Many of the world's greatest gravel forest stages will come together to form the 2022 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship with an exciting eight round calendar planned for next year.
The Welsh Association of Motor Clubs organised series will contain three events in mid-Wales, three in the north and two in the south, giving the 2022 series an excellent geographical spread.
With the first round taking place at the end of March, the final round at the end of October and a summer break in between, the calendar is nicely spread out over eight months.
Most events will feature an ultra-compact one-day format, with around 45 stage miles and minimal road mileage.
Thanks to the outstanding road regrading work of Rally4Wales, the Welsh forest stages are always in excellent condition. This has enabled event organisers to run double use rallies with little or no deterioration in road condition, especially in the mid-Wales forests and the events ran in the summer months.
These world class road conditions have also contributed to a record number of crews registering for the Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship in recent years, with both quality and quantity competing for overall and class honours in categories such as the hugely popular Welsh Junior Championship, Restruct Two-Wheel Drive category, Ravenol Welsh Challenge, Historic Cup and new Road Rally class - plus the smaller capacity classes which attract a wide variety of cars and crews of differing experience and ability.
The 2022 Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship will start with Rally North Wales on Saturday 26 March. Organised by Wolverhampton & South Staffs Car Club, the event is based in Dolgellau and contains challenging stages in the nearby Dyfi and Gartheiniog forests.
Round 2 will be the Rallynuts Stages Rally on Saturday 9 April. Organised by Midland Manor Motor Club, the event is based at the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd with stages in the famous Myherin, Sweet Lamb and Hafren forests.
Round 3 will be the Plains Rally which is planning a move into the forests of North Wales for 2022. The Knutsford & District Motor Club organised event takes place on Saturday 21 May.
The Vale of Neath plays host to Round 4, with the Amman & District Motor Club organised Red Kite Stages offering challenging stages in Rheola, Resolven and Margam Park on Sunday 12 June. These stages have always proven very popular with competitors and a new event organising team has some exciting plans for the 2022 edition.
Round 5 will be the Nicky Grist Stages on Saturday 9 July. Based in Builth Wells, with the start, finish and service area all located in the town centre, the Quinton Motor Club event will contain super-smooth stages in the classic mid-Wales forests in and around the Epynt military range, including Crychan and Halfway.
The Eventsigns Woodpecker Stages Rally is another hugely popular event, with some fantastic stages in Radnor forest. The Sixty and Worcestershire Motor Club organised event was praised this year for reformatting its event and running with incredibly few road miles and it will be back in 2022 to host Round 6 on its traditional date of Saturday 3 September and with a route including a return to Haye Park.
The seventh and penultimate round will be the Winner Garage Å koda Wyedean Rally. Organised by the Forest of Dean Motor Club, a compact route within the stunning Forest of Dean forestry complex will take place on Saturday 15 October.
The eighth and final round will be the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally, which will take place on Saturday 29 October. The North Wales Car Club organised event will be based in Llandudno with stages including the legendary Penmachno forest venue. This year the event also used Gwydir and Alwen forests and a new Twin Lakes asphalt stage which had only previously been used on road rallies.
"It is fantastic to be able to put together a 2022 Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship calendar with eight high quality events included, and I'd like to thank the rally event organisers and their teams for their enthusiastic approach to the new year," says the Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship Secretary, Dave Evison.
"Despite the challenges the sport has faced during the pandemic, there are many new ideas around that will ensure that the events continue to offer competitors top quality competition and as championship organisers it is down to us to retain the increased interest from 2021 and reward their endeavours.
"With a regular road repair programme by Rally4Wales in place and a renewed interest in rallying, thanks to the variety of cars that are welcomed into the Welsh Championship and increased awareness of this exciting sport through live online broadcasting, we can't wait to get the 2022 season started in March with Rally North Wales.
"It's a very exciting time to be part of the Welsh National Rally Championship and if any individual or company would like to join us as a partner or supporter then please do get in touch."
Further details on the Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship can be found online at: wnrc.wamc.org.uk.
