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Matthew Hirst highlights the Championship pace with a stunning run on the Rallynuts Severn Valley Stages

Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear put in another stunning performance in their Delta Salvage/Witham Motorsport Ford Fiesta R5 to score maximum Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship points on the Rallynuts Severn Valley Stages (Saturday 13 April).

Such was the pace of the defending champions that they would have finished sixth overall in the British Rally Championship section, despite having to alter their driving style to overcome an engine misfire during the long afternoon loop of stages.

The Doncaster driver's performance was all the more impressive given the challenging and constantly changing conditions - which featured heavy rain, a very wet and slippery surface, thick low clouds and even a bit of sunshine and dry patches at times. And sometimes a bit of everything in the same stage!

"The morning loop went well and we had a good push in the fog - that was really challenging, but we've done a lot of work on our pace notes and that paid dividends," said Hirst.

"We had to nurse a bit of a misfire in the afternoon, which was a bit distracting at times. When we left the start line of stage five I thought it was all over, but we managed to overcome the issue by driving a bit differently. It wasn't ideal, but the result doesn't show that. We had a cracking day and enjoyed the stages - it's just been a bit stressful.

"We had a good overall result too. There are some very quick drivers in the BRC and against the likes of Osian Pryce, Chris Ingram, William Creighton and Keith Cronin we didn't embarrass ourselves and showed that the pace in the Pirelli Welsh Championship is very strong."

Former Pirelli Welsh Junior, Challenge and class W13 champion Rob Wilson had another fantastic run in his Mitsubishi Evo 7. Co-driven by Martin Haggett, the Herefordshire youngster pushed hard in the fog in the morning and another big push on the final stage saw him seal a second-place Pirelli Welsh result, finishing 1min 35secs behind Hirst/Dear.

Russ Thompson held second until a costly spin on SS5 saw him lose a place and drop 9.1 seconds behind Wilson. Together with Stephen Link, the Dunnow Plant Mitsubishi Evo 9 driver launched a big push on the final stage but had to stop to make sure the crew of the crashed car running ahead of them were okay. It wouldn't have made any difference, as Wilson's counterattack would have confirmed the podium positions anyway and Thompson was nonetheless pleased with third-place on his return to the series.

James Giddings followed up his third-place finish on the opening Get Jerky Rally North Wales round with fourth this time in his Fordpad/Enva/Sar Metals Mitsubishi Evo 9. Early understeer didn't help, it was his first experience of rallying in fog too, while a spin at a hairpin in Hafren in the afternoon didn't cost too much time. Ably guided by Aled Davies, it was another fine performance by the Carmarthen driver which sees him move up to second in the overall standings.

Experience is key in such tricky conditions, and that certainly paid dividends for Wug Utting/Bob Stokoe, who took home fifth-placed Pirelli Welsh points in their Geoff Jones Motorsport-prepared Subaru Impreza N12b. Having used part-worn tyres in the morning, some fresh rubber was deployed for the afternoon - which was an inspired choice given the trickier polished conditions.

Peter Baylis couldn't quite believe the overheating issues with his Artificial Lawn Company Mitsubishi Evo 9 had returned, meaning that he had to turn the anti-lag system off on the longer stages. Co-driven by Paul Godden, the Gravesend driver managed the situation extremely well and scored an impressive eighth-placed Pirelli Welsh points finish, although the problem cost him at least one if not several places.

David Tomlin's event began with a spin on SS1 and a bit of caution in the fog. Co-driven by Ian Beamond, the Worcester driver enjoyed another good run in his Axon Ford Fiesta R5 to take home ninth-placed points.

Having broken a driveshaft on Rally North Wales, Colin Griffiths/Marc Morgan recorded their first Pirelli Welsh finish of the season in their Jamtech Motorsport-prepared Subaru Impreza STi, despite a time-consuming problem on the penultimate stage.

Several of the drivers expecting to challenge for maximum Pirelli Welsh points failed to finish the event.

Dan O'Brien/Mark Glennerster retired their O'Brien Group Ford Fiesta RS WRC with turbo failure on the opening stage, Perry Gardener/Jack Bowen had brake failure in their TNT AGRI Fiesta R5 and called it a day after SS3, Simon Rogers/Ade Williams had started well but retired their MacWhirter Motorsport Mitsubishi Evo 6 with transmission failure on SS4 and Steve Hollis/Tim Currie didn't complete the morning loop in their Volkswagen Golf V R32 either. 

