Matthew Hirst has moved one step closer to retaining his Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship title after scoring maximum points for the fourth time in four rounds on the Nicky Grist Stages last Saturday. Co-driven by Declan Dear, the Doncaster driver was the class of the Welsh field – finishing over a minute and a half ahead of his nearest championship rival in his Pirelli-shod Delta … [Read more...]
Hirst holds onto championship lead
There was a dramatic end to the Plains Rally at the weekend. Defending Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally champion Matthew Hirst celebrated a third straight maximum points score of the 2023 season on the Plains Rally in his Pirelli-shod Delta Salvage/Witham Group Ford Fiesta R5 – although it was far from straightforward, as both he and arch-rival Perry Gardener hit problems in the afternoon, which … [Read more...]
Hirst aiming for triple on this week’s Plains Rally
Matthew Hirst will be aiming for his third straight 2023 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship victory on Saturday's Plains Rally – although this time he’ll be without his regular co-driver Declan Dear, who is on his long-awaited honeymoon. The defending Welsh champion and 2022 Plains Rally winner will be partnered for the first time by Mark Glennerster, who is stepping into Hirst’s … [Read more...]
Hirst and Dear win Get Jerky Rally North Wales
Matthew Hirst and Declan Dear made a flying start to the defence of their Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship title by winning the opening round of the 2023 series, the Get Jerky Rally North Wales last weekend. Using a new Pirelli tyre compound to excellent effect, especially in the morning’s wet and muddy conditions, the 2019 and 2022 champions established a healthy lead after the … [Read more...]
Hirst reopens his locker in Mid-Wales
Matthew Hirst will begin the defence of his Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship title when he contests the opening round of the 2023 series, the Get Jerky Rally North Wales, on Saturday 25 March. The event has proven to be a successful launching pad for Hirst and co-driver Declan Dear, as both times they have won Rally North Wales (in 2019 and 2022) they have gone on to clinch the … [Read more...]
Hirst locks up Welsh Rally Championship
Matthew Hirst has won the 2022 Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship title with a perfect 150 points score after winning the penultimate round of the series, the Wyedean Stages Rally last Saturday. It’s the second time that Hirst and co-driver Declan Dear have been Welsh champions, having won the title in 2019. Driving his Pirelli-shod Delta Salvage Ford Fiesta R5+, Hirst … [Read more...]
Hirst closes his locker
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 on Saturday. 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 … [Read more...]
Hirst takes honours in North Wales, Pryce wins National
Reigning Pirelli Welsh Junior Rally Champion Matthew Hirst was “over the moon” to claim his first ever outright victory on last weekend’s Rally North Wales, writes Peter Hughes. In doing so, he and co-driver Declan Dear claimed maximum points on the second round of the 2019 Pirelli MotorsportUK Welsh Forest Rally Championship in their Mitsubishi Evo IX. Following the event, the young … [Read more...]