Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship 

Motorsport

  • Gardener Digs In For Wet Weather Win





    Despite heavy overnight rain that produced treacherous conditions for competitors, Shaun Gardener made it back to back maximum points scores in the Pirelli MSA Welsh Forest Rally Championship, leading home the series contenders on the Winner Garage Skoda Wyedean Stages Rally.
     
    The Ludlow driver and co-driver Ben Innes headed the Championship cars throughout the event in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5.9.2. Second place went to Worcester pairing Paul Davy and Roger Allan in their Subaru Impreza while Andrew Jones and Keaton Williams took their Mark 2 Ford Escort to third.
     
    Absentees Luke Francis and John H Roberts had already secured the overall driver and co-driver titles but the lower positions were still up for grabs. Sixth place points were just enough for Surrey's Wug Utting and co-driver Bob Stokoe to claim the overall runner-up spot. Third in the driver standings was secured by Andrew Jones while Mark Glennerster finishes third among the co-drivers.
     
    While outgoing Group N champions Paul Davy and Roger Allan took maximum points on this event, Utting and Stokoe secured the title for less modified cars. The absent Andy Davies and Max Freeman take second place while completing the drivers' Group N Championship podium is Simon Dalton. Roger Allan finishes the season as third placed Group N co-driver.
     
    Andrew Jones takes the two wheel drive honours along with the Vital Equipment junior title for drivers under 25. Rear wheel drive honours go to Flying Kiwi Boyd Kershaw and Tim Cains takes the front wheel drive title. Top two wheel drive co-driver is Caron Tomlinson. He takes the place by just a single point from Richard Crozier while Martin Griffiths and Richard May take rear and front wheel drive honours.
     
    Rhydian Price and Jake McKenna complete the Junior driver top 3 while Max Freeman heads the Vital Equipment Junior co-driver standings despite missing the rally. Just one point back, in second place, comes Simon Jones who misses out on the title after finishing behind Keaton Williams on the event. Ahead of Williams and third in the end of season standings is Chris Davies.
     
    McKenna and Price take the drivers' titles in Class 2 and 3 respectively with Cal McElhinney and Claire Williams heading the class co-driver standings. Bob Vardy and Rhodri Evan are top C lass 4 driver and co-driver while the honours in Class 5 go to Hywel Davies and Richard Crozier.
     
    In Class 6, it's Gavin Edwards and Bryan Hull who take the laurels with Colin Griffiths and Emyr Hall picking them up in Class 7. 
     
    The hotly contested class 8 goes to Dylan Davies who finishes a single point ahead of Simon Thomas, while Mark Williams is top co-driver.
     
    Despite retiring from this event, Martyn England wins Class WRC1 with Mark Glennerster top co-driver.
     
    Arwel Jenkins will take the crown as leading Class N3 co-driver while top driver and co-driver in Class N4 are Andy Davies and Max Freeman.
     
    Speaking after the rally Championship Co-ordinator Dave Evison commented, "I would like to thank all the competitors, event organiser and marshals who have supported us throughout the season. In particular, I would like to thank everyone involved in making the final event of the year a success in very difficult conditions."
     
                                                                        -     Ends     -
    Issued 13th November 2016
     
     Credit for the attached photographs given to rallysportmedia.com
     
    Issued by Peter Hughes Media on behalf of the Pirelli MSA Welsh Forest Rally Championship
  • 2021 Regulations and Registration Live

       The Championship Supplementary Regs can be downloaded from here 

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  • 2024 REGULATIONS AND REGISTRATION FORMS


  • ACTION FROM ROUND 3 - VISIT CONWAY CAMBRIAN RALLY

     


     

  • Black heads Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship field as battle continues on the Eventsigns Woodpecker Stages



    Callum Black will be aiming to extend his early lead at the top of the 2021 Motorsport UK
    Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship when Round 2 of the series, the
    Eventsigns Woodpecker Stages, takes plac on Saturday 4 September.
    Black and co-driver Jack Morton won the opening round, the Nicky Grist Stages, in
    their 586 Sports team-prepared Ford Fiesta R5. They go into the next round three
    points ahead of Ian Bainbridge/Will Atkins, who will be out to turn the tables in their
    Å koda Fabia R5.

    George Lepley/Tom Woodburn finished third on the opening round in their AMS-
    tuned Mitsubishi Evo X and arrive at the Woodpecker also leading the Welsh Junior
    Championship. With the top Junior driver end-of-season prize of a test in a PCRS
    Rallysport-prepared Hyundai i20 R5, courtesy of OnThePaceNote, up for grabs,
    Lepley will be keen to extend that advantage - although he will be chased hard by
    the likes of Jason Black/Karl Egan (Toyota Starlet), Gethin Price/Matthew Baddeley
    (Nissan Micra), Maxx Bradshaw/Liam Andrew Whiteley (Mitsubishi Evo III) and Aoife
    Raftery/Dylan Doonan (Ford Fiesta).
    Former Welsh Junior champion Tom Llewellin had a great run on the Nicky Grist
    Stages to come home fourth on his rally debut in a four-wheel drive car. Co-driven by
    Ross Whittock, he'll be keen to once again get maximum mileage in his Mitsubishi
    Mirage.

    There will also be a number of crews aiming to kick-start their title assaults after a
    difficult start. These include the 2019 Pirelli Welsh National Rally champions
    Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear, who finished 11th on the Nicky Grist after an engine
    misfire and a broken driveshaft in their Mitsubishi Evo IX.
    The 2019 championship runner-up Russ Thompson has already dropped a score
    courtesy of snapping a pair of driveshafts on his Mitsubishi Evo IX. Partnered this
    time by Stephen Link, good results from here on in are essential if he's to challenge
    for the title this year.

    Bob Morgan/Adrian Williams will be hoping that their Å koda Fabia's brake issue
    which forced them to non-score last time out are fixed, while the 1990 Woodpecker
    Rally winner Graham Middleton, co-driven by Steven McPhee, is set to make his first
    appearance of the season in his Mitsubishi Mirage.
    David Crossen will be aiming to extend his lead in the Restruct-sponsored Two-
    Wheel Drive category, as well as closing in for the lead of the RAVENOL UK Welsh
    Challenge category. This time the Comber driver will be partnered in his rapid Escort
    Mk2 by Darren Curren.
    Ron Morgan will also contest the event in his newly built Escort Mk2. He'll be co-
    driven by Marc Clatworthy.

    As always, there is a high calibre of Escorts on the entry list. Paul Barrett/Gordon
    Noble lead the Historic class in their Escort Mk2, while Owen McMackin/Lee Taylor
    and Ashley Davies/Sam Fordham will also be aiming to continue their good starts to
    the season in their Escort Mk2s.

    Having retired from the opening round when their Escort Mk2's engine cut out,
    Jonathan Brace/Paul Spooner will be hoping for better luck on the Woodpecker.
    Likewise, Ben Friend/Cliff Simmons will be aiming to bounce back in their Escort
    Mk2, after a broken differential put them out of the Grist.
    Also expected to go well are the likes of Paul Street/Ian Jones (Escort RS1800 Mk2)
    former Pirelli Welsh National Rally champions Pete Littler/Andy Marchbank (Escort
    Mk2), Ricky Crone/Daniel James (Escort Mk2) and Phil Clarke/Steve Pugh (Escort
    Mk2).
    Having blown the cobwebs off on the Nicky Grist by contesting his first event since
    the 2015 Wyedean Stages Rally, expect Nik Elsmore to be back on the pace in his
    Mitsubishi Evo IX. He had only done three rallies in the last 12 years but, together
    with co-driver Craig Drew, was quickly into his stride - and will be one to keep an
    eye on this time for sure.

    Wug Utting is likely to be more up to speed too. He'd only had a replacement hip
    operation a month before the Nicky Grist, so expect him to be back to his old self
    when he and co-driver Bob Stokoe hit the Woodpecker stages in their Subaru
    Impreza STi N12.

    The Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship launched a new online video service
    on the Nicky Grist Stages, with the first round of the series attracting 272,000 views.
    In response to this fantastic audience figure, experienced motorsport broadcaster
    Sideways Media will increase its ability to capture the very best of the action with five
    cameras on the Woodpecker. It will edit this footage with onboard action and driver
    interviews and expert analysis from Howard Davies and Eifion Jones for an exciting
    new multi-film edited highlights package, dedicated to registered Championship
    contenders in every class, to be broadcast on the Championship's Facebook and
    YouTube channels in the week after the event.

    Organised by Sixty and Worcestershire Motor Club, this year's non-spectator
    Woodpecker Stages will take place entirely within the Radnor forest complex in
    Powys, and contain 44 stage miles on roads which are in superb condition.
    Further details on the 2021 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally
    Championship, together with registration information, can be found online at:
    wnrc.wamc.org.uk.

    For more information, please contact:
    Paul Evans
    07710 743167 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

    Images  
    Chris Huish, RallySport Media'


     

  • Callum Black flies to Championship honours on the Nicky Grist Stages

     

     

    Callum Black and co-driver Jack Morton took victory on the opening round of the 2021 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship, the Nicky Grist Stages, winning the Interclub Rally section of the event and finishing an incredible seventh overall in their Ford Fiesta R5.

     

    In his first rally outing for almost two years, and his first in an R5 car for three and a half years, Callum, the 2017 Pirelli Welsh National Rally champion, drove brilliantly to score maximum points on the 44 stage mile event, held on the classic mid-Wales forest stages of Llyn Login, Monument, Halfway and Crychan.

     

    Despite a handling problem in the morning, caused by a broken anti-roll bar, and a spin on SS2, the 586 Sports team driver finished 21 seconds ahead of Ian Bainbridge/Will Atkins, who were delighted with the set-up changes they'd made to their Å koda Fabia R5 during lockdown. Ian was a lot faster in the afternoon, when all four stages were repeated - a full 20 seconds faster through Crychan the second time in fact.

     

    Third place went to George Lepley/Tom Woodburn in their AMS-tuned Mitsubishi Evo X. After a very good start, they found the afternoon loop was much more challenging, but did well to stay in touch with the R5 cars. They were also top Welsh Junior crew home - Lepley staking first claim to the top end-of-season prize of a test in a PCRS Rallysport-prepared Hyundai i20 R5, courtesy of OnThePaceNote.

     

    It's the same Junior prize that Tom Llewellin won in 2019, and the former Welsh Junior champion appeared this time in a Mitsubishi Mirage. Together with co-driver Ross Whittock, he made a fantastic four-wheel drive competition debut, and never put a foot wrong as he got valuable miles under his belt on his way to fourth.

     

    Scotland's Garry Pearson/Niall Burns picked up points for fifth in their Mitsubishi Evo IX. Richard Hill and Elgan Davies were paired together for the first time in their Mitsubishi Evo IX, and the new driver/co-driver partnership worked so well that they caught the car ahead of them on SS4. Their speed continued in the afternoon, coming home sixth, while Gareth Mimnagh/Barry McCarney had a good run to an untroubled seventh place in their Mitsubishi Evo VI - and topped the RAVENOL UK Welsh Challenge category.

     

    2019 Pirelli Welsh National Rally champions Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear had a nightmare of an opening loop, with an engine misfire on SS1 and 2 and a broken driveshaft on SS3 and 4 in their Mitsubishi Evo IX. Despite this, they showed their class with a brilliant recovery in the afternoon, which rewarded them with 11th at the finish.

     

    Also struggling was the 2019 championship runner-up Russ Thompson, who snapped a pair of driveshafts on his Mitsubishi Evo IX upon landing after a jump on SS2. Having missed two stages, he completed the afternoon's loop of stages - both for testing and to get seat time with new co-driver Peredur Davies.

     

    Andy Davies/Ian Beamond were having a good run before a TCA broke on their Subaru Impreza.

     

    Bob Morgan's first rally for three years was hampered a little with his super-smart and self-prepared Å koda Fabia struggling to launch off the start lines. Co-driven by Adrian Williams, the Winner Garage boss was to retire in the afternoon with brake problems.

     

    Wug Utting was sporting a new hip, having had a replacement operation only a month ago. He and co-driver Bob Stokoe were on fine form in their Subaru Impreza STi N12, completing the event without drama. It was also a good debut for Martyn and Dawn England, who, after many years in their Ford Fiesta R5+, had purchased a Mitsubishi Evo X just four days before the event. And they got to the finish without an issue.

     

    It was also great to see Nik Elsmore return to the sport, having only contested three rallies in the last 12 years! On his first event since the 2015 Wyedean Stages Rally, he and co-driver Craig Drew were quickly back up to speed in a Mitsubishi Evo IX, getting used to a sequential gearbox and route notes after a long time away. Elsmore joked that, "it's a good opportunity to blow plenty of cobwebs away, although the event doesn't have much faith in us, seeding us at ninety-one." And he was correct, for he was a second per mile quicker through the stages in the afternoon and came home ninth registered Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship contender.


    David Crossen won the Restruct-sponsored Two-Wheel Drive category, the Irishman finishing eighth with Aileen Kelly on the notes in an Escort Mk2.

     

    Paul Barrett/Gordon Noble were almost a minute behind in their Escort Mk2 - but were nonetheless overjoyed to win the hotly contested Historic class.

     

    Frank Kelly, co-driven by his daughter Lauren, had a tyre come off the rim on SS2 - but their afternoon was a lot better as they came home third 2WD in their famous Baby Blue Escort Mk2. Owen McMackin/Lee Taylor and Ashley Davies/Sam Fordham finished fourth and fifth in the 2WD section in their Escort Mk2s.

     

    Having very kindly donated 500 packets of fabulously moreish Brace's Welsh Cakes for all the volunteer marshals, Jonathan Brace had a good start to the event - despite picking up a puncture in SS2. Sadly for him and co-driver Paul Spooner, his immaculate Escort Mk2's engine cut out a mile into the final stage and refused to restart.

     

    Ben Friend/Cliff Simmons also had high hopes of a good result, but their run ended after their Escort Mk2 broke its differential on landing after a crossroads junction.

     

    Paul Street/Ian Jones finished second in the Historic section in their RS1800 Mk2. 2000 Pirelli Welsh National Rally champions Pete Littler/Andy Marchbank and Michael Mcdaid/Daniel Petrie came home third and fourth in a pair of Escort Mk2s, while Tom Coughtrie/Ian Fraser were fifth Historic home in their Mitsubishi Galant VR4.

     



    Gary Smith/Clive Jones won the private RS1600 Mk1 battle, beating Andrew Stokes/Jonny 'Tad' Evans and David Kirby/Martin Corbett. They might have been seeded in the 200s, but you'd be hard pressed to find a more competitive group of drivers - and that battle is set to rage all season.

     

    Also enjoying themselves were Julian Birley/Steve White. They won the RallySport championship 40 years ago in a Talbot Sunbeam Ti, and have returned this year in a 1600cc Sunbeam - having rebuilt the engine, gearbox and rear axle during lockdown. Their preparation efforts paid off, as they recorded a trouble-free W6 class win.

     

    Ioan Lloyd/Sion Williams enjoyed a fantastic run in their Peugeot 208 R2, a spin on SS2 not getting in the way of a well-earned W4 class victory. Jonathan Jones/Alan Walker were second in their Fiesta R2, while Charlie Todd/Glyn Thomas completed the top three Welsh Juniors in their Fiesta R2T. Jonathan Lee Jones/Lewis Griffiths gently rolled their Fiesta R2T in Halfway, but sadly a holed radiator meant that they could go no further.

