Press release: 26 August 2022
Matthew Hirst, pictured above, needs to finish first or second on the Phil Price Memorial Woodpecker Stages (Saturday 3 September) to clinch the 2022 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship title.
Co-driven by Declan Dear, the Doncaster driver has been unstoppable this year, scoring maximum points on all four rounds of the series so far in his Pirelli-shod Delta Salvage Ford Fiesta R5+.
Hirst's rivals are ready to pounce should he fail to finish in the top two, knowing that the Woodpecker hasn't been kind to the series leader in the past.
Indeed, the last time Hirst finished the event was back in 2018, when he came home seventh, and his last two appearances have resulted in retirements - with engine problems in 2019 and gearbox issues in 2021.
But since swapping his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX for a Fiesta R5+, Hirst has been in a class of his own - and with confidence high, he'll be keen to wrap up the Pirelli Ravenol Welsh title at the earliest opportunity.
There are plenty of candidates ready to give Hirst a run for his money, not least the 2021 Woodpecker winner Perry Gardener. Together with Jack Bowen (who leads the Welsh Junior co-driver standings), the local Ludlow driver will provide fierce competition in his Ford Fiesta R5+.
Bob Morgan, pictured below, has been super consistent this year, with four high points-scoring finishes, including a podium on the Plains Rally, in his Winner Garage Å koda Fabia R5+. Co-driven this time by Robin Kellard, Morgan will be out to maintain his challenge for the overall title, as well keeping his lead in the highly competitive Ravenol Welsh Challenge.
They'll be pushed hard in both categories by James Giddings, pictured below. The Carmarthen driver has shown remarkable speed this year in his Fordpad Mitsubishi Evo 9 and the fast and flowing Woodpecker stages should suit the car. With Aled Davies alongside, Giddings is a dark horse for victory.
Others to look out for include Benj Ceen/Caron Tomlinson (MSL-prepared Ford Fiesta R5) pictured below, Bob Ceen/Shaun Layland (Axes Designs Ford Fiesta R5), Russ Thompson/Stephen Link (GPM/PD Extinguishers Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9), John Caine/Andrew Sankey (Phil Price Rally School Subaru Impreza), Simon Rogers/James How (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) and Lewers Firth/Shaun Lapper (Firth Construction Subaru Impreza).
Matthew Jackson/Sasha Heriot, pictured below, are enjoying a fantastic season in their MJ Rallying Ford Fiesta R2T and not only lead class W4 but also, against an armada of more powerful Ford Escorts, the Welsh 2WD category.
Ashley Davies/Sam Fordham (Burton Power/G&B Finch/Deranged Trucks Ford Escort RS), pictured below, scored top Welsh 2WD points last time out and will be aiming to leapfrog Jackson into the lead. Boyd Kershaw enjoyed a good test at Walters Arena recently and together with Keegan Rees will be aiming for his third 2WD class victory of the year in his Flying Kiwi Escort Mk2.
Andrew Fox/Jaime-Lee Fox (Xwatch Safety Solutions BMW 325) pictured below, always go well on the Woodpecker and will continue their fight with Kevin Metcalfe/Ian Jones (3-litre BMW E30) and Matthew Honeyborne/James Curtis (Allweld Engineering BMW 328 Coupe).
And whilst Jackson is very close to clinching the class W4 title, Jonathan Jones/Jez Rogers (EDSL Sport-run Ingospec Ford Fiesta) and Tony Simpson/Ian Bevan (Seacon UK/Kielder Tools Ford Fiesta R2T) will be out to prevent him from lifting the trophy this time out.
Another good run will strengthen Liam Griffiths, pictured below,' grip on the OnThePaceNote.co.uk
Robert Wilson has won the Junior category twice this year and secured a brilliant fourth placed overall points score last time out. Co-driven by Richard Crozier, another good run in his Ravenol Mitsubishi Evo 7 could blow the battle for the Welsh Junior title wide open.
Also battling for Junior points will be Liam's brother Callum Griffiths who, together with William Lewis, starts in his Presteigne Tyre Services Ford Fiesta ST and James Lepley (co-driven by Simon Jones) in his Escort Mk2.
Brynli Thomas/Sion Rowlands (Peugeot 306 Rallye) pictured below, resume their Road Rally class battle with Graham Thatcher/Tim Samuel (Pembridge Vehicle Management Peugeot 206 GTi). The pair were separated by just 1.3 seconds last time out, as Thomas secured his third class win in a row.
James Dunkley (co-driven by Dan Sayce) will be aiming for his second class W2 win in his Opel Corsa, Adrian and Matthew Walk will be hoping to take the class W3 lead in their PartBOX Ford Ka, while a fourth maximum points score in a row would leave Martin Walters/Marie Fletcher (Honda Civic) tantalisingly close to the class W10 title.
