News
Forest of Dean set for Championship Title Thriller
Matthew Hirst has another chance to clinch the 2022 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship title on the Wyedean Stages Rally (Saturday 15 October), as the series leader aims to return to his winning ways following a rare setback last time out.
Co-driven by Declan Dear, Hirst had recorded four straight wins and needed one more good score to be crowned the 2022 Welsh champion, but the title race was kept alive when a rear track control arm on his Pirelli-shod Delta Salvage Ford Fiesta R5+ broke on the Phil Price Memorial Woodpecker Stages.
That's allowed his rivals to close the gap, so there is a bit more pressure on the Doncaster driver as he heads to the penultimate round in the Forest of Dean - where he'll start as car number one and with a clear road ahead of him.
Bob Morgan's super consistent season continued on the Woodpecker and he remains Hirst's nearest challenger after five high points-scoring finishes in his Winner Garage Å koda Fabia R5+. The Wyedean is Morgan's local event, so he'll be hoping to use his home advantage to maintain his challenge for the overall title, as well as extending his lead in the highly competitive Ravenol Welsh Challenge. Ade Williams returns, as his challenge for the co-driver's title continues.
Nik Elsmore knows the forests well, and as a past Wyedean Rally winner will be aiming for a top result. He doesn't compete much these days, but he and co-driver Rob Fagg have been seeded at number three in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9.
Bob Ceen,pictured, arrives at the Wyedean third in the overall drivers' standings and is enjoying a great season in his flying Axes Design-backed Ford Fiesta R5+. Co-driven by Shaun Layland, the 2001 Welsh champion will be aiming for his first Welsh podium finish of the season, having come very close four times already. 
James Giddings, pictured, is seeded at number two, reflecting what a great season the Carmarthen driver is having. Co-driven by Aled Davies, the former Fiesta ST Trophy and Citroën C2 Challenge champion finished a season-best second on the Plains Rally and will be aiming to go one better this time out in his Fordpad Mitsubishi Evo 9.
The list of potential winners is long and includes John Caine/Andrew Sankey (Phil Price Rally School Subaru Impreza), Benj Ceen/Caron Tomlinson (MSL-prepared Ford Fiesta R5), Paul Walker/Geraint Thomas (Green Paw Subaru Impreza), pictured, and Simon Rogers/James How (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6)pictured below, - all of whom are enjoying a good season.
A Welsh Junior driver could take victory, for Robert Wilson, pictured, arrives on sensational form - having finished fourth on the Nicky Grist Stages and third on the Woodpecker. Co-driven this time by Martin Haggett, the youngster will also be aiming for his fourth OnThePaceNote.co.uk
The Welsh Junior section is still being led by Liam Griffiths, who arrives with a 42-point lead after a magnificently consistent season in his Discover Parks Ford Fiesta ST - while his brother Callum Griffiths is third in his Presteigne Tyre Services Ford Fiesta ST and Ben Smith fourth in his Amigos Ford Escort RS2000 Mk1.
With a maximum of 90 cars allowed to run, a few of the Welsh 2WD category crews have selected to miss the Wyedean - however, there will still be a huge battle as top points are waiting in the wings.
Boyd Kershaw/Keegan Rees will be eyeing a fourth 2WD class victory of the year in their Flying Kiwi Escort Mk2, while Andrew Fox/Jaime-Lee Fox, pictured, (who also lead class W12) will be out for a good result in their Xwatch Safety Solutions BMW 325 - as will Geoff Phelps/Colin Jenkins in their smart Hartpury Farms Ford Escort Mk2.
Brynli Thomas/Sion Rowlands (Peugeot 306 Rallye), pictured, and Graham Thatcher/Tim Samuel (Pembridge Vehicle Management Peugeot 206 GTi) resume their close battle for the Road Rally class title. Adrian and Matthew Walk will be hoping to stamp their authority on the class W3 category in their PartBOX Ford Ka, while Martin Walters/Marie Fletcher will be on a victory parade lap in their Honda Civic having already clinched the class W10 title.
The battle for the Historic class W8 title is wide open, and top-seeded Michael McDaid, pictured, has a great chance to move from third and into the lead if he has a good run in his McDaid Pharmacy Escort RS1800 Mk2. His navigator Declan Casey arrives leading the co-drivers' section.
Jonathan Brace is an impressive fourth in the driver's standings in his less powerful Brace's Bakery Escort Mk1 RS1600, as he and co-driver Paul Spooner aim for their sixth strong finish on the bounce. Andrew Stokes/Jonny Tad Evans have also been on great form this year and have a high scoring 100% finishing record in their Escort Mk1.