     

    James Dunkley/Dan Sayce won the W2 class in their Vauxhall Corsa. Steve Black/Paul Morris (Suzuki Swift S1400) beat David and Toby Brick (Vauxhall Nova) to the W3 class trophy.

     

    Robi Wood/Osian Davies (Escort Mk2) won the new Road Rally (W5) class, with Ricky Crone/Daniel James (Escort) finishing second and Graham Thatcher/Tim Samuels (Peugeot 206) completing the top three.

     

    David Edwards/Paul Dolby (Escort Mk2) beat Neal James/Kevin Jones (Escort) to the W7 award, while Dan and Cyril Jones (Vauxhall Nova) won W10. On their first forestry rally and their first event outside Ireland, Jason Black/Karl Egan won the W11 class in their rear-wheel drive Toyota Starlet.

     

    "It's been three and a half years since I last drove an R5 car and almost two years since I've done a rally, so it's been a very enjoyable event and I'm delighted with the result," said Callum Black.

     

    "It was good to just be back in a rally car - and I was surprised to be right up there and leading the very strong Welsh National Rally Championship section after stage one. Between stage one and two, I noticed that the anti-roll bar had snapped, so I had to disconnect it on the road section. The stability was compromised and the car was trying to get away from me on the faster sections after that, so stages two, three and four were a bit of a challenge.

     

    "The team fixed the car at midday service and after giving it a good go on the first two stages in the afternoon, we decided to bring the car home safely and get through the last two stages without any heroics and take home maximum championship points. I'm very happy with the result and I'm already looking forward to the next event."

     

    While the Nicky Grist Stages was a non-spectator event, fans could watch live streaming with Howard Davies and Eifion Jones interviewing crews from strategic points along the route. Sideways Media was there to film the action, and it is producing a 30 minute programme dedicated to the Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship, which will be uploaded onto social media channels as early as possible.

     

    After a 518-day enforced break caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, it truly was a fantastic opening round to the 2021 Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship.

     

    The series continues on Saturday 4 September with the Eventsigns Woodpecker Stages.

     

    Further details on the 2021 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship, together with registration information, can be found online at: wnrc.wamc.org.uk




    Picture captions
    Top: Callum Black/Jack Morton (Ford Fiesta R5) - 1st overall, Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship, 2021 Nicky Grist Stages.
    Bottom: Ian Bainbridge/Will Atkins (Å koda Fabia R5) - 2nd overall, Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship, 2021 Nicky Grist Stages.
    Top Middle: George Lepley/Tom Woodburn (Mitsubishi Evo X) - 3rd overall and 1st Junior, Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship, 2021 Nicky Grist Stages.
    Middle : David Crossen/Aileen Kelly (Ford Escort Mk2) - 1st Two-Wheel Drive, Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship, 2021 Nicky Grist Stages

    Please credit 'Chris Huish, RallySport Media' if reproduced.

     


     

  • 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.
     
     
     
    They'll be pushed hard in both categories by James Giddings, pictured below. The Carmarthen driver has shown remarkable speed this year in his Fordpad Mitsubishi Evo 9 and the fast and flowing Woodpecker stages should suit the car. With Aled Davies alongside, Giddings is a dark horse for victory.
     
     
     
     
    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.
     
    Another good run will strengthen Liam Griffiths, pictured below,' grip on the OnThePaceNote.co.uk supported Welsh Junior title, as he and co-driver Daniel James contest the event in their Discover Parks Ford Fiesta ST.
     

    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.

     
    James Dunkley (co-driven by Dan Sayce) will be aiming for his second class W2 win in his Opel Corsa, Adrian and Matthew Walk will be hoping to take the class W3 lead in their PartBOX Ford Ka, while a fourth maximum points score in a row would leave Martin Walters/Marie Fletcher (Honda Civic) tantalisingly close to the class W10 title.

    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.
     
    Nick Elliott is just four points behind Edwards, although he and co-driver Dave Price just missed out on a maximum points score after hitting a rock and bending the rear axle last time out in their Fiat Abarth 131.
     
    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.
     
     
     
     
     
    In the other Historic classes, Neal James/Kevin Jones (Cwm Engineering Ford Escort Mk2) are in a close fight for the W7 title with David Lloyd Roberts/Gerallt Davies (Escort Mk2), while Chris Squires/Shaun Hughes will be aiming to take the class W6 lead in their Trevor Morris Engines Ford Escort Mk2, with Rory and Paul McCann (Metalways Hillman Avenger) in hot pursuit. 
     
    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/WELSHRALLYCHAMPIONSHIP.
     
    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.com
     


  • Championship unveils the David Stokes Historic Challenge award

     

    This year's Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship will include a new end-of-year award for competitors in the Historic classes and honour one of British rallying's most loved and greatly missed drivers, David Stokes.

     

    The recipient of the David Stokes Historic Challenge award will be a driver who has most impressed the judging panel - which will consist of representatives from the championship, a Welsh Association of Motor Clubs committee member and members of the Stokes family - and be based on a number of criteria including (but not limited to) sportsmanship, unflappable determination, performance improvement and the way in which they promote motorsport in a positive and safe manner.

     

    It's some of the many attributes shown by the competitor to whom this special award is named after. The way the late David Stokes always went rallying. With style, good grace and incredible driving talent.

     

    All drivers registered for the Historic classes of the Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship (namely classes W6, W7, W8 and W9) will automatically be eligible for the David Stokes Historic Challenge award - and contenders who finish the 2022 season in the top three positions in each eligible will be considered for the accolade.

     

    There will also be a separate Guy Weaver Award for co-drivers - Guy being David's navigator between 2006-2015.

     

    To the eligible for both the David Stokes Historic Challenge and Guy Weaver awards competitors must:

     

    • Be registered for the 2022 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship.

     

    • Display the mandatory championship decals as provided, and display the additional David Stokes Historic Challenge decal, at each championship round.

     

    • Show a measurable improvement in performance and results during the championship year.

     

    • Demonstrate an ability and requisite pace to be competitive at a higher level, and to show a keenness to build on that in the future.

     

    • Show the correct demeanour towards championship personnel, event officials and the award sponsors and to be a good ambassador for the sport should you be selected as the outright winner.

     

    • Present yourself and your vehicle to a standard that reflects well on the driver, co- 
driver, team, championship, and sponsors.

     

    • Show an understanding of the teamwork element of rallying and in conjunction with your driver/co-driver investigate methods of improving your teamwork and thereby performance together.

     

    "I'm absolutely thrilled with the creation of the David Stokes Historic Challenge award and that David's legacy will continue in the Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship as Welsh rallying was very close to his heart," said Sue Stokes.

     

    "I will play a very active role in the process of finding a worthy winner of this award and aim to attend as many of the events as possible - to meet old and new friends in our extended motorsport family. I'm delighted to be involved and look forward to working with the Welsh National Rally Championship on this wonderful new initiative."

     

    "We are pleased and excited to announce this very special David Stokes Historic Challenge," added Dave Evison, Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship Secretary.

     

    "The challenge will reward competitors who strive to improve and can demonstrate the desire and performance to succeed and enjoy the sport in a positive and safe manner. These characteristics were ably demonstrated by David throughout his many successful decades in the sport."

     

    Further details on the 2022 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship can be found online at: wnrc.wamc.org.uk.

     

    For more information, please contact:

     

    Dave Evison

    Secretary, Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National 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 National Rally Championship

    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

     

    14th January 2022


     

  • David Lloyd Roberts and Declan Casey Scoop David Stokes Historic Challenge and Guy Weaver Awards


    David Lloyd Roberts, pictured above, and Declan Casey, pictured below, are the very worthy recipients of two very
    special Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship awards - the David
    Stokes Historic Challenge for drivers and the Guy Weaver award for co-drivers.




    Both awards were open to all drivers and co-drivers registered for the Historic
    classes, with the names of the competitors who finished in the top three of class W6,
    W7 and W8 going into the final selection process.
    The judging panel (made up of representatives from the Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally
    Championship, the Welsh Association of Motor Clubs, members of the Stokes family
    and Guy Weaver) then debated and decided on who the two winners should be -
    considering (but not limited to) criteria such as sportsmanship, unflappable
    determination, performance improvement and how they promote motorsport in a
    positive and safe manner.
    David Lloyd Roberts (from Corwen in Denbighshire) contested all seven rounds of
    the 2022 Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship in his Ford Escort Mk2, winning
    class W7 four times and clinching the title with victory on the final round of the series,
    the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally.

    Declan Casey co-drove for Michael McDaid, above, in their rapid McDaid Pharmacy Escort
    RS1800 Mk2 - with the Cork navigator winning the class W8 title, thanks to three
    magnificent class victories in the last four rounds.
    As well as ably demonstrating their speed, Roberts and Casey also impressed the
    judges with their excellent demeanour towards championship personnel, event
    officials and marshals, the high standard of car preparation and being great
    ambassadors to rallying - qualities that the late David Stokes always insisted upon
    and which Guy Weaver continues today.

     

    David Lloyd Roberts said: "I'm very surprised, honoured and grateful to receive this
    award. I've always been a fan of David Stokes, so to have my name on this trophy is
    one of my rallying career highlights. I had a mixed season, with some highs and a
    couple of lows, but we had a great class battle with Neal James and it all came good
    in the end."
    Declan Casey said: "Myself and Michael [McDaid] had a fantastic season in the
    Welsh forests coming away with the W8 class title. This award for me is the icing on
    the cake on a very successful 2022 campaign. I have recently got to know Guy
    [Weaver] and it's an absolute honour to accept this award bearing his name. I'd like
    to thank all our service crew, our families and our friends, without whom we could not
    have achieved this success."

    Andrew Stokes said: "I'd like to congratulate both winners. David [Lloyd Roberts] has
    shown devotion to the Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship and a great driving
    style befitting the David Stokes Historic Challenge award, while Declan Casey's
    efforts over the season have been brilliant and he's a very worthy winner of the Guy
    Weaver award. It's been a good first year and we look forward to developing,
    expanding and highlighting the initiative in 2023."

    Guy Weaver said: "I would like the award winners to be proud of these awards and
    the efforts that they have put in during the 2022 season. I hope that their success will
    inspire more to come and do the Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship and
    experience the fabulous stages that Wales has to offer."

    Dave Evison, Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship Secretary,
    said: "A huge thanks to all the competitors who rose to the challenge. There were so
    many stand-out performances during the year, which really bodes well for the future.
    Following the success of the David Stokes Historic Challenge and Guy Weaver
    awards, the initiative will be opened up to even more competitors in 2023. The
    success of the challenge is down to the working relationship built up with members
    of the Stokes family together with Guy Weaver, whose understanding of the sport
    played its part in the inaugural success of this new initiative. Our thanks and
    appreciation goes to them, and many congratulations to the 2022 winners, David
    Lloyd Roberts and Declan Casey."

    Further details on the 2023 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship
    can be found online at: wnrc.wamc.org.uk.
    For more information, please contact:
    Dave Evison
    Secretary, Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National 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 National Rally Championship
    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

    Images Paul Mitchell 

     

  • Garry Pearson and Callum Black go head-to-head for 2021 Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship title on the Rallynuts Stages

    Press release: 5 November 2021 

     

     

     

    Garry Pearson, pictured, and Callum Black will go head-to-head in the battle for the Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship title as the 2021 series reaches an exciting climax on the Rallynuts Stages Rally (Saturday 13 November).

     

    Having scored maximum points on the previous two rounds, the Eventsigns Woodpecker Rally and Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally, Garry takes a six-point lead into the final round.

     

    With a score to drop towards the final points tally, if Garry and co-driver Niall Burns win again it will give the Asset Alliance Å koda Fabia R5 crew a perfect three maximum score result and their first Welsh title.

     

    If Callum wins and Garry finishes second, they would be tied on points - with Garry winning the tiebreak.

     

    Whilst Callum is currently third in the overall drivers' standings, the 2017 Pirelli Welsh champion could win the title again - but he must finish first or second.

     

    Co-driven by Jack Morton, Callum was the early leader of the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship after taking victory on the opening Nicky Grist Stages. He kept his title hopes alive with a second-place finish in his Pallas Connections-backed Ford Fiesta R5 on the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally, but his retirement on the Woodpecker could come back to haunt him, especially in a tiebreak situation.

     

    Neither driver has rallied in Myherin, Sweet Lamb and Hafren forests for several years. Callum was last there on the 2017 Wales Rally GB, while Garry hasn't seen them since the 2014 WRGB.

     

    George Lepley, pictured, arrives at the Rallynuts Stages lying second in the overall drivers' standings. But with a second and two thirds the WD-40 Mitsubishi Evo X driver can only add five points to his current total (when taking the lowest score to drop into account) and is therefore unable to win the overall title. Together with Tom Woodburn, George is more than capable of winning the event, especially as the fast and flowing mid-Wales stages will suit his car, and he has already claimed the Pirelli Welsh Junior title and the magnificent prize of a test in a PCRS Rallysport-prepared Hyundai i20 R5, courtesy of OnThePaceNote.co.uk

     

    Work commitments prevented Ian Bainbridge, pictured, from contested the last round, but he and co-driver Will Atkins are looking forward to returning to the Welsh forests in their Gypsum Group Å koda Fabia R5. The 2018 Rallynuts Stages was Ian's first forest rally, where he was seeded at number 90 in a Subaru Impreza. His rapid rise through the rallying ranks, particularly since he acquired the Fabia, means that another good result could secure him the Pirelli Welsh runners-up spot.

     

    It's certainly not been the season Matthew Hirst (Delta Salvage Mitsubishi Evo IX) and Russ Thompson (Dunnow Plant Mitsubishi Evo IX) had been hoping for, so the respective 2019 Pirelli Welsh driver champion and runner-up will be aiming to end 2021 on a high. Matthew has been co-driven by Declan Dear all season, while Russ will have Tom Murphy alongside him this time, his third co-driver of the season.

     

    The 2018 Pirelli Welsh driver champion Dylan Davies hit a rock and lost a wheel on the Cambrian Rally and, together with Mark Glennerster on the route notes, will be hoping for better luck this time in his Subaru Impreza.

     

    Perry Gardener/Jack Bowen, who had a fantastic run to fourth on the Woodpecker, return in their Ford Fiesta R5, as do Wug Utting/Bob Stokoe (Subaru Impreza STi N12b), Nik Elsmore/Craig Drew (CDS Taxis Mitsubishi Evo IX) and Martyn and Dawn England (SW Motorsport Mitsubishi Evo X).

     

    Richard Hill/Patrick Cooper (RH Motors Mitsubishi), Saleh Hijazi/Stephen Landen (The Pallet Company Subaru Impreza STi), Keith Jones/Jonny 'Tad' Evans (Grooms Garage Subaru Impreza), Martyn Andrews/Steve Greenhill (Opie Oils Subaru Impreza) and Fraser Martin/Dylan Bargate (Slideways Motorsport Mitsubishi Evo 6) will all be aiming to finish the season in style, whilst after a good debut in their new car Bob Morgan/Adrian Williams will be another crew to watch in their Winner Garage Å koda Fabia R5.

     

    David Tomlin, who retired his Axon Ford Fiesta R5 with clutch problems on the Cambrian, will be co-driven by Ian Beamond as his regular navigator Keith Ashley is otherwise engaged as Rallynuts Stages Clerk of the Course and Chief Safety Officer.

