News

Hirst on Track to Retain Championship Title

Press release: 9 July 2023

Matthew Hirst has moved one step closer to retaining his Motorsport UK Pirelli
Welsh Rally Championship title after scoring maximum points for the fourth time in
four rounds on the Nicky Grist Stages (Saturday 8 July).

Co-driven by Declan Dear, the Doncaster driver was the class of the Welsh field -
finishing over a minute and a half ahead of his nearest championship rival in his
Pirelli-shod Delta Salvage/Witham Group Ford Fiesta R5.

Hirst's lead at the top of the drivers' standings has increased to 36 points.
"I'm thrilled to keep my run of Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship maximum scores
going on what is one of the most enjoyable events of the season," said Hirst.
"Even though it's enjoyable, the Nicky Grist Stages is one of those events where you
have to take risks if you want to be at the front. It rewards commitment, but the
consequences if it goes wrong are huge.
"We've scored four wins out of four, but we'll just keep going as we are and try not to
think about the championship too much and just focus on the next event."

Russ Thompson/Stephen Link took home second placed points in their Dunnow
Plant Mitsubishi Evo 9, using the top-end speed to their advantage in a fast and
controlled drive/Rob Wilson lost a considerable amount of time during the day, including a spin and
stall on SS4 and then his Ravenol Mitsubishi Evo 7's engine intermittently cuttin out
in the afternoon. Despite this, he and co-driver Richard Crozier completed the Pirelli
Welsh podium.

Bob Morgan/Ade Williams enjoyed a great run in their Winner Garage Å koda Fabia
R5. A fast and trouble-free performance saw them take home fourth placed Pirelli
Welsh points, ahead of Gavin Edwards/Caron Tomlinson - who achieved their aim of
getting to the finish in their Vaynol Heating Ford Fiesta R5.

Wug Utting, co-driven by his son Max, came home a trouble-free sixth in their Subaru Impreza N12b,
while Martyn Andrews/Steve Greenhill (pictured below) almost put their Opie
Oils Subaru Impreza STi N12 off the road several times in the morning, getting away
with it 'by the skin of their teeth' to finish an impressive seventh. The result moves
the Welwyn Garden City driver up to second in the overall points standings and
extends his lead in the Welsh Challenge.

David Tomlin/Keith Ashley survived a couple of lock ups and stalls in the morning
and had to reverse out of a hedge at one point, but survived to finish a season best
Pirelli Welsh ninth in their Axon Ford Fiesta R5.

Paul Walker/Geraint Thomas flew the flag for the event organisers and were the top
Quinton Motor Club crew home, completing the Pirelli Welsh top 10 in their Green
Paw Subaru Impreza STI N11.

Nik Elsmore/Rob Fagg were slowed on the morning loop with a throttle sensor
problem with their CDS Taxis & Private Hire Mitsubishi Evo 9, and after losing so
much time the afternoon loop turned into a test session. They nevertheless still
finished just outside the Pirelli Welsh top 10, suggesting they'd have battled for a
place on the podium without their issues.

Richard Ceen/Dylan Thomas profited from some pre-event testing and a change of
driving style to pick up 13th place Pirelli Welsh points in their MSL Motorsport-
prepared Ford Fiesta R5.

Peter Baylis had a new radiator installed in his Artificial Lawn Company Mitsubishi
Evo 9 but nonetheless had overheating issues on the morning loop. Co-driven by
Paul Godden, the Gravesend driver survived to take 14th, just 10.6 seconds ahead
of Colin Minton/Bonnie Papper in their Ignition Motorsport Ford Fiesta R5.

Simon Rogers arrived at the Nicky Grist Stages lying second in the overall drivers'
standings after three excellent results. Unfortunately, his 100% finishing record came
to an end when the prop shaft failed on his MacWhirter Motorsport-prepared
Mitsubishi Evo 6, putting him and co-driver James How out and dropping Rogers to
fourth in the overall drivers' points and third (behind Andrews and Baylis) in the close
battle for the class W13 title.
Rob and Ashley Aslett retired in the afternoon loop of stages when their Rigfone
Electric Contractors Subaru Impreza's turbo blew, while Colin Griffiths/Sion
Rowlands were having a good run before their Subaru Impreza STI's gearbox failed
on the eighth and final stage.

