impreza of Craig Cameron this weekend
It is Llewellin as well who leads the RAVENOL Welsh Challenge for drivers ahead of Perry Gardener and Tony Simpson. Heading the RAVENOL Welsh Challenge for co-drivers is Tom Murphy four points clear of Keaton Williams while Ian Bevan and Tom Woods are in joint third place.
The rally, organised by Amman and District Motor Club, starts from Rheola Mart with cars leaving from 9.00am on Sunday morning to tackle a total of six special stages. Competitors can see the teams in action on the Rheola stage, which runs twice from 11.22am and again from 2.22pm.
More information about the rally is available on the official website, www.redkitestages.co.uk and information about the Pirelli Motorsport UK Welsh Forest Rally Championship can be found at wnrc.wamc.org.uk, on the Championship Facebook page and on Twitter @WnRC.
- ENDS -
Issued by Peter Hughes Media on behalf of the Pirelli MotorSport UK Welsh Forest Rally Championship.
19TH JUNE 2019
Images Rallysportmedia.com