Daniel Moss/Sammy Allen arrived too late into midday service in their Hurst Haylage Mitsubishi Evo 10 and went OTL, Rob and Ashley Aslett retired their Rigfone Electric Contractors Subaru Impreza with transmission problems on SS3, Geoff Cottrill/Nathan Crewe had gearbox issues in their Mitsubishi Evo 9 on SS3 and stopped before it failed completely, and the smart Plant Speed Subaru Impreza STi driven by Paul Lomas/Mark Leader caught fire on SS6.

Colin Minton didn't have an engine in his Tutts Clump Fiesta R5 two days before the event, but Ignition Motorsport did a great job to make sure he was able to make the start. Unfortunately, he and co-driver Tim Green had rear diff problems on SS1, a sticking throttle on SS4 and no handbrake and eventually went OTL.

And poor Martyn Andrews/Steve Greenhill didn't start the event. The 2023 Welsh Challenge champions had remapped their Opie Oils Subaru Impreza engine's ECU, but discovered a turbo installation problem that was unable to be fixed in time.

Rudi Lancaster/Guy Weaver were once again on sensational form, winning the Pirelli Welsh Historic W9 class for a second time this year in their Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks Escort RS18000 Mk2. It wasn't a completely trouble-free run, as they lost 30 seconds on SS2 after putting the car off on a built up section of road and having to reverse out of a ditch. Despite this and continued brake bias issues, they scored sixth-placed overall Pirelli Welsh points as well.

John Morgan had no clutch and a misfire in his Fairfield Motor Co Escort Mk2 in the morning, but with Llinos Jones-Edwards by his side the Bridgnorth driver finished second in class W9 - while defending class W9 champion Lyn Davies (co-driven by Aled Richards) came home third in his Jonesport-prepared 57 Tyres Escort RS1800 Mk2 to maintain his second place in the class standings.

Peter Jones/Gareth Davies (Escort Mk2) had a good run to fourth in class, finishing ahead of Jeremy Wells/Martin Saunders, who had swapped their usual Wells Masonry Solutions Escort Mk1 for an underpowered Mk2, which they normally only use for course car duties. 

It was exactly a year ago that Steve Chaplin contested his first rally, finishing an incredible second in class W9. This was his first rally since last year's Wyedean and co-driven by Rich Suter the Gloucester driver finished sixth in class in his Dave Jenkins Motorsport-built Escort Mk2.

Robert Gough hasn't finished a rally since last year's Nicky Grist Stages and was hoping for a change of fortune in his Escort RS1800 Mk2. Partnered by Jez Rogers, he admitted to feeling a little rusty first thing, before a misfire hampered progress on SS4 and he stopped mid-way through the afternoon loop of stages.

Jonathan Brace/Paul Spooner bounced back from their retirement on Rally North Wales to win the Historic class W8 this time in their Dave Jenkins Motorsport-run Brace's Bakery Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1. Gary Smith/Clive Jones (Escort RS1600 Mk1) finished second and still lead the class, while Andrew Stokes/Jonny Tad Evans (Stokes Rally Team Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1) finished third and remain second!

Eddie Lewis' switch from a Fiesta R5 to an Historic spec BDA-engined Mechanical Solutions Escort Mk2 was a successful one, as he and co-driver Sion Cunniff won class W7. Peter Hinton finished second in his Escort Mk2 and (partnered by Lewis Sim) continues to lead the class, while Graham Thatcher was an excellent third in his Pembridge Vehicle Management TR7 V8 - which is enough for Tim Samuel to remain at the top of the co-drivers' class category.

Josh Carr/Osian Owen opened their Historic class W6 account with victory in their East Coast Bearings Escort Mk1.

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.

Despite a misfire on the final stage, Iwan Roberts Jnr reigned supreme in the Hockly Motorsport-supported 2WD category. Co-driven by Daniel Jones, the Roberts of Ffestiniog Ford Escort G3 driver also took home seventh-placed overall Pirelli Welsh points. 

The star drive on Rally North Wales came from Chris Richmond Hand, and the road rally ace put in another truly remarkable performance this time as well. Co-driven by Ryan 'Sheep' Jones, the Llandysul driver mastered the slippery conditions in his DC Motorsport Escort Mk2 to finish second in the 2WD section - which maintains his lead in that and in the 57 Tyres Welsh Challenge. He also scored another top 10 Pirelli Welsh result to move up to sixth in the overall drivers' standings!

Rob Dennis/Andy Boswell finished third 2WD in their Team Dennis Escort Mk2, while the Swindon driver also leads class W11.