Robert Gough has moved to within five points of the Restruct Welsh Historic class
W9 lead after winning the category in his Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2. Co-driven by
Paul Morris, he took home eighth place points to move up to third in the overall
drivers' standings
Upon his return to the series, Ron Morgan (co-driven by Sion Jones) finished a
magnificent second in class W9 in his Restruct Escort Mk2, with Peter Jones/Gareth
Davies third in another Escort. Lyn Davies/Aled Richards still lead the class, having
finished fourth in their Wales Motorsport-prepared Escort Mk2.

Jonathan Brace/Paul Spooner won a very close Historic class W8 battle, despite
having no working windscreen wipers in the rain and a day-long engine misfire in
their Brace's Bakery Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1.
Andrew Stokes/Jonny Tad Evans still lead the Historic class W8 after a good run in
their similar RS1600 Mk1, despite a few moments along the way - including an off
into a ditch on the final stage, which Stokes said he'd "got away lightly" with.

Jeremy Wells (co-driven this time by Steve Suckling) had a good run to third in class
in his Wells Masonary Solutions Escort Mk1. Gary Smith/Emma Clarke crashed their
Escort Mk1 out of the event on SS3.

Julian Birley/Emyr Hall have extended their Historic class W5 lead by scoring their
first win of the season in their Talbot Sunbeam.

Boyd Kershaw/Keegan Rees have retaken the lead in the ultra-competitive Hockly
Motorsport-supported Welsh 2WD class after a magnificent win in their Flying Kiwi
Ford Escort Mk2. They lost time in the morning with visibility issues and then they
overshot a junction after taking a jump flat-out, but a great afternoon saw them score
a well-deserved 2WD class victory - with Kershaw moving up to seventh in the
overall drivers' standings.
David and Douglas Young followed up their second place 2WD finish on the Plains
Rally with second again in their Escort Mk2, finishing one place ahead of Ricky
Crone/Ifan Devine, who regretting not replacing their rear tyres for SS3 as they
struggled for grip through Halfway in their MS Textiles Ford Escort Mk2.

Geoff Phelps/Colin Jenkins (Hartpury Farms Escort Mk2), Tim Phelps/Elwyn Manuel
(Britpart Escort Mk2) and defending class W12 champions Andrew Fox/Jaime-Lee
Fox (Xwatch Safety Solutions BMW 325) all enjoyed good runs - although that
wasn't the case for every 2WD contender.

Iwan Roberts Jnr/Daniel Jones have dropped to third in class after breaking the
steering on SS6 - quite possibly a consequence of landing their Roberts of
Ffestiniog Ford Escort G3 hard on its nose after a big flat out jump on SS4.
Damage after big landings on the same stage also saw Dan Chester/Paul Barbet
retire their BMW E30, Kevin Metcalfe/Ian Jones damage the rear suspension on their
BMW E30 and retire in midday service and Mike Brown/Aled Davies who broke a
wishbone on their BMW Compact M3.

Sam Mason/James Seymour won class W4 for the first time this season in their
Samuel Mason Rallysport Fiesta R2T and have jumped up to third in the standings.
Tony Simpson still leads the class, although he and co-driver Stefan Arndt retired
their Seacon UK Ford Fiesta Rally4 after turbo failure. Alex Cannon is still second in
class (and his co-driver Alan Carfree still leads the navigators' section) despite
retiring his Rallyworld Ford Fiesta R2 with a broken driveshaft on SS1.

Machynlleth's Gethin Price (co-driven this time by Brynmore Price) continues to lead
the Hockly Motorsport-supported class W2 after prioritising a finish in his RKP
Haulage Nissan Micra.
Nigel and Kaz Jenkins won the 1400cc class in their NJ Auto Repairs Vauxhall Nova,
which sees them second and first in the drivers' and co-drivers' sections
respectively.