     

    There is a good battle for the RAVENOL UK Welsh Challenge, with several drivers still in contention for the title.

     

    Owen McMackin, pictured, (co-driven by Lee Taylor) currently leads the points standings in his McMackin Plant Hire Escort Mk2, although Ashley Davies (co-driven by Sam Fordham) in his G&B Finch/Burton Power Escort Mk2 and David Crossen (co-driven by Aileen Kelly) in his Crossen Engineering Escort Mk2 could still win the title.

     

    Maxx Bradshaw/Liam Whiteley have travelled from the Isle of Man for every round of this year's Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship and after finishing fourth in the Challenge category on the Cambrian the Manx men will be hoping to end the season with a podium finish in their Renvo8/DB Autos & Sons Mitsubishi Evo III.

     

    There is also a close fight for the Restruct-sponsored Two-Wheel Drive title.

     

    Owen McMackin leads that category as well, with Ashley Davies,pictured, and David Crossen, pictured below, also able to win. In fact, the latter could win the title with a perfect score of 90 points, having won the class on the Nicky Grist and the Woodpecker.

     

    Having given his immaculate Wales Motorsport-built Restruct Escort Mk2 its debut on the Woodpecker, Two-Wheel Drive class sponsor Ron Morgan will contest the Rallynuts with Marc Clatworthy once again in the co-driver's seat.

     

    Retirement on the Cambrian Rally means that Ioan Lloyd is unable to win the Two-Wheel Drive title, although the fact that he's been challenging for that trophy in his West Wales Rally Spares Peugeot 208 R2 highlights what a talented youngster he is. Co-driven by Sion Williams, the teenager's priority was always the class W3 title, although he is in a race against time to repair his car after hitting a rocky outcrop and breaking a strut last time out.

     

     

    Paul Street/Ian Jones,pictured, lead the highly competitive Pirelli Welsh Historic Cup after a win, a second and a fourth-place finish in their Escort RS1800 Mk2. They can only be beaten to the title by Paul Barrett (Escort Mk2).

     

    Ben Friend/Cliff Simmons finished second in class on the Woodpecker and will be looking to end the season with a Pirelli Welsh Historic Cup win in their Allglass Escort Mk2, although winning the title is beyond them.

     

    Jonathan Brace/Paul Spooner (Brace's Bakery Escort Mk2),pictured, Charles Hopkinson/Alan Jones (Black Antler Design Escort RS1800 Mk2), Neal James/Kevin Jones (Mosley Rolling Road/Cwm Engineering Escort Mk2) and Michael McDaid/Declan Casey (McDaid Pharmacy Escort RS1800 Mk2) will also be hoping to end their Pirelli Welsh Historic Cup season with a good result.

     

     

    Robi Wood/Osian Davies must win the Pirelli Welsh Road Rally class in their NIBS/SWG Escort Mk2 to have any chance of winning the title. Leaders Ricky Crone/Daniel James (Escort Mk2),pictured, have one hand on the trophy, after two wins and a second this season and don't even have to finish if Robi doesn't win the class to be crowned champions.

     

     

    Graham Thatcher/Tim Samuel (Pembridge Vehicle Management Peugeot 206GTi),pictured, and Mark Lennox/Rhodri Evens (Lennox Engineering Escort Mk2) have both enjoyed a good season and excelled in the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship's newest class.

     

    Adrian and Matthew Walk will be aiming to secure the W2 title in their PartBOX Ford Ka, having already won the class twice this year.

     

    Steve Black is already the class W3 champion and, co-driven by Paul Morris, the 586 Sports team driver will be out for a bit of giant-killing fun in his rapid Suzuki Swift 1400.

     

    To highlight the vast array of cars that are welcomed into the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship's inclusive class structure, other registered competitors contesting the Rallynuts Stages include Paul Walker/Geraint Thomas (Subaru Impreza), James Dunkley/Dan Sayce (JD Auto Services Vauxhall Corsa), Richard Jordan/James Smith (MG ZR), Conor Tolson/Dylan Thomas (Powerhouse Turbo Garage Ford Fiesta R2), Kevin Metcalfe/Ian Jones (BMW E30), Rob Wilson/Martin Haggett (Ravenol Ford Fiesta R2), Harry Hunt/Steve McPhee (Ford Escort), Robert Bradley/Kevin Booth (Browns Furniture Ford Escort Mk2), Andrew Fox/Jaime-Lee Fox (Fitzgerald Plant Services BMW 325), Paul Lomas/Mark Leader (Plant Speed Ford Escort), Bob Morris/Dil John (Subaru Impreza), Simon Dalton/Jamie Vaughan (Subaru Impreza STi N12b), Steve Hollis/Tim Currie (Volkswagen Golf R), Tom Naylor/Tom Bishop (Ford Fiesta ST), Alan Desbois/Peter Littlefield (RWD Peugeot 306) and Simon and Alex Stanbury in their MG ZR.

     

    Experienced motorsport broadcaster Sideways Media will be at the Rallynuts Stages to capture all the action for a multi-film edited highlights package, dedicated to registered Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship contenders in every class and broadcast on the Championship's Facebook and YouTube channels in the week after the event. In addition, Howard Davies and Eifion Jones will position themselves at passage controls and at the finish where the two former esteemed co-drivers will broadcast live driver interviews and give expert analysis online.

     

    Postponed from its original date in April, this year's Rallynuts Stages Rally on Saturday 13 November will be the 47th running of the event. Voted the best Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship round in 2018 and '19, the Midland Manor Motor Club organised event will follow its now traditional format with six stages and 44 stage miles in Myherin, Sweet Lamb and Hafren forests. Rally HQ, the start, midday service and finish will be at the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd.

     

    Spectators are welcome at specific stage locations (but not the service area) and more information can be found on the event's website: rallynutsrally.co.uk.

     

    Further details on the 2021 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship can be found online at: wnrc.wamc.org.uk.

    Words Paul Evans
    Images Paul Mitchell & Chris Huish. 

     


     

  • Garry Pearson extends Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship lead as title battle goes down to the final round

     

     

     

     

    Garry Pearson has increased his lead in the 2021 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship after scoring maximum points on the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally, which is his second series win in a row.

     

    Co-driven by Niall Burns, Garry made a great start in his Asset Alliance Å koda Fabia R5 to establish an early lead which he was able to maintain until the finish, despite a small issue with the car on the afternoon loop of stages.

     

    "We started in the morning with a bit of a push to try and get an early lead, which was just as well because on the fifth stage in the afternoon we hit something and bent the steering," said Garry.

     

    "It got progressively worse, and for the last couple of stages we were forced to back off. But by then we had established a good lead and were able to maintain it until the finish."

     

    The Cambrian Rally proved an extremely challenging event, with recent heavy rain leaving the gravel roads in Gwydir, Penmachno and Alwen forests with a lot of deep standing water and the additional hazard of low sun on both the early morning and late afternoon stages.

     

    But it was a challenge many rose to, including Callum Black, pictured, who got his title challenge back on track with a second-place finish in his Pallas Connections-backed Ford Fiesta R5+. A puncture on SS4, a fast fifth gear brush with a hedge on SS5 and a slight ride up a grassy bank on the final asphalt stage couldn't prevent the 586 Sports team driver and co-driver Jack Morton from scoring a magnificent second podium finish, having netted maximum WNRC points on the opening Nicky Grist Stages. The result moves Callum up to third in the overall drivers' standings and in with a shout of the title.

     

     

    George Lepley also had a great run on the Cambrian. Not only did a superb performance in his WD-40 Mitsubishi Evo X net him a third place WNRC points finish, but he also clinched the Pirelli Welsh Junior title. His reward is a prize of a test in a PCRS Rallysport-prepared Hyundai i20 R5, organised by OnThePaceNote.co.uk. Co-driven by Tom Woodburn, George's fantastic result in North Wales puts him second in the overall drivers' standings, six points behind Garry and 15 points ahead of Cullum.

     

    Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear finished fourth in the WNRC section in their Delta Mitsubishi Evo IX, despite the spare wheel coming loose in the boot on the opening stage and dislodging the diff pump. They also survived a couple of punctures during the afternoon loop of stages.

     

    Jason Black scored his best overall result of the season finishing an incredible fifth in his Toyota Starlet. Co-driven by Karl Egan, he also leads class W11.

     

    Owen McMackin was also in inspired form, finishing sixth overall in his Escort Mk2. Co-driven by Lee Taylor, the result gives Owen the lead of both the Restruct-sponsored Two-Wheel Drive category and the RAVENOL UK Welsh Challenge.

     

     

     

    Ashley Davies remains second in Two-Wheel Drive category and moves up to second in the Welsh Challenge after he and co-driver Sam Fordham mastered the conditions in their Escort Mk2.

     

    Unfortunately, it wasn't such a good day for David Crossen. Coming into the event leading both categories the Comber driver picked up a puncture on the opening stage and, together with co-driver Aileen Kelly, retired his Escort Mk2 on the afternoon loop.

     

    Paul Street has taken the lead in the hotly contested Pirelli Welsh Historic Cup after scoring maximum points with a controlled drive in his Escort RS1800 Mk2. Partnered by Ian Jones, Paul picked up a puncture and bent a wheel on the opening stage, but a more cautious approach paid dividends after that.

     

    Robert Gough moves up to fourth in the Pirelli Welsh Historic Cup after finishing second (co-driven by Jack Bowen) in his Escort Mk2, which was a magnificent result considering that they have entered the car on the Roger Albert Clark Rally and were keen not to damage it.

     

    Unfortunately, Michael McDaid/Declan Casey retired their Escort RS1800 Mk2 on SS5, which puts an end to their Pirelli Welsh Historic Cup title hopes.

     

     

    Steve Black has clinched the class W3 title after a great drive in his Suzuki Swift 1400. Co-driven by Paul Morris, the 586 Sports team driver was able to ease off in the afternoon when rivals Dave and Toby Brick suffered clutch failure in their Vauxhall Nova

     

    Dan Jones/Cyril Jones have clinched the W10 title after securing their third straight class win in their Vauxhall Nova.

     


    Adrian and Matthew Walk continue to lead W2 in their PartBOX Ford Ka and scored maximum class points on the Cambrian having survived a couple of spins in SS2 when the windscreen misted up and a puncture on SS4.

     

    While Matthew has secured the W2 co-drivers' title, Adrian is in a close battle for the drivers' trophy with Ross Clements who (co-driven by Christopher Lear) enjoyed a good run in his MG ZR.

     

    Ricky Crone has extended his lead in the Pirelli Welsh Road Rally class to five points after he and Daniel James won the category for a second time in a row in their Escort Mk2. Early leaders Robi Wood/Osian Davies remain second in the standings after finishing second on the Cambrian in their Escort Mk2 while third place Graham Thatcher/Tim Samuel could still win the title after another strong performance in their Peugeot 206GTi. Mark Lennox lost time when his Escort Mk2's windscreen misted up on SS1 and he caught a car on SS2. He and co-driver Rhodri Evens recovered well, but their third-place finish leaves them a little short on points to win the title this year.

     

    Bob Morgan/Adrian Williams had a great maiden outing in their new Winner Garage Å koda Fabia R5 to score their first finish of the season, while Maxx Bradshaw/Liam Whiteley reached the finish unscathed in their Renvo8/DB Autos & Sons Mitsubishi Evo III.

     

    The tough terrain contributed to several retirements including Tom Llewellin/Ross Whittock (Brace's Mitsubishi Mirage), Dylan Davies/Dafydd Evans (Subaru Impreza) and Ioan Lloyd/Sion Williams (West Wales Rally Spares Peugeot 208 R2) all of whom hit the same outcrop of rock on SS2 which damaged the suspension of each car and forced them into instant retirement. Tom was particularly unlucky as the impact threw the car into a roll.

     

    Russ Thompson/Stephen Link stopped after SS1 when their Dunnow Plant Mitsubishi Evo IX picked up an electrical problem, Harry Gardner/Elliott Graham also retired their Mitsubishi Evo 9 on the opening stage, a severe misfire with their BMW 325's engine forced Andrew Fox/Jaime-Lee Fox out on SS2 while that was also as far as Alex Moore/Merfyn Williams got in their Subaru Impreza.

     

    Dave Tomlin/Keith Ashley retired their Axon Ford Fiesta R5 with clutch problems on SS4 while Robert Morris/Dil John put their Subaru Impreza off the road on SS5.

     

    With cameras on every stage, Sideways Media will produce a multi-film edited highlights package featuring competitors from all the classes within the Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship to be broadcast on the Championship's Facebook and YouTube channels this week.

     

    The final round of the 2021 Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship is the Rallynuts Stages Rally on Saturday 13 November.

     

    Further details on the 2021 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship can be found online at: wnrc.wamc.org.uk.

     

    2021 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship

    Provisional overall driver points after Round 3:

    1. Garry Pearson.......83pts
    2. George Lepley.......77pts
    3. Callum Black.......62pts
    4. Ian Bainbridge.......52pts
    5. Owen McMackin.......51pts
    6. Ashley Davies.......47pts
    7. Matthew Hirst.......46pts
    8. Richard Hill.......45pts
    9. David Crossen.......43pts
    10. Paul Barrett.......40pts

    Images - Paul Mitchell 
    Press Release - Paul Evans 


     

  • Hirst aims to extend Championship lead on the Nicky Grist Stages


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


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


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


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

     


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

     

     

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

     


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




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




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






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



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


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

     

     


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

     


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

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



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

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


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

    Friday 30th June 2023
     

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

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


     

  • Hirst Cracks Rallynuts


    Matthew Hirst and Declan Dear have extended their lead in the 2023 Motorsport UK
    Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship after scoring maximum points on the second round
    of the series, the Rallynuts Stages Rally (Saturday 15 April).
    It was a perfect day for rallying, with glorious sunshine and some of the best stages
    Wales has to offer in excellent condition - although the event ran in a somewhat
    sombre and reflective mood, following the tragic death of WRC star Craig Breen in
    pre-Rally Croatia testing. As a mark of respect, the event began with an impeccably
    observed minute silence and there were no Pirelli Welsh champagne celebrations at
    the finish.
    Hirst set the fastest time on all four of the morning's loop of stages through Myherin
    West, Myherin East, Hafren Sweet Lamb and Cwmysgawen in his Pirelli-shod Delta
    Salvage Ford Fiesta R5 to reach midday service at the Royal Welsh Showground in
    Llanelwedd with a 20 second lead overall.
    But four corners into the first stage in the afternoon, the Doncaster driver hit a rock
    that was directly on the racing line. The tyre deflated midday through the stages,
    ripping part of the bodywork off and costing him around 40 seconds and dropping
    him to second overall. He reduced the gap to the new leader from 16 to four seconds
    on the next stage, but when a tyre rolled off the rim at a hairpin on the seventh and
    final stage, it cost him another 35 seconds, dropping him to third overall. However,
    Hirst and Dear were still the top placed Pirelli Welsh registered crew, giving them
    maximum points for the second time in two rounds.
    "It was a challenging day," admitted Hirst.
    "The morning loop couldn't have gone better, but the afternoon tested us. A puncture
    in Myherin was doing a lot of damage to the car and we had to decide whether to
    stop and change it. We had a bit of a push in Sweet Lamb to try and get the time
    back, but then we had another puncture on the last stage.
    "But hey-ho, that's rallying, isn't it? But we're very happy to score maximum points
    again in the Welsh Championship, which puts us in a strong position for the rest of
    the season."

