Press release: 9 September 2024
Russ Thompson put on a dazzling display in foggy conditions to score maximum Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship points on the Phil Price Memorial Woodpecker Stages (Saturday 7 September) in his GPM/PD Extinguishers/The Inn Collection Mitsubishi Evo 9.
Co-driven by Stephen Link, the Clitheroe driver recovered from a wrong tyre choice in the morning to take back-to-back Pirelli Welsh wins (having scored maximum points on the Nicky Grist Stages) and rocket up to a title-challenging third in the drivers' standings.
James Giddings maintains his lead at the top of the leaderboard after taking second-placed Pirelli Welsh points in his Fordpad/Enva/Sar Metals Mitsubishi Evo 9.
He and co-driver Aled Davies lost time at hairpins with a handbrake issue but made up time on the faster sections as they bravely pushed hard in low visibility.
Tom Llewellin was on sensational form, taking home third-place overall Pirelli Welsh points and winning the highly-competitive Historic class W9 in his Weir Rallying Escort Mk2. The former Pirelli Welsh Junior champion hadn't driven the Dave Jenkins Motorsport-prepared car for six months, but with Sion Williams alongside mastered the fog and slippery road surface to score a tremendous result.
Colin Griffiths/Marc Morgan scored their best result of the season with fourth Pirelli Welsh points in their Subaru Impreza STi. The Worcester driver lost a little bit of time when he half spun and nudged a bail, but that didn't stop him going onto also score maximum 57 Tyres Welsh Challenge points as well.
Simon Rogers admitted to feeling a little rusty, as this was his first event in his MacWhirter Motorsport Mitsubishi Evo 6 since the Rallynuts in April. Partnered by James How for the first time since last year's Wyedean, the Radlett driver found his mojo in the afternoon and after a great scrap with Colin finished just six seconds behind on his 24th Woodpecker start.
Adam Durston-Hillyer/Chris Davies took home seventh-place Pirelli Welsh points in their Saulire PC Rally Team/MacWhirter Motorsport Mitsubishi Evo 9, which was by far the Romsey driver's best finish of the season.
Steve Hollis/Tim Currie scored their first finish of the season in their V6 Jaguar-engined Volkswagen Golf V R32, having overcome a few issues to pick up a well-deserved eighth-placed Pirelli Welsh points finish.
Matthew Hirst set the fastest time on his very first stage in his new Delta Salvage/Witham Motorsport Å koda Fabia R5 to lead the event by two seconds. Co-driven by Declan Dear, the three-time Pirelli Welsh champion's hopes of victory disappeared when he beached the car on a soft Hafren SS2 ditch - losing six minutes and dropping to 103rd overall after spectators helped him back on the road. Matthew set the fastest time on all five last stages to work his way back to 17th overall and score ninth-placed Pirelli Welsh points. With two wins earlier in the year, his challenge for a record-breaking fourth Pirelli Welsh title is still on, but having dropped to fourth he can ill afford another mishap.
A puncture on SS3 robbed David Tomlin/Ian Beamond of a top 10 Pirelli Welsh finish as they came home 11th in their Axon Fiesta R5.
Peter Baylis/Paul Godden ditched their Artificial Lawn Company Mitsubishi Evo 9 in Hafren and had to be rescued by spectators. They also stalled the car in Ceri 2, which although wasn't a great start to the afternoon they did finish strongly.
Wug Utting/Bob Stokoe had rallied in fog many times before and put their experience to excellent use with a calm and fast run in their Geoff Jones Motorsport-prepared Subaru Impreza N12b.
Also reaching the finish were Paul Lomas/Mark Leader (Plant Speed Subaru Impreza STi), Rob and Ashley Aslett (Rigfone Electric Contractors Subaru Impreza) and Geoff Cottrill/Nathan Crewe (Arnside Motorsport Mitsubishi Evo 9).
Perry Gardener/Jack Bowen returned in their TNT Tyres Fiesta R5 and were second overall when they spun and got stuck in SS6 and had to retire.
Bob Morgan/Ade Williams retired after the opening stage when their Winner Garage Å koda Fabia R5 picked up a bad misfire. Colin Minton/Adam Westerby retired their Ignition Motorsport-prepared Tutts Clump Fiesta R5 on SS2, while Daniel Moss/Hannah McKillop retired their Hurst Haylage Mitsubishi Evo 10 on SS3.