Dylan Fowler Bishop (co-driven by Dan Evans) had a big push in the afternoon to
finish second in class W2 in his Restruct-backed Nissan Micra, while Ashley Francis-Adams/Lucy Wilding
were third in their T2 Fabrication-backed Nissan Micra, despite
losing time in the morning when a stage was red flagged.

Edward James/Charlie Mason hadn't rallied since April, and they were initially
delayed by intercom problems and their Nissan Micra's windscreen misting up but
came home fourth in class, one place ahead of Price.

Kelvin Evans was partnered by Lucie Gutteridge, who was contesting her first gravel
rally. They did exceptionally well, finishing fifth in their CWL Hire Nissan Micra - one
place ahead of Luke Watts/Matt Rogers, who survived the windscreen misting up on
SS1 in their NJ Auto Repairs MG ZR.

Chris Bush (co-driven for the first time by Robert Bryn 'Chicken' Jones) had a new
gearbox in his Bushtec Recycling Opel Corsa, although it was a sticking throttle that
caused him problems earlier in the event and saw him finish down the order.
Defending class champions Adrian and Matthew Walk retired on SS1 with engine
problems in their PartBOX Ford Ka, while last year's Nicky Grist Stages class winner
James Dunkley (co-driven by Jack Morris) retired his Vauxhall Corsa on SS4.

Will Banks/Matthew Baddeley had a new engine in their BTS Motorsport/Lorry-
Insurance Vauxhall Nova, which successfully powered them to class W1 victory.

Lucy Wigley/Emma Cooper won class W10 in their Redware Citroën C2 R2 Max,
although defending champions Martin Walters/Marie Fletcher hang on to the class
lead after finishing second in their Digger Parts Direct Honda Civic. Alan
Desbois/Peter Littlefield were third in their Peugeot 306 RWD, with Damian
Thomas/Gavin Haycock fourth in their Peugeot 206 S1600.
Dan and Cyril Jones had a nightmare of an event in their Howard Price
Rallying/North Wales Joinery Vauxhall Nova. A coil wire broke on SS1 and having
fixed that, they landed the car on its nose after a jump on SS4, finishing the morning
leg with gear selection problems. Things didn't improve in the afternoon, as engine
problems put the son and father duo out on SS7. Michael Jenkins/Jordan Joines also
failed to finish in their Ford Fiesta.

Callum Griffiths has taken the lead in the OnThePaceNote-supported Welsh Junior
Championship after scoring his first victory of the year on the Nicky Grist Stages. Co-
driven by William Lewis, the Presteigne Tyre Services-supported Fiesta ST driver
started at a blistering pace before a heavy landing on SS4 damaged the car's
radiator. Luckily midday service followed, and they were able to continue unabated
to score a fine Junior win.
His brother Liam finished second in a similar Ford. He and co-driver Daniel James
put new tyres on for a big push in the afternoon and scored a great result despite a
rear brake pipe coming off three miles from the end of the last stage.
Sam Mason added third Junior to his class W4 win, while Dylan Fowler Bishop was
fourth, Gethin Price fifth, Luke Watts sixth and Will Banks seventh.

Ben Smith had led the Welsh Junior coming into the Nicky Grist Stages. Partnered
by his father Steven, he retired on the opening stage after damaging the steering on
his Amigos Escort RS2000 Mk1.
Eddie Lewis (co-driven by Sion Cunniff) retired his Mechanical Solutions Ford Fiesta
R5 on SS4 with suspension damage.
Bonnie Papper leads the Welsh Junior co-drivers' section, ahead of Ifan Devine,
Jack Morris, Jack Bowen, Sam Weller and James Seymour.

The live streamed coverage from the Nicky Grist Stages remains available to view
on the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship and Special Stage TV Facebook pages.

Round 5 of the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship is the Phil Price Memorial
Woodpecker Stages on Saturday 9 September.