     

     


    Russ Thompson was flying in his Dunnow Plant-backed Mitsubishi Evo 9, especially
    in Myherin where the fast and flowing roads best suited the car. His plan of avoiding
    mistakes paid dividends, as he and co-driver Stephen Link picked up second placed
    Pirelli Welsh points. 

    Rob Wilson dropped to fourth with fuel related problems towards the end of SS4.
    The reigning Welsh Junior and Challenge champion immediately got the position
    back on the next stage, as he and co-driver Richard Crozier secured the final place
    on the Pirelli Welsh podium in their Ravenol-backed Mitsubishi Evo 7 - having set a
    very impressive joint second fastest overall time on the final stage.

    Steve Black enjoyed a great day in only his second outing in the 586 Sports-prepared
    Pallas Connections Ford Fiesta Rally2. After a sensible start in the slippery
    morning conditions, the 2021 Welsh class W3 champion was confident enough to
    stretch his legs on the drier afternoon stages, and together with co-driver Jack
    Morton he took home fourth placed Pirelli Welsh points.

    Eddie Lewis survived a "disastrous" morning loop, which included a turbo pipe
    coming off, a bottom arm joint coming loose and a tyre delaminating on a road
    section, which put him within four minutes of going OTL by the time he'd reached
    SS4. He and co-driver Sion Cunniff enjoyed a much better "steady, neat and tidy"
    afternoon, picking up sixth placed Pirelli Welsh points in their Mechanical Solutions-
    backed Ford Fiesta R5. Lewis also took maximum points in the OnThePaceNote-
    supported Welsh Junior section.

    Once again Simon Rogers had a late change of co-driver, with Ade Williams
    stepping into the MacWhirter Motorsport-prepared Mitsubishi Evo 6 hot seat this
    time. The day started with a huge spin on the opening stage, and thereafter he was
    embroiled in another close battle with Martyn Andrews - who Rogers ended up
    beating by just 0.04 seconds to maintain his class W13 lead and move up to third in
    the overall points standings. In recognition of his outstanding performance, Rogers
    collected the Witham Group special award (a voucher for £50) from Witham Group
    Sales Director Richard Scarbrough.

    Andrews echoed all drivers who said how "awesome" the stages were, as he had
    another great run in his Opie Oils Subaru Impreza. He and co-driver Steve Greenhill
    have extended their lead in the Welsh Challenge, while Andrews jumps from sixth to
    fourth in the overall drivers' standings.
    Daniel Moss said these were the best stages he'd ever competed on, as he put in
    another excellent performance in his unmissable pink Hurst Haylage Mitsubishi Evo
    10. After a faultless run, he and co-driver Samuel Davies completed the Pirelli Welsh
    top 10 finishers.

     

    It was another strong performance too from Wug Utting/Bob Stokoe, who put all their
    experience of the Welsh woods to good effect in their Subaru Impreza N12b. Having
    started on the same Pirelli tyres that they had contested the opening round on, the
    Surrey driver put on fresh rubber in the afternoon and went on to beat Peter
    Baylis/Paul Godden (Artificial Lawn Company Mitsubishi Evo 9) by just two seconds.
    David Tomlin enjoyed a "sensible and steady" run in his Axon Ford Fiesta R5, this
    time partnered by Ian Beamond - while Richard Ceen had a clean run having
    swapped his Focus WRC for an MSL Motorsport-prepared Fiesta R5, ably guided by
    Alun Hayward.
    Colin Minton/Bonnie Papper overheated the brakes on their Ignition Motorsport Ford
    Fiesta R5 on the opening stage, leaving them with no brakes and a big time loss
    through SS2. They were delighted to complete their first event of 2023 without a
    slipping clutch, with their afternoon stage times suggesting much more to come from
    the pair in the upcoming rounds.
    Charles Campbell/Sam Weller survived two spins (which cost them 1min 20secs) on
    the opening stage to bring home their Subaru Impreza. Rob and Ashley Aslett
    enjoyed a trouble-free run in their Rigfone Electric Contractors Subaru, as did Geoff
    Cottrill/Nathan Crewe in their Mitsubishi Evo 9.
    Paul Walker/Geraint Thomas retired their Green Paw Subaru Impreza with gearbox
    problems, while Colin Griffiths/Sion Rowlands also failed to complete the morning
    loop in their ex-Mikko Hirvonen/Alister McRae Subaru Impreza STI.

    Robert Gough was once again the top two-wheel drive finisher, scoring a magnificent
    Pirelli Welsh fifth (and ninth overall). Co-driven by Paul Morris in his Ford Escort
    Mk2, the Ludlow driver was kicking himself after losing out of the event's historic
    class win by just one second having put the car briefly down a bank in the opening
    stage and overshooting a hairpin - although he did score maximum Restruct Welsh
    Historic W9 class points to extend his category lead.

     


    On his very first rally, Steven John Chaplin finished second in class W9 in a new
    Dave Jenkins Motorsport-built Escort Mk2, co-driven by Richard Suter.

     

     

     

     

     


    Jonathan Brace/Paul Spooner made it two class W8 wins from two starts in their
    Brace's Bakery Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1. They almost went off at a hairpin on the
    final stage, with a quick yank of the handbrake saving the day - while the marshals
    were very appreciative of the Brace's Welsh Cakes that the driver had very kindly
    supplied fresh from the bakery.
    Andrew Stokes/Jonny Tad Evans went off near the start of SS1 and having regained
    the road picked up a puncture. Having dropped a minute, it was a safe and steady
    drive after that, collecting second place points and remaining second in the class W8
    table.
    Jeremy Wells had taken four and a half years to rebuild his immaculate Wells
    Masonary Solutions Escort Mk1. Co-driven by Martin Saunders, his first appearance
    in the car was rewarded with third in class W8 and the Witham Group historic class
    reward.
    Lyn Davies/Aled Richards picked up fourth place class W8 points after a good run in
    their Wales Motorsport-prepared Escort Mk2, while Peter Jones/Gareth Davies
    retired their Ford with broken suspension on SS2.
    Ben Smith (co-driven by his father Steven) leads the Historic class W6 after a
    second maximum points winning performance in his Amigos Ford Escort RS2000
    Mk1.
    Gareth Lewis had intercom issues all day in his Escort Mk1. It turned out to be a
    helmet issue, and with no intercom at all on the final stage, he was only one second
    slower through the second pass of Cwmysgawen than he was on the first, thanks to
    some gifted hand signals by co-driver Ryland James.

    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.

    Boyd Kershaw/Keegan Rees took their second straight victory in the Hockly
    Motorsport-supported Welsh 2WD section after another magnificent performance in
    their Flying Kiwi Ford Escort Mk2, despite spinning on SS5 and having to reverse.
    The defending 2WD champions were in superb form, finishing 19th overall, while
    they also extend their lead in class W11.


    Kevin Metcalfe struggled to find a rhythm in the morning, but with Ian Jones co-
    driving the Horsham pilot came good in the afternoon to take home second place
    2WD points in his rapid 3-litre BMW E30.
    Iwan Roberts Jnr/Daniel Jones lost a lot of time with a puncture on SS1. They fought
    back from 62nd overall to finish 24th in their Roberts of Ffestiniog Ford Escort G3
    and maintain their second position in class W11.


    Geoff Phelps/Colin Jenkins had a bit of a sixth gear pinball moment on SS4 when
    they put their Hartpury Farms Escort Mk2 up and down the banks on either side of
    the road. Having got away that that almighty tank slapper, they went on to record
    another excellent Pirelli Welsh points score.
    Dan Chester/Paul Barbet were playing catch up all day after collecting a puncture in
    their BMW E30 on the opening stage, while Tim Phelps/Elwyn Manuel had a good
    run in their Britpart Escort Mk2, as did Richard Warne/Chris Deal in their CarSpares
    Escort Mk1.

    Ben Smith also leads the Welsh Junior Championship after two second place
    finishes in his Escort Mk1, despite stalling the car on the final stage.
    Callum Griffiths had only ever driven the Hafren Sweet Lamb stage with a broken
    driveshaft, so he particularly enjoyed his first clean run through this classic Rally GB
    stage. Co-driven by William Lewis, he also beat his brother Liam (co-driven by
    Daniel James) in their pair of Presteigne Tyre Services-backed Ford Fiesta STs,
    although Liam did win the Witham Group 2WD category prize.

    Nigel and Kaz Jenkins scored maximum Hockly Motorsport-supported 1400cc class
    W2 points to share the category lead, despite a problematic start to the event, which
    saw their NJ Auto Repairs Vauxhall Nova reduced to 1000rpm after alternator belt
    and coil lead problems. They were also on three cylinders for most of the afternoon!
    In only his second gravel rally, Dylan Fowler Bishop (co-driven by Dan Evans)
    finished second in class W2 in his Restruct-backed Nissan Micra.

    Chris Bush/Kev Papper finished third in class in their Bushtec Recycling Opel Corsa,
    despite the windscreen misting up in the morning, whilst Ashley Francis-Adams
    regretted a lack of sleep the night before and lost time with a sluggish start in his T2
    Fabrication-backed Nissan Micra, although together with Lucy Wilding finished fourth
    in class.
    James Dunkley/Jack Morris came home fifth in class in their Vauxhall Corsa, one
    place ahead of defending class W2 champions Adrian and Matthew Walk who were
    contesting their first event since crashing out of last year's Cambrian Rally. Getting
    settled back into it, they were going well and finished, despite putting their PartBOX
    Ford Ka into a ditch on the final stage.
    Luke Watts/Matt Rogers also finished the event, despite the starter motor failing in
    the morning in their MG ZR.
    Tony Simpson was reunited with former co-driver Stefan Arndt and, for the second
    event running, dominated class W4 in his Seacon UK Ford Fiesta R2T. After two
    rounds, he has already opened an impressive 33-point lead and is second in the
    main 2WD drivers' standings.

     

    Lucy Wigley/Emma Cooper took maximum class W10 points, despite a few brake
    issues in their Redware Citroën C2.
    Defending champions Martin Walters/Marie Fletcher have taken the class lead after
    a solid run in their Digger Parts Direct Honda Civic, replacing Wrexham's Dan and
    Cyril Jones at the top of the W10 points table after they broke a driveshaft on their
    Jones Brothers/North Wales Joinery Vauxhall Nova on SS3 and went OTL.
    On his first event for six months, Alan Desbois was unlucky to collect a rear left
    puncture towards the end of SS1 and, with no spare remaining, had to be cautious.
    He and co-driver Peter Littlefield were delighted to reach midday service (a feat that
    they'd failed to do on the Rallynuts since 2019) and had a good afternoon to finish
    third in class in their Peugeot 306 RWD.

     

    The live streaming coverage from the Rallynuts Stages Rally 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 20
    May. Organised by Knutsford & District Motor Club, the event is based in Bala and
    contains a compact route of approximately 100 road and 44 stage miles.
    Further details on the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship can be found online at:
    wnrc.wamc.org.uk.


    2023 Rallynuts Stages Rally - top 10 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally
    Championship finishers:
    1. Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear (Ford Fiesta R5).......44mins 25secs
    2. Russ Thompson/Stephen Link (Mitsubishi Evo 9).......44mins 53secs
    3. Rob Wilson/Richard Crozier (Mitsubishi Evo 7).......45mins 51secs
    4. Steve Black/Jack Morton (Ford Fiesta Rally2)....... 46mins 31secs
    5. Robert Gough/Paul Morris (Ford Escort Mk2).......46mins 57secs
    6. Eddie Lewis/Sion Cunniff (Ford Fiesta R5)....... 47mins 03secs

    7. Boyd Kershaw/Keegan Rees (Ford Escort Mk2).......47mins 59secs
    8. Simon Rogers/Ade Williams (Mitsubishi Evo 6).......47mins 59secs
    9. Martyn Andrews/Steve Greenhill (Subaru Impreza).......48mins 03secs
    10. Daniel Moss/Samuel Davies (Mitsubishi Evo 10).......48mins 09secs

    2023 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship
    Overall drivers' points after Round 2:


    1. Matthew Hirst.......60pts
    2. Robert Gough.......51pts
    3. Simon Rogers.......44pts
    4. Martyn Andrews.......41pts
    5. Boyd Kershaw.......40pts
    6. Wug Utting.......38pts


    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.

     

     

     

  • Hirst hopes for a Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship hat-trick on the Plains

    Press release: 15 May 2022

     

    Matthew Hirst, pictured above, will be targeting an unblemished hat-trick of wins in the 2022 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship when he contests the Plains Rally on Saturday 21 May.

     

    Hirst and co-driver Declan Dear have made the perfect Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Championship start by winning both the WKD Trained Dogs Rally North Wales and Rallynuts Stages in their Pirelli-shod Delta Salvage Ford Fiesta R5+.

     

    Having conquered the famous Pantperthog, Dyfi, Big Ray, Gartheiniog, Myherin, Sweet Lamb, Hafren and Cwmysgawen forest stages, Hirst hopes his winning streak will continue as he prepares for 44 more stages miles in Aberhirnant, Llangower, Alwen and Clocaenog.

     

    Dylan Davies, pictured below, has been Hirst's nearest rival on both rounds this year and is second in the drivers' standings, six points behind. His Å koda Fabia R5+ hasn't been so sympathetic on tyre wear and a lack of traction has hampered the Llanon driver's progress, but he hopes for improvements as he and co-driver Mark Glennerster aim for their first win of 2022.


     

    Tom Llewellin arrives at the Plains Rally third in the overall drivers' standings. The 2019 Welsh Junior champion's first full season in the Brace's Bakery Mitsubishi Mirage has started well and he's quickly gaining confidence in the car. Dale Bowen, who partnered Tom on the opening round, returns to the co-driver's seat.

     

    James Giddings also had a fantastic result on the Rallynuts in his first appearance in his newly acquired Group N Fordpad Mitsubishi Evo 9. Co-driven by Aled Davies, the former Fiesta ST Trophy and Citroën C2 Challenge champion should go well on the Plains too.

     

    Bob Morgan, pictured below, has made a great start to the 2022 Welsh Championship and currently leads the Ravenol Challenge and is fifth in the overall drivers' standings in his Winner Garage Å koda Fabia R5+.


     

     

    Benj Ceen has been one of the revelations of the season so far. In only his first year in a four-wheel drive car, the former Renault/Alpine Formula 1 test engineer has scored two fantastic results in his Ford Fiesta R5 and arrives at the Plains Rally sixth in the overall drivers' standings and third in the Ravenol Welsh Challenge. The car is run by MSL (which is owned by Mat Long, who is married to Benj's sister and four-time Welsh Under 25 championship winning co-driver Sarah Ceen) and the results have been achieved despite the car running with an Evo1 spec 32mm restrictor and over 30bhp down on the other Fiesta R5s.

     

    Benj's father Richard Ceen, pictured below, has been troubled by sensor failures and his Ford Focus WRC05 engine stalling at every opportunity this year. With over six minutes lost on the first two events, he hopes that as a former instrumentation engineer he can get the problems fixed to enable him and co-driver Alun Hayward to enjoy a clean run on the Plains.

     

    Richard's slightly younger brother Bob Ceen is having a good season. The 2001 and 2015 Welsh champion has successfully switched from a Subaru Impreza S9 WRC to a right-hand drive 'National spec' Ford Fiesta R5, which has been transformed by MSL and has run faultlessly so far this year.