Dylan Fowler Bishop (co-driven by Dan Evans) recovered from a puncture on SS1 and survived lots of niggles to win the OnThePaceNote / Restruct Welsh Junior category in his Restruct Nissan Micra
Lewis Hooper still leads the U25 category after finishing second. He performed particularly well in Ceri 2 and enjoyed Hafren and, co-driven by Rhys Edwards, scored another great result in his Hooper Sport Fiesta R2 to edge closer to the Junior title.
Sam Mason (co-driven by James Seymour) had a good afternoon to finish third in the U25 class in his SM Autocare Ford Fiesta, while Luke Watts (co-driven by Matt Rogers) was fourth in his Ian Watts & Son/NJ Auto Repairs MG ZR.
Iwan Roberts Jnr put the rebuilt engine in his Roberts of Ffestiniog Escort G3 to good use to power to Hockly Motorsport 2WD glory. It was the second time that he and co-driver Daniel Jones had won the class this year - and as they did on the Rallynuts scored another magnificent top 10 Pirelli Welsh overall result as well.
Mike Brown Jnr/Nikola Brown finished second in the 2WD section (and won class W12) in their LB Passive Fire BMW Compact M3, while Callum Griffiths/William Lewis finished third after tightening the lower arm bolts and exhaust for the afternoon loop of stages in their first event in their re-vamped Presteigne Tyre Services Fiesta ST Maxx.
Rob Dennis (co-driven by Andy Boswell) had a good run to maintain his 2WD title challenge in his Team Dennis Escort Mk2 and is now just seven points behind leader Geoff Phelps (Hartpury Farms Escort Mk2). Colin Jenkins leads the 2WD co-driver's section.
Dan Chester/Paul Barbet spun their Dan's Action Vehicles BMW E30 on the opening stage and felt that they should have changed tyres for the afternoon - but didn't and were even more sideways than normal. They finished second in W12, one place ahead of defending class champions Andrew Fox/Jaime-Lee Fox (Xwatch Safety Solutions BMW 325), while Gareth Humphreys/Adam Burkill broke a driveshaft in their BMW Mini Cooper S on the opening stage. David Jones/Glyn Price still lead the class after finishing fourth in their Tanners Arms/GJ Price Transport BMW E30.
Greg Mills, who finished runner up in the 1999 Welsh Championship, and co-driver Andrew Sankey won W10 in their Lake Vyrnwy Hotel-sponsored 1.6-litre Toyota-engined Escort Mk2. Martin Walters/Marie Fletcher remain in the class lead after finishing second in their Digger Parts Direct Honda Civic, while Michael Jenkins/Jordan Joines came home third in their Tutts Clump Fiesta R2 after losing time with a wrong tyre choice in the morning. Alan Desbois/Emma Cooper were unable to make the start in their Peugeot 306 RWD after the driver was taken ill.
Sprint and hillclimb driver Neville Breach (co-driven this time by Martin Corbett) won the Historic class W5 for a second time in a row in his 1600cc Avenger. Their only issue came on a road section when the battery lead came off.
Neal James (co-driven by Siobhan Pugh) took class W7 victory in his Mosleys Rolling Road/Eagle Accountancy Escort Mk2.
Peter Hinton/Lewis Sim finished second and still lead W7, despite a spin and stalling twice on the first run through Ceri in their Escort Mk2. Graham Thatcher/Tim Samuel completed the W7 podium in their Pembridge Vehicle Management TR7 V8, which suffered occasional gear selection problems.
Jonathan Brace/Paul Spooner had brake issues in Ceri 1 but recovered to win W8 in their Dave Jenkins Motorsport-prepared Brace's Bakery Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1. Gary Smith/Clive Jones still lead the class after finishing second on the day in their Escort RS1600 Mk1, while Andrew Stokes/Jonny Tad Evans were content with third in their Stokes Rally Team Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1. Just 11 points now separate the top three crews in the battle for the W8 title.
Rudi Lancaster/Guy Weaver enjoyed a consistently fast and trouble-free run to finish second in W9 (behind Tom Llewellin) in their Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks Escort RS18000 Mk2 and continue to lead the class. They also move up to a magnificent second in the overall drivers' and co-drivers' standings.
Charles Hopkinson/Alan Jones had an excellent run to third in class in only their second event of the year in their RS1800 Escort Mk2 and particularly enjoyed the Hafren stage. Steve Chaplin/Rich Suter came home fourth in their Escort Mk2, ahead of Lyn Davies/Aled Richards (Jonesport-prepared 57 Tyres Escort RS1800 Mk2), Peter Jones/Gareth Davies (Escort Mk2) and Jeremy Wells/Martin Saunders (Wells Masonry Solutions Escort Mk1).