Geoff Phelps/Colin Jenkins lost time when the throttle started to stick open on SS3 and they ended up in a ditch on SS4, but they kept their class W11 title hopes alive with third in class in their Hartpury Farms Escort Mk2.

The windscreen wiper motor failed on Richard Warne's Escort Mk2 and having worked fine for 45 years it's not a spare part that he carries in the service van. He and co-driver Chris Deal had a nightmare final two stages but finished fifth in class - just behind Scott Walton/Craig Nelson (Avia Autos/Mid Glamorgan Escort Mk2).

Defending W12 champions Andrew Fox/Jaime-Lee Fox have taken the class lead after victory in their Xwatch Safety Solutions BMW 325, while David Jones/Glyn Price came home second in their Tanners Arms/GJ Price Transport BMW E30.

Alan Desbois (co-driven for the first time by Lucie Gutteridge) scored an impressive class W10 victory in his Peugeot 306 RWD, beating defending champions Martin Walters/Marie Fletcher (Digger Parts Direct Honda Civic). 

Michael Jenkins/Jordan Joines had no power coming out of hairpins in their Tutts Clump Fiesta R2, which was a problem they also suffered on Rally North Wales. They were lucky that the final stage was red flagged and they weren't able to drive through it at speed, as by then the car had also developed a severe vibration (possibly a loose engine or gearbox mount) and driveshaft issues. They were pleased to reach the finish, scoring third in class W10.

Greg Mills admitted to a slow start in his 1.6-litre Toyota-engined Escort Mk2, although he and co-driver Andrew Sankey were to later retire with head gasket failure. Damian and Joshua Thomas also failed to make it to the finish in their Weaver Motorsport/Thomas Design Peugeot 206 S1600.

Ashley Francis Adams/Mark Ammonds stormed to a convincing class W2 win in their T2 Fabrication Nissan Micra. Paddy Homan was contesting his first gravel rally for five months and got delayed behind a car that had spun in front of him on the opening stage. Things got a lot better for him and co-driver Sam Spencer as the event progressed and despite losing the rear brakes on the final stage and putting all the bias to the front, he picked up second-place class W2 points in the smart Gallant Building Services Ford Puma. Dylan Fowler-Bishop/Dan Evans damaged the front of their Restruct Nissan Mirca early in the day and were unlucky to retire on the final stage.

Eddie Lewis continues to lead the OnThePaceNote / Restruct Welsh Junior drivers' standings, although it was Lewis Hooper (co-driven by Rhys Edwards) who won the Welsh Junior section on the day after a fine drive in his Hooper Sport Fiesta R2. Just two points separate them at the top of the table, while Jack Bowen still leads the Junior co-drivers' section, despite his DNF.

Sam Mason finished third in the Juniors (and second to Hooper in class W4) after early understeer issues in his SM Autocare Ford Fiesta. Co-driven by James Seymour, the Bewdley youngster lowered the tyre pressures to see if that would help and pressed on hard in the tricky conditions to net a very good result.

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

Round 3 of the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship is the Plains Rally on Saturday 18 May. Organised by Knutsford & DMC, the event is based in the picturesque south Eryri National Park town of Bala, which is celebrating the 700th anniversary of being awarded a town charter by King Edward III. As part of the celebrations, all rally cars will carry the Y Bala 700 logo. 

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 and how to register visit: wnrc.wamc.org.uk.

2024 Rallynuts Severn Valley Stages - top 10 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship finishers:
1. Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear (Ford Fiesta R5).......1hr 02mins 33.1secs
2. Rob Wilson/Martin Haggett (Mitsubishi Evo 7).......1hr 04mins 08.1secs
3. Russ Thompson/Stephen Link (Mitsubishi Evo 9).......1hr 04mins 49.9secs
4. James Giddings/Aled Davies (Mitsubishi Evo 9).......1hr 05mins 46.8secs
5. Wug Utting/Bob Stokoe (Subaru Impreza).......1hr 10mins 07.9secs
6. Rudi Lancaster/Guy Weaver (Ford Escort Mk2).......1hr 10mins 22.2secs
7. Iwan Roberts Jnr/Daniel Jones (Ford Escort G3).......1hr 10mins 41.5secs
8. Peter Baylis/Paul Godden (Mitsubishi Evo 9).......1hr 10mins 44.4secs
9. David Tomlin/Ian Beamond (Ford Fiesta R5).......1hr 11mins 16.2secs
10. Chris Richmond Hand/Ryan 'Sheep' Jones (Ford Escort Mk2).......1hr 11mins 54.6secs