     

    Simon Rogers/James How will be aiming for a more trouble-free run having driven around several problems so far this year in their Mitsubishi Evo 6, while Dave Tomlin/Keith Ashley will be hoping to bounce back from beaching their Axon Ford Fiesta R5 - a simple case of running a bit wide ruining a good run last time out on the Rallynuts Stages.

     

    One of the most experienced drivers in the Welsh field will be Wug Utting,pictured below, who contests the Plains Rally for the 17th time! He'll be co-driven by Bob Stokoe in their Subaru Impreza N12b. Also back in his Green Paw Subaru Impreza will be Paul Walker, this time partnered by Geraint Thomas.

     

    Ashley Davies/Sam Fordham, pictured below, arrive in Bala leading the Welsh 2WD class having finished second on Rally North Wales and first on the Rallynuts in their Burton Power/G&B Finch/Deranged Trucks Ford Escort RS. Boyd Kershaw/Keegan Rees have also won their class this year, but fifth on the Rallynuts sees them five points behind in The Flying Kiwi Escort Mk2.

    Matthew Jackson, pictured below, is third in the 2WD class after two magnificent results in his MJ Rallying Ford Fiesta R2T. He and co-driver Sasha Heriot also lead class W4 in the flying front-wheel drive car.

     

    Kevin Metcalfe, pictured below. (co-driven by Ian Jones) is the top placed BMW driver and is just one point behind Jackson in his 3-litre BMW E30.

     

    Philip Jones/Ryan Griffiths (Ford Escort), Andrew Fox/Jaime-Lee Fox (Xwatch Safety Solutions BMW 325), Michael Sawyer/Gareth Price (2350cc Datsun 1600) and Geoff Phelps/Colin Jenkins (Hartpury Farms Escort) will also be aiming for strong 2WD results.

     

    The incredibly close Restruct Welsh Historic class battles will resume on the Plains, with the top three registered finishers in each class giving themselves a chance of winning the end of season David Stokes Historic Challenge for drivers and the Guy Weaver Award for co-drivers' awards.

     

    Matt Edwards/Hamish Campbell, pictured below, head the Historic class W8 after two victories in their Pirelli-shod Fiat Abarth 131. The development work done to improve the RSD-prepared car came good in the afternoon of the Rallynuts Stages, and if that pace and reliability continues on the Plains then the three-time British drivers' champion will be hard to beat.

     

     

    Nick Elliott quickly reacclimatised to his own Fiat Abarth 131 on the Rallynuts, having not driven it in competition for over three and a half years. Now that he's stopped driving it like his Escort RS1800, Nick and co-driver Peredur Davies should be on the pace from the word go this time.

     

    Roger Chilman (Securcom Escort Mk2) lies third in class, just ahead of Rudi Lancaster (co-driven by Guy Weaver in his Woolacombe Holiday Parks Escort RS1800), with Alan Walker (together with John Connor in his JWC Financial Solutions Ford Escort RS1800) fifth. Meirion Evans kick-started his class W8 title challenge when he and co-driver Gwynfor Jones collected third-place points in their Wales Motorsport Escort Mk2 on the Rallynuts.


     

     

    Other crews aiming for their first class W8 podium finish of the year include Robert Gough/Jack Bowen (Escort RS1600 Mk2), Michael McDaid/Declan Casey (McDaid Pharmacy Escort RS1800 Mk2), Ben Friend/Cliffy Simmons (who were flying in the early part of the Rallynuts in their Allglass Escort Mk2) Will Onions/Dave Williams (who survived a Rallynuts roll in their Capital Motorsport Escort Mk2), Pete Littler/Sion Cunniff (RED Preparation & Fabrication/Select Security Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2), Ron Morgan/Marc Clatworthy (Wales Motorsport-prepared Restruct Escort Mk2), Philip Clarke/Richard Bonner (Escort Mk2), and defending Historic class W8 champions Paul Street/Ian Jones (PJS Marine Escort RS1800 Mk2).

     

    Jonathan Brace (co-driven this time by Jamie Vaughan) heads the RS1600 Mk1 contingent in his Dave Jenkins Motorsport-built Brace's Bakery Escort, with Andrew Stokes/Jonny Tad Evans and David Kirby/Martin Corbett in hot pursuit.

     

    Having finished second in class twice, Neal James/Kevin Jones (Escort Mk2) take a 19 points W7 lead into the Plains Rally. David Roberts/Gerallt Davies won the class on the Rallynuts in their Cwm Engineering Ford Escort Mk2 and Ben and Stephen Smith did likewise on Rally North Wales, while Peter Hinton/Lewis Sim are also capable of winning the class - although head gasket and suspension issues have prevented them scoring a top result this year in their Escort Mk2.

     

    Julian Birley/Emyr Hall (Talbot Sunbeam Ti 1600) have a great opportunity to recapture the lead of the Historic W6 class after missing the Rallynuts.

     

    Rory McCann, co-driven by his father Paul, will also resume their Welsh title battle in their Metalways Hillman Avenger, as will Mark Tugwell/Steve Pugh in their Lotus Twin Cam engines Metalways Ford Escort Mk1 and Malcolm Bayliss/Siobhan Pugh in their 16BAO Rally Team Ford Escort Mk1.

     

    Liam Griffiths, pictured below, (co-drive this time by Andrew Sankey) will be aiming to extend his 24-point lead at the top of the OnThePaceNote.co.uk supported Welsh Junior points table in his Discover Parks Ford Fiesta ST.

     

    This brother Callum Griffiths finished on the Welsh Junior podium last time out in only his second ever rally and he'll be aiming for another good run with co-driver William Lewis in his Discover Parks Ford Fiesta ST.

     

    Gethin Price/Matthew Baddeley lead class W3, although the gap has been closed thanks to a non-finish last time out in their Keith Price Haulage Nissan Micra. Hefin Lloyd-Davies (co-driven by Rich Jones) returns, having won the class on Rally North Wales in his Jones Bros Engineering Vauxhall Corsa. Meanwhile Dave Brick (Vauxhall Nova) and Freddy Brick (Opel Corsa) will be aiming for their first championship finish of the season.

     

    Having scored maximum Road Rally class points last time out, Brynli Thomas/Steve Griffiths will be looking to take the lead of the category in their Peugeot 306 Rallye.

     

    Martin Walters/Marie Fletcher have made a successful return to rallying after spending the past two years rebuilding their Honda Civic and head to the Plains aiming to extend their class W10 lead.

     

    Organised by Knutsford & District Motor Club, the 2022 Plains Rally will see the first car leave the start ramp at 07.01 on Saturday 21 May from the Penllyn Leisure Centre in Bala. The event will contain two high-speed passes of Aberhirnant, Llangower, Alwen South, Alwen North and Clocaenog forests and after all 10 stages/44 stage miles have been completed the finish will be back in Bala from 15.00.

     

    Spectator information is available at plainsrally.co.uk and on the Sportity app (password: PlainsRallySpectators22).

     

    For those unable to make it to the North Wales forests in person but would still like to watch the event, the action will be live streamed on facebook.com/WELSHRALLYCHAMPIONSHIP with commentary from Howard Davies.

     

    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

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

     

    2022 Plains Rally: top 10 2WD starters
    1. Matt Edwards/Hamish Campbell.......Fiat Abarth 131
    2. Nick Elliott/Peredur Davies.......Fiat Abarth 131
    3. Matthew Robinson/Sam Collis.......Ford Escort RS
    4. Henri Greham/Daniel Petrie.......Ford Escort Mk2
    5. Ben Friend/Cliffy Simmons.......Ford Escort Mk2
    6. Will Onions/Dave Williams.......Ford Escort Mk2
    7. Robert Gough/Jack Bowen.......Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2
    8. Sacha Kakad/TBC....... Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2
    9. Hugh Hunter/Rob Fagg.......Ford Escort Mk2
    10. Simon Webster/Jez Rogers.......Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2

    2022 Plains Rally: top 10 4WD starters
    401. Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear.......Ford Fiesta R5+
    402. Dylan Davies/Mark Glennerster.......Å koda Fabia R5+
    403. Tom Llewellin/Dale Bowen.......Mitsubishi Mirage
    404. David Henderson/Chris Lee.......Ford Fiesta R5
    405. James Giddings/Aled Davies.......Mitsubishi Evo 9
    406. Bob Ceen/Shaun Layland.......Ford Fiesta R5
    407. Bob Morgan/Ade Williams.......Å koda Fabia R5+
    408. Benj Ceen/Caron Tomlinson.......Ford Fiesta R5
    409. Paul Walker/Geraint Thomas.......Subaru Impreza
    411. Dave Tomlin/Keith Ashley.......Ford Fiesta R5




  • Hirst Seals Hat Trick of Wins with Victory on the Plains

    Press release: 22 May 2022
     




     
    Matthew Hirst has made it three wins from three starts in this year's Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship after scoring victory on the Plains Rally (Saturday 21 May).
     
    Co-driven by the soon to be married Declan Dear, Hirst clinched another impressive victory in his Pirelli-shod Delta Salvage Ford Fiesta R5+, this time winning by 1 minute and 25 seconds.
     
    With Hirst's nearest rivals Dylan Davies/Mark Glennerster retiring their Å koda Fabia R5+ on the opening stage, he has increased his lead at the top of the drivers' standings to 22 points.
     
    "It certainly wasn't an easy day, with three punctures and a few other headaches along the way," admitted Hirst. 
     
    "The steering rack locked solid just after the podium ceremony, so we were very lucky for it to happen after we'd reached the finish.
     
    "Next up is one of my favourite events, the Nicky Grist Stages - with just the small matter of Dec and Gemma's wedding in between!"
     




    James Giddings, pictured above,  finished second in only his second event in his newly acquired Group N Fordpad Mitsubishi Evo 9. Co-driven by Aled Davies, the former Fiesta ST Trophy and Citroën C2 Challenge champion drove superbly well to eventually get the better of Bob Morgan/Ade Williams - who continue to lead the Ravenol Challenge after an excellent run to the podium in their Winner Garage Å koda Fabia R5+.



    Bob Ceen, pictured above, suffered a puncture on the morning loop of stages, but after that the 2001 and 2015 Welsh champion flew in his 'National spec' Ford Fiesta R5. Co-driven by Shaun Layland, a good afternoon's performance netted a very well earned fifth-place Welsh Championship points finish.
     
    Simon Rogers (co-driven this time by Matthew Baddeley) had a much better run this time out in his Mitsubishi Evo 6. A rear right puncture in the afternoon was nothing compared to what he's had to survive in the previous two rounds, and eighth-placed Welsh Championship points was a just reward.
     
    Paul Walker/Geraint Thomas had a great run in their Green Paw Subaru Impreza. A morning puncture didn't prevent them from finishing ahead of Richard Ceen/Alun Hayward in the 4WD section, although the latter suffered launch control issues in their Ford Focus WRC05.
     
    Benj Ceen/Caron Tomlinson lost over five minutes in SS4 in their MSL-prepared Ford Fiesta R5 and finished down the order, while Dave Tomlin/Keith Ashley retired their Axon Ford Fiesta R5 during the morning loop of stages.
     



    Boyd Kershaw/Keegan Rees, above,overcame a few gearbox issues in the morning to score maximum Welsh 2WD class points for the second time this year in their black Flying Kiwi Escort Mk2.
     
    Kevin Metcalfe/Ian Jones picked up a puncture on the opening stage in their 3-litre BMW E30 but recovered to score second place 2WD points - with the Horsham driver now second in the standings, just five points behind Kershaw.
     
    Matthew Jackson remains third in the 2WD class, and leads class W4, after he and co-driver Sasha Heriot put in another great performance in their MJ Rallying Ford Fiesta R2T
     
    Philip Jones/Ryan Griffiths enjoyed a good run in their Ford Escort and are now fourth in the 2WD section. Andrew Fox/Jaime-Lee Fox survived a nervous final road section after their Xwatch Safety Solutions BMW 325 broke a driveshaft on the last stage. 
     
    Michael Sawyer/Gareth Price enjoyed a good day in their 2350cc Datsun 1600, Geoffrey Phelps/Colin Jenkins survived a big moment on SS6 which damaged the steering on their Hartpury Farms Escort Mk2, Matthew Honeyborne/James Curtis recorded their first finish of the season in their BMW 328 Coupe, Clive Price/John Fellowes had to nurse their BMW Compact to the finish and Alun Horn/Ian Beamond enjoyed a great day and survived sliding wide on the final stage to reach the finish in their Ford Escort Mk2.
     
    Ashley Davies/Sam Fordham had been leading the Welsh 2WD class going into the Bala-based event in their Burton Power/G&B Finch/Deranged Trucks Ford Escort RS, but stopped in SS2 - which drops them down to fifth in the standings.

     
     

    One of the stars of the Plains Rally was Matt Edwards,pictured above,  who scored his third straight victory in the Restruct Welsh Historic class W8 and picked up points for fourth overall in the Welsh Championship drivers' standings. Co-driven by Hamish Campbell, the triple British rally champion was simply outstanding once again in his Fiat Abarth 131, winning the 2WD section of the event by exactly a minute. The result also moves Edwards up to second in the overall Welsh driver standings.
     
     

    Michael McDaid/Declan Casey, pictured above, had their best run of the season to date, finishing second in class in their McDaid Pharmacy Escort RS1800 Mk2 - and with that getting themselves onto the list for a chance to win the David Stokes Historic Challenge award for drivers and the Guy Weaver award for co-drivers at the end of the season.
     
     
     
    Robert Gough/Jack Bowen,above, finished third after a textbook drive in their Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2, beating the defending Historic class W8 champions Paul Street/Ian Jones (PJS Marine Escort RS1800 Mk2) to the final Historic podium position by 29 seconds.
     
    Will Onions/Dave Williams (Capital Motorsport Ford Escort Mk2) picked up fifth place Welsh Historic points, ahead of Rudi Lancaster/Guy Weaver (Woolacombe Holiday Parks Escort RS1800), while Jonathan Brace/Jamie Vaughan were the first Escort Mk1 home after a great run in their Brace's Bakery RS1600.
     
    Others collecting a good haul of Welsh Championship points were Pete Littler/Sion Cunniff (RED Preparation & Fabrication/Select Security Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2), Philip Clarke/Richard Bonner (Escort Mk2), Ron Morgan/Marc Clatworthy (Wales Motorsport-prepared Restruct Escort Mk2) and Andrew Stokes/Jonny Tad Evans in their Ford Escort Mk1.


    Owen McMackin/Barry Ferris had a frustrating day, which began when their BJT Hire Centre Escort Mk2 dropped onto three cylinders on SS3 and their attempts to nurse it home for a finish failed. Meanwhile, Nick Elliott/Peredur Davies retired their Fiat Abarth 131 on the road section after SS2 with engine problems.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

    Neal James/Kevin Jones, above, made it three second place finishes in a row in the Historic W7 class and continue to lead the category in their Cwm Engineering Ford Escort. David Lloyd Roberts/Gerallt Davies have closed the gap after winning W7 - despite a misfire in their Ford Escort Mk2 on SS1, spinning the car on SS2 and going off the road on SS3. Peter Hinton/Lewis Sim came home third in class in their Escort Mk2.
     
     

    Julian Birley/Emyr Hall have retaken the lead of the Historic W6 class after taking maximum points for the second time this year in their Talbot Sunbeam Ti 1600. Mark Tugwell/Steve Pugh were hoping to close the gap on the leaders but retired their Lotus Twin Cam engines Metalways Ford Escort Mk1, as did Malcolm Bayliss/Siobhan Pugh in their 16BAO Rally Team Ford Escort Mk1.
     
