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Rally Japan opportunity for Welsh Championship Juniors courtesy of M-Sport Ford World rally team

News from the Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship

Wednesday, March 19, 2025 UNRIVALLED AWARD FOR PIRELLI WELSH CHAMPIONSHIP YOUNGSTERS

Two young contenders from this year's Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship will win a fabulous chance to work with the M-Sport World Rally Championship team on Rally Japan later this year. In a partnership between the Welsh championship and M-Sport, the leading junior driver and co-driver after the third round of the championship season will be invited to join the M-Sport team to work as a weather crew on Rally Japan in November.

The top scoring under 25 driver and co-driver after the Nicky Grist Stages on July 12, will have a unique opportunity to see how the M-Sport team works on an event, the chance to learn from team professionals and meet the current M-Sport drivers and co-drivers. Accommodation with the team and travel whilst at the event is included so the lucky pair will only need to cover their flight costs to Japan.

This unique prize has been developed to help promote young competitors from Wales and there is a tremendous synergy in that the prize will be awarded following the event supported by former World Rally champion co-driver Nicky Grist. M-Sport, of course, has an impressive record of success in Wales over some of the world's finest gravel special stages. The M-Sport Ford World Rally Team is no stranger to rallying in Wales and the principality was the scene of its most iconic World Rally Championship success at Wales Rally GB in 2017. On that memorable event, Welshman Elfyn Evans scored his first WRC victory in his Fiesta WRC, third place for Sebastien Ogier's Fiesta WRC sealed his fifth WRC drivers' title and M-Sport was confirmed as manufacturers' champions. Those links to Wales and the desire to promote juniors from both M-Sport and the Welsh Championship are the cornerstone of these new awards.

Rich Millener, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Principal, said: "M-Sport has a rich history of developing younger talent, but that development shouldn't necessarily be confined to just focusing on the driving roles. There are many other aspects to becoming professional drivers at the top of their sport. This prize offers the chance for two motivated and upcoming stars to join us on a WRC event to understand how much information is gathered and passed to the crews to operate at the top level of the sport. I hope the experience will give them a competitive edge as they go forward in their careers.''

Bryn Pierce, Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship co-ordinator said: "We'd like to thank M-Sport and in particular Rich Millener for coming up with this wonderful prize. When we approached them with an idea, little did we think that Rally Japan would be offered up. M-Sport has a similar focus on junior development to the championship. We're incredibly excited for our junior contenders this season and we sincerely hope this will be a first step for them into the higher echelons of the sport. Thank you, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team.''

Awards within the Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship include the David Stokes Historic Challenge award for drivers and the Guy Weaver award for co-drivers, Hockly Motorsport awards for 2WD and 1400cc and the 57 Tyres Welsh Challenge for drivers and co-drivers who have not finished in the top 10 overall on any round of the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship or any equivalent status championship event. The Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship remains dedicated to helping develop young rally talent and with the support of OnThePaceNote and Restruct, the under-25 category continues to grow. 

The full schedule for the Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship is:

1 April 12 Carlisle Stages

2 May 17 Plains Rally

3 Jul 12 Nicky Grist Stages

4 Aug 30 Woodpecker Stages

5 Oct 25 Cambrian Rally

6 Nov 8 Wyedean Rally

Championship registration is now open and is available via: https://wnrc.wamc.org.uk Issued by Paul Lawrence on behalf of the Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship. Tel 07778 547918. For enquiries about the championship, please contact Bryn Pierce via e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Matthew Hirst wins the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship title for a record-breaking fourth time

 

Matthew Hirst has won a record-breaking fourth Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship title after scoring victory on the Wyedean Rally (Saturday 16 November) for a fourth time in a row.
 
Co-driven by Declan Dear, the Doncaster driver finished the Forest of Dean event almost two minutes ahead of his nearest championship rival, after a sublime performance in his Delta Salvage/Witham Motorsport Å koda Fabia R5.
 
Matthew had made several set-up changes to the car, most notably softening the anti-roll bars, which worked a treat on the usually dry and grippy late autumn gravel roads. 
 
He'd opened up an impressive 37 second lead after the first two stages and extended that to over a minute by the lunchtime service halt - although he arrived at the Ross-on-Wye cattle market with a wooden branch sticking out of the rear right Pirelli K8A tyre. It was a miracle that the tyre hadn't deflated, and where Matthew had suffered more than his fair share of bad luck this year it appeared that some good luck had come at a crucial time in his title hunt.
 
