The battle for the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship title goes down to the wire on the Wyedean this weekend.
Matthew Hirst needs to finish sixth or higher on the Wyedean Rally Saturday 16 November to win the Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship title for a record-breaking fourth time – although anything less and the title will go to Russ Thompson for the first time.
Having won the last three Forest of Dean events (in 2019, ’22 and ’23), Matthew is favourite for the title despite arriving at the final round second in the points standings. Co-driven by Declan Dear, the Doncaster driver might have scored three maximums this year, but he has also picked up a DNF and finished a lowly ninth after putting his Delta Salvage/Witham Motorsport Škoda Fabia R5 off the road for six minutes on September’s Phil Price Memorial Woodpecker Stages – so it’s still very much all to play for.
With two wins, a second and a third already in the can, Russ can only improve on his current score by five points – and even if the GPM/PD Extinguishers/The Inn Collection Mitsubishi Evo 9 driver scored maximum Pirelli Welsh points, that might not be enough to take the title. The Clitheroe charger has not therefore entered the event and will instead watch the outcome of the title unfold online.
And there are plenty of drivers who could take points away from the two title contenders – including the 2023 Welsh Junior and Challenge champion Rob Wilson, who contests his first event since scoring a Pirelli Welsh podium on the Rallynuts Severn Valley Stages. Co-driven by Martin Hagget, the young Ledbury driver will be out for victory in his Mitsubishi Evo 7.
Bob Morgan returns to the series for the first time since taking home fourth-place Pirelli Welsh points on the Nicky Grist Stages back in July. The Cinderford ace couldn’t miss his home event and will be guided by Ade Williams in his Winner Garage Škoda Fabia R5.
This will only be Simon Rogers’ fourth outing of the season, although he did pick up fifth-place points last time out on the Woodpecker. He and co-driver James How will be keen to avoid a repeat of an early puncture which cost them a chance of a Pirelli Welsh podium on last year’s Wyedean as they aim for a good result in their familiar MacWhirter Motorsport Mitsubishi Evo 6.
Colin Griffiths hopes to end an up and down year on a high in his Jamtech Motorsport-prepared Subaru Impreza STi. Co-driven by Marc Morgan, the Worcester driver has scored a fantastic fourth and solid seventh place finish but has also recorded two DNFs – so a podium finish would be the perfect way to end the season.
Daniel Moss has little to show for his speed after a frustrating season in his Hurst Haylage Mitsubishi Evo 10. Co-driven by Hannah McKillop, the Gloucester driver will also be aiming to end the season on a high – as will Colin Minton/Harry Walshaw (Ignition Motorsport-prepared Tutts Clump Fiesta R5), Paul Lomas/Mark Leader (Plant Speed Subaru Impreza STi), Gary Bollands/Nigel Baldwin (Subaru Impreza Wagon), Ross Clements/Christopher Lear (Sierra XR4x4), Geoff Cottrill/Nathan Crewe (Arnside Motorsport Mitsubishi Evo 9), and Rob and Ashley Aslett (Rigfone Electric Contractors Subaru Impreza).
Tom Llewellin won class W9 and took home a sensational third-place overall Pirelli Welsh points on the Woodpecker. Co-driven by Ross Whittock, the talented young Pembrokeshire driver will be aiming to repeat that extraordinary result as the former Pirelli Welsh Junior champion returns in his Dave Jenkins Motorsport-prepared Weir Rallying Escort Mk2.
Last year’s W9 champion Lyn Davies will be aiming to end the season with a class win, after scoring two podium results already in his 57 Tyres Escort RS1800 Mk2. If he does, that will secure he and co-driver Aled Richards the runners-up spot this year.
Charles Hopkinson/Alan Jones won W9 on last year’s Wyedean on what was at the time only their second outing in their Escort RS1800 Mk2 – and will be aiming for a repeat performance this time.
A misfire robbed Steve Chaplin/Richard Suter of a good run last year, so they’ll be hoping for better luck this time out in their Escort Mk2. Ron Morgan/Sion Jones return in their magnificent Restruct Escort Mk2, as do Peter Jones/Gareth Davies, who lie third in W9 in their Escort Mk2.
Gary Smith/Clive Jones and Andrew Stokes/Jonny ‘Tad’ Evans will go into a head-to-head battle for the class W8 title in a pair of Escort RS1600 Mk1s. Gareth Bevan/Craig Nelson won the class last time out and will be keen to do so again, although they are not class title contenders.
Peter Hinton (co-driven this time by Dean Mitchell) has already clinched the class W7 title and will be aiming for his third win of the season in his Escort Mk2. He’ll be up against Graham Thatcher/Tim Samuel, who have already secured the runners-up position in their Pembridge Vehicle Management TR7 V8, and Neal James/Alan Thomas (Escort Mk2).
Neville Breach has also clinched the class W5 title and will be out for some fun with Martin Corbett in his 1600cc Avenger.
The top three finishers in 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.
Sam Mason will be looking to secure the runners-up spot in the OnThePaceNote / Restruct Welsh Junior category. Co-driven by James Seymour, he is still in contention for overall Hockly Motorsport 2WD honours and the 57 Tyres Welsh Challenge title, which highlights his speed and skill in SM Autocare Ford Fiesta.
Luke Watts (co-driven this time by Matt Rogers) will be aiming to end a good season with a Junior class win in his Ian Watts & Son/NJ Auto Repairs MG ZR.
The overall 2WD and class W11 and 12 titles will be decided on the Wyedean, as all the contenders come out for one last throw of the dice.
Geoff Phelps (co-driven by Colin Jenkins) still leads W11 and is in a race against time to repair his Hartpury Farms/Sparkrite Escort Mk2 after hitting a massive rock on the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally.
Iwan Roberts Jnr is just 11 points behind and with three wins and a DNF could snatch the title as the points to drop rule will work in his favour with another good performance in his Roberts of Ffestiniog Ford Escort G3. Daniel Jones has already clinched the 2WD and W11 co-drivers’ titles.
Rob Dennis/Andy Boswell will be keen to end the season like they started with a class W11 win in their Team Dennis Escort Mk2, while Mike Brown Snr and daughter Nikola return in their LB Passive Fire BMW Compact M3.
Tim Phelps rolled his new Britpart Escort Mk2 down a ravine on the opening round and returns to the series with Karen Phelps alongside, while father and daughter crew Jeremy and Alexandra Harris are back in their Kilcot Garage Escort Mk1.
Dan Chester leads class W12. Co-driven by Steven Davey, the Bicester oversteer expert will be hoping to secure the title in his Dan’s Action Vehicles BMW E30 – although he’ll face stiff opposition from Brecon duo David Jones/Glyn Price (Tanners Arms/GJ Price Transport BMW E30) and Andrew and Jaime-Lee Fox (Xwatch Safety Solutions BMW 325).
Defending class champions Martin Walters/Marie Fletcher lead W10 despite recording a rare DNF last time out in their Digger Parts Direct Honda Civic. That allowed Michael Jenkins/Jordan Joines to close the gap to just five points after they took their first class win on the season in their Tutts Clump Fiesta R2 – with it all to play for on the Wyedean.
Ashley Francis Adams has already won the W2 title and will be aiming to end the year in style in their PRC Cleaning/JFB Msport/Colliers MOT Nissan Micra – co-driven this time by Dylan Fowler-Bishop, who you normally see driving his own Micra. Ashley is also tied for the lead in the 57 Tyres Welsh Challenge.
Organised by the Forest of Dean Motor Club, this year’s Wyedean Rally will consist of seven stages / 40 stage miles, all held within the Forest of Dean. Starting at 08:00 from Cinderford Rugby Club, crews will tackle the Speech House and Yorkley stages before service at Ross Livestock Market (Ross On Wye), followed by Serridge and Speech House 2 stages prior to a midday service halt. The afternoon will see a run through Serridge 2, Staple Edge and Yorkley 2 stages, before the finish at 15:35.