Also looking for a good class run are Ron Morgan/Marc Clatworthy in their stunning Wales Motorsport-built Restruct Escort Mk2, Charles Hopkinson/Alan Jones in their Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2 and Michael Sawyer/Gareth Price in their 2350cc Datsun 1600, pictured below.
Five successive second-place points finishes have given Neal James/Kevin Jones the class W7 lead in their Escort Mk2. Being fast and consistent is a tried and tested way to win championships, and they arrive at the Wyedean 35-points ahead of David Lloyd Roberts/Gerallt Wyn Davies (Escort Mk2) who have won three times but retired twice.
An additional incentive is that 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 Wyedean Stages Rally will be live streamed on: facebook.com/
The 40-stage mile event is organised by the Forest of Dean Motor Club and spectator information is available at: wyedeanstages.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.
Wyedean Stages Rally - top 10 seeded entry
1. Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear.......Ford Fiesta R5+
2. James Giddings/Aled Davies.......Mitsubishi Evo 9
3. Nik Elsmore/Rob Fagg.......Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9
4. Bob Morgan/Ade Williams.......Å koda Fabia R5+
5. Robert Wilson/Martin Haggett.......Mitsubishi Evo 7
6. John Caine/Andrew Sankey.......Subaru Impreza
7. Bob Ceen/Shaun Layland.......Ford Fiesta R5
8. Michael McDaid/Declan Casey.......Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2
9. Seb Perez/Gary McElhinney.......Porsche 911 Carrera RS
10. Simon Rogers/James How.......Mitsubishi Evo 6
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.
Images Paul Mitchell.
Gardener takes maximum points on the Woodpecker
Press release: 5 September 2022
Local Ludlow driver Perry Gardener scored maximum Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol
Welsh Rally Championship points after an outstanding drive on the Phil Price
Memorial Woodpecker Stages (Saturday 3 September) in his Ford Fiesta R5+.
Partnered by Jack Bowen, who continues to lead the Welsh Junior co-drivers'
category, the 2021 event winner was on fine form and took maximum points by 1min
19secs.
Whilst Gardener is not challenging for the title this year - he's 15th in the driver's
points table - he was once again in the fight for victory and was third at the midday
service, 23 seconds behind Matthew Hirst.
Had the situation remained that way, then Hirst and co-driver Declan Dear would
have been crowned Pirelli Ravenol Welsh champions. However, on the first stage of
the afternoon's repeat loop of three stages, Hirst's Pirelli-shod Delta Salvage Ford
Fiesta R5+ broke a rear track control arm and his event was over.
This certainly appears to be Hirst's bogy event, for after winning four Pirelli Ravenol
Welsh rounds in a row he has now retired on his last three Woodpecker Stages
appearances.
With Hirst out, this left Gardener in a comfortable second position overall, where he
was able to enjoy the two remaining stages in the Radnor forest complex and come
home 54 seconds behind the overall winners - the unregistered Callum Black/Jack
Morton (Ford Fiesta Rally2).
The 2019 Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Championship runner-up Russ Thompson, above, enjoyed
his best outing of the year to score second-placed points. Co-driven by Stephen
Link, he put the top speed of his GPM/PD Extinguishers Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 to
good use over the fast and flowing stages.
Likewise, Robert Wilson,above, went one better than the excellent fourth he scored last time
out on the Nicky Grist Stages to celebrate his first overall Pirelli Ravenol Welsh
podium of his young career. Since rolling his Ravenol Mitsubishi Evo 7 at a pre-
season test and putting his entire season in jeopardy, Wilson has excelled and,
together with co-driver Richard Crozier, has also taken a hat-trick of
OnThePaceNote.co.uk supported Welsh Junior victories.
John Caine/Andrew Sankey, above, also celebrated their best result of the season, the pair
taking fourth place points in their Phil Price Rally School Subaru Impreza - finishing
45 seconds ahead of Bob Ceen/Alun Hayward,below, who lost time spinning their Axes
Designs Ford Fiesta R5 at a chicane on SS2.
Simon Rogers/James How, below, had a good run to take home eighth-placed points in their
yellow Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6.
Bob Morgan, below, remains second in the overall driver standings and continues to lead the
Ravenol Welsh Challenge after another strong performance in his Winner Garage
Å koda Fabia R5+. Co-driven this time by Robin Kellard, Morgan secured another
excellent top 10 Pirelli Ravenol Welsh as he heads to his local round of the series.