     
     
    Liam Griffiths, above, has extended his lead in the OnThePaceNote.co.uk supported Welsh Junior points table to 43.5 points after he and co-driver Andrew Sankey won the category in only the driver's third event in his Discover Parks Ford Fiesta ST. Rory and Paul McCann came home second in their Metalways Hillman Avenger.
     
     
    Hefin Lloyd-Davies, above, scored his second W3 victory of the season to take the class lead. This time he was co-driven by Rich Jones in his rapid Jones Bros Engineering Vauxhall Corsa. Stuart Spyer/Peter Williams finished second in their Vauxhall Corsa, while Freddy and Toby Brick retired their Opel Corsa midway through the afternoon loop of stages.
     
     
    A great run on the Plains saw Brynli Thomas, pictured above score back-to-back wins and take the lead in the Road Rally class, the Peugeot 306 Rallye driver loving forestry events after many years in the lanes.
     
    Another W10 victory, to go with their win on the Rallynuts and second on Rally North Wales, has given Martin Walters/Marie Fletcher a healthy class lead in their Honda Civic. David Forrester scored his first points of the season when he and co-driver Ian Nichols finished second in their Peugeot 205GTi.
     
    Action streamed live from the Knutsford & District Motor Club-organised Plains Rally is available to view at facebook.com/WELSHRALLYCHAMPIONSHIP, with commentary from Howard Davies.
     
    Round 4 of the 2022 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship is the Builth Wells-based Nicky Grist Stages on Saturday 9 July, with stages in and around the famous Epynt military range, including the classic Crychan and Halfway forests.
     
    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
     
    Plains Rally - top 10 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship finishers
    1. Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear (Ford Fiesta R5+).......41mins 30secs
    2. James Giddings/Aled Davies (Mitsubishi Evo 9).......42mins 55secs
    3. Bob Morgan/Ade Williams (Å koda Fabia R5+).......43mins 22secs
    4. Matt Edwards/Hamish Campbell (Fiat Abarth 131).......43mins 38secs
    5. Bob Ceen/Shaun Layland (Ford Fiesta R5).......43mins 52secs
    6. Michael McDaid/Declan Casey (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2).......44mins 38secs
    7. Robert Gough/Jack Bowen (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2).......44mins 47secs
    8. Simon Rogers/Matthew Baddeley (Mitsubishi Evo 6).......44mins 50secs
    9. Paul Street/Ian Jones (Ford Escort Mk2).......45mins 16secs
    10. Will Onions/Dave Williams (Ford Escort RS).......45mins 18secs
     
    2022 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship
    Overall drivers' points after Round 3
    1. Matthew Hirst.......90pts
    2. Matt Edwards.......68pts
    3. Bob Morgan.......66pts
    4. Dylan Davies.......59pts
    5. Bob Ceen.......53pts
    6. James Giddings.......49pts


    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.com
     
     

  • Major Championship titles still to be won at Visit Conway Cambrian Rally

    Several major Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship class titles will be won on the final round of the series, the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally (Saturday 29 October) - most notably the OnThePaceNote.co.uk supported Welsh Junior and Historic awards.


     
    Liam Griffiths has led the Junior category for much of the year in his Discover Parks Ford Fiesta ST and has scored highly on all six rounds so far. But with two scores to drop, he has been coming under increasing pressure from Rob Wilson, who has scored four wins from four starts in his Ravenol Mitsubishi Evo 7. 
     


    Such has been their pace all season that Griffiths (co-driven by Daniel James) is also fourth in the Pirelli Ravenol Welsh 2WD class, while Wilson (who will have regular navigator Richard Crozier back alongside) finished second overall last time out on the Wyedean Stages Rally and is one of several drivers still in with a shout of finishing runner-up in the overall drivers' standings.
     
    Callum Griffiths can't win the Welsh Junior drivers' title, but he'll be keen to end the season on a high in his Presteigne Tyre Services Ford Fiesta ST, while his navigator William Lewis could still steal the co-drivers' award.

     

     

     
    Michael McDaid took the lead of the Historic class W8 for the first time after scoring a magnificent class win on the Wyedean, and also finished as the top-placed two-wheel drive pilot in sixth overall. The County Fermanagh driver was 17th in the W8 points table after the second round, but one more good result in his McDaid Pharmacy Escort RS1800 Mk2 will give him and co-driver Declan Casey the coveted title.

    Neal James/Kevin Jones (Cwm Engineering Ford Escort Mk2) and David Lloyd Roberts/Gerallt Wyn Davies (Ford Escort Mk2) are in a close battle for the Historic class W7 title. Just 15 points separate them, with James' unblemished run of sixth straight second place finishes and no retirements giving him the advantage going into the final round. That said, he can only increase his score by three points, whilst Roberts can add 25 points to his final tally.

     
    Chris Squires/Shaun Hughes (Ford Escort Mk2) lead the Historic class W6.
     
    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. 

     
    Just one point separates Bob Morgan (Winner Garage Å koda Fabia R5+) and John Caine (Phil Price Rally School Subaru Impreza) at the top of the Ravenol Welsh Challenge - and both are battling for the runners-up position in the overall drivers' category too. The scores to drop rule will play a significant part in the outcome, as Morgan (guided by Ade Williams, who has already secured the Ravenol Welsh Challenge co-drivers' title) and Caine (partnered by Andrew Sankey) will leave nothing on the table as they do battle for the last time in 2022.

     
    Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear were crowned the overall 2022 Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally champions last time out on the Wyedean, with victory in the Forest of Dean giving them a perfect 150 points score. They'll be out to have fun in their Pirelli-shod Delta Salvage Ford Fiesta R5+.
     
    "Having won the title on the Wyedean, the pressure's off now and we're out to enjoy the Cambrian Rally," says Hirst. 
     
    "This will be the fifth time I've done the event. The stages are extremely challenging, but that's the way we like them."

    Perry Gardener/Jack Bowen are the only other crew to have won a round of the Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship this year and will be aiming to follow up their Woodpecker Stages win with another victory in their Ford Fiesta R5.

     

    The Ceen family will be out in force too, with Bob (the 2001 and 2015 Welsh champion), Benji (who has been flying in his first season in a 4WD car) and Richard, pictured,  all hoping for a good run in a pair of Fiesta R5s and a Focus WRC05 - co-driven by Shaun Layland, Caron Tomlinson and Alun Hayward respectively.

     

    Russ Thompson has only contested two rounds this year but finished fourth on the Rallynuts and second on the Woodpecker. The 2019 Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Championship runner-up is always one of the favourites for a maximum points score, and he and co-driver Stephen Link will be aiming for nothing less this time out in their GPM/PD Extinguishers Mitsubishi Evo 9.
     
    James Giddings/Aled Davies hope to have repaired the turbo issue that halted their Fordpad Mitsubishi Evo 9 last time out, Paul Walker/Geraint Thomas will be aiming to continue their good run in their Geoff Jones Motorsport-prepared Green Paw Subaru Impreza, while David Tomlin/Keith Ashley arrive at the Cambrian off the back of their best result of the season in their Axon Ford Fiesta R5.

     

    Adrian and Matthew Walk will be aiming to secure the class W3 title in their PartBOX Ford Ka, while newly crowned Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Road Rally class champion Brynli Thomas (co-driven by Sion Rowlands) will be doing a victory lap of honour in his Peugeot 306 Rallye.
     
    Action from the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally will be live streamed on: facebook.com/WELSHRALLYCHAMPIONSHIP.
     
    Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship crews will contest the Interclub section of the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally, which will consist of around 45 miles of loose surface roads over eight stages. The North Wales Car Club organised event will start and finish on the promenade on the seafront in Llandudno, rally headquarters will be at Venue Cymru and the centralised service area will be located in the car parks of the Welsh Government offices in Llandudno Junction.
     
    Spectator information is available at: cambrianrally.co.uk.
     
    Further details on the 2022 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship 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 by Paul Mitchell, Jon Price and Russ Otway.

  • Matthew Hirst wins Rally North Wales and leads the 2022 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship






    Matthew Hirst,pictured,  got his challenge for a second Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship drivers' title off to the perfect start by winning the opening round of the 2022 series, the WKD Trained Dogs Rally North Wales.

     

    Co-driven by Declan Dear, the 2019 champion set the fastest time on six of the eight stages held in Pantperthog, Dyfi, Big Ray and Gartheiniog forests in his Delta Salvage-backed Ford Fiesta R5+.

     

    Having entered the midday service halt in Dolgellau with a one second lead, changing the Pirelli-shod car's suspension set up enabled Hirst to set fastest time on all the afternoon's repeat loop of four stages to stretch his advantage to a 24 second winning margin.

     

    "The morning loop was okay," said Hirst. "The first stage felt good but the time wasn't there, the second stage didn't feel so good but we set fastest time, and then we had a very big moment on stage three so were quite cautious through Garth.

     

    "At midday service we changed the damper clicks and it transformed the car. We were much more competitive in the afternoon and in contrast to the morning we enjoyed a nice clean run.

     

    "It was a top job from everyone in the team this weekend. Dec was on fire on the notes and the car ran faultlessly after all the hard work put in from Gaz and Jim. This result means a lot."

     

    Despite having not driven a top-flight R5 car in competition for two years, and without a pre-event test or shakedown, Dylan Davies, pictured, did brilliantly well to finish second in his Å koda Fabia R5+. Co-driven by Mark Glennerster, tyre management was the main issue of the day as Davies had to juggle tyres front to rear between stages to maximise traction. It meant he couldn't respond when Hirst picked up the pace in the afternoon, yet he was delighted to finish a strong second.

     


    Tom Llewellin/Dale Bowen, pictured, enjoyed an excellent trouble-free run to third in their Brace's Bakery Mitsubishi Mirage. The 2019 Welsh Junior drivers' champion made a cautious start but soon got into a good rhythm and put in a textbook performance for a well-deserved place on the overall podium.

     

    Bob Ceen was contesting his first rally since the 2019 WRGB National, his first Welsh Rally Championship event since 2015, his first ever event in a Ford Fiesta R5+ (having previously rallied a Subaru Impreza WRC) and his first event with co-driver Peredur Davies - yet the 2001 Welsh champion was flying in the Axes Design-backed car and finished a magnificent fourth overall.

     

    He also won the family battle, with Benj Ceen coming home seventh in the Rally North Wales Interclub results (and eighth combined). This too was a very impressive result as it was his first rally in a four-wheel drive car, having swapped his Peugeot 106 Cup car for a mighty Ford Fiesta R5+. Despite the hugely challenging conditions, he and co-driver Dylan Thomas never put a foot wrong and their place in the top 10 was very well deserved.

     

    Richard Ceen/Alun Hayward also reached the finish, although they lost a lot of time with day-long transmission problems which saw their Coedwigaeth Pencelyn Ford Focus WRC05 engine stall at hairpins and refusing to restart in a hurry.

     

    John Caine/Andrew Sankey won the battle of the Subarus with a fantastic drive to sixth in the Phil Price Rally School Impreza. Caine also picks up maximum points in the Ravenol Welsh Challenge.

     

    They secured the position on a tiebreak after Bob Morgan/Ade Williams finished on exactly the same time in their Winner Garage Fabia R5+. A small mistake on SS7 cost them a position after they had to reverse the Å koda out of a ditch, although the car ran faultlessly and has given them a strong start in the Welsh Championship.

     

    A gearbox issue cost Lewers Firth/Shaun Lapper time on the morning loop and they set out in the afternoon aiming for a top 10 finish. This they achieved with flying colours, bringing their Firth Construction Subaru Impreza home eighth in the Interclub section (10th combined).

     

    Paul Walker/Geraint Thomas had a good run in their Green Paw Subaru Impreza, while Wug Utting/Bob Stokoe also had a clean run and finished just outside the Interclub top 10 in their Geoff Jones Motorsport Subaru Impreza N12b.

     

    A sensor on the gearshift kept cutting the engine on Simon Rogers' Mitsubishi Evo 6 and it was such a distraction that it cost him an enormous amount of time in the morning. Once the problem was isolated at midday service, he and co-driver James How were back up to full speed and scored a good result and a pleasing haul of Welsh points.

     

    Josh Taylor/Will Atkins had a good maiden run in the colourful Pro-Bolt Subaru Impreza Nr4, especially after winding the diff up in the afternoon found them more grip, while Paul Davy/Roger Allan retired their Subaru Impreza N12b with a misfire at midday service.

     

    Boyd Kershaw, pictured, had a sensational run to 10th overall on the National event in what was his first rally for six years. The Flying Kiwi admitted to scaring himself on the opening loop of stages and he was convinced that he had a puncture on SS2, which he didn't. He and co-driver Keegan Rees were even faster in the afternoon and won the Welsh 2WD section despite a late fuel pump issue.

     

     

    Ashley Davies/Sam Fordham finished 20 seconds behind after a good run in their Burton Power /G&B Finch/Deranged Trucks Ford Escort RS. A puncture on SS5 cost them time, and after that their priority was to reach the finish and score Welsh Championship points.

     

    Kevin Metcalfe/Ian Jones finished third in the Welsh 2WD section after a good run in their 3-litre BMW E30. Their morning run was faultless, although a rear puncture two miles from the end of SS6 and a stall at a hairpin on both the penultimate and last stages cost them time.

     

    Geoff Phelps, co-driven by Colin Jenkins in the Hartpury Farms Escort, beat his brother Tim Phelps in his Britpart Ford Escort Mk2 after the latter picked up a rear puncture on SS6. He and co-driver Elwyn Manuel initially drove on the flat, but were forced to stop and change it mid-stage costing them four minutes.

     

    The Restruct Welsh Historic classes, which includes the David Stokes Historic Challenge for drivers and the Guy Weaver Award for co-drivers, has received one of the biggest ever entries - with fantastic class battles played out for early points on Rally North Wales.

     

    Julian Birley/Emyr Hall, pictured,got the defence of their Historic class W6 off to a great start with victory in their Talbot Sunbeam Ti 1600. The last time they were in the Dyfi forest complex it was icy, but the contrasting conditions made little difference to their speed as they flew over the now dry and dusty terrain.




     

    Welsh Junior driver Rory McCann, co-driven by his father Paul, finished second in their Metalways Hillman Avenger.

     

    Less than half a mile into SS1 the Lotus Twin Cam engine in the smart Metalways Ford Escort Mk1 of Mark Tugwell/Steve Pugh started to misfire. They managed to get out of the stage on three cylinders, but with oil in the boot around the dry sump tank their rally was over.

     

    Malcolm Bayliss/Siobhan Pugh didn't get much further, retiring their 16BAO Rally Team Ford Escort Mk1 with damaged steering on SS2.

     

    Ben Smith,pictured, has taken the early lead in both the Historic class W7 and the OnThePaceNote.co.uk supported Welsh Junior Championship after a "really good day" in the Amigos Ford Escort RS2000 Mk1. Co-driven by his father Steven, he picked up a puncture on SS5 and bent the steering on SS7 but completed an eventful afternoon with a seventh-place finish in the National section of the event.

     

    Neal James/Kevin Jones finished runners-up in class W7 last year and, after an early misfire in their Cwm Engineering Escort Mk2, started the 2022 series with second in class this year.