2024 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship
Overall drivers' points after Round 2:
1. Matthew Hirst.......60pts
2. James Giddings.......49pts
3. Rudi Lancaster.......46pts
4. Peter Baylis.......43pts
5. Wug Utting.......43pts
6. Chris Richmond Hand.......37pts

For more information, please contact: 

Dave Evison

Secretary, Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship

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

Paul Evans

Press Officer, Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship

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Big guns come out for epic Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship battle on the Rallynuts Severn Valley Stages

Defending Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh rally champions Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear will be aiming for a third straight win on the Rallynuts Severn Valley Stages (Saturday 13 April) when the series leaders contest the event in their Delta Salvage/Witham Motorsport Ford Fiesta R5 - although they'll face stiff competition from the likes of Perry Gardener/Jack Bowen, who return to the series in their TNT AGRI Fiesta R5, and Dan O'Brien/Mark Glennerster, who finished second on Round 1 in their O'Brien Group Ford Fiesta RS WRC.

Hirst started his title defence in style with a commanding victory on the recent Get Jerky Rally North Wales, but there is a long way between now and what the Doncaster ace hopes will be a record-breaking fourth Pirelli Welsh title - and there are plenty of drivers out to stop him.

Gardener is always quick in the Welsh forests and took home third-placed Pirelli Welsh points the last time he did the Rallynuts in 2022. Jack Bowen meanwhile will be aiming to extend his lead at the top of the OnThePaceNote / Restruct Welsh Junior co-drivers' standings, having navigated for Simon Rogers on the opening round.

Former Welsh Junior frontrunner O'Brien had a very close battle for position with James Giddings/Aled Davies (Fordpad/Enva/Sar Metals Mitsubishi Evo 9) last time out, and the pair will be duelling for the top spot once again.

Russ Thompson/Stephen Link scored maximum Pirelli Welsh points on last year's Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally and return in their rapid Dunnow Plant Mitsubishi Evo 9. The 2019 championship runners up will be able to use the top end speed of their car to good effect on the fast and flowing stages and will be out for a win. 

David Tomlin would have taken third-placed points on Rally North Wales had he not put his Axon Ford Fiesta R5 off and got stuck in the mud for three minutes. As his regular co-driver Keith Ashley is on Rallynuts Clerk of the Course duties, the Worcester driver will be partnered this time by Ian Beamond.

The 2023 Welsh Challenge champions Martyn Andrews/Steve Greenhill return in their unmissable Opie Oils Subaru Impreza STi N12 and will be challenging for a top spot, as will Daniel Moss/Sam Davies in their Hurst Haylage Mitsubishi Evo 10.

Rob Wilson won the Pirelli Welsh Junior, Challenge and class W13 titles in 2022 (and finished runner up in the overall drivers' standings) and is back in his trusty Mitsubishi Evo 7. Co-driven by Martin Haggett, the Herefordshire youngster knows how to get the most out of the not-so-young car and will no doubt be battling right up at the sharp end once again.

Peter Baylis had a great run to fifth last time out, with his Artificial Lawn Company Mitsubishi Evo 9 showing no signs of the overheating problems that had dogged him in 2023. Co-driven by Paul Godden, the Gravesend driver will be hoping to continue his run of good form.

Colin Minton enjoyed a solid start to the season in his Ignition Motorsport-prepared Tutts Clump Fiesta R5, and will be co-driven this time by Tim Green, while Paul Lomas (co-driven by Mark Leader) will contest only his third rally in his self-built Plant Speed Subaru Impreza STi.

A DNF wasn't the way Steve Hollis/Tim Currie had planned to start their 2024 campaign, although with the best five scores from seven rounds counting towards the final championship standings, their title challenge is very much on. They'll be keen to get a good points-scoring finish under their belts this time in their V6 Jaguar-engined Volkswagen Golf V R32.

Simon Rogers didn't have a great start to the season either. Last year's runner up will be hoping for better things, as he's partnered by Ade Williams in his MacWhirter Motorsport Mitsubishi Evo 6.

Other 4WD crews to look out for include Wug Utting/Bob Stokoe (Geoff Jones Motorsport-prepared Subaru Impreza N12b), Rob and Ashley Aslett (Rigfone Electric Contractors Subaru Impreza), Geoff Cottrill/Nathan Crewe (Mitsubishi Evo 9) and Colin Griffiths/Marc Morgan (Subaru Impreza STi), pictured below.