There wasn't much luck however for Lewers Firth/Shaun Lapper, who crashed their
Firth Construction Subaru Impreza on the opening stage. Benj Ceen/Caron
Tomlinson retired on the next stage with suspension issues in their MSL-prepared
Ford Fiesta R5, while James Giddings/Aled Davies were forced out with brake
problems in their Fordpad Mitsubishi Evo 9 on SS4.
Paul Walker, above, continues to lead class W13 after he and co-driver Geraint Thomas
scored yet another good result in their smart Green Paw Subaru Impreza. It's a tight
fight, with less than a maximum score covering the top five drivers. Wug Utting is
one of those drivers - he finished behind Walker on this occasion, with a spin on
SS2 costing him and co-driver Bob Stokoe time in their Geoff Jones Motorsport-
prepared Subaru Impreza N12b.
Matthew Jackson/Sasha Heriot, above, have won the class W4 title after another brilliant run
in their MJ Rallying Ford Fiesta R2T.
They also maintain their lead in the Welsh 2WD category, having finished second in
class on the day to Boyd Kershaw/Keegan Rees in their Flying Kiwi Escort Mk2.
Ashley Davies/Sam Fordham rolled their Burton Power/G&B Finch/Deranged Trucks
Ford Escort RS on SS2, while Andrew Fox/Jaime-Lee Fox (Xwatch Safety Solutions
BMW 325) and Kevin Metcalfe/Ian Jones (3-litre BMW E30) also failed to finish.
A brilliant drive saw Robert Gough, above, take maximum Historic class W8 points. Co-
driven by Sam Collis, the local driver had a "scrappy' opening loop and survived a
moment at the end of SS3 to claim seventh placed points overall as well in his Ford
Escort RS1800 Mk2.
Nick Elliott, above, (co-driven by Dave Price) has taken the class W8 lead after scoring
second-placed points in his Fiat Abarth 131, while Ben Friend/Cliff Simmons finished
third in their Allglass Escort Mk2.
Will Onions/Dave Williams just missed out on a class W8 podium in their Ford Escort
Mk2 but finished ahead of Rudi Lancaster/Guy Weaver in their Woolacombe Holiday
Parks Escort RS1800.
Michael McDaid/Declan Casey were hoping to make it two maximum class W8
points scores in a row but were hindered when they damaged their McDaid
Pharmacy Escort RS1800 Mk2 after putting it off the road on SS3.
Jonathan Brace has moved up to fourth in the W8 standings after he and co-driver
Paul Spooner enjoyed another good run in their Brace's Bakery Escort Mk1 RS1600.
Matt Edwards/Hamish Campbell had led the class coming into the Woodpecker but
have dropped to fourth after retiring their Pirelli-shod RSD-prepared Fiat Abarth 131.
They were tied for the lead entering the final stage, only for a trailing arm to fail and
not even Edwards' legendary emergency mechanical skills could prevent him from
parking the car up this time.
Defending class W8 champions Paul Street/Ian Jones retired their PJS Marine
Escort RS1800 Mk2 after hitting a tree at the end of SS3, while Roger Chilman/Llion
'Tractor' Williams retired their Wales Motorsport-prepared Securcom Escort Mk2
midway through the afternoon loop of stages.
Ben and Steven Smith celebrated their second Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Championship
finish of the season with another class W7 victory in their Amigos Ford Escort
RS2000 Mk1.
Neal James/Kevin Jones still lead the class after finishing second, although the
Escort Mk2 crew were held up on SS1 and 3 when cars ahead had gone off the road
in what they described as a "stop-start" day.
Peter Hinton/Lewis Sim scored third-placed class points, despite rolling their Escort,
while David Lloyd Roberts/Gerallt Wyn Davies ended in a log pile in their similar
Mk2.
Rory and Paul McCann claimed class W6 victory in their Metalways Hillman
Avenger, while Chris Squires/Shaun Hughes finished second and still lead the class,
despite their Trevor Morris Engines Ford Escort Mk2 picking up a puncture on SS2.
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.
Liam Griffiths continues to lead the Welsh Junior category, despite he and co-driver
Daniel James finishing fourth in a very competitive class in their Discover Parks Ford
Fiesta ST.
James Lepley (co-driven by the recently married Simon Jones) survived a couple of
early spins and a very close moment on SS3 to come home second in his Escort
Mk2, ahead of Ben and Steven Smith, Rory and Paul McCann and Callum
Griffiths/William Lewis in their Presteigne Tyre Services Ford Fiesta ST.
