After a highly successful move in the WRC calendar this year, the 2017 Wales Rally GB will once again be in the autumn half-term, 26-29 October. Again it will be the penultimate fixture of a 13-round FIA World Rally Championship opening in Monte Carlo in January and culminating in Australia during November and holds the promise of a thrilling series with new entrants. A record number of … [Read more...]
Rallying
Nicky Grist Stages advances over military ranges
One of the most popular events in the Welsh rallying calendar is in the firing line. Next year’s Nicky Grist Stages 8-9 July will host round five of the 2017 MSA British Rally Championship (BRC) – and whilst that will be a two-day mixed surface event, there will also be one-day rounds of other major championships, including the Ravenol BTRDA Rally Series, run on both the Saturday and Sunday … [Read more...]
Wales test for World Rally Champion
World Rally Champion Seb Ogier has been evaluating M-Sport Team’s Ford Fiesta WRC in Wales, writes Gary Jones. The four-time WRC driver and co-driver Julien Ingrassia put the camouflaged car through its paces in Walters Arena, Rheola above Glynneath. The test-drive came about after his WRC winning Volkswagen team announced its withdrawal from the series it has dominated in recent … [Read more...]
Ravenol Welsh Challenge won by Andrew Jones
The 2016 RAVENOL Welsh Challenge has been won by Andrew Jones in his Mark II Ford Escort. The Challenge runs in conjunction with the Pirelli MSA Welsh Forest Rally Championship and is supported by the Championship’s technical partners, hi-tech lubricant company RAVENOL. Going into the final round, the Winner Garage Skoda Wyedean Rally, seven drivers still had a chance of sharing in the prize … [Read more...]
Gardener Digs In For Wet Weather Win
Shaun Gardener made it back-to-back maximum points scores in the Pirelli MSA Welsh Forest Rally Championship on the Winner Garage Skoda Wyedean Stages Rally, writes Peter Hughes. Despite heavy overnight rain that produced treacherous conditions for competitors, the Ludlow driver and co-driver Ben Innes headed the Championship cars throughout the event in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5.9.2. … [Read more...]
It’s the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship finale
Mitcheldean in the Forest of Dean is saturday’s venue for the final round of the Pirelli MSA Welsh Forest Rally Championship, the Winner Garage Skoda Wyedean Rally, says Peter Hughes. Although the overall titles have already been secured by Rhuddlan driver Luke Francis and co-driver John H Roberts of Colwyn Bay there are still plenty of Championship issues to be settled, not least the … [Read more...]
WRGB does power of good but last time for VW
Wales Rally GB 2016 was the ‘best yet’ after tens of thousands of fans filled the forests to witness the UK’s round of the FIA World Rally Championship. But it is the last time we will see a Volkswagen in the winner's enclosure after the German manufacturer this week decided to walk away from the WRC at the end of this year and four championships. It was a flat-out festival of family fun … [Read more...]
WRGB thrills fans until the last stage
Three days of high-octane entertainment reached a climax at Wales Rally GB yesterday as World Rally Champion Sébastien Ogier fought onto the top of the podium in Llandudno in the series’ closest finish of the year. Ogier proved himself once again as he conquered the event’s classic 22-stages challenge, the first WRC round the Frenchman has won four times in a row, and in so doing securing the … [Read more...]
Is a fourth win a bridge too far for Frenchman?
The legendary Welsh forests will see a 148-car entry for Wales Rally GB starting tomorrow and finishing on Sunday. This season’s eagerly-anticipated event promises to be even more spectacular, with a move to a new date at the end of October promising drier and faster action after this afternoon's ceremonial start in Colwyn Bay. Reflecting the ‘Year of Adventure’ in Wales, this … [Read more...]
Elfyn honoured 20 years after dad Gwyndaf
The Welsh Motoring Writers group has honoured two outstanding individuals for their achievements in Wales. The Tom Pryce Memorial Trophy recognises the achievements of Rally Driver Elfyn Evans who won this year’s British Rally Championship title. His father Gwyndaf was awarded WMW’s inaugural Tom Pryce Trophy in 1996 having won the BRC that year and now his son Elfyn, exactly two decades … [Read more...]