The Hockly Motorsport-supported 2WD category sees the return of reigning champions Iwan Roberts Jnr/Daniel Jones in their Roberts of Ffestiniog Ford Escort G3. Boyd Kershaw/Keegan Rees won the 2WD category three times last year, including on the Rallynuts, and will be out for another win in their Flying Kiwi Ford Escort Mk2.

The star drive on Rally North Wales came from Chris Richmond Hand, who won the class, finished second on the 57 Tyres Welsh Challenge and scored a Pirelli Welsh top 10 overall result in his Road Rally class DC Motorsport Escort Mk2. Co-driven this time by Ryan Jones, the double Cilwendeg Rally winner will be aiming for another impressive performance this time as well.

Defending class W12 champions Andrew Fox/Jaime-Lee Fox will be aiming to bounce back from a rare retirement last time out in their Xwatch Safety Solutions BMW 325, while David Jones/Glyn Price make their first appearance of the year in their Tanners Arms/GJ Price Transport BMW E30. 

Geoff Phelps/Colin Jenkins arrive leading class W11 in their Hartpury Farms Escort Mk2. They'll resume their battle with Scott Walton (partnered this time by Craig Nelson in his Mid Glam Motorsport Escort Mk2), Richard Warne/Chris Deal (Escort Mk2) and Mike Brown Snr/Nikola Brown (BMW Compact).

Martin Walters/Marie Fletcher started the defence of their class W10 title with victory on round one in their Digger Parts Direct Honda Civic. They'll have a fight on their hands again, as Alan Desbois (co-driven by Lucie Gutteridge) returns in his Peugeot 306 RWD. Greg Mills (who finished runner up in the 1999 Welsh Championship) and co-driver Andrew Sankey, pictured above, are back in their Lake Vyrnwy Hotel-backed 1.6-litre Toyota-engined Escort Mk2, as too are Michael Jenkins/Jordan Joines who finished second in class in their Ignition Motorsport/Tutts Clump Fiesta last time out, despite a pair of punctures.

Rudi Lancaster/Guy Weaver had an amazing Historic W9 class winning run on Rally North Wales, picking up fourth-placed overall Pirelli Welsh points in their Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks Escort RS18000 Mk2, despite brake bias issues. They'll be pushed hard again by Rob Dennis/Andy Boswell, who also had a good run last time out in their Team Dennis Escort Mk2. 

Defending class W9 champion Lyn Davies will be aiming for his first win of the season when he and co-driver Aled Richards start the event in their Jonesport-prepared 57 Tyres Escort RS1800 Mk2, while Robert Gough/Jez Rogers (Escort RS1800 Mk2), Steve Chaplin/Rich Suter (Escort Mk2), Jeremy Wells/ Martin Saunders (Wells Masonary Solutions Escort Mk1), Peter Jones/Gareth Davies (Escort Mk2) and John Morgan/Llinos Jones-Edwards (Escort Mk2) all return.

Jonathan Brace/Paul Spooner, pictured below, will be aiming to get their Historic class W8 title challenge back on track after a burnt-out windscreen wiper motor stopped their Dave Jenkins Motorsport-run Brace's Bakery Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1 on Rally North Wales. They'll be back battling with Andrew Stokes/Jonny Tad Evans (Stokes Rally Team Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1) and Gary Smith/Clive Jones (Escort RS1600 Mk1).

Peter Hinton/Lewis Sim will be aiming to extend their early Historic class W7 lead in their Escort Mk2, chased hard by Graham Thatcher/Tim Samuel in their Pembridge Vehicle Management TR7 V8. Eddie Lewis, one of the leading challengers for the OnThePaceNote / Restruct Welsh Junior drivers' title, and co-driver Sion Cunniff, will be looking to bounce straight back after a non-finish on round one in their Mechanical Solutions Escort Mk2.

Neville Breach/Tony Vart will be one of the favourites for class W5 honours in their Hillman Avenger.

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.

Dave and Freddy Brick will be looking for a strong Hockly Motorsport-supported 1400cc class points finish after fuel pump problems stopped their Vauxhall Nova on Rally North Wales. They'll be fighting for class W2 honours against the likes of last year's class runner up and Welsh Junior frontrunner Ashley Francis-Adams (co-driven by Mark Ammonds) in his T2 Fabrication-backed Nissan Micra.

Also battling for Welsh Junior honours as well as class W4 victory will be Sam Mason. The Bewdley youngster had a wonderful debut season last year and is back with co-driver James Seymour in his SM Autocare Ford Fiesta.

