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Hirst makes flying start to his title defence with victory on Rally North Wales

Matthew Hirst and Declan Dear made a flying start to the defence of their Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship title by winning the opening round of the 2023 series, the Get Jerky Rally North Wales (Saturday 25 March).

Using a new Pirelli tyre compound to excellent effect, especially in the morning's wet and muddy conditions, the 2019 and 2022 champions established a healthy lead after the first loop of four stages through Dyfnant, Gartheiniog, Big Ray and Dyfi forests, despite admitting to a few moments in their Delta Salvage Ford Fiesta R5. They then extended their advantage over the afternoon's repeat run through the stages to a very impressive 3min 39sec winning margin.

It was the third time that they had won Rally North Wales - and both previous victories have led to them claiming the Welsh title!

"When you've built up a nice gap at the top of the leaderboard by the middle of the event it's yours to lose from then on, so we're pleased to have reached the finish here in Welshpool's town centre," said Hirst.

"We underestimated the grip levels on the opening stage and then had a couple of moments when we were pushing after that, but everything has gone really well all day."

Without taking anything away from Hirst's very impressive performance, his big winning margin was helped by a number of his main rivals failing to reach the finish.

Gavin Edwards had brake fade right from the start in his Vaynol Plumbing Ford Fiesta R5. The problem got progressively worse during each stage, leaving the Caernarfon driver will little confidence in the car. He and co-driver Caron Tomlinson managed to survive the first loop of stages but retired the car at the mid-day service halt in Dolgellau.

Jordan and Paul Hone were two seconds quicker than Hirst/Dear on the opening stage, but their lead was short-lived as they retired their Premier Car Parks Ford Fiesta R5 in SS3.

Tommi Meadows had never driven a four-wheel drive car before the morning of the event and started well in his Seacon UK Subaru Impreza. Unfortunately, a puncture on a road section stopped him and co-driver Laura Cooledge's progress in the afternoon. Steve Hollis/Tim Currie got no further than SS2 in their Volkswagen Golf R, while Paul Walker/Geraint Thomas didn't start after a gearbox issue with their Green Paw Subaru Impreza in pre-event testing.

Even some of the 4WD crews that did finish lost time with problems. Daniel Moss/Samuel Davies broke a rear driveshaft on SS4 in their pink Hurst Haylage Mitsubishi Evo 10, Peter Baylis/Paul Godden had a misfire for the first three stages in their Artificial Lawn Company Mitsubishi Evo 9 (cured then they discovered a switch that had been knocked), Colin Minton/Bonnie Papper suffered clutch problems in their Ignition Motorsport Ford Fiesta R5 on SS2, and David Tomlin/Keith Ashley collected a rear puncture in their Axon Ford Fiesta R5 on SS2. Having changed the wheel after the stage, they were now running 10 cars lower than where they started and caught a car on SS3.

Simon Rogers (ably co-driven by late replacement Jack Bowen) had an anti-lag issue with his MacWhirter Motorsport-prepared Mitsubishi Evo6 in the morning - but then launched a magnificent fightback to regain all the positions he'd lost. His pace over the afternoon loop of stages was rewarded with a fourth place Pirelli Welsh points finish.

Martyn Andrews, pictured below, had a "fantastic day" in his Opie Oils Subaru Impreza. Co-driven by Steve Greenhill, the Welwyn Garden City driver picked up sixth placed points and also leads the Welsh Challenge category.

Wug Utting/Bob Stokoe finished just two seconds behind in their Subaru Impreza.
Keith Jones made a successful return to rallying in his Grooms Garage Subaru Impreza, which was fitted with a new engine and gearbox. The Newtown-based driver had a few overheating issues in the morning, but together with Sion Williams he flew in the afternoon - ending the event with an impressive final stage push.

Colin Griffiths quickly got to grips with his new Subaru Impreza STI, which was his first event in a four-wheel drive, left-hand drive, and dog gearbox car. The car's engine initially refused to fire up at the start of SS1, but after that small drama he and co-driver Sion Rowlands got quicker and quicker as the event progressed.

There was a very familiar car running last on the road - the Subaru Impreza that Charlie Campbell has purchased two weeks before from Pirelli Welsh frontrunner John Caine. The Edinburgh driver was partnered by 16-year old Brecon navigator Sam Weller, who was contesting his 35th rally and his first multi-venue stage event. It might have been dark and largely deserted in Welshpool when they arrived at the final control, but it was a tremendous effort and an excellent performance nonetheless.

It was the hard charging rear-wheel drive crews that were the stars of Rally North Wales, for despite heavy overnight rain they were still able to find an awful lot of grip and use their power to very good effect.