2022 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship calendar
26 March.......Rally North Wales
9 April.......Rallynuts Stages Rally
21 May.......Plains Rally
12 June.......Red Kite Stages
9 July.......Nicky Grist Stages
3 September....... Eventsigns Woodpecker Stages Rally
15 October....... Winner Garage Å koda Wyedean Rally
29 October.......Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally
For more information please contact:
Paul Evans
07710 743167 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Picture captions - from top
Olly Hunt/Andy Falconer (Subaru Impreza)
Nik Elsmore/Craig Drew (Mitsubishi Evo IX)
Jonathan Brace/Paul Spooner (Ford Escort Mk2)
Paul Barrett/Gordon Noble (Ford Escort Mk2)
Ben Friend/Cliff Simmons (Ford Escort Mk2)
Ioan Lloyd/Sion Williams (Peugeot 208 R2)
Alan Desbois/Peter Littlefield (Peugeot 306 RWD)
David Crossen/Aileen Kelly (Ford Escort Mk2)
Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear (Mitsubishi Evo IX)
Owen McMackin/Lee Taylor (Ford Escort Mk2)
Please credit 'Chris Huish, RallySport Media' if reproduced.
Press release: 5 November 2021
Garry Pearson, pictured, and Callum Black will go head-to-head in the battle for the Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship title as the 2021 series reaches an exciting climax on the Rallynuts Stages Rally (Saturday 13 November).
Having scored maximum points on the previous two rounds, the Eventsigns Woodpecker Rally and Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally, Garry takes a six-point lead into the final round.
With a score to drop towards the final points tally, if Garry and co-driver Niall Burns win again it will give the Asset Alliance Å koda Fabia R5 crew a perfect three maximum score result and their first Welsh title.
If Callum wins and Garry finishes second, they would be tied on points - with Garry winning the tiebreak.
Whilst Callum is currently third in the overall drivers' standings, the 2017 Pirelli Welsh champion could win the title again - but he must finish first or second.
Co-driven by Jack Morton, Callum was the early leader of the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship after taking victory on the opening Nicky Grist Stages. He kept his title hopes alive with a second-place finish in his Pallas Connections-backed Ford Fiesta R5 on the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally, but his retirement on the Woodpecker could come back to haunt him, especially in a tiebreak situation.
Neither driver has rallied in Myherin, Sweet Lamb and Hafren forests for several years. Callum was last there on the 2017 Wales Rally GB, while Garry hasn't seen them since the 2014 WRGB.
George Lepley, pictured, arrives at the Rallynuts Stages lying second in the overall drivers' standings. But with a second and two thirds the WD-40 Mitsubishi Evo X driver can only add five points to his current total (when taking the lowest score to drop into account) and is therefore unable to win the overall title. Together with Tom Woodburn, George is more than capable of winning the event, especially as the fast and flowing mid-Wales stages will suit his car, and he has already claimed the Pirelli Welsh Junior title and the magnificent prize of a test in a PCRS Rallysport-prepared Hyundai i20 R5, courtesy of OnThePaceNote.co.uk
Work commitments prevented Ian Bainbridge, pictured, from contested the last round, but he and co-driver Will Atkins are looking forward to returning to the Welsh forests in their Gypsum Group Å koda Fabia R5. The 2018 Rallynuts Stages was Ian's first forest rally, where he was seeded at number 90 in a Subaru Impreza. His rapid rise through the rallying ranks, particularly since he acquired the Fabia, means that another good result could secure him the Pirelli Welsh runners-up spot.
It's certainly not been the season Matthew Hirst (Delta Salvage Mitsubishi Evo IX) and Russ Thompson (Dunnow Plant Mitsubishi Evo IX) had been hoping for, so the respective 2019 Pirelli Welsh driver champion and runner-up will be aiming to end 2021 on a high. Matthew has been co-driven by Declan Dear all season, while Russ will have Tom Murphy alongside him this time, his third co-driver of the season.
The 2018 Pirelli Welsh driver champion Dylan Davies hit a rock and lost a wheel on the Cambrian Rally and, together with Mark Glennerster on the route notes, will be hoping for better luck this time in his Subaru Impreza.
Perry Gardener/Jack Bowen, who had a fantastic run to fourth on the Woodpecker, return in their Ford Fiesta R5, as do Wug Utting/Bob Stokoe (Subaru Impreza STi N12b), Nik Elsmore/Craig Drew (CDS Taxis Mitsubishi Evo IX) and Martyn and Dawn England (SW Motorsport Mitsubishi Evo X).