     

    Gareth Lewis/Ryland James retired their Escort RS2000 Mk1 with clutch problems on the morning loop, Peter Hinton/Lewis Sim retired their Escort on the opening stage, as did David Lloyd Roberts/Gerallt Wyn Davies on the following test.

     

    Matt Edwards, pictured,  won the Rally North Wales National event, finished fifth overall in the National/Interclub combined results and scored maximum points in the hotly contested Historic class W8 after a tough workout in the RSD-prepared Fiat Abarth 131. Co-driven by Hamish Campbell, the three time British Rally Champion said that he'd never done a more physically challenging 45 gravel stage miles. A weld on the front suspension broke early in SS2, which caused the Pirelli tyre to rub on the spring and they had to swap tyres front to rear several times to manage the issue. In the afternoon they hit a massive boulder on SS5 which bent the sump guard, subframe, rack and chassis leg which made the steering so heavy that Hamish had to hold the gearstick in fifth gear as Matt needed both hands to keep the car in a straight line!

     

    Nick Elliott/Dave Robson finished 16 seconds behind in their Truck & Bus Wales & West Escort Mk2, after a puncture on SS5 cost them time.

     

    Roger Chilman/Patrick Walsh finished third having driven consistently the "safe side of quick" all day in their Wales Motorsport-prepared Securcom Escort Mk2. They did however bend a TCA on SS15 and had to complete the event with heavy steering.

     

    Rudi Lancaster/Guy Weaver damaged the suspension on their Woolacombe Holiday Parks Escort RS1800 after hitting a rock at a hairpin and then a big hole on the next stage during the afternoon loop of stages. They had to nurse the car a little to ensure a finish, picking up valuable fourth placed W8 class points.

     

    Alan Walker/John Connor were happier on harder tyres in the afternoon, although they lost time when the coil lead jumped off twice on the final stage and they had to stop their Escort RS1800 Mk2 and reconnect it. Points for fifth in class W8 were their reward, finishing ahead of Rob Dennis/Andy Boswell in their Team Dennis Escort Mk2.

     

    A rough section of road on SS1 threw Jonathan Brace's brand-new Brace's Bakery Escort RS1600 Mk1 high into the air, which was the last thing he wanted on his Dave Jenkins Motorsport built car's debut. A gamble with different tyres didn't pay off in the afternoon and he and co-driver Paul Spooner, who had been suffering with food poisoning all day, were pleased to reach the finish and score good Welsh points.

     

    Defending Historic class W8 champions Paul Street/Ian Jones lost time with a series of problems in the afternoon, which included smashing a wheel on their PJS Marine Escort RS1800 Mk2, starter motor issues and intercom failure, which saw them overshoot a junction. Despite all this they reached the finish in a points-scoring position.

     

    Gary Smith/Clive Jones finished well in their Escort Mk1, with Andrew Stokes/Jonny Tad Evans just behind in the W8 points in their similar car. The latter felt lucky to reach the finish at all, after all the wheel nuts came off the front left wheel on SS5 and they took one nut off the other three wheels to keep it attached - and it stayed on like that for the final three stages!

     

    Last year's Welsh 2WD drivers' champion Owen McMackin has switched to a Historic-spec BJT Hire Centre Ford Escort Mk2 for this year and his second event in the car turned out to be an eventful one. Co-driven by Dai Roberts, he suffered a misfire on the opening stage (cured by flicking to the second fuel pump) and survived a spin on SS2 and 4. The afternoon wasn't smooth either, as they lost three minutes stopping to change a puncture on SS7.

     

    Philip Clarke/Steven Brown stalled at a hairpin in the morning and recovered to bag some early points. Ron Morgan/Marc Clatworthy had a good run in their stunning Wales Motorsport-built Restruct Escort Mk2, finishing ahead of Steve Ward/Miles Cartwright in an Escort RS1800.

     

    Ben Friend/Cliffy Simmons suffered a double puncture in their Allglass Escort Mk2 on the opening stage, ruining what they'd hoped would be a class winning day.

     

    Pete Littler/Andy Marchbank had transmission problems and retired their RED Preparation & Fabrication/Select Security Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2 after midday service.

     

    Will Onions/Dave Williams were forced to stop and change the coil pack on SS5, which put them out of contention. The same stage also saw the retirement of Meirion Evans/David Jones in their Wales Motorsport Escort Mk2. David Kirby/Rhodri Evans suffered a puncture in their Avenue Taxis Escort RS1600 Mk1, which resulted in them running up a bank when they couldn't slow down for a corner. They survived that, only to retire on SS5. Robert Gough/Jack Bowen's run in their Escort RS1600 Mk2 ended with a broken half shaft a third of the way through SS6.

     

    Brothers Liam and Callum Griffiths both finished on the Welsh Junior podium in only their second ever rally. Liam, co-driven by William Lewis in his Discover Parks Ford Fiesta ST, finished second (behind Ben Smith), while Callum and navigator Daniel James were third, having broken a driveshaft on their Presteigne Tyre Services Ford Fiesta ST half a mile from the end of the final stage.

     

    Rory McCann added fourth in the Welsh Junior Championship to his second-place finish in the Historic class W6.

     

    Gethin Price had spent the last two years rebuilding his Keith Price Haulage Nissan Micra, which was now fitted with a competition engine. He and Matthew Baddeley struggled for grip over the morning loop of stages but had a good run to the finish in the afternoon and were rewarded with a nice haul of Welsh Junior points.

     

    Graham Thatcher/Tim Samuel were gutted not to pick up maximum points in the Road Rally class after a fuel leak forced their Pembridge Vehicle Management Peugeot 206GTi into retirement at mid-distance.

     

    Hefin Lloyd-Davies/Rich Jones scored maximum class W3 points in their Jones Bros Engineering Vauxhall Corsa. In their first rally since a big off on last year's Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally, they made an understandably cautious start and were delighted with their class victory. Welsh Junior Gethin Price was second in class.

     

    The Brick brothers, Freddy and Toby, hadn't driven their Vauxhall Corsa for several years and were in and out of ditches as they got back in the swing of things. They were going well too, until they stopped in SS5. Stuart Spyer/Peter Williams retired their Vauxhall Corsa on SS3.

     

    Matthew Jackson/Sasha Heriot, pictured, were delighted with their class W4 victory after a great drive in their Ford Fiesta R2T netted them a very impressive 16th overall in the Interclub section of the event.

     

    Jonathan Jones/Osian Owen were second in their Ingospec Ford Fiesta, having successfully driven around intermittent brake problems in the morning, while Tony Simpson/Ian Bevan parked their Seacon UK/Kielder Tools Ford Fiesta by the side of SS2 with the bonnet up.

     

    Dan Jones/Cyril Jones, pictured, have started the defence of their class W10 title well with a win in their Jones Brothers/Bradley Motorsport Vauxhall Nova. Martin Walters had spent the last two years rebuilding his yellow Honda Civic and was contesting his first rally since the 2019 WRGB National. It was a successful return to competition, with he and co-driver Marie Fletcher finishing second in class.

     



    Andrew Fox/Jaime-Lee Fox survived a rear puncture on the opening stage, and overtaking a car on the final stage, in their Xwatch Safety Solutions BMW 325 to score good points in both the Ravenol Welsh Challenge and 2WD class.

     

    So too did Michael Sawyer/Gareth Price in their 2350cc Datsun 1600, despite a rear puncture almost forcing them off the road on SS5, Colin Griffiths/Tom Bishop, who finished the event on a punctured rear tyre in their BMW Compact, and David Jones/Glyn Price in their G J Price Transport BMW E30.

     

    Matthew Honeyborne said "don't tell the wife" about the new suspension on his Allweld Engineering BMW 328 Coupe. He might not want Mrs Honeyborne to know about the damage to the exhaust, a puncture on the final stage and the fact that he and co-driver Martin Allwood reached the finish but had gone OTL a few stages earlier!

     

    The live streaming coverage of Rally North Wales, which featured action from two stages and covered all the Welsh Rally Championship crews, is available to view at https://www.facebook.com/WELSHRALLYCHAMPIONSHIP

     

    Pictures courtesy of Paul Mitchell. Please credit 'Paul Mitchell Photography' .
    paulmitchellphotography@gmail.com


    Round 2 of the Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship is the Rallynuts Stages Rally on Saturday 9 April, which is based at the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd.

     

    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

     

    WKD Trained Dogs Rally North Wales - Interclub/National top 10 finishers (combined)

    1. Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear (Ford Fiesta R5+).......43mins 57secs
    2. Dylan Davies/Mark Glennerster (SÌŒkoda Fabia R5+).......44mins 21secs
    3. Tom Llewellin/Dale Bowen (Mitsubishi Mirage)....... 45mins 22secs
    4. Robert Ceen/Peredur Davies (Ford Fiesta R5+).......47mins 37secs
    5. Matt Edwards/Hamish Campbell (Fiat Abarth 131)........48mins 19secs
    6. John Caine/Andrew Sankey (Subaru Impreza)....... 48mins 20secs
    7. Bob Morgan/Ade Williams (SÌŒkoda Fabia R5+).......48mins 20secs
    8. Benjamin Ceen/Dylan Thomas (Ford Fiesta R5+).......48mins 28secs
    9. Nick Elliott/Dave Robson (Ford Escort Mk2)....... 48mins 35secs
    10. Lewers Firth/Shaun Lapper (Subaru Impreza).......48mins 45secs

     

    2022 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship

    Overall drivers' points after Round 1

    1. Matthew Hirst.......30pts
    2. Dylan Davies.......27pts
    3. Tom Llewellin.......25pts
    4. Robert Ceen.......24pts
    5. Matt Edwards.......23pts
    6. John Caine.......22pts

     


     

  • Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship roars back into action.

     

    After a 518-day enforced break caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship roars back into action next weekend. The Nicky Grist Stages (Saturday 10 July) will feature one of the largest fields of championship contenders ever gathered, all gunning for points in pursuit of title success.

     

    Covid-19 restrictions have seen motorsport in Wales halted, barring a few exceptions, since the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally on 8 February 2020.

     

    But now, finally, rallying in the Welsh forests is returning - with an unprecedented demand for places on the start list. This level of interest has produced a quality field of drivers and co-drivers and a vast array of cars unlike anything seen for many years.

     

    The inclusive Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship class structure features an incredibly wide range of cars driven by former champions, old rivals, newcomers and juniors. The list features the strongest ever contingent from England, Scotland, Ireland, and the Isle of Man, aiming to beat the proudly patriotic and famously fast Welsh home grown rally talent.

     

    Former Pirelli Welsh National Rally champions preparing for battle are 2019 (and defending) overall title winners Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear in their Mitsubishi Evo IX. They are joined by the 2018 driver champion Dylan Davies/Mark Glennerster (Å koda Fabia R5), the 2017 driver champion Callum Black/Michael Gilbey (Ford Fiesta R5) and the 2000 champions Pete Littler/Andy Marchbank (Ford Escort Mk2).

     

    These champions will be under pressure from the likes of Ian Bainbridge/Will Atkins, who scored maximum Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship points on the 2020 Cambrian Rally and won last December's Rali Adfer Coedwigoedd Cymru test event in a Å koda Fabia R5. 2019 championship runners-up Russ Thompson/Andy Murphy (Mitsubishi Evo IX), Wug Utting/Bob Stokoe (Subaru Impreza STi N12) and Nik Elsmore/Craig Drew (Mitsubishi Evo IX) will join the fray. Meanwhile, Martyn and Dawn England have swapped their Ford Fiesta R5+ for a Mitsubishi Evo X.

     

    Also in a new car for this year is the 2019 Welsh Junior champion, Tom Llewellin. Tom, co-driven on this occasion by Ross Whittock, makes his competition debut in a four-wheel-drive Mitsubishi Mirage. Elsewhere in the field, Paul Walker/Geraint Thomas have exchanged their Mitsubishi for a Subaru Impreza.

     

    With great rallies to learn their skill and the lure of a magnificent prize of a test drive in a PCRS Rallysport-prepared Hyundai i20 R5 (courtesy of OnThePaceNote), the Junior category is buoyant again this year. George Lepley/Tom Woodburn will compete in their Mitsubishi Evo X, Ioan Lloyd/Sion Williams will move up from the Formula 1000 Junior Championship (and a few great road rally results) to a Peugeot 208 R2, and Zak Hughes/Ian Beamond bring their Renault Twingo R2 Evo.

     

    Other Under-25-year-old hard chargers to look out for include Aoife Raftery/Dylan Doonan (Ford Fiesta), Charlie Todd/Glyn Thomas (Ford Fiesta) and Gethin Price/Matthew Baddeley (Nissan Micra). Lining up alongside will be Jason Black/Karl Egan (Toyota Starlet) and Maxx Bradshaw/Liam Andrew Whiteley, who travel from the Isle of Man in their Mitsubishi Evo III.

     

    The ever-popular Restruct-sponsored Two-Wheel Drive category has received one of its strongest entries. Nick Elliott/Dave Price, Jonathan Brace/Paul Spooner, Steven Ormond-Smith/Matty Daniels and Frank/Lauren Kelly (to name but a few) are all in Ford Escort Mk2s. Andrew Davison/Tom Murphy bring their Talbot Sunbeam, Alan Desbois/Peter Littlefield wheel out their Peugeot 306 RWD, while David Jones/Glyn Price and Kevin Metcalfe/Ian Jones both appear in BMW E30s.

     

    More than 50 crews are eligible for the RAVENOL UK Welsh Challenge, which rewards drivers and co-drivers who have yet to finish in the top 10 overall of a Championship round and is open to any competitor in any class.

     

    The Historic classes are very well represented this year, with many of the front-running Two-Wheel Drive category crews in contention for this title as well. In addition to those Escort Mk2 crews already mentioned, others will be piloted by Paul Barrett/Gordon Noble, David Edwards/Paul Dolby, Paul Street/Ian Jones, Phil Clarke/Steve Pugh, Ryan Barrett/Paul McCann, Robert Gough/Keaton Williams, Rob Dennis/Andy Boswell, Richard Lane/Jez Rogers, Michael Mcdaid/Daniel Petrie, Neal James/Kevin Jones and Ben Friend/Cliff Simmons. Gary Smith/Clive Jones, Andrew Stokes/Jonny Tad Evans, and David Kirby/Martin Corbett appear on the opening round in Escort Mk1s, while Julian Birley/Steve White wheel out a Talbot Sunbeam Ti.

     

    The new class for Road Rally spec cars has sparked a lot of interest, with the likes of Graham Thatcher/Tim Samuels (Peugeot 206) and the Escort Mk2 duo of Ricky Crone/Daniel James and Rob Wood/Osian Davies battling for early class honours.

     

    Such is the inclusive class structure of this year's Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship that a driver and co-driver are likely to be eligible for multiple awards. David and Toby Brick are a great example of this, as the giant-killing Vauxhall Nova crew will be battling for honours in the Overall, RAVENOL UK Welsh Challenge, Two-Wheel Drive and Over 50s categories!

     

    "What a fantastic Nicky Grist Stages we have in prospect," says Dave Evison, Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship Secretary.

     

    "With just a few days to go, perhaps it's time to reflect on the massive undertaking by all stakeholders involved in making this happen. Events of this stature under normal circumstances take up to eighteen months to organise. Add in a pandemic, and the timeframe is the same, but the commitment required over the same period is immeasurable.

     

    "The rally fraternity, though, has responded as only they can with a fantastic entry received in an unbelievable fifteen minutes.