Further details on the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship can be found online at:
wnrc.wamc.org.uk.
2023 Nicky Grist Stages - top 10 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally
Championship finishers:
1. Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear (Ford Fiesta R5).......43mins 12.3secs
2. Russ Thompson/Stephen Link (Mitsubishi Evo 9).......44mins 46.1secs
3. Rob Wilson/Richard Crozier (Mitsubishi Evo 7).......45mins 18.3secs
4. Bob Morgan/Ade Williams (Å koda Fabia R5).......45mins 59.6secs
5. Gavin Edwards/Caron Tomlinson (Ford Fiesta R5).......46mins 19.7secs
6. Wug Utting/Max Utting (Subaru Impreza).......48mins 05.4secs
7. Martyn Andrews/Steve Greenhill (Subaru Impreza).......48mins 14.2secs
8. Robert Gough/Paul Morris (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2).......48mins 14.6secs
9. David Tomlin/Keith Ashley (Ford Fiesta R5).......48mins 15.4secs
10. Paul Walker/Geraint Thomas (Subaru Impreza).......48mins 16.8secs

2023 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship
Overall drivers' points after Round 4:
1. Matthew Hirst.......120pts
2. Martyn Andrews.......84pts
3. Robert Gough.......75pts
4. Simon Rogers.......73pts
5. Peter Baylis.......69pts
6. Wug Utting.......65pts

For more information, please contact:
Dave Evison
Secretary, Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship
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Paul Evans
Press Officer, Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship
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Pictures by Paul Mitchell.
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Hirst aims to extend Championship lead on the Nicky Grist Stages

• Rallying,
• Motorsport
• Pirelli,
• Wales,
• Powys
• @Builth Wells

 
Matthew Hirst takes a healthy 22-point Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship lead into the Nicky Grist Stages (Saturday 8 July) - and the defending champion will be favourite to score his fourth win of the 2023 season in his Pirelli-shod Delta Salvage/Witham Group Ford Fiesta R5.
 
The Doncaster driver returns to Builth Wells reunited with regular co-driver Declan Dear, who was away on honeymoon for the previous round. They are looking forward to repeating their Nicky Grist Stages Interclub victory of last year, after they won the event for the first time in 2022.
 
"The Nicky Grist Stages is probably the event that I most look forward to in the entire year," says Hirst. 
 
"The mid-Wales stages are great - nice and smooth, flat-out and it's normally scorching hot and it's a great challenge. I love the Llyn Login, Crychan, Halfway and Monument stages and the organisers always do something to spice the route up a little bit."
 


Simon Rogers is enjoying a magnificent season in his MacWhirter Motorsport-prepared Mitsubishi and lies second in the overall Pirelli Welsh drivers' standings and leads class W13. He has been partnered by three different co-drivers in three rounds, but is back with regular navigator James How this time.
 
There has been little to separate Rogers and Martyn Andrews this year, with just seconds between them at the end of all three rallies. The Opie Oils Subaru Impreza STi N12 driver is third in the overall standings, just five points behind the Evo 6 pilot, and leads the Welsh Challenge category, while his navigator Steve Greenhill leads the overall co-drivers' and Welsh Challenge standings.
 

Bob Morgan/Ade Williams finished third on the recent Sweet Lamb Rally Time Trail, which was only their second outing of the year in their Winner Garage Å koda Fabia R5 and a good test ahead of the Nicky Grist Stages.
 
Peter Baylis is an impressive fifth overall and, together with co-driver Paul Godden, will be looking for his fourth high points score in his Artificial Lawn Company Mitsubishi Evo 9. The same is true of Daniel Moss, who is just four points behind after a consistently high scoring year so far. He and co-driver Samuel Davies are still very much in with a shout of the title and will be aiming for a good haul of points in their pink Hurst Haylage Mitsubishi Evo 10, pictured below.

 
Rob Wilson just missed out on a Pirelli Welsh podium on last year's Nicky Grist Stages - which set him on course to eventually become the 2022 Welsh Junior, Welsh Challenge and class W13 champion, as well as finishing runner-up in the overall drivers' standings. The young Herefordshire driver and Richard Crozier will be aiming for the top spot this time in their Ravenol Mitsubishi Evo 7. 