Richard Hill/Patrick Cooper (RH Motors Mitsubishi), Saleh Hijazi/Stephen Landen (The Pallet Company Subaru Impreza STi), Keith Jones/Jonny 'Tad' Evans (Grooms Garage Subaru Impreza), Martyn Andrews/Steve Greenhill (Opie Oils Subaru Impreza) and Fraser Martin/Dylan Bargate (Slideways Motorsport Mitsubishi Evo 6) will all be aiming to finish the season in style, whilst after a good debut in their new car Bob Morgan/Adrian Williams will be another crew to watch in their Winner Garage Å koda Fabia R5.
David Tomlin, who retired his Axon Ford Fiesta R5 with clutch problems on the Cambrian, will be co-driven by Ian Beamond as his regular navigator Keith Ashley is otherwise engaged as Rallynuts Stages Clerk of the Course and Chief Safety Officer.
There is a good battle for the RAVENOL UK Welsh Challenge, with several drivers still in contention for the title.
Owen McMackin, pictured, (co-driven by Lee Taylor) currently leads the points standings in his McMackin Plant Hire Escort Mk2, although Ashley Davies (co-driven by Sam Fordham) in his G&B Finch/Burton Power Escort Mk2 and David Crossen (co-driven by Aileen Kelly) in his Crossen Engineering Escort Mk2 could still win the title.
Maxx Bradshaw/Liam Whiteley have travelled from the Isle of Man for every round of this year's Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship and after finishing fourth in the Challenge category on the Cambrian the Manx men will be hoping to end the season with a podium finish in their Renvo8/DB Autos & Sons Mitsubishi Evo III.
There is also a close fight for the Restruct-sponsored Two-Wheel Drive title.
Owen McMackin leads that category as well, with Ashley Davies,pictured, and David Crossen, pictured below, also able to win. In fact, the latter could win the title with a perfect score of 90 points, having won the class on the Nicky Grist and the Woodpecker.
Having given his immaculate Wales Motorsport-built Restruct Escort Mk2 its debut on the Woodpecker, Two-Wheel Drive class sponsor Ron Morgan will contest the Rallynuts with Marc Clatworthy once again in the co-driver's seat.
Retirement on the Cambrian Rally means that Ioan Lloyd is unable to win the Two-Wheel Drive title, although the fact that he's been challenging for that trophy in his West Wales Rally Spares Peugeot 208 R2 highlights what a talented youngster he is. Co-driven by Sion Williams, the teenager's priority was always the class W3 title, although he is in a race against time to repair his car after hitting a rocky outcrop and breaking a strut last time out.
Paul Street/Ian Jones,pictured, lead the highly competitive Pirelli Welsh Historic Cup after a win, a second and a fourth-place finish in their Escort RS1800 Mk2. They can only be beaten to the title by Paul Barrett (Escort Mk2).
Ben Friend/Cliff Simmons finished second in class on the Woodpecker and will be looking to end the season with a Pirelli Welsh Historic Cup win in their Allglass Escort Mk2, although winning the title is beyond them.
Jonathan Brace/Paul Spooner (Brace's Bakery Escort Mk2),pictured, Charles Hopkinson/Alan Jones (Black Antler Design Escort RS1800 Mk2), Neal James/Kevin Jones (Mosley Rolling Road/Cwm Engineering Escort Mk2) and Michael McDaid/Declan Casey (McDaid Pharmacy Escort RS1800 Mk2) will also be hoping to end their Pirelli Welsh Historic Cup season with a good result.
Robi Wood/Osian Davies must win the Pirelli Welsh Road Rally class in their NIBS/SWG Escort Mk2 to have any chance of winning the title. Leaders Ricky Crone/Daniel James (Escort Mk2),pictured, have one hand on the trophy, after two wins and a second this season and don't even have to finish if Robi doesn't win the class to be crowned champions.
Graham Thatcher/Tim Samuel (Pembridge Vehicle Management Peugeot 206GTi),pictured, and Mark Lennox/Rhodri Evens (Lennox Engineering Escort Mk2) have both enjoyed a good season and excelled in the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship's newest class.
Adrian and Matthew Walk will be aiming to secure the W2 title in their PartBOX Ford Ka, having already won the class twice this year.
Steve Black is already the class W3 champion and, co-driven by Paul Morris, the 586 Sports team driver will be out for a bit of giant-killing fun in his rapid Suzuki Swift 1400.