Three more fastest stage times in the afternoon made it a full house of seven out of seven stage wins, as the defending champions scored their fourth set of maximum Pirelli Welsh points to clinch the title in style.

 
"It seemed like the odds were stacked against us earlier this year, so I can't believe we've won the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship for a record-breaking fourth time," said Matthew.
 
"We had a DNF and a ninth-place points finish this year, but even on Rally North Wales where we had a good result some mechanical gremlins were going on in the background. Some other things didn't quite click as we'd have liked during the season as well, so we really had to work hard for the title.
 
"The Wyedean is a great event and to win here for the fourth time in a row is a fantastic way to finish the season."
 
Bob Morgan hadn't rallied since the Nicky Grist Stages in July but was nevertheless quickly back into his stride in his Winner Garage Å koda Fabia R5. Co-driven by Ade Williams, the local Cinderford driver was a lot faster in the afternoon after bolting on a new set of Pirelli tyres and was eight seconds faster through the second running of the Serridge stage, despite a 360 degree spin. A big push towards the end secured Bob a well-deserved second-place Pirelli Welsh points finish.
 
Tom Llewellin secured an overall Pirelli Welsh podium, plus a 2WD and W9 class win (just like he'd done on the Woodpecker Rally) after another stunning drive in his Dave Jenkins Motorsport-prepared Weir Rallying Escort Mk2. Co-driven by Ross Whittock, the former Pirelli Welsh Junior champion fought hard for second place but couldn't quite keep a charging Bob Morgan behind him and lost out by just nine seconds.
 
Simon Rogers began the day with a minor overshoot on SS1 when he out-braked himself at a hairpin and ran wide. The work he and co-driver James How had put in pre-event on their pace notes, especially for Speech House (which was run three times during the day) paid dividends with consistently fast stage times - including third fastest overall time on SS4. The Radlett driver eventually took home fourth-placed Pirelli Welsh points after a great run in his MacWhirter Motorsport Mitsubishi Evo 6, and announced at the finish that he is drawing a close on his 37-year rally driving career. 
 
Simon finished ahead of Rob Wilson, whose hopes of victory vanished when he ran wide on the opening stage, hit a bank and broke a driveshaft on his Mitsubishi Evo 7. Had that not happened, the 2023 Welsh Junior and Challenge champion and co-driver Martin Hagget may well have given the winners a close run for their money.

Colin Griffiths ended the season on a high with a great run in his Jamtech Motorsport-prepared Subaru Impreza STi. Partnered by Marc Morgan, who was completing his first full season as a co-driver, the Worcester driver hit a bank and had to reverse on SS3 but recovered to take home sixth-place Pirelli Welsh points and clinch the highly competitive 57 Tyres Welsh Challenge title.

 
Ross-on-Wye driver Gary Bollands scored by far his best result of the season when he, co-driven by Nigel Baldwin, netted a seventh-place points finish in his Subaru Impreza Wagon.

 
Colin Minton also left his best until last, scoring his first Pirelli Welsh overall top 10 finish of 2024 with ninth in his Ignition Motorsport-prepared Tutts Clump Fiesta R5. The Swindon driver was partnered on this occasion by Harry Walshaw.
 
Rob and Ashley Aslett also got to the finish after a consistent run in their smart Rigfone Electric Contractors Subaru Impreza.
 
Ross Clements/Christopher Lear were going well until an engine bay fire, possibly caused by leaking power steering fluid, put an end to their day in their Sierra XR4x4. A severe misfire forced Geoff Cottrill/Nathan Crewe out of the event in their Arnside Motorsport Mitsubishi Evo 9, while Paul Lomas/Mark Leader put their Plant Speed Subaru Impreza STi off the road on SS4.
 
Despite losing the brakes on their Escort Mk2 on the opening stage, Charles Hopkinson/Alan Jones recovered well to finish second in the Historic class W9 (behind Tom Llewellin).
 
Steve Chaplin/Richard Suter also had a good run to capture the final class podium place in their Escort Mk2, while fourth secured Lyn Davies/Aled Richards the runners-up position in the class (behind class champions Rudi Lancester/Guy Weaver) in their 57 Tyres Escort RS1800 Mk2.
 
Ron Morgan/Sion Jones enjoyed an all-too-rare outing in their Restruct Escort Mk2 and finished fifth in class, ahead of Peter Jones/Gareth Davies in their Escort Mk2.
 
Another to announce an end to their rally driving career was Andrew Stokes, who went out with a bang by winning the Historic class W8 in his Stokes Rally Team Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1. Together with Jonny Tad Evans, they finish runner-up in the Pirelli Welsh class standings behind champions



Gary Smith/Clive Jones, who come out on top after an exciting year-long battle of the RS1600 Mk1s.
 
