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

Ravenol UK will enhance its involvement within Welsh motorsport this year by becoming joint title sponsor of the 2022 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship and increasing its support of the popular Ravenol Welsh Challenge.

Ravenol has been a valuable technical and lubricants partner to Wales' premier forestry rally championship since 2015 and its increased support in 2022 will see wide reaching additional benefits to all registered championship contenders.

In what has become an integral part of the Championship, the Ravenol Welsh Challenge is a category which aims to reward those competitors who deserve it the most, namely the clubmen who have not finished in the top 10 of a National B (or equivalent) championship gravel event.

The Ravenol Welsh Challenge crew which improves most on their seeding at each event will receive £200 worth of Ravenol products of their choice, whilst this year there will also be an overall Ravenol Welsh Challenge winner who will receive a trophy and a cheque for £500 at the end of the season.

Ravenol will also fund the live streaming and online highlights package, ensuring that registered competitors in every class receive unrivalled broadcast coverage for themselves and their sponsors at every qualifying event.

Furthermore, all 2022 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship registered competitors will be offered a generous 15% discount when ordering products via www.Ravenol-direct.uk. This special online offer applies to the entire range of high-performance automotive lubricants including road oils (excluding Bargain Bin items) and can be used by both driver and co-driver.

"Heading into our seventh year of supporting Wales' premier forestry rally championship we are delighted to announce that we are increasing our commitment to the 2022 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship," said Brian Chase, Managing Director of Ravenol UK.

"We have always supported the clubman in a variety of motorsport disciplines, and we are proud to develop the Ravenol Welsh Challenge even further by offering an event-by-event incentive and a new overall end-of-season cash reward and trophy.

"As for the Ravenol products themselves, our boffins in Germany have developed some of the most technically advanced lubricants available and which provide a strong, stable viscosity even at higher temperatures whilst substantially reducing the risks of fuel dilution. There is a range of grades specifically intended for all forms of motorsport even at the highest international level and what better way to demonstrate their quality than the Welsh forests."

"We are delighted that Ravenol UK is supporting the Welsh Rally Championship for a seventh year and its increased commitment to the series really is fantastic news for all registered championship contenders," added Dave Evison, Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship Secretary.

"Given our long-standing partnership with Ravenol UK, which has grown every year since it commenced in 2015, it is entirely appropriate that the partnership is now recognised within the championship title. As a championship we are proud to have such great relationships with partners like Ravenol UK as it highlights our commitment to continually improve the championship year-on-year."

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.

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 
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.

Press release: 21 March 2022

The famous rallying forests of Dyfi and Pantperthog will host the opening round of the 2022 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship on Saturday 26 March when a star-studded line up of crews battle for victory on the WKD Trained Dogs Rally North Wales.

The Dolgellau-based event has attracted a fantastic entry featuring former Welsh champions, exciting new driver/car combinations and up and coming young talent aiming for the coveted Welsh Junior title.

One former champion is Matthew Hirst who won Rally North Wales, and the Welsh drivers' title, in 2019. Together with co-driver Declan Dear, Hirst has swapped his Mitsubishi Evo IX for a new Delta Salvage-backed Ford Fiesta R5+. They finished sixth on the recent Malcolm Wilson Rally in Cumbria, so arrive in North Wales match fit and confident.

Dylan Davies also knows how to win Rally North Wales and the Welsh drivers' title too, having done both in 2018. He has since moved from a Subaru Impreza STi N14 to a Å koda Fabia R5+ and together with co-driver Mark Glennerster will be one of the pre-event favourites this time as well.

With the pandemic disrupting two years of his early rally career, Tom Llewellin is aiming to make up for lost time with a big rally campaign on both gravel and asphalt this year. The 2019 Welsh Junior champion is out for overall honours this year and will be partnered by Dale Bowen on Rally North Wales in his Brace's Bakery Mitsubishi Mirage.

Roland Llewellin/Jamie Edwards have swapped their trusty Mitsubishi Evo 10 for a state-of-the-art Hyundai i20 R5 and are set to make their competition debut in the Hyundai Power Products-backed car.