To highlight the vast array of cars that are welcomed into the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship's inclusive class structure, other registered competitors contesting the Rallynuts Stages include Paul Walker/Geraint Thomas (Subaru Impreza), James Dunkley/Dan Sayce (JD Auto Services Vauxhall Corsa), Richard Jordan/James Smith (MG ZR), Conor Tolson/Dylan Thomas (Powerhouse Turbo Garage Ford Fiesta R2), Kevin Metcalfe/Ian Jones (BMW E30), Rob Wilson/Martin Haggett (Ravenol Ford Fiesta R2), Harry Hunt/Steve McPhee (Ford Escort), Robert Bradley/Kevin Booth (Browns Furniture Ford Escort Mk2), Andrew Fox/Jaime-Lee Fox (Fitzgerald Plant Services BMW 325), Paul Lomas/Mark Leader (Plant Speed Ford Escort), Bob Morris/Dil John (Subaru Impreza), Simon Dalton/Jamie Vaughan (Subaru Impreza STi N12b), Steve Hollis/Tim Currie (Volkswagen Golf R), Tom Naylor/Tom Bishop (Ford Fiesta ST), Alan Desbois/Peter Littlefield (RWD Peugeot 306) and Simon and Alex Stanbury in their MG ZR.
Experienced motorsport broadcaster Sideways Media will be at the Rallynuts Stages to capture all the action for a multi-film edited highlights package, dedicated to registered Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship contenders in every class and broadcast on the Championship's Facebook and YouTube channels in the week after the event. In addition, Howard Davies and Eifion Jones will position themselves at passage controls and at the finish where the two former esteemed co-drivers will broadcast live driver interviews and give expert analysis online.
Postponed from its original date in April, this year's Rallynuts Stages Rally on Saturday 13 November will be the 47th running of the event. Voted the best Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship round in 2018 and '19, the Midland Manor Motor Club organised event will follow its now traditional format with six stages and 44 stage miles in Myherin, Sweet Lamb and Hafren forests. Rally HQ, the start, midday service and finish will be at the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd.
Spectators are welcome at specific stage locations (but not the service area) and more information can be found on the event's website: rallynutsrally.co.uk.
Further details on the 2021 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship can be found online at: wnrc.wamc.org.uk.
Words Paul Evans
Images Paul Mitchell & Chris Huish.
Garry Pearson has increased his lead in the 2021 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship after scoring maximum points on the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally, which is his second series win in a row.
Co-driven by Niall Burns, Garry made a great start in his Asset Alliance Å koda Fabia R5 to establish an early lead which he was able to maintain until the finish, despite a small issue with the car on the afternoon loop of stages.
"We started in the morning with a bit of a push to try and get an early lead, which was just as well because on the fifth stage in the afternoon we hit something and bent the steering," said Garry.
"It got progressively worse, and for the last couple of stages we were forced to back off. But by then we had established a good lead and were able to maintain it until the finish."
The Cambrian Rally proved an extremely challenging event, with recent heavy rain leaving the gravel roads in Gwydir, Penmachno and Alwen forests with a lot of deep standing water and the additional hazard of low sun on both the early morning and late afternoon stages.
But it was a challenge many rose to, including Callum Black, pictured, who got his title challenge back on track with a second-place finish in his Pallas Connections-backed Ford Fiesta R5+. A puncture on SS4, a fast fifth gear brush with a hedge on SS5 and a slight ride up a grassy bank on the final asphalt stage couldn't prevent the 586 Sports team driver and co-driver Jack Morton from scoring a magnificent second podium finish, having netted maximum WNRC points on the opening Nicky Grist Stages. The result moves Callum up to third in the overall drivers' standings and in with a shout of the title.
George Lepley also had a great run on the Cambrian. Not only did a superb performance in his WD-40 Mitsubishi Evo X net him a third place WNRC points finish, but he also clinched the Pirelli Welsh Junior title. His reward is a prize of a test in a PCRS Rallysport-prepared Hyundai i20 R5, organised by OnThePaceNote.co.uk. Co-driven by Tom Woodburn, George's fantastic result in North Wales puts him second in the overall drivers' standings, six points behind Garry and 15 points ahead of Cullum.
Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear finished fourth in the WNRC section in their Delta Mitsubishi Evo IX, despite the spare wheel coming loose in the boot on the opening stage and dislodging the diff pump. They also survived a couple of punctures during the afternoon loop of stages.
Jason Black scored his best overall result of the season finishing an incredible fifth in his Toyota Starlet. Co-driven by Karl Egan, he also leads class W11.
Owen McMackin was also in inspired form, finishing sixth overall in his Escort Mk2. Co-driven by Lee Taylor, the result gives Owen the lead of both the Restruct-sponsored Two-Wheel Drive category and the RAVENOL UK Welsh Challenge.