Victory in W7 gave Peter Hinton the Historic class title after a tremendous season in his Escort Mk2. He was partnered on the Wyedean by Dean Mitchell, although it's Lewis Sim who takes the co-driver's class title. Graham Thatcher (co-driven by Tim Samuel) finished second in class in his Sparkrite/Pembridge Vehicle Management TR7 V8 and secures the runners-up position.
 
Three class wins in three events gives Neville Breach (who was co-driven this time by Martin Corbett) the Historic class W5 in his 1600cc Avenger.
 
The top three finishers in each Historic class will now be put forward for the David Stokes Historic Challenge award for drivers and the Guy Weaver award for co-drivers.
 
Sam Mason (co-driven by James Seymour) won the OnThePaceNote / Restruct Welsh Junior category on the day in his SM Autocare Ford Fiesta to clinch the runners-up spot (behind Lewis Hooper).
 
Luke Watts (co-driven this time by Matt Rogers) lost first gear on SS4, but luckily service followed and he was able to continue and finish second in the U25 category (and secure third in the final points standings) in his Ian Watts & Son/NJ Auto Repairs MG ZR. Luke also won class W2 on the day, to secure the class runners-up spot behind Ashley Francis Adams (Nissan Micra).
 
A superb performance by Rob Dennis saw him jump from sixth to win the Hockly Motorsport 2WD title in his Team Dennis Escort Mk2. Co-driven by Andy Boswell, the Swindon ace never put a foot wrong and took home eighth-place overall Pirelli Welsh points and won the class W11 title.
 
Geoff Phelps (co-driven by Colin Jenkins) had led the 2WD and W11 sections earlier in the season but just missed out on the titles having finished runner-up in both on the Wyedean in his Hartpury Farms/Sparkrite Escort Mk2 - thanks in part to a time-consuming overshoot on SS3. The Gloucester driver did end the year with a fantastic top 10 overall points score to rocket him into the top 20 in the main drivers' standings.
 
Father and daughter crew Jeremy and Alexandra Harris collected their second W11 podium finish of the season after a great run in their Kilcot Garage Escort Mk1, beating Tim and Karen Phelps in their Britpart Escort Mk2 and Mike Brown Snr and daughter Nikola in their LB Passive Fire BMW Compact M3.
 
Andrew and Jaime-Lee Fox won class W12 in their Xwatch Safety Solutions BMW 325.  


Second was good enough for Dan Chester (co-driven by Steven Davey) to take the class title in this Dan's Action Vehicles BMW E30. David Jones was third in his Tanners Arms/GJ Price Transport BMW E30, which was enough to secure Glyn Price the co-drivers' title.


Chris Butcher (co-driven by Jonathan Hawkins) won W10 for the first time this year in his Vauxhall Corsa, although second was enough for Martin Walters/Marie Fletcher to retain their class title in their Digger Parts Direct Honda Civic. 
 
Michael Jenkins/Jordan Joines picked up a puncture which caused them to go off the road on the opening stage, but they recovered well to finish third in class in their Tutts Clump Fiesta R2.
 
In addition to Simon Rogers and Andrew Stokes hanging up their race suits after glittering careers behind the wheel, the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship bid an emotional farewell to Dave Evison - the former stage and road rally navigator who has dedicated the last 15 years to growing the series as championship secretary. As a small token of everyone's appreciation, Matthew Hirst and Declan Dear presented Dave with a retirement gift at the finish ceremony.
 
The live streaming coverage from the Wyedean Rally, and indeed all the rounds of the 2024 Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship, remain available to view on the Special Stage TV YouTube channel. Watch out too for a special championship edited highlights review.
 
The Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship has been proud to raise awareness of its official charity partner The Osborne Trust this year.
 
For details about the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship please visit: wnrc.wamc.org.uk.
 
