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.

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

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.