Robert Gough had to borrow a gearbox to make the start, but he and Jez Rogers retired their Escort Mk2 on SS2.
The top three finishers in each Historic class 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.
The live streaming coverage from the Woodpecker remains available to view on the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship and Special Stage TV Facebook pages.
The penultimate round of the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship is the Llandudno-based Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally on Saturday 26 October.
During the 2024 season, the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship will be raising awareness of its official charity partner The Osborne Trust.
For details about the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship please visit: wnrc.wamc.org.uk.
2024 Woodpecker Stages - top 10 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship finishers:
1. Russ Thompson/Stephen Link (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9).......48mins 59secs
2. James Giddings/Aled Davies (Mitsubishi Evo 9).......51mins 12secs
3. Tom Llewellin/Sion Williams (Ford Escort Mk2).......52mins 19secs
4. Colin Griffiths/Marc Morgan (Subaru Impreza STi).......52mins 58secs
5. Simon Rogers/James How (Mitsubishi Evo 6).......53mins 04secs
6. Rudi Lancaster/Guy Weaver (Ford Escort Mk2).......53mins 05secs
7. Adam Durston-Hillyer/Chris Davies (Mitsubishi Evo 9).......53mins 25secs
8. Steve Hollis/Tim Currie (Volkswagen Golf R).......53mins 26secs
9. Matthew Hirst/ Declan Dear (Å koda Fabia R5).......53mins 31secs
10. Iwan Roberts Jnr/Daniel Jones (Ford Escort G3)......53mins 42secs
2024 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship
Overall drivers' points after Round 4:
1. James Giddings.......103pts
2. Rudi Lancaster.......88pts
3. Russ Thompson.......85pts
4. Matthew Hirst.......84pts
5. David Tomlin.......76pts
6. Peter Baylis.......67pts
Bob Morgan/Ade Williams retired after the opening stage when their Winner Garage Å koda Fabia R5 picked up a bad misfire. Colin Minton/Adam Westerby retired their Ignition Motorsport-prepared Tutts Clump Fiesta R5 on SS2, while Daniel Moss/Hannah McKillop retired their Hurst Haylage Mitsubishi Evo 10 on SS3.
Dylan Fowler Bishop (co-driven by Dan Evans) recovered from a puncture on SS1 and survived lots of niggles to win the OnThePaceNote / Restruct Welsh Junior category in his Restruct Nissan Micra
Lewis Hooper still leads the U25 category after finishing second. He performed particularly well in Ceri 2 and enjoyed Hafren and, co-driven by Rhys Edwards, scored another great result in his Hooper Sport Fiesta R2 to edge closer to the Junior title.
Sam Mason (co-driven by James Seymour) had a good afternoon to finish third in the U25 class in his SM Autocare Ford Fiesta, while Luke Watts (co-driven by Matt Rogers) was fourth in his Ian Watts & Son/NJ Auto Repairs MG ZR.
Iwan Roberts Jnr put the rebuilt engine in his Roberts of Ffestiniog Escort G3 to good use to power to Hockly Motorsport 2WD glory. It was the second time that he and co-driver Daniel Jones had won the class this year - and as they did on the Rallynuts scored another magnificent top 10 Pirelli Welsh overall result as well.
Mike Brown Jnr/Nikola Brown finished second in the 2WD section (and won class W12) in their LB Passive Fire BMW Compact M3, while Callum Griffiths/William Lewis finished third after tightening the lower arm bolts and exhaust for the afternoon loop of stages in their first event in their re-vamped Presteigne Tyre Services Fiesta ST Maxx.
Rob Dennis (co-driven by Andy Boswell) had a good run to maintain his 2WD title challenge in his Team Dennis Escort Mk2 and is now just seven points behind leader Geoff Phelps (Hartpury Farms Escort Mk2). Colin Jenkins leads the 2WD co-driver's section.
Dan Chester/Paul Barbet spun their Dan's Action Vehicles BMW E30 on the opening stage and felt that they should have changed tyres for the afternoon - but didn't and were even more sideways than normal. They finished second in W12, one place ahead of defending class champions Andrew Fox/Jaime-Lee Fox (Xwatch Safety Solutions BMW 325), while Gareth Humphreys/Adam Burkill broke a driveshaft in their BMW Mini Cooper S on the opening stage. David Jones/Glyn Price still lead the class after finishing fourth in their Tanners Arms/GJ Price Transport BMW E30.