Colin Minton/Bonnie Papper have had clutch and brake problems this year but given a clear run they'll be challenging for victory in their Ignition Motorsport Ford Fiesta R5. Steve Black/Jack Morton should also go well in their 586 Sports-prepared Pirelli-shod Pallas Connections Ford Fiesta Rally2, as the car is swapped to gravel spec having just won the Argyll Rally. 

Russ Thompson doesn't do as many rounds as he used to, but the 2019 Pirelli Welsh Championship runner-up is still very quick and, together with Stephen Link, will be aiming for a podium in his Dunnow Plant Mitsubishi Evo 9 - as will Paul Walker/Geraint Thomas (Green Paw Subaru Impreza STI N11), Richard Ceen/Dylan Thomas (MSL Motorsport Fiesta R5) and Steve Hollis/Tim Currie (Volkswagen Golf V R32).

 
Other 4WD crews enjoying a good season and aiming to increase their Pirelli Welsh points tally include David Tomlin/Keith Ashley (Axon Ford Fiesta R5), Wug and Max Utting (Subaru Impreza N12b), Colin Griffiths/Sion Rowlands (ex-Mikko Hirvonen/Alister McRae Subaru Impreza STI), Rob and Ashley Aslett (Rigfone Electric Contractors Subaru Impreza), Tom McKeown/Neil Thomas (Subaru Impreza), Nik Elsmore/Rob Fagg (CDS Taxis & Private Hire Mitsubishi Evo 9), Charlie Campbell/Jon Hawkins (Subaru Impreza) and Geoff Cottrill/Nathan Crewe (Mitsubishi Evo 9).
 
Robert Gough has been on inspired form this year, winning the Restruct Welsh Historic class W9 on the first two rounds before an engine problem interrupted his great run last time out. He may have lost the class lead to Lyn Davies/Aled Richards (Wales Motorsport-prepared Escort Mk2), but Gough (who is co-driven by Paul Morris) will be aiming to return to his winning ways - and try to maintain his wonderful fourth place in the overall drivers' standings - in his flying Escort RS1800 Mk2.
 
Andrew Stokes/Jonny Tad Evans lead the Historic class W8 in their Ford Escort RS1600 and will be up against the likes of Jeremy Wells (co-driven this time by Steve Suckling) and Jonathan Brace/Paul Spooner in similar Mk1s. Brace led the class after two rounds but rolled out of the Plains Rally. Luckily his gorgeous RS1600 didn't sustain much damage - and he's back supplying marshals, as he usually does, with his delicious Brace's Bakery Welsh Cakes!

 
Julian Birley/Emyr Hall will be aiming to take the class W5 lead in their Talbot Sunbeam, Gareth Lewis/Ryland James are back in their immaculate red Ford Escort RS2000 Mk1 and will be battling for class W8 points with Gary Smith/Emma Clarke (Escort Mk1), and Ron Morgan (co-driven by Sion Jones) makes a very welcome return to the series in his Restruct Escort Mk2.
 




Iwan Roberts Jnr/Daniel Jones snatched the Hockly Motorsport-supported Welsh 2WD class lead last time out in their Roberts of Ffestiniog Ford Escort G3, after Boyd Kershaw/Keegan Rees (who had led after two wins) retired their Flying Kiwi Ford Escort Mk2 with a broken propshaft on the Plains, slipping to third in the points table.






Between Roberts and Kershaw is an inspired Tony Simpson, who has also won class W4 in all three outings this year in his Seacon UK Ford Fiesta Rally4. The Eccleston driver won his class on last year's Nicky Grist Stages and will this time be co-driven by Stefan Arndt. Alex Cannon/Alan Carfree are second in class W4 and will be aiming to close the gap in their Rallyworld Ford Fiesta R2.
 