     

    "Event organisers want entries in quality and quantity - they have it! Competitors want competition - they have it! They want fantastic roads - they have them! I can't wait to see the outcome."

     

    The Nicky Grist Stages contains 44 stage miles spread over eight stages - with a loop of four gravel tests through Llyn Login, Monument, Halfway and Crychan forests in the morning and repeated in the afternoon following a midday service halt at the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd.

     

    Spectators are not permitted to watch in any of the stages nor the service area. Instead, the Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship will broadcast live from the event on its Facebook page. Experienced motorsport broadcaster Sideways Media will be filming the action, with driver interviews and expert analysis from Howard Davies and Eifion Jones.

     

    After each round, a 30 minute edited highlights package will be produced, dedicated to the Welsh National Rally Championship runners, and broadcast on the Championship's Facebook and YouTube channels.

     

    The Plains Rally, which was scheduled to take place on Saturday 14 August, has been cancelled - meaning that the 2021 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Championship will now consist of five rounds, with the best four scores to count. Round 2 will now be the Eventsigns Woodpecker Stages on Saturday, 4 September.

     

    Further details on the 2021 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship, together with registration information, can be found online at: wnrc.wamc.org.uk

     

    2021 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship calendar

    10 July.......Nicky Grist Stages

    4 September.......Eventsigns Woodpecker Stages

    16 October.......Winner Garage Å KODA Wyedean Rally

    30 October.......Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally

    13 November.......Rallynuts Stages Rally




     

  • Record-breaking pre-season entry for the Championship


     
    Record-breaking pre-season entry for the Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship
     
    This year's Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship has received a record-breaking number of pre-season registrations - with 155 competitors already lined up to contest the six gravel round series in 2021.
     
    There is a strong entry in all 14 classes, including the Juniors (with a top prize of a test in a PCRS Rallysport-prepared Hyundai i20 R5, courtesy of OnThePaceNote) and the Restruct sponsored Two-Wheel Drive category. The battle for the overall title is poised to be more intense than ever, with 31 powerful W13 class (formerly B13) four-wheel drive cars and six W14 class (WRC/R5/S2000/RCC) cars registered.
     
    The RAVENOL Welsh Challenge, which recognises the performance of competitors who have yet to finish in the top 10 overall of a Championship round, remains popular with over 50 crews registered.
     
    The opening round of the 2021 Welsh National Rally Championship is the Nicky Grist Stages on Saturday 10 July, where over 80 registered drivers have had their entries accepted.
     
    Dave Evison, Welsh National Rally Championship Secretary since 2010, says that the currently level of interest is the result of many years of work to develop the series.
     
    "We've seen the Welsh National Rally Championship grow year on year from around thirty two registrations a decade ago to well over a hundred now," says Dave.
     
    "In 2020 Will Rogers joined the team as we looked forward to raising the Championship profile further and it's all thanks to the hard work of the Welsh Association of Motor Clubs, the individual events and the support we've received the from our long term sponsors Pirelli and RAVENOL UK.
     
    "Over sixty per cent of this year's pre-season registrations are from returning competitors, which is very pleasing because it shows that we are doing a lot of things right because the competitors have enjoyed the Championship so much that they've come back for more. We're also delighted to see so many new competitors come to the series this year, all of whom have been attracted by the fantastic calendar of events, incentives and the class structure - not least our very buoyant two-wheel drive and junior categories, plus the new road rally class.
     
    "To see so many competitors registered before the first round, and eighty-four Welsh National Rally Championship registered crews with their entries accepted for the Nicky Grist Stages, is unprecedented. We used to get excited and were very pleased when we had fifty crews contesting a rally, so we are confident that this year's competition will be the best ever. And given the rich history of the Welsh National Rally Championship, that is really saying something."
     
    Some of the drivers registered for this year's Welsh National Rally Championship include four former champions - Matthew Hirst (Mitsubishi Evo 9), Callum Black (Ford Fiesta R5), Dylan Davies (Å koda Fabia R5) and Paul Walker (Subaru Impreza).


     
    Also registered is the winner of last December's Rali Adfer Coedwigoedd Cymru test event and maximum Welsh National Rally Championship points scorer on the 2020 Cambrian Rally, Ian Bainbridge (Å koda Fabia R5), 2019 runner-up Russ Thompson (Mitsubishi Evo 9), Wug Utting (Subaru Impreza STi N12B), Nik Elsmore (Mitsubishi Evo 9), Bob Morgan (Å koda Fabia), David Tomlin (Ford Fiesta R5), Martyn England (who has swapped his Ford Fiesta R5+ for a Mitsubishi Evo 10) and the 2019 Junior champion, Tom Llewellin (who returns in a Mitsubishi Mirage R5).
     
    There is a strong contingent of two-wheel drive competitors, with Nick Elliott, Ben Friend, Rob Dennis, Pete Littler, Gavin Edwards, Owen McMackin, Philip Clarke, and Jonathan Brace, to name a few, driving Escort Mk2s, while Andrew Davison (Talbot Sunbeam), David Jones (BMW E30), Alan Desbois (Peugeot 306 RWD), Kevin Metcalfe (BMW E30) and Gary Smith (Ford Escort Mk1) are also on the list, while Road Rally experts Ricky Crone and Robi Wood join for the first time.
     
    The Welsh National Rally Championship has received 13 entries from Ireland, including the exciting Frank Kelly, Paul Barrett, Andrew Bustard and David Crossen who will all drive Escort Mk2s. There are also two registrations from the Isle of Man - Max Bradshaw (Mitsubishi Evo) and Steven Ormond-Smith (Mitsubishi Evo IX).
     
    There are plenty of quality drivers in other classes too - including Juniors George Lepley (Mitsubishi Evo 10), Ioan Lloyd (Peugeot 208 R2) and Zak Hughes (Renualt Twingo) - who will be looking to improve on his second place finish in the Juniors in 2019. Dave Brick is also back and aiming for more giant-killing performances on his Vauxhall Nova.
     
    The co-driver registrations are also brimming with experience and talent. Declan Dear, the 2019 champion, is returning, as it Andy Murphy who narrowly missed out on winning the title last time out. Multiple champion Andy Marchbank returns, as does Paul Spooner, Mark Glennerster, Dawn England, Craig Drew, Cliff Simmons, Steve McPhee, Andrew Sankey, Dave Price and many more.
     
    Further details on the 2021 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship, together with registration information, can be found online at: wnrc.wamc.org.uk.
     
    2021 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship calendar
    10 July.......Nicky Grist Stages
    14 August.......Plains Rally
    4 September....... Eventsigns Woodpecker Stages
    16 October....... Winner Garage Å KODA Wyedean Rally
    30 October.......Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally
    13 November.......Rallynuts Stages Rally
     



    For more information, please contact:
    Paul Evans
    07710 743167 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


    Picture captions
    Top: Matt Hirst/Declan Dear, 2019 Pirelli Welsh National Rally champions (Mitsubishi Evo 9). Picture by Chris Huish.

    Middle left: Russ Thompson/Andy Murphy, 2019 Pirelli Welsh National Rally runners-up (Mitsubishi Evo 9). Picture by Paul Mitchell.
     
    Middle right: Nicky Grist Stages podium: 1st Russ Thompson/Andy Murphy;
    2nd Matt Hirst/Declan Dear; 3rd Andrew Davison/Tom Murphy (Talbot Sunbeam) - all three crews are returning to the Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship in 2021. Picture by Paul Mitchell.

    Bottom left: Dylan Davies/Mark Glennerster testing their Å koda Fabia R5.
     
    Bottom right: Paul Walker/Geraint Thomas testing their Subaru Impreza.


  • Rob Wilson wins Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship Junior and Challenge titles after Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally thriller

    Rob Wilson scooped a stack of major Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship titles after a stunning display on the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally saw the youngster collect the OnThePaceNote.co.uk supported Welsh Junior title, the Ravenol Welsh Challenge title, the class W13 crown and finished runner-up in the overall drivers' standings - having started the final round in fifth.


     
    It marks a remarkable turnaround for the 19-year old Herefordshire driver, whose entire rally season was put in jeopardy when he rolled his Ravenol-backed Mitsubishi Evo 7 in pre-event testing. 
     
    The finale to the season was almost as dramatic, as Wilson had a worrying noise coming from his car's gearbox right from the start of the Llandudno-based event. Despite this distraction, he and co-driver Richard Crozier were fourth in the Pirelli Ravenol Welsh standings at half distance - and moved up to second after a brilliant run through the repeat of Clocaenog, Brenig, Alwen and Penmachno forest stages.


     
    There was no stopping Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear, who had already been crowned the overall 2022 Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally champions, from winning once again in their Pirelli-shod Delta Salvage Ford Fiesta R5+ (although they did bounce off a tree, surviving with minor damage) - but this time the applause went to Wilson/Crozier on their truly outstanding season, which saw them win the Welsh Junior section five times from five starts.


     
    "After an amazing debut season in a four-wheel drive car it all came down to this - and an incredible final result," said Wilson.
     
    "The Cambrian was not easy as we were hampered by a gearbox issue and we seriously did not think we would make it through the day. Thank you to Richard [Crozier] for an incredible season, as well as dad and Sam for all their efforts on and off events.


     
    "We knew it was possible to win the Welsh Junior, Ravenol Welsh Challenge and the class W13 titles, as well as finish runner-up in the overall points standings, and we pulled it off. A big thanks to everyone that was involved in the season!"
     
    Liam Griffiths had led the Junior category for much of the year in his Discover Parks Ford Fiesta ST. He and co-driver Daniel James didn't have the best of days, as the car's engine cut out mid-way through the Alwen stage. He knew stopping Wilson was going to be a tall order, yet finishing runner-up was a great end of season result.


     
    William Lewis won the Welsh Junior co-drivers' title, having guided Callum Griffiths to third in the Welsh Junior standings in their Presteigne Tyre Services Ford Fiesta ST all season.
     
    Dai Lloyd Roberts/Gerallt Davies won the Welsh Historic class W7 in their Ford Escort Mk2 on the day, and in doing so clinched the title on the final round. Neal James/Kevin Jones finished runner-up in their Cwm Engineering Ford Escort Mk2, while Ben and Steven Smith take third in the series, despite retiring their Amigos Ford Escort RS2000 Mk1 mid-way through the Cambrian.


     
    Michael McDaid/Declan Casey took the lead of the Historic class W8 on the penultimate round and secured the title with another win on the Cambrian in their McDaid Pharmacy Escort RS1800 Mk2. In what had been a thrilling battle all season, the Northern Irishman finished 26 points ahead of Nick Elliott.


     
    Gary Smith/Phil Clarke had a slight off in Clocaenog but ended their year with a season-best second place finish in their Ford Escort Mk2.
     
    Those who finish in the top three of each Historic class (W6, W7 and W8) will now be put forward for the David Stokes Historic Challenge award for drivers and the Guy Weaver award for co-drivers. 


     
    Russ Thompson took home third placed Pirelli Ravenol Welsh points in another great performance in his GPM/PD Extinguishers Mitsubishi Evo 9. Co-driven by Stephen Link, it was his second podium finish of the year and despite only contesting three rounds the 2019 series runner-up finished 10th in the final points standings.


     
    James Giddings/Aled Davies hit a straw bale on the opening loop of stages but survived to score fourth placed championship points in their Fordpad Mitsubishi Evo 9. It also secured the Carmarthen driver fifth in the overall points rankings.


     
    Just one point separated Bob Morgan (Winner Garage Å koda Fabia R5+) and John Caine (Phil Price Rally School Subaru Impreza) coming into the final round. In a dramatic finale, Caine (partnered by Andrew Sankey) took home fifth place points, one place ahead of Morgan (guided by Ade Williams) - although when the scores to drop rule was taken into account, Morgan finished third in the overall drivers' standings (with Caine in fourth), while Caine finished second in the Ravenol Rally Challenge and Morgan third - and on both occasions they were still separated by just one point.


     
    Paul Walker/Geraint Thomas enjoyed another good run in their Geoff Jones Motorsport-prepared Green Paw Subaru Impreza to take home eighth placed Pirelli Ravenol Welsh points, while Martyn Andrews/Stephen Greenhill took ninth in their Subaru Impreza.
     
    David Tomlin/Keith Ashley lost time at the start of a stage when their launch system failed to engage, but they nonetheless had another good run in their Axon Ford Fiesta R5.


     
    Tony Simpson had been the top 2WD driver at mid-distance, after a tremendous morning in his Seacon UK/Kielder Tools Ford Fiesta R2T. In what would have been his 50th rally with his late co-driver Ian Bevan, he continued the good run over the afternoon loop of stages - and despite driving the final three miles of Brenig on a puncture, he and Jamie Edwards won the R2 class by 33 seconds and completed the Pirelli Ravenol Welsh top 10 - which was a truly magnificent achievement.
     
    Perry Gardener lost time when he spun his Ford Fiesta R5 at the very first corner. Worse was to follow, as he was forced out with engine problems after Brenig - denying navigator Jack Bowen the Welsh Junior co-driver's title.


     
    Richard Ceen/Alun Hayward retired their Coedwigaeth Pencelyn-backed Ford Focus WRC05 on SS4, while Benj Ceen/Caron Tomlinson lost a wheel on their Ford Fiesta R5 on the eighth and final stage.
     
    Matthew Honeyborne/James Curtis retired their BMW 328 Coupe before SS3, while Michael Sawyer/Peter Ward failed to complete the afternoon loop in their 2350cc Datsun 1600.


     
    Adrian and Matthew Walk retired their PartBOX Ford Ka on SS6, but they still managed to secure the class W3 title. Meanwhile, the newly crowned Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Road Rally class champion Brynli Thomas (co-driven by Sion Rowlands) finished the season off in style with a good home in his Peugeot 306 Rallye.


     
    The Cambrian was live-streamed and all the footage, with commentary from Howard Davies, remains online and can be viewed at: facebook.com/WELSHRALLYCHAMPIONSHIP.


     
    Further details on the Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship can be found online at: wnrc.wamc.org.uk.
     
    Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally - top 10 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship finishers
    1. Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear (Ford Fiesta R5+).......46mins 15.0secs
    2. Robert Wilson/Richard Crozier (Mitsubishi Evo 7).......48mins 56.3secs
    3. Russ Thompson/Stephen Link (Mitsubishi Evo 9).......49mins 05.1secs
    4. James Giddings/Aled Davies (Mitsubishi Evo 9).......49mins 28.0secs
    5. John Caine/Andrew Sankey (Subaru Impreza).......51mins 20.8secs
    6. Bob Morgan/Ade Williams (Å koda Fabia R5+).......52mins 18.9secs
    7. Michael McDaid/Declan Casey (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2).......53mins 20.7secs
    8. Paul Walker/Geraint Thomas (Subaru Impreza).......54mins 10.6secs
    9. Martyn Andrews/Stephen Greenhill (Subaru Impreza).......54mins 18.9secs
    10. Tony Simpson/Jamie Edwards (Ford Fiesta R2T).......54mins 26.6secs

    2022 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship
    Overall drivers' points after Round 7
    1. Matthew Hirst.......150pts
    2. Robert Wilson.......122pts
    3. Bob Morgan.......114pts
    4. John Caine.......113pts
    5. James Giddings.......103pts
    6. Bob Ceen.......98pts

     
    For more information please contact: 
    Dave Evison
    Secretary, Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship 
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    Paul Evans
    Press Officer, Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship 
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