Graham Thatcher/Tim Samuel overshot a junction on SS3 in their Pembridge
Vehicle Management Peugeot 206 GTi but still managed to stop Brynli Thomas/Sion
Rowlands run of victories in the Road Rally class - although the Peugeot 306 Rallye
crew still lead the standings.
James Dunkley,above, (co-driven by Jack Morris) had a frustrating morning, with a misfiring
Opel Corsa and an altercation with a chicane on SS1. He is all but assured of the
class W2 title, however.
Dave and Freddy Brick won class W3 in their Vauxhall Corsa, beating Stuart
Spyer/Peter Williams who lost time when they put their similar car off the road on
SS3. Adrian and Matthew Walk still lead the class after finishing third in their
PartBOX Ford Ka.
Martin Walters/Marie Fletcher, above, are the very worthy class W10 champions after
another good run in their high-revving Honda Civic.
Now that Matt Jackson has won the class W4 title, Jonathan Jones/Jez Rogers look
set to claim the runners-up spot. They finished second on the Woodpecker despite a
scare when they carried too much speed into a chicane in their EDSL Sport-run
Ingospec Ford Fiesta.
Unfortunately for Tony Simpson/Ian Bevan, they retired on the penultimate stage
when a driveshaft broke in their Seacon UK/Kielder Tools Ford Fiesta R2T.
The Woodpecker was live-streamed and all the footage, with additional action and
interviews, remains online and can be viewed at:
facebook.com/WELSHRALLYCHAMPIONSHIP.
The next round of the 2022 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally
Championship is the Winner Garage Å koda Wyedean Rally on Saturday 15 October.
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
Woodpecker Stages - top 10 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally
Championship finishers
1. Perry Gardener/Jack Bowen (Ford Fiesta R5+).......42mins 06secs
2. Russ Thompson/Stephen Link (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9).......43mins 19secs
3. Robert Wilson/Richard Crozier (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7).......43mins 45secs
4. John Caine/Andrew Sankey (Subaru Impreza).......43mins 56secs
5. Bob Ceen/Alun Hayward (Ford Fiesta R5).......44mins 41secs
6. Nik Elsmore/Rob Fagg (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9).......44mins 49secs
7. Robert Gough/Sam Collis (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2).......45mins 02secs
8. Simon Rogers/James How (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6).......45mins 21secs
9. Nick Elliott/Dave Price (Fiat Abarth 131).......45mins 29secs
10. Bob Morgan/Robin Kellard (Å koda Fabia R5+).......45mins 37secs
2022 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship
Overall drivers' points after Round 5
1. Matthew Hirst.......125pts
2. Bob Morgan.......107pts
3. Bob Ceen.......98pts
4. Dylan Davies.......86pts
5. John Caine.......83pts
6. James Giddings.......74pts
Pictures courtesy of Paul Mitchell. Please credit 'Paul Mitchell Photography' if used.
paulmitchellphotography@gmail.
Can Hirst clinch the 2022 Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship title on the Woodpecker?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Hirst edges closer to title after Nicky Grist Stages victory
Matthew Hirst has edged closer to the 2022 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship title after winning the Nicky Grist Stages - Interclub event for the first time.
Having already won the opening three rounds of the series, Hirst and co-driver Declan Dear were once again on unbeatable form, scoring maximum points on the Builth Wells-based event in their Pirelli-shod Delta Salvage Ford Fiesta R5+.
"This is the first time that we've ever had a clean run on the Nicky Grist Stages and I'm delighted to come home with victory and maximum points. We were even able to ease off on the last stage because by then there was nothing to gain and everything to lose," said Hirst.
"The car has been faultless again, the team has done a great job and Dec has been spot on in the co-driver's seat - everything has been perfect.
"The Welsh Championship is looking good for us now, but it's certainly by no means over. We haven't won the title yet and we must maintain our focus if we want to bring the title home."
Dylan Davies enjoyed his best run of the season, collecting second-placed points in his Å koda Fabia R5+. Co-driven by Mark Glennerster, the 2019 Welsh champion drove well and in very hot conditions came home 1min 20secs behind Hirst.
James Giddings once again finished on the podium after a great run in his Group N Fordpad Mitsubishi Evo 9. Partnered by Lee Taylor, he collected third-placed points in the overall standings and won the Ravenol Welsh Challenge category.