Greg Mills, who finished runner up in the 1999 Welsh Championship, and co-driver Andrew Sankey won W10 in their Lake Vyrnwy Hotel-sponsored 1.6-litre Toyota-engined Escort Mk2. Martin Walters/Marie Fletcher remain in the class lead after finishing second in their Digger Parts Direct Honda Civic, while Michael Jenkins/Jordan Joines came home third in their Tutts Clump Fiesta R2 after losing time with a wrong tyre choice in the morning. Alan Desbois/Emma Cooper were unable to make the start in their Peugeot 306 RWD after the driver was taken ill.
Sprint and hillclimb driver Neville Breach (co-driven this time by Martin Corbett) won the Historic class W5 for a second time in a row in his 1600cc Avenger. Their only issue came on a road section when the battery lead came off.
Neal James (co-driven by Siobhan Pugh) took class W7 victory in his Mosleys Rolling Road/Eagle Accountancy Escort Mk2.
Peter Hinton/Lewis Sim finished second and still lead W7, despite a spin and stalling twice on the first run through Ceri in their Escort Mk2. Graham Thatcher/Tim Samuel completed the W7 podium in their Pembridge Vehicle Management TR7 V8, which suffered occasional gear selection problems.
Jonathan Brace/Paul Spooner had brake issues in Ceri 1 but recovered to win W8 in their Dave Jenkins Motorsport-prepared Brace's Bakery Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1. Gary Smith/Clive Jones still lead the class after finishing second on the day in their Escort RS1600 Mk1, while Andrew Stokes/Jonny Tad Evans were content with third in their Stokes Rally Team Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1. Just 11 points now separate the top three crews in the battle for the W8 title.
Rudi Lancaster/Guy Weaver enjoyed a consistently fast and trouble-free run to finish second in W9 (behind Tom Llewellin) in their Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks Escort RS18000 Mk2 and continue to lead the class. They also move up to a magnificent second in the overall drivers' and co-drivers' standings.
Charles Hopkinson/Alan Jones had an excellent run to third in class in only their second event of the year in their RS1800 Escort Mk2 and particularly enjoyed the Hafren stage. Steve Chaplin/Rich Suter came home fourth in their Escort Mk2, ahead of Lyn Davies/Aled Richards (Jonesport-prepared 57 Tyres Escort RS1800 Mk2), Peter Jones/Gareth Davies (Escort Mk2) and Jeremy Wells/Martin Saunders (Wells Masonry Solutions Escort Mk1).
Robert Gough had to borrow a gearbox to make the start, but he and Jez Rogers retired their Escort Mk2 on SS2.
The top three finishers in each Historic class 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.
The live streaming coverage from the Woodpecker remains available to view on the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship and Special Stage TV Facebook pages.
The penultimate round of the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship is the Llandudno-based Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally on Saturday 26 October.
During the 2024 season, the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship will be raising awareness of its official charity partner The Osborne Trust.
For details about the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship please visit: wnrc.wamc.org.uk.
2024 Woodpecker Stages - top 10 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship finishers:
1. Russ Thompson/Stephen Link (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9).......48mins 59secs
2. James Giddings/Aled Davies (Mitsubishi Evo 9).......51mins 12secs
3. Tom Llewellin/Sion Williams (Ford Escort Mk2).......52mins 19secs
4. Colin Griffiths/Marc Morgan (Subaru Impreza STi).......52mins 58secs
5. Simon Rogers/James How (Mitsubishi Evo 6).......53mins 04secs
6. Rudi Lancaster/Guy Weaver (Ford Escort Mk2).......53mins 05secs
7. Adam Durston-Hillyer/Chris Davies (Mitsubishi Evo 9).......53mins 25secs
8. Steve Hollis/Tim Currie (Volkswagen Golf R).......53mins 26secs
9. Matthew Hirst/ Declan Dear (Å koda Fabia R5).......53mins 31secs
10. Iwan Roberts Jnr/Daniel Jones (Ford Escort G3)......53mins 42secs
2024 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship
Overall drivers' points after Round 4:
1. James Giddings.......103pts
2. Rudi Lancaster.......88pts
3. Russ Thompson.......85pts
4. Matthew Hirst.......84pts
5. David Tomlin.......76pts
6. Peter Baylis.......67pts
For more information, please contact:
Dave Evison
Secretary, Motorsport UK Pirelli 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 Welsh Rally Championship
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Pictures by Paul Mitchell. Please credit 'Paul Mitchell Photography' if used.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dave Evison
Secretary, Motorsport UK Pirelli 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 Welsh Rally Championship
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Pictures by Paul Mitchell. Please credit 'Paul Mitchell Photography' if used.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