The 50th anniversary Rallynuts Severn Valley Stages contains seven stages, totalling 62.31 stage miles. It starts from the Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod Wells at 08:00 on Saturday 13 April and has four stages (Sarnau, Tarennig, Myherin and Sweet Lamb) before service in Builth Wells. In the afternoon, there is the repeat of Sarnau, Myherin Main (which at 15.82 miles is the longest of the event) and Hafren Main, before the finish back in Llandrindod Wells at 17:35.

The Rallynuts Severn Valley 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.

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 and how to register visit: wnrc.wamc.org.uk.

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.

Images by Paul Mitchell

Please credit Paul Mitchell Photography

‘Far from easy’ – as defending champion Matthew Hirst wins Rally North Wales for a fourth time

Matthew Hirst won the Get Jerky Rally North Wales (Saturday 16 March) for a fourth
time in a row, when he dominated the opening round of the Motorsport UK Pirelli
Welsh Rally Championship in his Delta Salvage/Witham Motorsport Ford Fiesta R5.
Co-driven by Declan Dear, the Doncaster ace set the fastest time through the
morning's loop of four stages through Gartheiniog, Dyfi, Dyfnant West and Dyfnant
East forests to reach mid-day service 1min 34sec ahead of his nearest rival.
He continued to push hard in the afternoon, and whilst heavy rain meant that he was
slower over the repeat run of stages, the reigning champion was still considerably
faster than everyone else - increasing his advantage to a magnificent 3min 05sec
winning margin.
It was their biggest win on the event, setting the defending champions on course for
what they hope will be a record-breaking fourth Pirelli Welsh title.
"Maybe from the outside this win might look easy, but it was far from it," said
Matthew.
"We decided right from the word go to push on and challenge ourselves and if we
were leading to not back off and manage the gap in the afternoon - which might
seem silly, but sometimes when you back off you lose concentration and make
mistakes.
"I love rallying in Gartheiniog, Dyfi and Dyfnant as these are classic Welsh forest
stages, and the weather made conditions all the trickier. It always seemed to rain
harder once we'd left the start line, and in the last stage there were rivers running
across the road - I had a bit of a moment when I aquaplaned, so that woke me up!
"Last but not least I'd like to thank the event organisers and the marshals who stood
out in some pretty awful weather to make sure the event ran like clockwork."

Despite not having rallied for well over a year (since the 2022 Visit Conway
Cambrian Rally in fact) James Giddings was Matthew's nearest rival for much of the
event. Co-driven by Aled Davies, the Carmarthen driver set a very impressive time
on his first ever visit to Dyfi forest, but he was less keen on the place in the afternoon
after a high-speed, flat-out, fifth gear spin! James' Fordpad/Enva/Sar Metals
Mitsubishi Evo 9 stopped facing the way he'd come, and over 20 seconds were lost
turning around - which turned out to be the difference between finishing third and not
second.

That spin was to benefit former Welsh Junior frontrunner Dan O'Brien, who was
making a return to the Pirelli Welsh Championship in his O'Brien Group Ford Fiesta
RS WRC. He and co-driver Mark Glennerster were enjoying a very close podium
battle, with only a handful of seconds between him and James during the day -
although they were eventually able to take second by 19secs.

Peter Baylis had worked hard over the winter to fix the overheating problems that
had dogged him in 2023 - and was going well, despite whacking the rear end of his
Artificial Lawn Company-backed Mitsubishi Evo 9 on SS4. Fortunately, mid-day
service at the Welshpool Livestock Market followed and he and co-driver Paul
Godden had a very good afternoon to start the season with fifth-placed Pirelli Welsh
points.

Simon Rogers had a day of irritating issues, starting with a puncture on SS2 and
brake problems on SS4 - and that was just the morning loop! He pressed on to pick
up seventh-placed Pirelli Welsh points in his MacWhirter Motorsport Mitsubishi Evo
6, which allows Jack Bowen to take the lead in the OnThePaceNote / Restruct Welsh
Junior co-drivers' standings - although it maybe wasn't a day last year's drivers'
vice-champion will remember with great fondness.

In the days of putting on sponsor caps and pointing logos in the right direction, it's
nice to see a driver meticulously rolling his moustache before an interview - but
that's how Wug Utting rocks and rallying is far richer for him! Few can match his
experience and he once again used it to good effect as Wug and co-driver Bob
Stokoe picked up eighth-placed Pirelli Welsh points in their Geoff Jones Motorsport-
prepared Subaru Impreza N12b. They finished on exactly the same time as Simon
Rogers, but the Mitsubishi driver was classified ahead having been two seconds
faster on the opening stage.