2024 Wyedean Rally - top 10 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship finishers:
1. Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear (Å koda Fabia R5).......39mins 09secs
2. Bob Morgan/Ade Williams (Å koda Fabia R5).......41mins 34secs
3. Tom Llewellin/Ross Whittock (Ford Escort Mk2).......41mins 43secs
4. Simon Rogers/James How (Mitsubishi Evo 6).......42mins 15secs
5. Rob Wilson/Martin Hagget (Mitsubishi Evo 7).......42mins 50secs
6. Colin Griffiths/Marc Morgan (Subaru Impreza STi).......43mins 09secs
7. Gary Bollands/Nigel Baldwin (Subaru Impreza Wagon).......44mins 56secs
8. Rob Dennis/Andy Boswell (Ford Escort Mk2).......45mins 19secs
9. Colin Minton/Harry Walshaw (Ford Fiesta R5).......45mins 21secs
10. Geoff Phelps/Colin Jenkins (Ford Escort Mk2).......46mins 04secs

2024 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship
Overall drivers' points after Round 6:
1. Matthew Hirst.......120pts (Champion)
2. Russ Thompson.......112pts
3. James Giddings.......103pts
4. Rudi Lancaster.......88pts
5. David Tomlin.......83pts
6. Wug Utting.......79pts
 

Paul Evans
Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship Press Officer
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 

Images by Paul Mitchell. Please credit 'Paul Mitchell Photography' if used.
paulmitchellphotography@gmail.com

Matthew Hirst’s record-breaking fourth Pirelli Welsh Championship title back on track after convincing Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally win

 27 October 2024

Matthew Hirst put his hopes of a record-breaking fourth Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh
Rally Championship title right back on track after a dominant performance on the
Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally (Saturday 26 October).
Co-driven by Declan Dear, the Doncaster driver shot out of the blocks in his Delta
Salvage/Witham Motorsport Å koda Fabia R5 with incredible speed, setting a time
21.6 seconds faster than his nearest Pirelli Welsh rival on the opening Elsi stage.
By the time he'd reached midday service after four stages, Matthew's Pirelli Welsh
lead was over a minute - despite clipping a bale in Alwen (SS4) and damaging a
front wing.
The masterclass continued in the afternoon, as Matthew eased off on the final stage
to make sure of a Cambrian Rally Interclub Rally win and maximum Pirelli Welsh
points.
"It was a relatively relaxed day with no drama, except for clipping a bale in Alwen,"
said Matthew.
"We showed respectable pace against the British Rally Championship crews who
reeced the stages beforehand, and we came away with maximum Pirelli Welsh
Championship points. It's now all to play for on the Wyedean Rally in a couple of
weeks."


Russ Thompson/Stephen Link never put a foot wrong in their GPM/PD
Extinguishers/The Inn Collection Mitsubishi Evo 9 and were best placed to pounce
should Matthew make a mistake. They finished the event with a fastest stage time
(Interclub section) to pick up second-place Pirelli Welsh points, 1min 52.5secs
behind. They also move into the lead of the series - but only by three points and
thanks to the scores to drop rule.

Iwan Roberts Jnr completed the overall Pirelli Welsh podium after a tremendous run
in his Roberts of Ffestiniog Ford Escort G3. The top-placed 2WD driver was on
sensational form, outpacing a number of his 4WD rivals with some typically brave
and skilful driving. The result gives Daniel Jones the 2WD co-drivers' title.

David Tomlin scored a season-best fourth-placed Pirelli Welsh finish. He had co-
driver Keith Ashley had a scare in the morning when their Axon Fiesta R5's water
temperature hit the roof and they had to free wheel down hills, but they survived to
score an excellent result.

Despite picking up an early puncture, Wug Utting/Bob Stokoe had another good run
in their Geoff Jones Motorsport-prepared Subaru Impreza N12b. Thanks to a sixth-
place points finish, the Surrey driver moves up to sixth in the overall standings.

James Giddings/Aled Davies arrived in Llandudno leading the Pirelli Welsh Rally
Championship, albeit aware of a head gasket issue which they had, for the last few
rallies, been able to manage. Unfortunately, the water temperature soon hit 124°C
and they had to retire their Fordpad/Enva/Sar Metals Mitsubishi Evo 9 to save the
engine. Thanks to this, they've dropped to third in the standings.

Colin Minton/Tom Törngren didn't get too far either, retiring their Ignition Motorsport-
prepared Tutts Clump Fiesta R5 on SS2.

Colin Griffiths/Marc Morgan struggled to get into a groove and went off into a field on
the first pass through Brenig (SS3). Things didn't improve after lunch, and they went
off for good in Clocaenog 2.

SS5 also claimed Adam Durston-Hillyer/Chris Davies (Saulire PC Rally
Team/MacWhirter Motorsport Mitsubishi Evo 9) together with last year's Welsh
Challenge champions Martyn Andrews/Steve Greenhill, who lost power in their Opie
Oils Subaru Impreza STi N12.

Robert Gough/Jez Rogers overcame early steering and brake issues to win the
Historic class W9 in their Escort Mk2. It wasn't enough however to deny the absent
Rudi Lancaster/Guy Weaver the class title, after a wonderful season in their
Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks Escort RS18000 Mk2.