Robert Wilson was a very close fourth in his Ravenol Mitsubishi Evo 7 and for the second time this year won the OnThePaceNote.co.uk supported Welsh Junior category. Co-driven by Richard Crozier, the youngster was delighted with the result - especially as he felt that, for the first time, the car was working perfectly and he felt comfortable and confident behind the wheel.
Bob Morgan/Ade Williams survived intercom failure on the first run through Monument (SS2) and an overshoot up a firebreak in Halfway (SS3) in their Winner Garage Å koda Fabia R5+. They recovered magnificently in the afternoon to score fifth-place points. Morgan moves up to second in the overall drivers' standings and continues to lead the Ravenol Welsh Challenge.
Bob Ceen lost time on the morning loop of stages when cars ahead of him rejoined the road in front of him and kicked up dust. The 2001 and 2015 Welsh champion was on great form and together with co-driver Shaun Layland took sixth-placed points.
Very close behind was his nephew Benj Ceen. He admitted to making a cautious start, but once he'd found his rhythm he and co-driver Caron Tomlinson set some impressive stage times in their MSL-prepared Ford Fiesta R5.
John Caine continues to practice what he teaches as he picked up eighth-place points in his Phil Price Rally School-backed Subaru Impreza, ably guided through the classic mid-Wales forests on and around the Epynt military range by Andrew Sankey.
Wug Utting/Bob Stokoe scored their best result of the season in their Geoff Jones Motorsport-prepared Subaru Impreza N12b, despite the car bottoming out in the morning, while Paul Walker, pictured below, continues to lead class W13 after he and co-driver Geraint Thomas recorded a Welsh top 10 finish in their Green Paw Subaru Impreza.
An off in Monument (SS2) may well have cost Simon Rogers/James How a place in the Welsh top 10, although they did bring their Mitsubishi Evo 6 home for a good result.
Perry Gardener/Jack Bowen rolled their Ford Fiesta R5+ out of the event in Halfway (SS3), while Nik Elsmore/Stephen McAuley were forced out with head gasket failure in their Mitsubishi Evo IX
Matthew Jackson/Sasha Heriot look unstoppable in class W4 and have also taken the lead in the Welsh 2WD category in their MJ Rallying Ford Fiesta R2T. After a magnificent morning the car didn't feel right in the afternoon and eventually the turbo pipe clips sheared halfway through the last stage, resulting in a near two-minute time loss. That dropped them to fourth in W4, but after three wins they still lead the class - and after four consistently high scores are ahead of all the non-historic Escorts, BMWs, Peugeots and other Fiestas in the highly competitive 2WD section.
Tony Simpson/Ian Bevan (Seacon UK/Kielder Tools Ford Fiesta R2T) came home second in the 2WD category - and clinched a superb class W4 victory on the Nicky Grist Stages. Jonathan Jones/Jez Rogers (EDSL Sport-run Ingospec Ford Fiesta) were second in W4 and Yaniv Bar, who was co-driven for the first time by Hannah McKillop, was third in his Ptravel Club Ford Fiesta R2.
Ashley Davies/Sam Fordham (Burton Power/G&B Finch/Deranged Trucks Ford Escort RS) scored top Welsh 2WD points and are a close second (behind Jackson) in the standings. They also won class W12 to close the gap on leaders Andrew Fox/Jaime-Lee Fox (Xwatch Safety Solutions BMW 325).
Boyd Kershaw had led the Welsh 2WD class, but his Flying Kiwi Escort Mk2's engine cut out after Llyn Login (SS1) and refused to start - temporarily stranding him and co-driver Keegan Rees up on the Epynt range.
Kevin Metcalfe retired his 3-litre BMW E30 on SS3 when a broken half-shaft stranded him and co-driver Ian Jones, while Lewers Firth/Shaun Lapper swapped their Firth Construction Subaru Impreza for a BMW E36 M3 but failed to complete the morning's loop of stages.
Geoffrey Phelps/Colin Jenkins had a brilliant run to win class W11 in their Hartpury Farms Escort Mk2. With leader Kershaw finishing down the order, Philip Jones/Ryan Griffiths have closed the gap to just three points in their Ford Escort.
Liam Griffiths continues to lead the Welsh Junior category, although he and co-driver Daniel James could only finish fourth in their Discover Parks Ford Fiesta ST. Rob Wilson scored maximum Junior points, followed home by Callum Griffiths/William Lewis, pictured above, who survived a big moment on SS3 in their Presteigne Tyre Services Ford Fiesta ST. Gethin Price/Matthew Baddeley finished third in their Keith Price Haulage Nissan Micra.