David Tomlin/Keith Ashley set the third Pirelli Welsh fastest time on SS1 and were
only eight seconds behind O'Brien after SS2 when a deep puddle of standing water
spun them off the road on SS3. They spent three minutes digging their Axon Ford
Fiesta R5 out of the mud - and whilst they recovered to take home 11th-placed
Pirelli Welsh points, it cost them a podium finish.

Colin Minton, co-driven by the reigning Welsh Junior champion Bonnie Papper, had
a solid run to 12th in his Ignition Motorsport-prepared Tutts Clump Fiesta R5.
On only his second event in his self-built Plant Speed Subaru Impreza STi, Paul
Lomas (co-driven by Mark Leader) got their season off to a good points-scoring start
by finishing 18th.

Paul Walker/Geraint Thomas retired after putting their Geoff Jones Motorsport-
prepared Green Paw Engineering-backed Subaru Impreza STi N11 into a ditch at a
downhill hairpin near the finish of SS3.

Steve Hollis/Tim Currie broke what they thought was a driveshaft leaving the start of
SS4 and retired their V6 Jaguar-engined Volkswagen Golf V R32 at mid-day service.
Keith Jones was out for the first time in 12 months in his Grooms Garage Subaru,
navigated by Motorsport UK Academy and Welsh Junior Robbie Sandford, who only
started co-driving last year. They were going extremely well until they went into a
ditch on a tightening right hander on SS4 and broke the steering.

Rob and Ashley Aslett were having a good run in their Rigfone Electric Contractors
Subaru Impreza until gearbox problems saw them skip the last two stages and begin
their journey back to Southampton a little earlier than planned.

One of the drivers of the day came from Rudi Lancaster/Guy Weaver. Despite not
being able to get enough brake bias to the rear of the car, and with the front wheels
locking up approaching tight corners, they finished a magnificent fourth in the overall
Pirelli Welsh Championship standings and won the highly competitive Historic W9
class in their Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks Escort RS18000 Mk2, which was
powered by a "nice and crisp" freshly rebuilt engine.

Rob Dennis/Andy Boswell finished second in class W9 in their Team Dennis Escort
Mk2, which was impressive enough to see them take 10th-placed overall points too.

Defending class W9 champion Lyn Davies got the defence of his class W9 title off to
a good start. Co-driven by Aled Richards, he finished third in his Jonesport-prepared
57 Tyres Escort RS1800 Mk2, despite a coil problem which caused an engine misfire
on SS3 and 4.

Ben Smith has moved up two classes this year, having fitted a more powerful 2-litre
Holbay Pinto engine into his Amigos-backed Escort RS2000 Mk1. Despite taking
time to acclimatise to the new gearing, he and his co-driving father Steven were on
sensational form - winning the Historic class W8, taking the lead in the 57 Tyres
Welsh Challenge and collecting sixth-placed overall Pirelli Welsh points.

Gary Smith/Clive Jones finished second in class W8 in their Escort Mk1, while
defending class champions Andrew Stokes/Jonny Tad Evans were third in their
Stokes Rally Team Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1 after losing time with clutch problems
on the final two stages.

Jonathan Brace received the David Stokes Historic Challenge award for drivers
before the event got underway - once again 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 - but his
return to his Dave Jenkins Motorsport-run Brace's Bakery Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1
after a four month break didn't go as planned. Unfortunately, a burnt-out windscreen
wiper motor stopped him and Paul Spooner leaving mid-day service - and as the wet
weather deteriorated in the afternoon, it was a wise decision not to venture back out
and risk it.

Peter Hinton/Lewis Sim stormed to Historic class W7 victory in their Escort Mk2,
beating Graham Thatcher/Tim Samuel who had a "hairy start" to the event, but after
that a good run second time out in their Pembridge Vehicle Management TR7 V8.
Eddie Lewis, one of the leading challengers for the OnThePaceNote / Restruct
Welsh Junior drivers' title, and co-driver Sion Cunniff retired their Mechanical
Solutions Escort Mk2 on the opening stage.

Class W5 champions Julian Birley/Emyr Hall got their title defence off to a great start
with victory in their Talbot Sunbeam. 