Gareth Bevan/Craig Nelson won class W8 and took home ninth-placed overall Pirelli
Welsh points after a fabulous run in their Escort.

Gary Smith/Clive Jones just missed
out on a top 10 themselves in their Escort RS1600 Mk1, but second on the day
keeps them in the lead of the class with it all to play for on the final round.

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.

Lewis Hooper has won the OnThePaceNote / Restruct Welsh Junior title. Co-driven
by Rhys Edwards, he had to settle for second in class on the day after fuel surge
issues in his Hooper Sport Fiesta R2 - but that made little difference as he wrapped
up the U25 and class W4 trophies. Lewis also leads the 57 Tyres Welsh Challenge
and Hockly Motorsport 2WD category!

Sam Mason won the Junior class on the Cambrian, and took home an impressive
eighth-place overall points finish, after he and co-driver James Seymour excelled in
their SM Autocare Ford Fiesta.



Meanwhile Luke Watts (co-driven by Mark Twiname)
came home third to remain third in the points table, despite differential problems in
his Ian Watts & Son/NJ Auto Repairs MG ZR.

Geoff Phelps/Colin Jenkins picked up an early puncture, but worse was to follow
when they hit a massive rock lying in the middle of the road. It launched their
Hartpury Farms/Sparkrite Escort Mk2 up into the air - damaging the prop shaft,
sump guard, cross member and steering rack and causing instant retirement. The
DNF was costly, as it sees the Gloucester driver lose the lead in 2WD and the Welsh
Challenge, although Geoff still leads class W11.

There were plenty of other top 2WD retirees, including Andrew and Jaime-Lee Fox
(Xwatch Safety Solutions BMW 325), Gareth Humphreys/Adam Burkill (Mini Cooper
S), Wyn Hughes/David Davies (Escort MNk2) and Greg Mills/Andrew Sankey who
had 1.6-litre Toyota engine problems in their Lake Vyrnwy Hotel Escort Mk2.


Those that made it to the finish included Dan Chester/Steven Davey (despite
handbrake issues in their Dan's Action Vehicles BMW E30) and Simon
Millington/Sam Kelter (Escort Mk2).





Michael Jenkins/Jordan Joines won class W10 in their Tutts Clump Fiesta R2 and
are now just 15 points behind Martin Walters/Marie Fletcher after the defending class
champions recorded a rare retirement in their Digger Parts Direct Honda Civic.

Ashley Francis Adams/Mark Ammonds have won the W2 title after a remarkable run
in their PRC Cleaning/JFB Msport/Colliers MOT Nissan Micra. The young Blaina
driver also took home seventh-placed overall points and finished second in the 2WD
category - against much more powerful opposition.

The live streaming coverage from the Cambrian Rally remains available to view on
the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship and Special Stage TV Facebook pages.

The final round of the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship is the Wyedean Rally on
Saturday 16 November.

During the 2024 season, the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship will be raising
awareness of its official charity partner The Osborne Trust (theosbornetrust.com).

For details about the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship please visit:
wnrc.wamc.org.uk.

2024 Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally - top 10 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally
Championship finishers:
1. Matthew Hirst/ Declan Dear (Å koda Fabia R5).......56mins 59.2secs
2. Russ Thompson/Stephen Link (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9).......58mins 51.7secs
3. Iwan Roberts Jnr/Daniel Jones (Ford Escort G3)......1hr 03mins 39.1secs
4. David Tomlin/Keith Ashley (Ford Fiesta R5).......1hr 03mins 40.6secs
5. Robert Gough/Jez Rogers (Ford Escort Mk2).......1hr 04mins 24.6secs
6. Wug Utting/Bob Stokoe (Subaru Impreza N12b).......1hr 05mins 04.6secs
7. Ashley Francis Adams/Mark Ammonds (Nissan Micra).......1hr 05mins 40.4secs
8. Sam Mason/James Seymour (Ford Fiesta R2).......1hr 07mins 04.1secs
9. Gareth Bevan/Craig Nelson (Ford Escort Mk2).......1hr 07mins 19.6secs
10. Lewis Hooper/Rhys Edwards (Ford Fiesta R2).......1hr 07mins 27.1secs

2024 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship
Overall drivers' points after Round 5:

1. Russ Thompson.......112pts
2. Matthew Hirst.......109pts
3. James Giddings.......103pts
4. Rudi Lancaster.......88pts
5. David Tomlin.......83pts
6. Wug Utting.......79pts

For more information, please contact:

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.