Nick Elliott has closed the gap at the top of the Historic class W8 after he and co-driver Dave Price finished second in their Fiat Abarth 131. They lost time when they hit a rock in Halfway (SS3) and bent the rear axle, meaning that the car was crabbing through Crychan (SS4), which was the longest stage of the event.
They were defeated on this occasion by a flying Michael McDaid/Declan Casey who won class W8 in their McDaid Pharmacy Escort RS1800 Mk2.
Robert Gough/Sam Collis feared their rally was over after hitting a rock in Halfway (SS3) but survived to bring their Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2 home third in class W8.
Defending class W8 champions Paul Street/Ian Jones had an eventful rally which began by overshooting a corner on SS2 and heading down an escape road in their PJS Marine Escort RS1800 Mk2. The car got stuck in fourth gear on SS4 and Street had to use both hands to free it - and finished Crychan on the rev-limiter in third gear, rather than risk engaging fourth again. The gearbox was changed in the one-hour midday service and a good points-scoring finish places them third in class.
Owen McMackin/Sean Ferris came home fourth in class W8 in their BJT Hire Centre Escort Mk2, while Jonathan Brace/Paul Spooner were the top Escort Mk1 crew home in their Brace's Bakery RS1600. Meanwhile, Andrew Stokes/Jonny Tad Evans enjoyed another great run in their Ford Escort Mk1.
Neal James/Kevin Jones continue to lead the Historic class W7 class after another great drive in their Cwm Engineering Ford Escort Mk2, while David Lloyd Roberts/Gerallt Davies won the class on the day in their Escort Mk2.
Having won the Historic class W6 on their gravel rally debut, Chris Squires/Shaun Hughes did it again on only their second forestry event in their Trevor Morris Engines Ford Escort Mk2. Julian Birley/Emyr Hall still lead class W6 class, despite retiring their Talbot Sunbeam Ti 1600 after the penultimate stage with a broken strut. Just two points separate the crews at the top of the W6 table.
Andy Fox and Jaime-Lee Fox
The battle is heating up in the David Stokes Historic Challenge award for drivers and the Guy Weaver award for co-drivers. 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 prestigious awards.
James Dunkley has taken the class W2 lead after he and co-driver Dan Sayce put in a great performance in their Opel Corsa, while Adrian and Matthew Walk, pictured above, have closed the gap at the top of class W3 after a great victory in their PartBOX Ford Ka, despite an overheating issue on the last stage. 
One of the closest battles of the day came in the Road Rally class, where Brynli Thomas/Sion Rowlands (Peugeot 306 Rallye) beat Graham Thatcher/Tim Samuel (Pembridge Vehicle Management Peugeot 206 GTi) by just 1.3 seconds! It was Thomas' third class win in a row, as he extends his lead.
Martin Walters/Marie Fletcher are celebrating their third class W10 win in a row in their Honda Civic, which puts them in prime position for the title.
The Nicky Grist Stages was live-streamed, with action from the stages and driver and co-driver interviews with Howard Davies coming from the service park. All the footage can be viewed at leisure on: facebook.com/
The next round of the 2022 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship is the Phil Price Memorial Woodpecker Stages on Saturday 3 September, which is supported by Presteigne Tyres and the Phil Price Rally School.
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
Nicky Grist Stages - top 10 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship finishers
1. Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear (Ford Fiesta R5+).......45mins 45.0secs
2. Dylan Davies/Mark Glennerster (Å koda Fabia R5+).......47mins 05.0secs
3. James Giddings/Lee Taylor (Mitsubishi Evo 9).......48mins 36.7secs
4. Robert Wilson/Richard Crozier (Mitsubishi Evo 7).......48mins 58.2secs
5. Bob Morgan/Ade Williams (Å koda Fabia R5+).......49mins 36.3secs
6. Bob Ceen/Shaun Layland (Ford Fiesta R5).......49mins 37.2secs
7. Benj Ceen/Caron Tomlinson (Ford Fiesta R5).......49mins 51.8secs
8. John Caine/Andrew Sankey (Subaru Impreza).......50mins 39.1secs
9. Wug Utting/Bob Stokoe (Subaru Impreza N12b).......50mins 40.2secs
10. Paul Walker/Geraint Thomas (Subaru Impreza).......50mins 43.9secs
2022 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship
Overall drivers' points after Round 4
1. Matthew Hirst.......120pts
2. Bob Morgan.......89pts
3. Dylan Davies.......86pts
4. Bob Ceen.......75pts
5. James Giddings.......74pts
6. Matt Edwards.......68pts
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.
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