Perhaps the event's star drive came from Chris Richmond Hand. In his first forestry
rally, the double Cilwendeg Rally winner said he was being cautious - but
nonetheless he and co-driver Pete Phennah set an incredible five top 10 Pirelli
Welsh Championship stage times in their two-litre DC Motorsport Escort Mk2, which
included fifth fastest overall on the eighth and final stage. Their amazing
performance puts them straight to the top in the Hockly Motorsport 2WD class, first
in the Road Rally class, and ninth in the overall driver and co-driver standings! And
straight after the finish of Rally North Wales they shot off to do a night event!

Geoff Phelps/Colin Jenkins won class W11 after a great drive in their Hartpury
Farms Escort Mk2 - although Geoff's brother wasn't so fortunate.

Tim Phelps was out in a new car that had been built for Irish asphalt rallying and had
only done one event before being turned in gravel spec. Disaster struck halfway
through SS3 when he slid wide at a corner and rolled the Britpart Escort Mk2 a long
way down a bank. Elwyn Manuel was taken to hospital for treatment to a cut finger,
and we wish him, and the car, a speedy recovery.

Scott Walton/Ryan Jones finished second in W11 in their Mid Glam Motorsport
Escort MK2.

Defending class W12 Andrew Fox/Jaime-Lee Fox suffered an almost unheard-of
retirement in their Xwatch Safety Solutions BMW 325. They'd started well and were
impressed with the OnThePaceNote route notes that they were using for the first
time. Unfortunately, the rear differential bolts ripped away from the car 500 yards into
SS2 and they retired on the following road section. Lost for an explanation as to why
it had happened, Andrew joked, "the car is only thirty-five years old!"

Dan Chester/Steven Davey retired after gearbox problems in their Dan's Action
Vehicles BMW E30, while Kevin Metcalfe/Ian Jones had an early bath in their three-
litre BMW E30.

This allowed Gareth Humphreys/Adam Burkill to score a somewhat surprise class
W12 victory in their BMW Mini - although overheating problems on the final stage
meant that they had to be towed over the finish line by Graham Thatcher!
Martin Walters/Marie Fletcher are aiming for a third straight class W10 Pirelli Welsh
title, and their season started well with victory in their Digger Parts Direct Honda
Civic.

Michael Jenkins/Jordan Joines survived a big moment on SS1, followed by a
puncture on SS3 and SS7, to finish second in class in their Ignition Motorsport/Tutts
Clump Fiesta.

Greg Mills, who finished runner up in the 1999 Welsh Championship, returned to the
series for the first time since the 2000 Cambrian Rally. He and co-driver Andrew
Sankey were flying in the morning, but retired their Lake Vyrnwy Hotel-sponsored
1.6-litre Toyota-engined Escort Mk2 with ignition problems on SS5.
Dave and Freddy Brick looked on course for maximum points in the Hockly
Motorsport-supported 1400cc class, but their Vauxhall Nova stopped on the road
section to the last stage with fuel pump problems.

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 Severn Valley
Stages on Saturday 13 April, which is based in Llandrindod Wells and has stages in
Myherin, Hafren and Sweet Lamb.

During the 2024 season, the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship will be raising
awareness of its official charity partner The Osborne Trust (theosbornetrust.com).
Further details on the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship can be found online at:
wnrc.wamc.org.uk.

2024 Get Jerky Rally North Wales - top 10 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally
Championship finishers:
1. Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear (Ford Fiesta R5+).......47mins 05secs
2. Dan O'Brien/Mark Glennerster (Ford Fiesta RS WRC).......50mins 10secs
3. James Giddings/Aled Davies (Mitsubishi Evo 9).......50mins 29secs
4. Rudi Lancaster/Guy Weaver (Ford Escort Mk2).......51mins 23secs
5. Peter Baylis/Paul Godden (Mitsubishi Evo 9).......51mins 41secs
6. Ben Smith/Steven Smith (Ford Escort RS2000 Mk1).......51mins 45secs
7. Simon Rogers/Jack Bowen (Mitsubishi Evo6).......53mins 15secs
8. Wug Utting/Bob Stokoe (Subaru Impreza).......52mins 15secs
9. Chris Richmond Hand/Pete Phennah (Ford Escort Mk2).......53mins 27secs
10. Rob Dennis/Andrew Boswell (Ford Escort Mk2).......53mins 48secs
2024 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship
Overall drivers' points after Round 1:
1. Matthew Hirst.......30pts
2. Dan O'Brien.......27pts
3. James Giddings.......25pts
4. Rudi Lancaster.......24pts
5. Peter Baylis.......23pts
6. Ben Smith.......22pts

For more information, please contact:
Dave Evison
Secretary, Motorsport UK Pirelli 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 Welsh Rally Championship