Bob Morgan upgraded to a Å koda Fabia R5+ last year and enjoyed a great maiden outing on the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally. Partnered by Ade Williams, the Winner Garage boss will be aiming for a good start to his 2022 Welsh Championship campaign.

So too will Simon Rogers/James How (Mitsubishi Evo 6), Ben Ceen/Caron Tomlinson (Coedwigaeth Pencelyn Ford Fiesta), Richard Ceen/TBA (Coedwigaeth Pencelyn Ford Focus WRC05) and Bob Ceen/Shaun Layland (Axes Design Ford Fiesta R5+).

It's great to see so many Subaru Imprezas out on Rally North Wales, with the likes of Wug Utting/Bob Stokoe (Geoff Jones Motorsport Subaru Impreza N12b), Paul Walker/Geraint Thomas (Subaru Impreza), Lewers Firth/Shaun Lapper (Firth Construction Subaru Impreza), Paul Davy/Roger Allan (Subaru Impreza N12b), Josh Taylor/Will Atkins (Leaton Consult Subaru Impreza Nr4), Martyn Andrews/Steve Greenhill (Opie Oils Subaru Impreza) and Phil Price Rally School instructor John Caine, pictured who will be co-driven by Andrew Sankey in his hard-charging Subaru Impreza, all aiming for early points.

Brothers Callum and Liam Griffiths go head-to-head in the battle for the OnThePaceNote.co.uk supported Welsh Junior title, each driving a Presteigne Tyre Services backed Ford Fiesta ST. Aiming to follow in their father Nigel's footsteps, Callum will be co-driven by William Lewis, while Liam will be partnered by Motorsport UK elite co-driver Daniel James.

The Junior category is open to any driver and co-driver who hasn't previously won the Junior title and was under 25 years of age on 1 January 2022, regardless of vehicle - which always sees a great variety of cars contesting the class. This year is no exception, with Gethin Price/Matthew Baddeley in their Richard Keith Price Haulage Nissan Micra, Rory McCann, co-driven by his father Paul, coming over from the Isle of Man in their Metalways Hillman Avenger.  

The Welsh Historic Cup, supported this year by Restruct, has always been extremely popular and this year the category has attracted one of its biggest ever entries.Julian Birley/Emyr Hall are returning to defend their class W6 (2WD, Historic Cat 1, including up to 1600cc category 2, 3 and 4a, cars) title in their Talbot Sunbeam Ti 1600 and will be up against the likes of Malcolm Bayliss/Siobhan Pugh (16BAO Rally Team Ford Escort Mk1) and Junior driver Rory McCann.

Neal James/Kevin Jones finished runners-up in class W7 (2WD, Historic 1601cc and over 8v single cam cars) last year and are aiming to go one better this season in their Mosely Rolling Road Cwm Engineering Ford Escort. They'll have stiff competition from the likes of David Lloyd Roberts/Gerallt Wyn Davies (Ford Escort Mk2).

Paul Street/Ian Jones are back to defend their class W8 (2WD, Historic 1601cc and over 16v multi valve cars) title in their PJS Marine Escort RS1800 Mk2 and will be pushed hard by the likes of the rapid Michael McDaid/Declan Casey in their McDaid Pharmacy Escort RS1800 Mk2, Roger Chillman/Patrick Walsh in theirSecurcom Escort Mk2 and Ben Friend/Cliff Simmons in the Allglass Anglia Escort Mk2.

Indeed, if you like to see Escort Mk2s driven on the limit this is certainly the place! Pete Littler/Andy Marchbank won the overall Welsh Championship title together in 2000 and team up again in a RED Preparation & Fabrication/Select Security Ford Escort RS1800. Other leading class contenders include Owen McMackin/Dai Robert, Robert Gough/Jack Bowen, Rob Dennis/Andy Boswell, Ron Morgan/Marc Clatworthy, pictured above, in their gorgeous Wales Motorsport-built Restruct Escort and Rudi Lancaster/Guy Weaver in their Woolacombe Holiday Parks Escort RS1800.