Matt Edwards will contest his first rally for 11 weeks as the Historic class W8 leader returns in his Pirelli-shod RSD-prepared Fiat Abarth 131. He and co-driver Hamish Campbell scored a hat-trick of class wins on the first three rounds and having missed the Nicky Grist Stages will have their sights set on victory again. Edwards won the Woodpecker outright in 2018, driving a Fiesta R5.
Matt Edwards will contest his first rally for 11 weeks as the Historic class W8 leader returns in his Pirelli-shod RSD-prepared Fiat Abarth 131. He and co-driver Hamish Campbell scored a hat-trick of class wins on the first three rounds and having missed the Nicky Grist Stages will have their sights set on victory again. Edwards won the Woodpecker outright in 2018, driving a Fiesta R5.
Nick Elliott is just four points behind Edwards, although he and co-driver Dave Price just missed out on a maximum points score after hitting a rock and bending the rear axle last time out in their Fiat Abarth 131.
Michael McDaid/Declan Casey, pictured below, who took maximum class W8 points on the Nicky Grist, return in their McDaid Pharmacy Escort RS1800 Mk2, as do defending class W8 champions Paul Street/Ian Jones (PJS Marine Escort RS1800 Mk2), Robert Gough/Sam Collis (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2), Ben Friend/Cliff Simmons (Allglass Escort Mk2), Rudi Lancaster/Guy Weaver (Woolacombe Holiday Parks Escort RS1800), Roger Chilman/Llion 'Tractor' Williams (Wales Motorsport-prepared Securcom Escort Mk2), Will Onions/Dave Williams (Escort Mk2), Andrew Stokes/James Hedges (Ford Escort Mk1) and Jonathan Brace/Paul Spooner (Brace's Bakery Escort Mk1 RS1600) - ensuring an enthralling class W8 battle.
In the other Historic classes, Neal James/Kevin Jones (Cwm Engineering Ford Escort Mk2) are in a close fight for the W7 title with David Lloyd Roberts/Gerallt Davies (Escort Mk2), while Chris Squires/Shaun Hughes will be aiming to take the class W6 lead in their Trevor Morris Engines Ford Escort Mk2, with Rory and Paul McCann (Metalways Hillman Avenger) in hot pursuit.
Those who finish in the top three of each Historic class (W6,W7 and W8) at the end of the season will be put forward for the David Stokes Historic Challenge award for drivers and the Guy Weaver award for co-drivers.
Action from the Woodpecker Rally will be live streamed on: facebook.com/
Organised by Sixty & Worcestershire Motor Club, the 2022 Phil Price Memorial Woodpecker Stages returns to its traditional base at Ludlow Racecourse for the 43.06 stage mile event. Starting at 08:30, crews head to SS1 (Haye Park 1) which at 8.76 miles is the longest stage of the event, before Cwm y Gerwyn 1 (5.5 miles) and Stanlo Tump 1 (7.27 miles). Following a midday service, the three stages are repeated before the finish ceremony back at Ludlow Racecourse at 16:00.
Spectator information is available at: woodpecker-rally.co.uk.
Further details on the 2022 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship, together with registration information, can be found online at: wnrc.wamc.org.uk
For more information please contact:
Dave Evison
Secretary, Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Paul Evans
Press Officer, Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Pictures courtesy of Paul Mitchell. Please credit 'Paul Mitchell Photography' if used.
paulmitchellphotography@gmail.
Those who finish in the top three of each Historic class (W6,W7 and W8) at the end of the season will be put forward for the David Stokes Historic Challenge award for drivers and the Guy Weaver award for co-drivers.
Action from the Woodpecker Rally will be live streamed on: facebook.com/
Organised by Sixty & Worcestershire Motor Club, the 2022 Phil Price Memorial Woodpecker Stages returns to its traditional base at Ludlow Racecourse for the 43.06 stage mile event. Starting at 08:30, crews head to SS1 (Haye Park 1) which at 8.76 miles is the longest stage of the event, before Cwm y Gerwyn 1 (5.5 miles) and Stanlo Tump 1 (7.27 miles). Following a midday service, the three stages are repeated before the finish ceremony back at Ludlow Racecourse at 16:00.
Spectator information is available at: woodpecker-rally.co.uk.
Further details on the 2022 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship, together with registration information, can be found online at: wnrc.wamc.org.uk
For more information please contact:
Dave Evison
Secretary, Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Paul Evans
Press Officer, Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Pictures courtesy of Paul Mitchell. Please credit 'Paul Mitchell Photography' if used.
paulmitchellphotography@gmail.