Not only did Robert Gough score top points in the Restruct Welsh Historic W9 class, the Ludlow driver also took home second placed Pirelli Welsh points in the overall driver standings. It hadn't been plane-sailing for him and co-driver Paul Morris either, for they had starter motor failure and hydraulic fluid leaking onto the clutch and brake pedals in the morning and wrong tyres in the afternoon. But despite this, they scored a truly magnificent overall result.

Richard Jordan/James Gratton-Smith finished 12 seconds behind Gough in their CarrPrep Allroads Asphalt/Shell Oils Ford Escort Mk2 - and runners-up in class W9.

Rudi Lancaster/Guy Weaver lost 20 seconds with a puncture towards the end of SS4 but fought hard in their Woolacombe Holiday Parks Escort RS1800 Mk2 to finish third in class W9, while Alan Walker/John Conner were a fine fourth in class in their JWC Financial Solutions Ford Escort Mk2.

On his first rally in these forests, James Lepley had a couple of early spins in his Esso-backed Ford Escort Mk2 and lost around a minute in total as the engine stalled and wouldn't restart. He and co-driver Simon Jones enjoyed a good afternoon and not only finished fifth in class W9, but the Newark driver takes the early lead in the OnThePaceNote supported Welsh Junior category.

There was a fierce family battle in the Welsh Juniors between the Presteigne Tyre Services supported Ford Fiesta ST driving brothers Callum and Liam Griffiths. Both had great runs, although this time it was Callum (co-driven by William Lewis) who finished ahead of Liam (co-driven by Daniel James).

Jonathan Brace/Paul Spooner had a great day in their Dave Jenkins Motorsport-built in their Brace's Bakery Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1. Softer tyres in the afternoon improved things even more, as the Blackwood driver won the Historic class W8.

Andrew Stokes/Jonny Tad Evans were also pushing hard in their Ford Escort and finished a trouble-free second, with Gary Smith/Clive Jones making it a trio on Mk1s on the W8 podium.

Brynmor Pierce/Matt Baddeley won the Historic class W7 in their Peugeot 309 GTi, despite not having a working intercom for the entire event.

Ben and Steven Smith started cautiously as their Amigos-backed Ford Escort RS2000 Mk1 was pulling to the left under braking, making it especially tricky on right hand corners. The Eversholt son and father team had a good push on the final stage and won Historic class W6.

On his 600th rally start (in a rallying career that started in 1969 and spans seven decade and 54 years) St. Clears co-driver Ryland James guided Gareth Lewis (Carmarthen) to second in class W6 in their Ford Escort RS2000 Mk1.

Having done a lot of work to his Talbot Sunbeam over the winter, Bala's Julian Birley said the car was the best it has ever been as he and co-driver Emyr Hall romped home to Historic class W5 victory.

As well as the Historic category trophies, the registered crews that finish in the top three of 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.

Defending Hockly Motorsport-supported Welsh 2WD champions Boyd Kershaw/Keegan Rees said it had been a rally of two halves in their Flying Kiwi Ford Escort Mk2. The morning had been interrupted with sequential gear down shift problems which had really unsettled their rhythm, while the afternoon loop was much better. So much better in fact, that they managed to win the Welsh 2WD category.

Iwan Roberts Jnr. lost the brakes on his Roberts of Ffestiniog Ford Escort G3 on the opening stage. It didn't get much better on SS2, when the car lost oil pressure meaning that for the rest of the event he dare not rev the engine over 6,000rpm. He and co-driver Daniel Jones still reached the finish to score valuable third place Welsh 2WD points.

Tim Phelps/Elwyn Manuel enjoyed a good points-scoring run in their Britpart Ford Escort Mk2, while Kevin Metcalfe/Ian Jones were reported to have parked their BMW E30 on the apex of a hairpin on SS2.

Montgomery's Ricky Crone suffered electrical issues in his MS Textiles Ford Escort Mk2, which forced him to skip three stages in the morning. He and co-driver Ifan Devine re-joined in the afternoon, but with hefty penalties for missing SS2, 3 and 4 they were classified last.

Gareth Edwards had taken two years to build his Ford Escort Mk2 and with fellow Caernarfon man Ifan Rowlands alongside was going well until he stopped in SS5. Graham Palmer/Mike Webbs were also going well in their PGM Caterham Specialist/Panel 2 Paint Ford Escort Mk1 but stopped on the next stage.

Defending class W12 champions Andrew Fox/Jaime-Lee Fox from Newport made a winning start to the season with a great run in their Xwatch Safety Solutions BMW 325, while Dan Chester/Paul Barbet finished second in their BMW E30.