Jonathan Brace/Paul Spooner, pictured, have swapped their Mk2 for an immaculate Brace's Bakery Escort Mk1 RS1600 and will make their competition debut in the Dave Jenkins Motorsport built car on Rally North Wales. Also out in Mk1s are Andrew Stokes/Jonny Tad Evans, Gary Smith/Clive Jones and Gareth Lewis/Ryland James.

This will also be the first opportunity for drivers to impress the judges in the David Stokes Historic Challenge and for co-drivers to do likewise in the Guy Weaver Award. These are two new awards for 2022 and open to all Historic class competitors.

Owen McMackin returns to defend his Welsh 2WD drivers' title in his rapid BJT Hire Centre Ford Escort. Some of the many others battling for his hotly contested class award include Philip Jones/Ryan Griffiths (Ford Escort), Colin Griffiths/Tom Bishop (BMW Compact), Alun Horn/Ian Beamond (Ford Escort), Tim Phelps/Elwyn Manuel (Britpart Ford Escort Mk2), Boyd Kershaw/Keegan Rees (Flying Kiwi Rally Team Ford Escort), Kevin Metcalfe/Ian Jones (BMW E30), Peter Hinton/Lewis Sim (Ford Escort) and Ashley Davies/Sam Fordham (Burton Power /G&B Finch/Deranged Trucks Ford Escort RS).

Graham Thatcher, pictured, has done a lot of development work over the winter months, particularly to the suspension and handling, on his Pembridge Vehicle Management Peugeot 206GTi, as he and co-driver Tim Samuel begin their assault on the Road Rally class title.

Stuart Spyer/Peter Williams (SG Motorsport Vauxhall Corsa), Hefin Lloyd-Davies/Rich Jones (Jones Bros Ruthin-Civil Engineering UK Vauxhall Corsa), Freddy Brick/Toby Brick (TNT Tyres Vauxhall Corsa) and Junior Gethin Price will be the early runners in class W3 (for 2WD, 1001cc to 1400cc 16v naturally aspirated cars), while Tony Simpson/Ian Bevan (Seacon UK/Kielder Tools Ford Fiesta), Jonathan Jones/Jez Rogers (Ingospec Aluminum Ford Fiesta R2) and Matthew Jackson/Sasha Heriot (Ford Fiesta R2T) will be fighting for the advantage in class W4 (2WD, R2 homologated cars / FIA 1000cc turbo and 1600cc cars).

Dan Jones/Cyril Jones are back to defend their class W10 title (2WD, 1401cc to 1600cc naturally aspirated cars) in their rapid Jones Brothers/Bradley Motorsport Vauxhall Nova and will face strong competition from the likes of Martin Walters/Marie Fletcher (Honda Civic).

The Ravenol Welsh Challenge, which recognises the performance of competitors who have yet to finish in the top 10 overall of a Welsh Championship round, continues to be one of the most popular clubman categories in the series and it has once again attracted a fantastic entry. Many of the aforementioned crews are eligible for the award, plus the likes of Matthew Honeyborne/Martin Allwood (Allweld Engineering BMW 328 Coupe), Andrew Fox/Jaime-Lee Fox (Xwatch Safety Solutions BMW 325) and David Jones/Glyn Price (G J Price Transport BMW E30).

Dave Evison, Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship Secretary, said: "It is fantastic to see a full entry for this year's opening round of the series, Rally North Wales. It rewards the event's move to Dolgellau, which enables the organisers to run a very compact event including fantastic stages with very little road mileage - a format that has proven to be very popular with competitors. More entries to events equals more contenders to the Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship and with registration numbers increasing daily the Championship is on course to maintain the growth its achieved since 2010. This is great news for competitors, the Championship and its sponsors."

Sideways Media will attend every round of the Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship and livestream all the action from the very best viewing points on the stages and ensure that every registered competitor is featured. With Howard Davies on the microphone, the broadcasts will be streamed live on the Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship's Facebook and YouTube channels, where fans can watch the action live or after the event.