Ashley Davies remains second in Two-Wheel Drive category and moves up to second in the Welsh Challenge after he and co-driver Sam Fordham mastered the conditions in their Escort Mk2.
Unfortunately, it wasn't such a good day for David Crossen. Coming into the event leading both categories the Comber driver picked up a puncture on the opening stage and, together with co-driver Aileen Kelly, retired his Escort Mk2 on the afternoon loop.
Paul Street has taken the lead in the hotly contested Pirelli Welsh Historic Cup after scoring maximum points with a controlled drive in his Escort RS1800 Mk2. Partnered by Ian Jones, Paul picked up a puncture and bent a wheel on the opening stage, but a more cautious approach paid dividends after that.
Robert Gough moves up to fourth in the Pirelli Welsh Historic Cup after finishing second (co-driven by Jack Bowen) in his Escort Mk2, which was a magnificent result considering that they have entered the car on the Roger Albert Clark Rally and were keen not to damage it.
Unfortunately, Michael McDaid/Declan Casey retired their Escort RS1800 Mk2 on SS5, which puts an end to their Pirelli Welsh Historic Cup title hopes.
Steve Black has clinched the class W3 title after a great drive in his Suzuki Swift 1400. Co-driven by Paul Morris, the 586 Sports team driver was able to ease off in the afternoon when rivals Dave and Toby Brick suffered clutch failure in their Vauxhall Nova
Dan Jones/Cyril Jones have clinched the W10 title after securing their third straight class win in their Vauxhall Nova.
Adrian and Matthew Walk continue to lead W2 in their PartBOX Ford Ka and scored maximum class points on the Cambrian having survived a couple of spins in SS2 when the windscreen misted up and a puncture on SS4.
While Matthew has secured the W2 co-drivers' title, Adrian is in a close battle for the drivers' trophy with Ross Clements who (co-driven by Christopher Lear) enjoyed a good run in his MG ZR.
Ricky Crone has extended his lead in the Pirelli Welsh Road Rally class to five points after he and Daniel James won the category for a second time in a row in their Escort Mk2. Early leaders Robi Wood/Osian Davies remain second in the standings after finishing second on the Cambrian in their Escort Mk2 while third place Graham Thatcher/Tim Samuel could still win the title after another strong performance in their Peugeot 206GTi. Mark Lennox lost time when his Escort Mk2's windscreen misted up on SS1 and he caught a car on SS2. He and co-driver Rhodri Evens recovered well, but their third-place finish leaves them a little short on points to win the title this year.
Bob Morgan/Adrian Williams had a great maiden outing in their new Winner Garage Å koda Fabia R5 to score their first finish of the season, while Maxx Bradshaw/Liam Whiteley reached the finish unscathed in their Renvo8/DB Autos & Sons Mitsubishi Evo III.
The tough terrain contributed to several retirements including Tom Llewellin/Ross Whittock (Brace's Mitsubishi Mirage), Dylan Davies/Dafydd Evans (Subaru Impreza) and Ioan Lloyd/Sion Williams (West Wales Rally Spares Peugeot 208 R2) all of whom hit the same outcrop of rock on SS2 which damaged the suspension of each car and forced them into instant retirement. Tom was particularly unlucky as the impact threw the car into a roll.
Russ Thompson/Stephen Link stopped after SS1 when their Dunnow Plant Mitsubishi Evo IX picked up an electrical problem, Harry Gardner/Elliott Graham also retired their Mitsubishi Evo 9 on the opening stage, a severe misfire with their BMW 325's engine forced Andrew Fox/Jaime-Lee Fox out on SS2 while that was also as far as Alex Moore/Merfyn Williams got in their Subaru Impreza.
Dave Tomlin/Keith Ashley retired their Axon Ford Fiesta R5 with clutch problems on SS4 while Robert Morris/Dil John put their Subaru Impreza off the road on SS5.
With cameras on every stage, Sideways Media will produce a multi-film edited highlights package featuring competitors from all the classes within the Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship to be broadcast on the Championship's Facebook and YouTube channels this week.
The final round of the 2021 Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship is the Rallynuts Stages Rally on Saturday 13 November.
Further details on the 2021 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship can be found online at: wnrc.wamc.org.uk.
2021 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship
Provisional overall driver points after Round 3:
Images - Paul Mitchell
Press Release - Paul Evans
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