Having rallied an historic Mini before, Tim Green/Jordan Davies had a great run to third in class in their first event in a modern Mini Cooper S - while David Howell Jones/Glyn Price managed to change a puncture before SS1 and came home fourth in what was the 100th rally for the Tanner's Arms/GJ Price Transport BMW E30 and crew together.

Gethin Price had spent the last six months repairing his RKP Haulage Nissan Micra, having rolled it last time out on Rali Ceredigion. The Machynlleth driver was on a road section to a stage when he was hit head-on by other competitor travelling in the oppositive direction. With front panel damage, he and co-driver Steven Brown continued and were rewarded with a class W2 win.

Tony Simpson all-but wrapped up the class W4 win with a tremendous drive in the morning in his Seacon UK Ford Fiesta R2T and spent the afternoon making sure he didn't throw away his advantage - although losing third gear on the final stage made the last few miles a little difficult. He was co-driven for the first time in 11 years by Glynn Thomas, who stepped in at the last moment.

Alex Cannon was contesting his first gravel rally for over 10 years and with Alan Carfree on the notes finished second in class W4 in his Rallyworld Ford Fiesta R2.

Prestatyn's Adam Clews was enjoying his first event in a Ford Fiesta R2, but he and co-driver Mark Thomas were forced to retire the car when a fuel pump problem was discovered in service.

Wrexham's Dan and Cyril Jones had a few moments in the morning and clipped a bale in the afternoon but survived to win the Hockly Motorsport-backed class W10 in their Jones Brothers/North Wales Joinery Vauxhall Nova. Defending class champions Martin Walters/Marie Fletcher admitted to making a slow start but came home an untroubled second in their Digger Parts Direct Honda Civic, while Michael Jenkins/Sophie Buckland had to nurse their Ignition Motorsport Ford Fiesta to the finish after picking up a strange vibration.

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

Round 2 of the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship is the Rallynuts Stages on Saturday 15 April, which is based at the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd.

2023 Get Jerky Rally North Wales - top 10 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship finishers:
1. Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear (Ford Fiesta R5+).......48mins 27secs
2. Richard Gough/Paul Morris (Ford Escort Mk2).......52mins 06secs
3. Richard Jordan/James Gratton-Smith (Ford Escort Mk2).......52mins 18secs
4. Simon Rogers/Jack Bowen (Mitsubishi Evo6).......52mins 33secs
5. Rudi Lancaster/Guy Weaver (Ford Escort Mk2).......52mins 45secs
6. Martyn Andrews/Steve Greenhill (Subaru Impreza).......52mins 48secs
7. Wug Utting/Bob Stokoe (Subaru Impreza).......52mins 50secs
8. Alan Walker/John Connor (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2).......52mins 52secs
9. Boyd Kershaw/Keegan Rees (Ford Escort Mk2).......53mins 17secs
10. James Lepley/Simon Jones (Ford Escort Mk2).......53mins 27secs

2023 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship
Overall drivers' points after Round 1:
1. Matthew Hirst.......30pts
2. Richard Gough.......27pts
3. Richard Jordan.......25pts
4. Simon Rogers.......24pts
5. Rudi Lancaster.......23pts
6. Martyn Andrews.......22pts

Images https://paulmitchellphotography.zenfoliosite.com/home

Hirst launches title defence as he aims for a hat-trick of Rally North Wales victories

 
Matthew Hirst will begin the defence of his Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship title when he contests the opening round of the 2023 series, the Get Jerky Rally North Wales, on Saturday 25 March.
 
The event has proven to be a successful launching pad for Hirst and co-driver Declan Dear, as both times they have won Rally North Wales (in 2019 and 2022) they have gone on to clinch the Welsh title. 
 
Having recorded a perfect 150 points score to win the title last year, Hirst will return to the popular Welsh Association of Motor Clubs organised gravel championship in his all-conquering Pirelli-shod Delta Salvage Ford Fiesta R5+.
 
"Rally North Wales is one of the rallies I know the best, as this year will be my fifth start," says Hirst.
 
"The first time I did it I wasn't placed too high, we were second the next time and the third and fourth times we won it - so for the fifth time we'll have to try and keep that record of success going!
 
"I'm pleased that this year's Rally North Wales is returning to Dyfnant forest which has been underused for the last few years but is nevertheless a classic Welsh stage. It's a stage with a lot of variety and it's great that the event organisers have worked hard to bring some different stages into the mix and refresh the event. Having said that, it's also nice to be going back to Dyfi, because that's one of my favourite stages of the whole year. It's a big challenge, with a lovely flowing nature and some really fast corners. It's a stage that rewards commitment, but if you were to make a mistake in Dyfi, you'd be heavily punished for it!
 