Organised by Wolverhampton & South Staffordshire Car Club, this year's WKD Trained Dogs Rally North Wales contains two loops of four stages totalling 45 competitive miles through the iconic Dyfi and Pantperthog forest complex stages. The event will start at 08.31 from Gwyndaf Evans Motors in Dolgellau, with the first car reaching the finish at the Dolgellau Farmers Mart (home to the centralised service area) at 15.00.

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

2022 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship calendar

26 March....... WKD Trained Dogs Rally North Wales

9 April.......Rallynuts Stages Rally

21 May.......Plains Rally

9 July.......Nicky Grist Stages

3 September....... Eventsigns Woodpecker Stages Rally

15 October....... Winner Garage Å koda Wyedean Rally

29 October.......Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally

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

Just two points separate the top three drivers at the top of the 2021 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship standings with series leader Garry Pearson, Ian Bainbridge and George Lepley heading to Llandudno for the penultimate round of the series, the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally (Saturday 30 October).

Pearson (pictured) arrives in North Wales with a one point lead after he and co-driver Niall Burns won the Eventsigns Woodpecker Rally in their Asset Alliance Å koda Fabia R5. Despite fierce and experienced opposition, their first attempt at the event saw them lead from start to finish and they will be looking for nothing less than maximum points again.

"I've only done the Cambrian Rally once and that was in 2014 in a Peugeot 208 R2," says Pearson.

"It's only going to be my second event in Wales in an R5 car, so I'm looking forward to it. I've not got a lot of experience of the North Wales forests, but it will nevertheless be a case of opening the throttle and going for it. We're going to give it our all."



Bainbridge is enjoying a great season too, having finished second on the opening Nicky Grist Stages and third on the Woodpecker. His last appearance in North Wales saw him win the Rali Adfer Coedwigoedd Cymru (December 2020) in Gorsedd Bran forest, and he has improved the performance and handling of his Gypsum Group Å koda Fabia R5 considerably since then - leaving him and co-driver Will Atkins, who leads the overall co-drivers' standings, as potential Cambrian Rally winners.

 
George Lepley (pictured) finished third on the opening Nicky Grist Stages and second on the Woodpecker and also leads the Pirelli Welsh Junior category. Co-driven by Tom Woodburn, the WD-40 Mitsubishi Evo X driver is on incredible form this year and will be looking for another podium finish on the Cambrian to strengthen is double title hopes.

Callum Black (pictured) led the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship after victory on the Nicky Grist Stages but a DNF on the Woodpecker has dropped him down to seventh. But with three scores from four events to count the 586 Sports team driver is still very much in contention but will need another good result this time out. Callum will be co-driven by Jack Morton in their Pallas Connections-backed Ford Fiesta R5+.

Also challenging for the top step of the podium will be the 2019 Pirelli Welsh Rally champions Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear in their Delta Mitsubishi Evo IX, Russ Thompson/Stephen Link in their Dunnow Plant Mitsubishi Evo IX and the 2019 Welsh Junior champion Tom Llewellin who, with co-driver Ross Whittock, will contest only his second rally in a Mitsubishi Mirage, having finished fourth first time out on the Nicky Grist Stages.

David Crossen is enjoying a magnificent season in his Escort Mk2 as he heads to North Wales looking for this third straight win in the Restruct-sponsored Two-Wheel Drive category. The Comber driver also leads the RAVENOL UK Welsh Challenge and will be co-driven on the Cambrian by Aileen Kelly.

Ashley Davies is currently second in the Welsh Challenge and, partnered by Sam Fordham, will be aiming to close the five point gap in his Escort Mk2.

Having finished third on both the previous rounds, Owen McMackin is second in the Two-Wheel Drive standings, just 10 points behind in his Escort Mk2. He will be co-driven by Lee Taylor.

Ioan Lloyd(Pictured) is third in both the Two-Wheel Drive and Welsh Challenge classes after a magnificent season in his West Wales Rally Spares Peugeot 208 R2. Co-driven by Sion Williams, the youngster also leads W4 after winning the class twice, while Jonathan Jones (co-driven by Alan Walker) is close behind having finished second twice in his Ford Fiesta R2.

Paul Street(pictured) has a great opportunity to take the lead in the hotly contested Pirelli Welsh Historic Cup. He's currently second in the drivers' points table and enjoying a great season in his Escort RS1800 Mk2, while his navigator Ian Jones leads the co-drivers' category.

They'll be pushed hard by the likes of Tom Coughtrie/Ian Fraser (pictured) in their Mitsubishi Galant VR4 and Michael McDaid/Declan Casey and Robert Gough/Aled Edwards in a pair of Escort RS1800 Mk2s.

Steve Black(above) leads class W3 in his 586 Sports Suzuki Swift 1400 and he and co-driver Paul Morris will be hoping to bounce back from an early retirement on the Woodpecker with a good result. That DNF has allowed Dave Brick to close up in his Vauxhall Nova and together with Toby Brick on the route notes the battle for the class title will be intense.

Maxx Bradshaw will be aiming to close the 11 point gap on Lepley in the Pirelli Welsh Junior category, and together with co-driver Liam Whiteley brings his Renvo8/DB Autos & Sons Mitsubishi Evo III over from the Isle of Man.

Ricky Crone is just two points ahead of Robi Wood in the Pirelli Welsh Road Rally class in a pair of Escort Mk2s, while Graham Thatcher is a close third in his Peugeot 206GTi. Co-driven by Daniel James, Osian Davies and Tim Samuel respectively, their battle for the newest class title will continue.

Adrian and Matthew Walk (pictuerd) will be looking to take the lead of class W2 in their PartBOX Ford Ka, while Dan Jones/Cyril Jones could wrap up the class W10 trophy if their winning streak continues in their Vauxhall Nova.

The Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship has once again attracted a very high quality entry containing a huge variety of cars - as also competing for honour and points on the Cambrian Rally are Dave Tomlin/Keith Ashley (Axon Fird Fiesta R5), Andrew Stokes/Jonny 'Tad' Evans (Escort RS1600 Mk1), Bob Morgan/Adrian Williams (Winner Garage Å koda Fabia), rally rookie Olly Hunt/Andy Falconer (Subaru Impreza) (Pictured aboe), Ross Clements/Christopher Lee (MG ZR), Martin Frazer/Dylan Bargate (Slideways Mitsubishi Evo VI), Chris and Tim Hellings (Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk1), Kevin Metcalfe/Ian Jones (BMW E30), Steve Hollis/Tim Currie (Volkswagen Golf R) and Jason Black/Karl Egan (Toyota Starlet) (pictured below) - plus many more.

Sideways Media will once again film all registered Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship competitors and broadcast a multi-film edited highlights package on the Championship's Facebook and YouTube channels in the week after the event, featuring all classes.

There will also be live coverage and interviews during the event, broadcast on the Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship social media channels.

This year's Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally contains seven stages totalling just over 44 stage miles through the classic forests of Gwydir, Penmachno and Alwen, together with the final challenge of a new asphalt stage which has only been used before on road rallies. The service area will be located at Coleg Llandrillo.

Spectators are welcome and tickets must be purchased in advance via the event's website: cambrianrally.co.uk. The cost of the ticket includes vehicle car parking, an event programme and access to one stage.

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

Images: Chris Huish Rallysportmedia 
Article: Paul Evans 

Press release: 19 April 2021

Registrations flood in for the 2021 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship - which features a vibrant new class structure designed to attract a wide variety of cars and drivers

Registrations are flooding in thick and fast for this year's Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship, which will feature 14 different classes catering for a wide and diverse range of cars and drivers - including, by popular demand, a new category for Road Rally cars.

With points awarded to the top 22 finishers on each round, the battle for the overall Welsh National Rally Championship title is always a very close one - like in 2019, when Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear pipped Russ Thompson/Andy Murphy and Tom Llewellin/Peredur Davies in the race for the coveted crown on the final round.

The overall champion can come from any class, meaning that a well-driven Escort Mk2 can battle for overall honours against four-wheel drive machinery.

Every class and all registered competitors are important to the inclusive and friendly Welsh National Rally Championship, and this philosophy has enabled the series to develop a class structure rich in quality and quantity.