Sideways and spectacular will be defending class W12 champions Andrew Fox/Jaime-Lee Fox (Xwatch Safety Solutions BMW 325), Dan Chester/Paul Barbet (BMW E30), Ricky Crone/Ifan Devine (MS Textiles Ford Escort Mk2), Geoff Phelps/Colin Jenkins (Hartpury Farms Escort Mk2), Tim Phelps/Elwyn Manuel (Britpart Escort Mk2), Kevin Metcalfe/Ian Jones (BMW E30),pictured above, Clive Price/Robbie Sandford (BMW Compact 318ti), David and Douglas Young (Escort), Mike Brown/Aled Davies (BMW Compact M3) and David Jones/Gwyn Price (Tanner's Arms/GJ Price Transport BMW E30).

 
Gethin Price take a strong class W2 lead into the event in his RKP Haulage Nissan Micra. The Machynlleth driver will this time be co-driven by Brynmore Price (who won class W7 as a driver on the opening round of the series). 

 
They'll be chased hard by Nigel and Kaz Jenkins, who won the Hockly Motorsport-supported 1400cc class on round two in their NJ Auto Repairs Vauxhall Nova, and gravel rally rookie Dylan Fowler Bishop (co-driven by Dan Evans) in his Restruct-backed Nissan Micra.

 
Also aiming for a big bag of points will be defending class champions Adrian and Matthew Walk in their PartBOX Ford Ka, James Dunkley (co-driven by Jack Morris) who won his class on last year's Nicky Grist Stages, Ashley Francis-Adams/Lucy Wilding (T2 Fabrication Nissan Micra), pictured above, Chris Bush/Robert Bryn (Bushtec Recycling Opel Corsa), Luke Watts/Matt Rogers (MG ZR), Edward James/Charlie Mason (Nissan Micra) and Will Banks/Matthew Baddeley (Vauxhall Nova).

 
Defending champions Martin Walters/Marie Fletcher will be aiming to extend their class W10 lead in their Digger Parts Direct Honda Civic. Trying to stop them will be son and father duo Dan and Cyril Jones, who have won the class twice this year in their Howard Price Rallying/North Wales Joinery Vauxhall Nova, Alan Desbois/Peter Littlefield in their Peugeot 306 RWD, Lucy Wigley/Emma Cooper,pictured above, who won the class on round two in their Redware Citroën C2, and Michael Jenkins/Jordan Joines (Ford Fiesta).
 



Three different drivers have won the OnThePaceNote-supported Welsh Junior Championship class so far this year - James Lepley (Esso Escort Mk2), Eddie Lewis (Mechanical Solutions Ford Fiesta R5) and Sam Mason (Samuel Mason Rallysport Fiesta R2T) - although it's Ben Smith (Amigos Escort RS2000 Mk1),pictured above, who leads the youngsters coming into this weekend's event. 
 

Looking for their first Junior win of the season are the rapid Griffiths brothers, Callum (co-driven by William Lewis) and Liam (co-driven by Daniel James) - who are second and third in the table and out for a win in a pair of Presteigne Tyre Services-supported Ford Fiesta STs.

 
Bonnie Papper leads the Welsh Junior co-driver's section, ahead of Jack Bowen, Jack Morris, Sam Weller, Ifan Devine and James Seymour (who claimed maximum points last time out).
 
The Nicky Grist Stages will be live streamed on the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship's and Special Stage TV's Facebook pages during the event, featuring action from all the registered competitors.
 
Organised by Quinton Motor Club, this year's Nicky Grist Stages is once again based in the centre of Builth Wells, with the start in Strand Street, the finish on the banks of the River Wye and the service area on the Builth Wells RFC pitch. The event contains a 22 stage mile loop through the classic and smooth mid-Wales forests of Llyn Login, Crychan, Halfway and Monument, located in and around the Epynt military range, which is first tackled in the morning and repeated in the afternoon.
 
Further details on the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship can be found online at: wnrc.wamc.org.uk.

Friday 30th June 2023
 

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.
paulmitchellphotography@gmail.com

Championship Bulletins

25th May 2023 -The championship points tables, U25 category, have updated following an eligibilty query.