"The Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship is one of the most competitive championships that you can take part in. Last year might have looked easy from the outside, but in reality winning the title was far from easy."
 
As Hirst acknowledges, competition is tough - and without doubt his rivals will be aiming to stop his run of success in the Welsh forests. 
 

The Welsh forests are once again the place to see a Subaru driven on the limit, with many challenging for the top spot. Paul Walker/Geraint Thomas return in their unmissable Geoff Jones Motorsport-prepared Green Paw-backed example and are joined by Tommi Meadows/Laura Cooledge, Keith Jones/Sion Williams, Wug Utting/Bob Stokoe, Tom McKeown/Neil Thomas, Martyn Andrews/Steve Greenhill, Colin Griffiths/Sion Rowlands and Rob and Ashley Aslett in a fleet of Imprezas.
 

Crew also aiming for overall honours include David Tomlin/Keith Ashley (Axon Ford Fiesta R5), Simon Rogers/James How (Mitsubishi Evo 6), Colin Minton/Bonnie Papper (Ford Fiesta R5), Geoff Cottrill/Nathan Crewe (Mitsubishi Evo 9), Steve Hollis/Tim Currie (Volkswagen Golf R), Peter Baylis/Paul Godden (Mitsubishi Evo 9) and Daniel Moss/Samuel Davies (Mitsubishi Evo 10).
 
The Hockly Motorsport Welsh 2WD category is overflowing with talent and variety, with defending champions Boyd Kershaw/Keegan Rees returning with a new livery on their Flying Kiwi Ford Escort Mk2.
 

Other Escort Mk2 crews to keep a close eye on include Geoff Phelps/Colin Jenkins, Ricky Crone/Ifan Devine, Richard Warne/Chris Deal, Alan Horn/Ian Beamond, Tim Phelps/Elwyn Manuel and Rowan Moreton Wood/Hamish Campbell.
 
Class W12 champions Andrew Fox/Jaime-Lee Fox return in their Xwatch Safety Solutions BMW 325, while Iwan Roberts/Daniel Jones appear in a Ford Escort G3 and David Howell Jones/Glyn Price, Dan Chester/Paul Barbet and Kevin Metcalfe/Ian Jones bring a trio of BMW E30s.
 

In only his first full season of rallying last year, Liam Griffiths finished runner-up in the OnThePaceNote supported Welsh Junior category. Partnered by Motorsport UK Academy co-driver Daniel James, he'll be looking to win the title and do well in the 2WD section this time in his Discover Parks Ford Fiesta ST.
 
Liam's brother Callum Griffiths also returns, as he and co-driver William Lewis compete in their Presteigne Tyre Services Ford Fiesta ST - while Gethin Price/Steven Brown wheel out their Nissan Micra.
 
Michael Jenkins/Sophie Buckland return for another crack at the class W10 title in their Ford Fiesta and will be up against the defending champions Martin Walters/Marie Fletcher (Honda Civic) and Dan Jones/Cyril Jones (Vauxhall Nova) - while the highly competitive class W4 battle will be fought out by the likes of Tony Simpson/Stefan Arndt (Seacon UK/Kielder Tools Ford Fiesta R2T), Adam Clews/Mark Thomas (Fiesta R2) and Alex Cannon/Alan Carfrae (Fiesta R2).
 
The Restruct Welsh Historic classes continue to grow - and as well as the category trophies, the registered crews that finish in the top three of 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. 
 
Charles Campbell/Sam Weller will be battling for top class W5 points in their Davian Mk8 alongside the likes of Mark and Debora Tugwell (Ford Escort Mk1).
 
Gareth Lewis/Ryland James (Escort Mk1 RS2000), Julian Birley/Emyr Hall (Talbot Sunbeam), Freddy Camp/Stephen Spear (Escort), Ian Beveridge/Paul Price (Toyota Corolla TE27) and Simon Wallis/Graham Wride (Ford Capri 3.0 GT) will all be aiming to get their class W6 campaigns off to a winning start - as will Graham Palmer/Mike Webb (Escort) and Ben and Steven Smith (Ford Escort Mk1 RS2000) in class W7.
 

The big guns are out again in class W8, with Rudi Lancaster/Guy Weaver aiming for a category win in their Woolacombe Holiday Parks Escort RS1800 after several good performances last year. Gary Smith/Clive Jones, Peter Jones/Gareth Davies and Lyn Davies/Aled Richards are all in Escort Mk2s, while Jonathan Brace/Paul Spooner and Andrew Stokes/Jonny Tad Evans appear in a pair of gorgeous Escort Mk1s.
 