A classic example is the Ravenol Welsh Challenge, which has established itself as one of the top clubman categories within the Welsh National Rally Championship. It is open to competitors in both two- and four-wheel drive cars, who have not finished in the top 10 of a National B (or equivalent) championship gravel event. This very well supported category fits exactly the criteria sponsor Ravenol UK MD Brian Chase was looking for when promoting Ravenol UK to the motorsport fraternity.

The Restruct sponsored Two-Wheel Drive category has also increased in popularity since its introduction a decade ago. Open to and rewarding crews competing in either front- or rear-wheel drive cars, this category has successfully attracted historic vehicles across into the open class structure. It has proved so successful that a bit of fine-tuning will now see historic vehicles separated within a new class structure to increase the already strong competition, as well as retaining the category's integrity.

Registrations have started to flow in from drivers such as Andrew Davison (Talbot Sunbeam) and Gary Smith (Ford Escort Mk1) - as well as a significant number of serious enquiries from Irish rally drivers, including from Frank Kelly in his famous Baby Blue Escort, which bodes well for an exciting Irish presence in the championship.

Meanwhile Welsh National Rally Championship regular Wug Utting (Subaru Impreza STi N12B) is amongst several registrations in the four-wheel drive classes - and one of the UK's most experienced co drivers Paul Spooner has registered again in a bid for top honours. 

A very important element to the Welsh National Rally Championship is the development of talent in the Under 25 section - and in recent years, six championship winning drivers have started in the Junior category. As in 2019, the prize for the winning Welsh National Rally Championship Junior driver is a test in a PCRS Rallysport-prepared Hyundai i20 R5, courtesy of OnThePaceNote.

There is also a new class for Road Rally cars, in an acknowledgement of the increasing number of competitors who would like to try stage rallying without having to go to market and buy another vehicle. Cars will be allowed to run under Motorsport UK stage rally rules for tyres and graphics, and they must conform to both road rally and stage rally regulations. Registrations have also already been received for this class.

The full list of 14 classes in the 2021 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship are:

W1: 2WD - up to and including 1000cc naturally aspirated

W2: 2WD - 1001cc to 1400cc 8v naturally aspirated

W3: 2WD - 1001cc to 1400cc 16v naturally aspirated

W4: 2WD - all R2 homologated cars / FIA 1000cc turbo and 1600cc

W5: 2WD - Road Rally cars

W6: 2WD - Historic Cat 1 (including up to 1600cc category 2, 3 and 4a)

W7: 2WD - Historic 1601cc and over 8v single cam (category 2, 3 and 4a)

W8: 2WD - Historic 1601cc and over 16v multi valve (category 2, 3, 4a and 4b up to 1600cc)

W9: 4WD - Historic category 4b over 1600cc. Complaint to R49.1.5 MSUK Year Book

W10: 2WD - 1401cc to 1600cc naturally aspirated

W11: 2WD - 1601cc to 2000cc naturally aspirated

W12: 2WD - 2001cc and over

W13: 4WD - all four-wheel drive cars, excluding class W14 and W9

W14: 4WD - WRC/R5/S2000/RCC cars

Dave Evison, Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship Secretary, said: "In response to requests from competitors, we have made some positive changes to the class structure of the Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship. With the inclusion of the Road Rally class, and the healthy competition in the popular two-wheel drive category, I believe the balance we have struck will maintain the competition between crews - which is so important to deliver a successful series."

The opening round of the 2021 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship is the Nicky Grist Stages on Saturday 10 July.


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

Picture caption


Andrew Davison/Tom Murphy (Talbot Sunbeam). Picture courtesy of Chris Huish, RallySport Media 
Gary Smith/Phil Clarke (Ford Escort RS 1600 Mk1). Picture courtesy of Chris Huish, RallySport Media
Wug Utting/Bob Stokoe (Subaru Impreza STi N12B). Picture courtesy of Chris Huish, RallySport Media
Damian Cole/Jamie Edwards (Road Rally spec Ford Escort Mk2). 

Press release: 12 December 2022


Many of the world's greatest gravel forest stages - like Myherin, Sweet Lamb,
Dyfnant, Hafren and Crychan - will come together to form the 2023 Motorsport UK
Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship, with an exciting seven-round calendar
planned for next year.

Organised by the Welsh Association of Motor Clubs, the 2023 series will offer
competitors a good geographical spread and a good date balance, with the first
round taking place at the end of March, the final round at the end of October and
only one event taking place over the months of June, July and August, providing
plenty of time for mid-season car refurbishments in the summer break.
Each event will have an ultra-compact one-day format, with around 45 stage miles
and minimal road mileage.


Thanks to the outstanding work of Rally 4 Wales, the Welsh forest stages are always
in excellent condition. These super smooth world-class road conditions have seen
the Historic and smaller capacity car entries grow and the very successful
introduction of a Road Rally class, whilst it has also attracted top-class competition
from Ireland, Scotland, England the Isle of Man, and of course the home nation of
Wales.

The 2023 season will start with the Get Jerky Rally North Wales on Saturday 25
March. Organised by Wolverhampton & South Staffs Car Club, the event will move
from its traditional base in Dolgellau to Welshpool, which is home to the event's new
title sponsor. An exciting new route is being planned, featuring some classic forest
stages.

Round 2 will be the Rallynuts Stages Rally on Saturday 15 April. Organised by
Midland Manor Motor Club, the event is based at the Royal Welsh Showground in
Llanelwedd and has stages in the nearby mid-Wales forests.
The Plains Rally, which successfully moved to its new home of Bala this year, hosts
Round 3. The Knutsford & District Motor Club event will take place on Saturday 20
May, with another tight and compact route like the one which was so well received
by competitors in 2022.

Round 4 will be the Nicky Grist Stages on Saturday 8 July. Based in Builth Wells,
with the start, finish and service area all located in the town centre, the Quinton
Motor Club event will contain super-smooth stages in the classic mid-Wales forests
in and around the Epynt military range.




The Phil Price Memorial Woodpecker Stages Rally is another hugely popular event
that traditionally features some fantastic challenging stages and very low road
mileage. The Sixty and Worcestershire Motor Club organised event will be based at
Ludlow Racecourse and hosts Round 5 on Saturday 9 September.

The stunning Wales/England border is also the setting for the sixth and penultimate
round of the 2023 Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship, the Wyedean Rally.
Organised by Forest of Dean Motor Club, the event will take place on Saturday 14
October.

The seventh and final round will be the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally, which takes
place on Saturday 28 October. The North Wales Car Club organised event will be
based in Llandudno and incorporates some of the most classic former Wales Rally
GB stages in the north of the principality.

Following on from the success of recent years, each round of the 2023 Pirelli
Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship will be filmed and live-streamed online, with
expert commentary, driver interviews and much more.

Dave Evison, Pirelli Ravenol Welsh National Rally Championship, said: "Firstly I
have to say a massive thank you to all the individual event organisers. Recently the
pandemic held back their thinking, and now with it behind us they are looking to do
things differently. What you might ask? Well, you will have to come and join us to
find out! We have tweaked the class structure and the calendar with seven events,
with the best five scores to count, and we will also use Sportity so that all the
championship information is easily accessible and in one place. The main
ingredients remain - friendly competition on the best stages in the world!"


Further details on the 2023 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship
can be found online at: wnrc.wamc.org.uk.

2023 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship
25 March.......Get Jerky Rally North Wales
15 April.......Rallynuts Stages Rally
20 May.......Plains Rally
8 July.......Nicky Grist Stages
9 September.......Phil Price Memorial Woodpecker Stages
14 October.......Wyedean Rally
28 October.......Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally

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.

Picture captions
Bob Ceen/Shaun Layland (Ford Fiesta R5)
Paul Walker/Geraint Thomas (Subaru Impreza)
Andrew Fox/Jaime-Lee Fox (BMW 325)
Ashley Davies/Sam Fordham (Ford Escort Mk2)
Jonathan Brace/Paul Spooner (Ford Escort Mk1 RS1600)


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