Meanwhile in class W9, Alan Walker/John Conner will be targeting a strong points finish in their Ford Escort RS1800.
 
Coverage from Rally North Wales 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 Wolverhampton & South Staffs Car Club, this year's Rally North Wales will be based in Welshpool, home of title sponsor Get Jerky, with the rally headquarters based at the Livestock Market on the outskirts of the town. Welshpool town centre will host the start ceremony (first car starts at 07:45), ahead of a four-stage loop through Dyfnant, Gartheiniog, Big Ray and Dyfi forests in the morning and afternoon, separated by a mid-point service halt at the Dolgellau Farmers Market. After all eight stages, covering almost 45 stage miles, are completed, the finish ceremony will be back in Welshpool town centre - with the first car arriving at 16:23.
 
Further details on the 2023 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship can be found online at: wnrc.wamc.org.uk.
 
2023 Get Jerky Rally North Wales - leading top 10 seeded entries
401. Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear (Ford Fiesta R5+)
402. Alan Carmichael/Claire Williams (Hyundai i20 R5)
403. Gavin Edwards/Caron Tomlinson (Ford Fiesta R5+)
404. Kevin Procter/Jamie Edwards (Ford Fiesta S2000T)
405. Simon Rogers/James How (Mitsubishi Evo6)
406. Jordan Hone/Paul Hone (Ford Fiesta R5+)
407. Paul Walker/Geraint Thomas (Subaru Impreza)
408. Wug Utting/Bob Stokoe (Subaru Impreza)
409. Daniel Moss/Samuel Davies (Mitsubishi Evo10)
410. David Tomlin/Keith Ashley (Ford Fiesta R5+)
 

Images Paul Mitchell 

Hockly Motorsport teams up with the Welsh Rally Championship to support the Two-Wheel Drive category

 
One of Wales' most iconic and long-running motorsport operations, Hockly Motorsport, has teamed up with the Motorsport UK Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship in association with Pirelli to support the Two-Wheel Drive category.
 
Hockly Motorsport was first established in 1985 as a motorsport preparations company, initially building cars for Vauxhall Motorsport. One of those cars was driven by company founder Harry Hockly, who went on to take three consecutive British Rally Championship category victories.
 
The Newtown-based company does far more than build and run rally cars, as it manufactures and fits roll cages and has its own fabrication room, machine shop, main workshop and undertakes bespoke projects - many of which are top secret prototypes and unique one-off vehicles for manufacturers and Hollywood film productions.
 
Jessica Hockly, Hockly Motorsport Managing Director, said: "As a company the Welsh Rally Championship is very close to our hearts. We feel that the Championship is a prime example of not only grass roots clubman rallying, but it is also inviting to competitors who want to use the championship as a stepping stone to the next level of motorsport. 
 
"We are very much a clubman-based company and aim to produce motorsport products at competitive prices, with quality that lasts. Our heritage comes from the Vauxhall Dealer Sport days, with Harry [Hockly] himself competing and developing products for the Vauxhall Nova and latterly Astra and Corsa. We have also developed a bolt on kit for a Rally First Suzuki Swift, promoting entry level motorsport at an affordable price. 

 
"The Championship has always been well supported, and with ourselves competing in the 1400 class back in 2019 we know that it's a Championship that makes you feel part of it, not just a number. 
 
"So this year we are pleased to be supporting the Two-Wheel Drive category and the 1400 class as a sign of our commitment to clubman rallying."
 
Dave Evison, MSUK Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship in association with Pirelli, said: "It's fantastic news that Hockly Motorsport will be supporting the championship in 2023. The Hockly name, synonymous with Welsh rallying for around forty years, sits well with what we are striving to achieve in Wales, and they are based in the heart of rallying in Mid-Wales. I'm really pleased and looking forward to working with Hockly Motorsport Managing Director Jessica Hockly."
 
Further details on the 2023 Motorsport UK Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship in association with Pirelli can be found online at: wnrc.wamc.org.uk.
 
 
2023 Motorsport UK Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship in association with Pirelli
Saturday 25 March.......Get Jerky Rally North Wales
Saturday 15 April.......Rallynuts Stages Rally
Saturday 20 May.......Plains Rally
Saturday 8 July.......Nicky Grist Stages
Saturday 9 September.......Phil Price Memorial Woodpecker Stages
TBC.......Wyedean Rally
Saturday 28 October.......Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally