Preview of Round 5 : Nicky Grist Stages (11th July)
For the past three years, the highest-placed BTRDA-registered finishers on the Nicky Grist Stages, the fifth round of the 2026 Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series, have gone on to take the Gold Star crown! Matthew Hirst / Declan Dear (Fabia R2) were victorious last year while Elliot Payne (Fiesta Rally2) won the title in 2024 with Patrick Walsh and Tom Woodburn the previous year. As Hirst / Dear and Payne / Walsh head for Builth Wells, it is the latter who currently hold sway, having taken maximum Fuchs Lubricants Gold Star Championship points on each of the last three events.
                                              The featured image (above) is Elliot Payne and Patrick Walsh (Fiesta Rally2) – the BTRDA Gold Star Championship Leaders

With four events – including the Nicky Grist – still to run, there is no call on the ‘fat lady’ to sing just yet but, should Payne / Walsh’s run of success continue, she’d be well advised to start rehearsing!  Hirst has one DNF on his scorecard but, with everyone’s five best scores from seven to count, there’s still time to mount a successful title defence. However, it has to be said that a ‘win’ here would help the job along considerably…
Following a string of good results – including 2nd O/A in Kielder, just three seconds behind the winners – Daniel Sigurðarson and Asta Sigurðadóttir (Fabia RS) currently occupy runners-up spot in the points, marginally ahead of a resurgent Russ Thompson and Steve Link in their Class 2 Fiesta. Alistair Ginley (Skoda RS), Dan O’Brien and Trevor Gamble / Chris Davies (both Fiesta Rally2s) have all seen the finish of each event so far, with their consistency rewarded with 4th, 5th and 6th places respectively.  2022 BTRDA Bronze Star Champions Pete Gorst and Mark Twiname have swopped their all-conquering Nova for a Lancer EVO9 and are Thompson / Link’s closest challengers in Class 2. Fellow Mitsubishi pilots Pat Naylor / Tom Bishop & Geoff Smith / Joe Dunn each have one DNF but, as mentioned before, there’s still plenty of time for them to recoup their losses.

Having led both the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Silver Star® Championship and the BTRDA Historic Cup in the early stages of the season, Baz Jordan and Arwel Jenkins’ (Galant VR4) absence from the Plains Rally allowed Rian Walker / Paul Gribben (Adam R2) and Steve ‘Korky’ Ward / John Millington (Escort Mk2) to overhaul them in the Silver Star table and the latter to assume command of the Historics.

<<<   Rian Walker/Paul Gribben (Adam R2) – BTRDA Silver Star and Rallye R2 Cup Leaders

2015 Silver Star Champion – and runner-up by a single point in 2023! – Boyd Kershaw and co-driver Keegan Rees (Escort Mk2) started their campaign with a retirement on Rally North Wales. Notwithstanding, ‘wins’ on both the subsequent Kielder Forest and Plains Rallies have catapulted the ‘Flying Kiwi’ into 3rd place from only two scores! Meanwhile, long-term absentee Max Utting (Fiesta ST150), who returned for the Plains and came away with 2nd place points, also features in the strong field….
Ben Jemison /  Adam Burkill (Chevette HSR) took top BTRDA Historic Cup honours last time out but a non-finish in Kielder is currently holding them back. Similarly, Bryan Jardine’s Escort – runner-up to Jordan’s Galant on both Rally North Wales and Kielder – spat its dummy out on the Plains and, hence, an element of catching-up is now required…

Rian Walker / Paul Gribben (Adam R2) lead both the BTRDA Rallye R2 & R2 Junior Cups but the similar car of Oliver Phillips / Barry Young, which beat them on Rally North Wales before retiring in Kielder and subsequently missing the Plains, and Michael Jenkins (Fiesta), the ‘winner’ last time out, will both be present in Builth Wells as they all attempt to further their respective claims to the title.
While defending Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Bronze Star® Champions, Dylan Fowler-Bishop and Dan Evans (Micra) missed the Kielder Forest Rally and title winners in 2023/24, Nigel & Kaz Jenkins (Nova), didn’t begin their current campaign until the Plains, Luke Watts / Matt Rogers (MG ZR) have been quietly going about their business. Aided, in no small way, by a maximum score in Kielder, they start the Nicky Grist as Bronze Star leaders and it’s not unreasonable to assume that they’d still like to be in that position at the end of the day. Indeed, as the only crew in the category to have, thus far, maintained a 100% finishing record, another one would virtually guarantee their wish!…

                                             Luke Watts / Matt Rogers (MG ZR) – Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Bronze Star Championship Leaders >>>

Dale Glover / David Smalley (Alfasud TI) opened their scoring on the Plains but, having retired from the same event, Ed James / Kevin Lane (Micra Kit Car) would now like to move forward in similar fashion!

The Kingfisher Insurance Motorsport UK English Rally Championship makes a cross-border sortie on this occasion to include the Nicky Grist Stages and give joint leaders of the drivers table, Russ Thompson (Fiesta) and Elliot Payne (Fiesta Rally2) another chance to assert their authority and claim top spot for themselves. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting once more that, should anything go awry with either of their respective challenges, the scoring is currently so close that maximum points from any of the next 16 drivers in the table would considerably alter the leaderboard’s perspective! This is especially relevant to those at the tail end of the cluster – Baz Jordan (Galant VR4), Dylan Fowler-Bishop (Micra) and Max Utting (Fiesta ST 150) have each registered one maximum score and one ‘did not start’. As they all feature in the Nicky Grist entry list, should any / all of them finish the day with another ‘first in class’, they’ll then have a couple of months to prepare themselves for the second half of the season which culminates on the Grizedale Stages in early December.

<<<  Baz Jordan / Arwel Jenkins (Mitsubishi Galant VR4)

SPECTATORS: The first car leaves the start in Builth Wells at 8.30am on Saturday 11th July and, having completed eight stages totalling 44 miles, is due to return at 3.30pm. Full details can be found at : http://www.nickygriststages.co.uk/spectators/

All photos © Kevin Money / Malcolm Almond
Further information on the 2026 Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series: www.btrdarally.com

AH

Preview of Round 4 : Plains Rally (13th June)
Knutsford & District MC’s Plains Rally – an event steeped in history – returns to both the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series and the Kingfisher Insurance Motorsport UK English Rally Championship this year. Starting out in the early 1960s as a road event and taking crews over the Cheshire Plains – hence the name – it was a qualifying round of the legendary Motoring News Road Rally Championship from 1968 before moving to the forests in 1976. The last time it featured in the BTRDA Rally Series (2019), it was won by Euan Thorburn / Paul Beaton on their way to becoming Gold Star Champions that year.
So, fast forward to 2026 and Elliot Payne and Patrick Walsh (Fiesta Rally2) arrive in Bala for the pre-event formalities as Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Gold Star® Rally Championship leaders. Whether they are still in that hallowed position by the end of the day will be determined by a number of factors and not just purely on their own performance – although it can’t be denied that a good result would put them in the ‘pound seats’!

                                   Featured image above is Elliot Payne / Patrick Walsh (Fiesta Rally2) – Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Gold Star Rally Championship Leaders

Having retired last time out on the Kielder Forest Rally, defending Gold Star Champion Matthew Hirst (Fabia Rally2) is reunited with his winning co-driver from last year, Declan Dear, for the Plains but, as the current Top Six drivers in the points table will all be present, the pair have some catching-up to do!  Daniel Sigurðarson / Asta Sigurðadóttir (Fabia RS) were 2nd in Kielder and hold the same position in the table, one point ahead of Russ Thompson / Steve Link (Fiesta), with Alistair Ginley (Skoda RS), Dan O’Brien (Fiesta Rally2) and Pat Naylor / Tom Bishop (Lancer EVO9) all conveniently placed to push their campaigns forward.
Joining Hirst with just one score to their names so far are Liam Clark / Michael Gilbey (Fiesta Rally2) and Ian Bainbridge / Andrew Roughead (Fabia Rally2). With five out of a possible seven scores to count, these three crews still have some wriggle-room but another DNF would result in a requirement for ‘no-fault’ rallying for the remainder of the season if their campaigns are to be deemed successes….
Baz Jordan / Arwel Jenkins’ perseverance with their Mitsubishi Galant is paying off, both in terms of the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Silver Star Rally Championship and BTRDA Historic Cup. Their nearest challenger in each category is the Escort of Bryan Jardine, while Rian Walker / Paul Gribben (Opel Adam R2) are upholding front-wheel drive honours which also sees them ahead of Michael Jenkins (Fiesta R2) in the race for the BTRDA Rallye R2 Cup.

  <<<<<  Baz Jordan/Arwel Jenkins (Galant) – BTRDA Silver Star & Historic Cup Leaders

Boyd Kershaw and Keegan Rees (Escort Mk2) took top Silver Star honours last time out but that came on top of a DNF on Rally North Wales. Such is the strength of the competition that the top eight cars in the points table have all finished both events so far, leaving the ‘Flying Kiwi’ down in 9th place. Hence, with plenty of scope for improvement and the pair’s proven speed, this must be viewed in terms of a ‘work-in-progress’… Nick Dobson / Phil Sandham’s Escort Mk2 leads Class 6 and is currently just shy of a podium place in Silver Star while Steve ‘Korky’ Ward / John Millington’s Historic spec. version is 5th. Ben Jemison / Adam Burkill started strongly in their quest for BTRDA Historic Cup honours but then their Chevette HSR waited until the final stage in Kielder before throwing its toys out of the pram. So, a reset is now required – not to mention a good result!…

Having opened the season with a ‘win’, defending Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Bronze Star Rally Champions, Dylan Fowler-Bishop / Dan Evans (Micra), missed the last round but now return to an event that they contested last year, even though it wasn’t a Championship qualifier. However, with the benefit of hindsight (which is always 20/20!), they’d probably have been better staying at home as they rolled into retirement on the opening stage!
Moving swiftly on, Luke Watts / Matt Rogers (MG ZR) currently hold sway in the Bronze Star points table but into the mix this time we also find Ed James / Kevin Lane (Micra Kit Car), Dave & Freddy Brick (Nova) and Dale Glover / David Smalley (Alfasud TI). Giles Armitage / Josh Rhodes (Peugeot 205) took a well-deserved maximum in the BTRDA Rally First Cup in Kielder and more of the same would be much appreciated by all concerned.
                                                     Luke Watts/Matt Rogers (MG ZR) – Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Bronze Star Championship Leaders   >>>>>

Following the Kielder Forest Rally, the Kingfisher Insurance Motorsport UK English Rally Championship has three joint leaders, i.e. all those who scored maximum points in their respective classes. So far, so good, then, for Elliot Payne (Fiesta Rally2), Russ Thompson (Fiesta) and Baz Jordan (Galant)…. However, the job gets even tougher now for each of them as repeat performances are required to maintain their positions as ‘Kings of the Castle’!  With the top fifteen drivers currently separated by a mere four points, major changes can be expected in the look of the leaderboard throughout the season. At this stage, it’s still perfectly possible for someone to rise up through the ranks, casting the early runners aside as they do so!

<<<<<  Russ Thompson/Steve Link (Fiesta) – Joint Leaders of the Kingfisher Insurance English Rally Championship

The Plains Rally features ten special stages, totalling 43 miles, and the first car leaves the start in Bala at 08.00 on Saturday 13th June, returning there for the finish from 16.30.
Full details of the Plains Rally : www.plainsrally.co.uk
All photos © Kevin Money & Malcolm Almond.
Further information on the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series : www.btrdarally.com
& Kingfisher Insurance MSUK English Rally Championship : www.englishrally.co.uk
.

Missing from the calendar last year, the Kielder Forest Rally returns to both the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series and Kingfisher Insurance Motorsport UK English Rally Championship on 18th April. The event is based at Hexham Auction Mart which hosts the start, finish and service area.

The 2026 Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Gold Star® Rally Championship began on Rally North Wales at the end of March and, as a direct result of their efforts, Elliot Payne and Patrick Walsh (Fiesta Rally2) arrive in the north-east as leaders, followed by defending champion Matthew Hirst, now with Jack Bowen for company in his Fabia R5. The records show that Hirst won the event in 2023/24 while Payne held the upper hand in 2022…

Feature image (above) is Elliot Payne/Patrick Walsh (Fiesta Rally2) – 2026 Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Gold Star Championship Leaders

Also intent on pursuing their Gold Star aspirations which began in North Wales are Alex Vassallo / Chris Lees (Fiesta Rally2) and Daniel Sigurðarson & Asta Sigurðadóttir (Fabia RS), while the newly-formed partnership of Liam Clark / Michael Gilbey (Fiesta Rally2) starts Round 3 on equal points with Russ Thompson / Steve Link who have transferred the running gear from their previously successful Lancer EVO9 into a Fiesta bodyshell. A class win, finishing ahead of those still faithful to the Mitsubishi marque – Geoff Smith / Joe Dunn, Pete Gorst / Mark Twiname and Pat Naylor / Tom Bishop – will have given the 2024 Gold Star runners-up considerable encouragement after the disaster that was last year…

<<< Russ Thompson / Steve Link

Alistair Ginley (Skoda RS) and Dan O’Brien / Niall Burns (Fiesta Rally2), who have already opened their accounts, will be looking for the opportunity to push on while Daniel Hiorns / Rob Fagg (Fiesta S2000T), 2nd Gold Star finishers on last year’s Grizedale Stages, rejoin the race for the first time this season.

As far as the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Silver Star Rally Championship is concerned, Baz Jordan / Arwel Jenkins (Mitsubishi Galant) rule the roost after Rally North Wales, but Bryan Jardine (Escort Mk2), Ben Jemison / Adam Burkill (Chevette HSR) and Oliver Phillips (Opel Adam), who has secured the services of defending Silver Star Champion Co-driver Rhys Edwards, will all be hoping that the leaders’ time in the spotlight is short-lived!

                                                                                                                                             .Oliver Phillips (Opel Adam R2) >>>>>>

Having registered a ‘failure to agree’ on Rally North Wales, Boyd Kershaw / Keegan Rees and their Escort Mk2 will be hoping for better things in Kielder and an opportunity to open their respective accounts. Those in similar cars who have already jumped that hurdle include Steve ‘Korky’ Ward / John Millington and David Dobson / Phil Sandham.

Jordan and Jenkins’ success on the opening round also sees them at the top of the BTRDA Historic Cup charts but, to name a few, Jardine, Jemison and Ward will have the leaders very much in their sights as the season progresses!
Tony Simpson took maximum BTRDA Rallye R2 Cup points in North Wales but his absence from the Kielder Forest Stages line-up opens the way for the Opel Adams of Phillips / Edwards & Rian Walker  / Paul Gribben and Michael Jenkins’ Fiesta to advance their cause.

After the first round of the Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Bronze Star® Rally Championship, the leader board has a familiar look to it in that defending champions Dylan Fowler-Bishop / Dan Evans (Micra) began 2026 where they left off at the end of last season – with a maximum points score. Luke Watts / Matt Rogers (MG ZR) are their nearest rivals, with Geraint Williams / Ifan Rowlands (Nova) in 3rd.

<<<<<<  Dylan Fowler-Bishop/Dan Evans (Micra) – Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Bronze Star Championship Leaders

Rally North Wales wasn’t kind to BTRDA Bronze Star contenders, a number of whom retired during the day. However, it’s good to see that Dave & Freddy Brick (Nova), Dale Glover / David Smalley (Alfasud Ti) and Giles Armitage / Josh Rhodes (Peugeot 205) have all dusted themselves down and are back for more!

Once again suffering a delayed start due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control, the Kingfisher Insurance Motorsport UK English Rally Championship begins in Kielder. All BTRDA-registered crews are automatically eligible to score points in the class-based series such that, following the opening encounter, there are always several joint leaders, i.e. all those who have scored maximum points in their particular class, of which there are seven! It’s only as the season progresses that further success will begin to separate the men / women from the boys / girls!…
2025 Champion Lewis Hooper (Fiesta R2) is not defending his title and, thus, the way is open for a new name to join, for example, his, Elliot Payne (Fiesta Rally2) in 2024 and Ernie Graham (MkI Escort RS1600) the previous year. At the same time, the brief list graphically illustrates the variety of vehicles in which it’s possible to add a Motorsport UK-titled Championship to your CV!…

                                                                          .Ernie Graham (MkI Escort RS1600) 2023 Motorsport UK English Rally Champion >>>>

The Kielder Forest Rally offers 43 miles of special stages in a total route of under 140. The first car leaves the start at Hexham Auction Mart at 09.00 on Saturday 18th April and is due back at the finish at 16.30.   Full details of the Kielder Forest Rally : www.kielderforestrally.co.uk
All photos © Kevin Money & Malcolm Almond

Further information on the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series : www.btrdarally.com
& Kingfisher Insurance MSUK English Rally Championship : www.englishrally.co.uk

With the unfortunate cancellation of the Malcolm Wilson Rally, the planned opening round of the 2026 Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series, Rally North Wales now takes on the mantle of welcoming all contenders to Welshpool for their first taste of competition. The Wolverhampton & South Staffs Car Club-organised event was all set to join the BTRDA Series last year until the ravages of Storm Darragh at the end of 2024 led to it also being unable to run.
Having won Rally North Wales on the last four occasions, 2025 Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Gold Star® Rally Champion Matthew Hirst (Fabia R5) begins the defence of his title with Jack Bowen installed in the co-driver’s seat. They are set to be joined in their quest by triple BTRDA Gold Star winners (and 2025 runners-up) Elliot Payne / Patrick Walsh (Fiesta Rally2), Daniel Sigurðarson / Asta Sigurðadóttir (Fabia RS), Alex Vassallo / Chris Lees & Liam Clark / Michael Gilbey (both Fiesta Rally2s) and a returning Ian Bainbridge / Andrew Roughead (Yaris Rally2), all pointing to a tremendous battle ahead!…

The featured image (above) is Matthew Hirst (Fabia R5) the defending BTRDA Gold Star Champion & Rally North Wales Rally Winner

Following a season to forget, 2024 Gold Star Championship runners-up, Russ Thompson / Steve Link (Lancer EVO9), are back for more, as is Pat Naylor, now with Tom Bishop directing operations from the left-hand seat of his similar car. Moving up to four-wheel drive traction, 2022 BTRDA Bronze Star winners Pete Gorst / Mark Twiname have ditched their all-conquering Nova in favour of a Lancer as well!

                                             Russ Thompson/Steve Link (Lancer EVO9) – 2024 BTRDA Gold Star Championship Runners-Up >>>>>>.

Turning to the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Silver Star Rally Championship, it’s a case of ‘many happy returns’! The RNW entry includes Boyd Kershaw (2015 Champion)/Keegan Rees & Rob Dennis / Andy Boswell (2017 Co-driver Champion). Partnering Natalie Robinson (Peugeot 208 R4), and hoping for some front-wheel drive success, we find another former Co-driver Champion, Sam Collis, whose victory came in 2014 with her dad, Matthew….
David Dobson (Manta) and Escort Mk2’s for Geoff Phelps, class winner on three of the five events he entered last year, with Lucy Wilding, and Nick Dobson / Phil Sandham, will also be among those hoping to succeed David Henderson to the Silver Star title.
Last year’s BTRDA Historic Cup runner-up Steve ‘Korky’ Ward (Escort Mk2) is once again partnered by Champion Co-driver John Millington as their challenge begins, while also returning is Ben Jemison (Chevette HSR) who, during a limited campaign in 2025, had the cheek to beat them on the Border Counties!…

<<<<  Ben Jemison (Vauxhall Chevette HSR) – BTRDA Silver Star + Historic Cup Contender

Having dominated his class in last year’s BTRDA Rallye R2 Cup and with an eye on the main prize for 2026, Riley Chester has jumped ship from Ford to Peugeot (208 R4), to be joined by Sam Mason and the aforementioned Natalie Robinson in similar cars. Oliver Phillips / Barry Young return in their Vauxhall Adam, while Michael Jenkins and Tony Simpson will be relying on Fiestas for their push for the title.                                                                                 

                                                  Oliver Phillips / Barry Young – Vauxhall Adam R2  >>>>>.

2025 Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Bronze Star® Rally Champions Dylan Fowler-Bishop / Dan Evans (Micra) return for what will be, in their eyes, hopefully carrying on where they left off! However, once again, a glance at the RNW entry list graphically illustrates that, if their wish is to be granted, they’ll have to be on their mettle right from the word ‘go’!
Dave & Freddy Brick (always good value in the forests!) and Geraint Williams / Ifan Rowlands will be relying on Novas for their challenge, Corsas are the choice of Chris Bush / Rob Bryn Jones and Stuart Spyer / Peter Williams, while Dale Glover / David Smalley (Alfasud TI – pictured left) finished no lower than 4th in the events they entered last year.

Six special stages await competitors on Rally North Wales and the first car is due away from the start in Welshpool at 07.31 on Saturday 28th March. Following successful completion of the route, crews are due to begin arriving back at the finish at the Seven Stars Car Park, Welshpool, from 15.45.
Full details of Rally North Wales : www.rallynorthwales.co.uk

All photos © Kevin Money / Malcolm Almond.

Unfortunately, shortly after the regulations for the 2026 Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series and the Kingfisher Insurance Motorsport UK English Rally Championship had been published, it was announced that, due to insurmountable problems with the proposed route, the organisers of the Malcolm Wilson Rally – the opening round of both Championships – had been forced to cancel the upcoming event.

The featured image above is of Matthew Hirst and Declan Dear, the Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Gold Star® Champions in action on the 2025 Cambrian Rally. 

Since that time discussions had been taking place as to the possibility of adding another qualifying round to the calendar later in the season but, with no positive outcome in sight, the decision was taken to revert to a seven-round BTRDA Rally Series (best five scores to count), while the English Rally Championship will be won and lost over six events – also best five to count.

So, the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series will now start in Welshpool on 28th March with Rally North Wales, while Kingfisher Insurance Motorsport UK English Rally Championship contenders – automatically eligible through their BTRDA membership – set out on the Kielder Forest Rally, based in Hexham, on 18th April. Meanwhile, the remainder of the calendars remain as previously published and, to end the season, a rapid run through the Lake District on the Grizedale Stages (5th December) will provide answers to any remaining questions relating to either Championship at that point!

Preview of Round 7 (Final) : Coppermines Grizedale Stages Rally (6th December)
The organisers of the Coppermines Holiday Cottages Grizedale Stages Rally – the final round of both the 2025 Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series and the Motorsport UK English Rally Championship, sponsored by Kingfisher Insurance – are preparing to welcome a full entry of 90 cars to Ambleside, in the Lake District, on 6th December.
In BTRDA terms, the identities of the Fuchs Lubricants Gold Star® Champions (Matthew Hirst & Declan Dear) and the Protyre Autocare Silver Star® Champions (David Henderson and Rhys Edwards) are already known but neither the Fuchs Lubricants Bronze Star nor the Kingfisher Insurance English Rally Championships have been decided.

A win for out-going Gold Star Champions Elliot Payne / Patrick Walsh (Fiesta Rally2) in Grizedale could see them finish just one point behind Hirst / Dear, while Alex Vassallo (Fiesta Rally2) will be very unlucky not to claim the final podium spot in his first full season of BTRDA events.

                                                                                            The featured image above is Alex Vassallo – Fiesta Rally2 – on the Trackrod Forest Rally

Meanwhile, as far as two-wheel drive rallying is concerned, no matter what befalls contenders for the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Silver Star® Championship, the Top Three won’t be changing. Behind Henderson, Lewis Hooper / Rhys Edwards (Fiesta R2) and Tom Constantine / Tony Walker (Opel Adam R2) will also feature in the 2025 list of awards.

<<<  Tom Constantine/Tony Walker (Opel Adam R2)

The Jordan Road Surfacing BTRDA Historic Cup, too, has already been won and lost but an infrequent appearance by Ernie & Patricia Lee in their BMW 325 could promote them to 3rd overall in the end-of-season standings.
Unusually, the Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Bronze Star Championship has reached its final round with a dead-heat at the top. Dylan Fowler-Bishop / Dan Evans (Micra) took the spoils on the opening three rounds while 2023/24 champions Nigel & Kaz Jenkins (Nova) did likewise on the next three. Fowler-Bishop/Evans won’t be present in the Lakes but, even so, the Jenkins must finish in order to break the tie and assure themselves of a hat-trick of Bronze Star victories. Just to add to the drama, Kaz’ son Luke Watts (MG ZR) has entered the event and will be in direct competition with his mum and step-dad – life in the Forest of Dean may never be quite the same again if he beats them!….

                                                        .Nigel & Kaz Jenkins (Nova) – 2023, 24 & 25(?) Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Bronze Star Champions >>>

As mentioned above, the Motorsport UK English Rally Championship, sponsored by Kingfisher Insurance, also reaches the end of the road in the Lake District. Leader following the Wyedean Stages, Matthew Hirst (Fabia R5), is sitting this one out and, while Lewis Hooper (Fiesta R2) is the only driver who could possibly knock him off his perch, the permutations for 2nd and 3rd are endless!

<<<< Lewis Hooper/Rhys Edwards (Fiesta R2) on the Woodpecker

2024 Champion Elliot Payne is currently just outside the Top Ten but could well move up into a podium spot, as might Nigel Jenkins, Tom Constantine, Alex Vassallo and Riley Chester & Ashleigh Morris (both Fiestas). With the Championship’s class-based format, what matters most is how competitors perform in relation to others in similar powered vehicles. In this way, power is not necessarily seen as an advantage, as exemplified by past Champions such as Steve Black (1400cc Suzuki Ignis – pictured below) and Ernie Graham’s Mark I Ford Escort RS1600…

SPECTATORS: The first car leaves the start at Skelwith Fold at 9.30am on Saturday 6th December. Full details available via the website:  https://www.grizedalestages.co.uk/index.php/spectators
All photos © Kevin Money
Further information on the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series : www.btrdarally.com
English Rally Championship sponsored by Kingfisher Insurance : www.englishrally.co.uk
– ENDS –
AH

Preview of Round 6 : Lewis & Hunter Cambrian Rally (25th October)

This time last year Elliot Payne and Patrick Walsh (Fiesta Rally2) had already secured the Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Gold Star® Championship title – in Payne’s case for a record-breaking third consecutive time. As the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series heads to Llandudno on 25th October for the Lewis & Hunter Cambrian Rally, no such conclusions have been reached in the Gold, Silver or Bronze Stars and the battle is still very much ongoing!  Indeed, for the first time for a number of years, the Cambrian is not the final encounter in the BTRDA Rally Series – that honour falls to the Grizedale Stages in early December – and, so, the North Wales forests will bear witness to the latest chapter in the quest for stardom – literally!
Following victory on the Trackrod Forest Stages, Matthew Hirst and Declan Dear (Fabia R5) lead the race for the Gold Star title. Thus far, the 2024 Cambrian winners have three maximum scores to their credit while Payne / Walsh, who were forced into a rare retirement on the Trackrod, are 3rd with two. Sandwiched in between them is Alex Vassallo (Fiesta Rally2) who recorded his best score of the season to-date last time out.

The featured image above is Matthew Hirst & Declan Dear (Fabia R5) – BTRDA Gold Star® Championship Leaders

Daniel Sigurðarson & Asta Sigurðadóttir (Skoda RS) were runners-up on the Trackrod but, having already dropped two scores (one DNS & one DNF), now need to complete the season in similar fashion in order to reap the benefits of their proven speed. Similarly, Liam Clark (Fiesta Rally2), who was 2nd BTRDA points scorer on the Woodpecker, has no further room for manoeuvre as the BTRDA Series draws to a close, but a Top Three finish is still on the cards…

Unusually, front-wheel drive power currently holds sway in the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Silver Star® Championship, thanks to the efforts of Lewis Hooper / Rhys Edwards (Fiesta R2) and Tom Constantine / Tony Walker (Adam R2). However, lurking in 3rd spot is David Henderson (Escort Mk2) who, unlike the two ahead of him, has already dropped one score. Nevertheless, with three maximums and a 2nd from the events he has finished, the application of ‘best 5 from 7’ could well put a different complexion on the leader board.

<<<<   Lewis Hooper / Rhys Edwards (Fiesta) – BTRDA Silver Star® Championship Leaders and Rallye R2 Cup Winners

Steve Ward / John Millington (Escort Mk2) are also in the Silver Star mix while, at the same time, ruling the roost in the Jordan Road Surfacing BTRDA Historic Cup. Here, too, they find themselves in direct competition with David Henderson and, depending on their results on the final two events, Baz Jordan / Arwel Jenkins (Mitsubishi Galant).

                                                           Baz Jordan / Arwel Jenkins (Mitsubishi Galant) – BTRDA Historic Cup Class HD Leaders >>>>>>

Whatever transpires on the Cambrian and, for that matter, the Grizedale Stages, defending champions Lewis Hooper / Rhys Edwards are already confirmed as winners of the 2025 BTRDA Rallye R2 Cup. For the first time this season, Tom Constantine / Tony Walker managed to beat them into 2nd place on the Trackrod but, with four ‘wins’ and a 2nd, Hooper and Edwards cannot now be overhauled….

A category that is definitely not done-and-dusted is the Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Bronze Star Championship. Dylan Fowler-Bishop / Dan Evans (Micra) were top dogs on each of the first three rounds before defending champions Nigel & Kaz Jenkins (Nova) managed to find some of their magic to take the next two.

<<<<<  Dylan Fowler-Bishop/Dan Evans (Micra) – BTRDA Bronze Star Championship Leaders

The Micra duo leads the charge from Ed James / Kevin Lane (Micra Kit Car) with the Jenkins, who have already dropped one score, a comfortable 3rd. So, once again, brace yourselves! This one is likely to go the distance and, even then, could well go either way!

SPECTATORS : Details are available at : https://cambrianrally.co.uk/spectators
All photos © Kevin Money & Malcolm Almond
Further information on the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series : www.btrdarally.com
– ENDS –

Preview of Round 5 : Trackrod Forest Stages (27th September).
The Trackrod Forest Stages takes both the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series & the Motorsport UK English Rally Championship, sponsored by Kingfisher Insurance, on to the North York Moors on 27th September. Following the long dry spell and the much-publicised fires, some of the extensive peat bogs are still burning underground and it’ll take some time before they are finally extinguished. Local firefighters, farmers and volunteers have mounted a Herculean effort to contain the fires and Event Clerk of the Course Rod Parkin said : ‘Everyone involved in the rally appreciates the huge effort being made to deal with this disaster. Understandably, permission to use Langdale has been withdrawn which is a decision we wholly support.’

So, with an amended route to look forward to, the Top Three starters on this year’s Trackrod are, coincidentally, the Top Three finishers – and Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Gold Star Championship points scorers – from twelve months ago!  Consequently, as the current series moves into a critical phase, Matthew Hirst / Declan Dear’s Fabia R5 (in typical pose above), Elliot Payne / Patrick Walsh (Fiesta Rally2) & Daniel Sigurðarson & Asta Sigurðadóttir (Skoda RS) will be out to stamp their authority on the event once more.

Current standings, as we approach Round 5, have Payne & Walsh and Hirst & Dear with two maximum scores apiece, with the former in the lead courtesy of their other results. The Icelanders, meanwhile, were in runners-up spot following the Border Counties but a no-show on the Nicky Grist Stages and a non-finish on the Woodpecker leave them with a lot of work to do – there’s still time but no room for error!
Liam Clark (Fiesta Rally2) posted his best result of the season to-date on the Woodpecker but, similar to Daniel and Asta, already has two no-scores and must do well on the three remaining events. In spite of a ‘challenging’ run on the Woody, Alex Vassallo (Fiesta Rally2) remains in 3rd place in the points while co-driver Chris Lees, who missed the opening round of the Series, is still comfortably in the Top Ten.

The Protyre Autocare BTRDA Silver Star® Championship is in a similar situation to Gold Star in that just two drivers have monopolised the winners’ enclosure so far – David Henderson’s Escort Mk2 reigned supreme on the first two events while Osian Pryce’s similar car came up trumps on the next two. However, while the Welshman is not set for an appearance in Yorkshire, it doesn’t necessarily mean that Henderson can pick up where he left off! Lewis Hooper / Rhys Edwards (Fiesta R2 – see photo right >>>>>) lead the table – indeed, Edwards already has four maximums to his credit and, without wishing to tempt fate, another high score could put the 2025 Silver Star Co-drivers’ title out of reach….

Unsurprisingly, Hooper and Edwards also dominate the BTRDA Rallye R2 Cup but, in both categories, Tom Constantine / Tony Walker (Opel Adam R2) are their nearest rivals. Steve Ward / John Millington (Escort Mk2) are in touching distance of a podium spot in Silver Star while also leading the Jordan Road Surfacing BTRDA Historic Cup from Henderson. A good run over the Moors could also do wonders for Barry Jordan, himself, and Arwel Jenkins (Mitsubishi Galant) who finished ahead of Ward / Millington on the Woodpecker.

<<<< Steve Ward (Escort Mk2) – Jordan Road Surfacing BTRDA Historic Cup Leader

As ever, the Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Bronze Star Championship is proving to be an enthralling competition. Winners for the past couple of years, Nigel & Kaz Jenkins (Nova), have had to give best to the Micra of Dylan Fowler-Bishop / Dan Evans on each of the first three rounds but the tables were finally turned on the Woodpecker when the husband-and-wife took their first ‘win’ of the season.
So, Fowler-Bishop / Evans lead from Ed James / Kevin Lane (Micra Kit Car) who have been keeping out of harm’s way and ensuring they’ve finished each event, with the Jenkins 3rd. Nevertheless, with three events to go and a possible 30 points available on each, the end result is about as far from a foregone conclusion as it’s possible to be. Splendid stuff!

                                   Dylan Fowler-Bishop / Dan Evans (Micra) – Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Bronze Star Championship Leaders  >>>>

With three rounds down, the Motorsport UK English Rally Championship, sponsored by Kingfisher Insurance, moves into the second half of its season in Yorkshire. David Henderson had top spot all to himself following the Border Counties Rally but then defending champion Elliot Payne hit back with a maximum score on the Woodpecker Stages to equal his tally. So, not only is there a spot of sorting-out to do there but the next three places – Lewis Hooper, Dylan Fowler-Bishop and Matthew Hirst – have just five points between them, indicating a great deal of shuffling throughout the table!

David Henderson (Escort Mk2)               &                 Elliot Payne (Fiesta Rally2)

Joint English Rally Championship Leaders

SPECTATORS : Tickets for the spectator stages in Cropton and Dalby are only available on-line at https://www.rallyyorkshire.co.uk/spectator-information/
All photos © Kevin Money & Malcolm Almond.
Further information on the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series : www.btrdarally.com & English Rally Championship sponsored by Kingfisher Insurance : www.englishrally.co.uk

-ENDS-

A Preview of Round 4: Phil Price Memorial Woodpecker Stages (30th August)
The fourth round of the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series and the third event in the Motorsport UK English Rally Championship, sponsored by Kingfisher Insurance, is the ever-popular Phil Price Memorial Woodpecker Stages which will see contenders for both series converging on Newtown on 30th August.
Twelve months ago, Elliot Payne / Patrick Walsh (Fiesta Rally2) took maximum Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Gold Star® Rally Championship points on their way to the driver’s record-breaking third consecutive title. With three solid results to date, including a win on the Border Counties in May, the pair arrive in mid Wales as Series leaders once more but will be well aware that there is work to do if their domination is to continue.

The featured image above is Matthew Hirst / Declan Dear (Skoda Fabia R5) – Top BTRDA Gold Star crew on the Malcolm Wilson & Nicky Grist Stages

The 2024 ‘Woody’ also marked the debut of a Skoda Fabia R5 in the hands of Matthew Hirst / Declan Dear which – barring a few hiccups – has given the crew fresh impetus and results to match! They have already accrued two maximums and, despite a problematic run on the Border Counties, Hirst is currently 3rd, just one point behind Alexander Vassallo (Fiesta Rally2). Runners-up following the first two rounds, Daniel Sigurðarson / Asta Sigurðadóttir (Fabia R5) were absent from the Nicky Grist Stages line-up but return for the Woodpecker in an attempt to improve on their 3rd place points score last year.
Pat Naylor / Ian Lawrence are leading the traditional battle of the Lancer EVOs which has been joined – very successfully! – by James Giddings / Aled Davies, while 2024 overall Gold Star runners-up and B13 Champions the previous year, Russ Thompson / Steve Link, are enduring a torrid time with consecutive retirements from the last two events.

David Henderson’s seemingly vice-like grip on both the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Silver Star® Championship and the Jordan Road Surfacing BTRDA Historic Cup loosened somewhat when his Escort Mk2 was forced to retire from the Nicky Grist Stages. This allowed Lewis Hooper / Rhys Edwards (Fiesta R2) to assume control of Silver Star – and further their ambition to successfully defend their 2024 BTRDA Rallye R2 Cup win – while Steve ‘Korky’ Ward and John Millington (Escort Mk2) move into the ascendancy in Historic Cup terms. Maximum points scorer in both categories last time out, Osian Pryce (Escort Mk2) returns, prompting a requirement for everyone to remain very firmly on their toes!

<<<   Lewis Hooper / Rhys Edwards (Fiesta R2) – Leaders of BTRDA Silver Star & Rallye R2 Cup

As stated above, Lewis Hooper / Rhys Edwards remain in charge of the BTRDA Rallye R2 Cup but Tom Constantine / Tony Walker (Adam) won’t leave them alone! Although retiring last time out, Riley Chester (Fiesta) still has plenty of time to upset the applecart – and a good run on the Woodpecker would serve notice of his intentions!…

Having won the Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Bronze Star Championship for the past two years, it’s not rocket science to guess what Nigel & Kaz Jenkins’ (Nova) grand plan is!  However, their efforts thus far are being usurped by those of Dylan Fowler-Bishop / Dan Evans whose Micra has brought home the bacon on all three occasions to-date. OK – a retirement on the Border Counties didn’t help the husband-and-wife’s cause, but the records show that the Micra was ahead of them before their off.

                                                                           .Dylan Fowler-Bishop / Dan Evans (Micra) – BTRDA Bronze Star Championship Leaders  >>>

Ed James / Kevin Lane (Micra Kit Car) are 2nd while Dale Glover / David Smalley (Alfasud Ti) could considerably improve on their current 4th place in the table. Having scored ‘nil points’ on the Nicky Grist – the driver through not finishing and the co-driver from not starting! – Rob Evett / Richard Wise (Nova) will be out to reignite their push for BTRDA Rally Start Class RS-B which had proved successful up to that point. Meanwhile, spare a thought for Giles Armitage & Josh Rhodes – in pursuit of points in BTRDA Rally Start Class RS-A, their Peugeot 205 has, thus far, registered two DNFs and a DNS!

Meanwhile, the Motorsport UK English Rally Championship, sponsored by Kingfisher Insurance, takes to the stages once more on the Woodpecker. David Henderson (Escort Mk2) has had top spot all to himself for four months but now has to apply himself to the task of keeping the would-be ‘pretenders to the crown’ at bay.

<<<< David Henderson (Escort Mk2) – MSUK English Rally Championship Leader

Nearest of these is defending champion Elliot Payne (Fiesta Rally2) who is in joint 2nd place with Dylan Fowler-Bishop (Micra) but, with just 25 points (a maximum) separating the Top Twenty drivers, Henderson will need x-ray vision to keep tabs on them all !…

SPECTATORS: Full details can be found at www.woodpecker-rally.co.uk
All photos © Kevin Money / Malcolm Almond
Further information on the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series : www.btrdarally.com
&
English Rally Championship sponsored by Kingfisher Insurance : www.englishrally.co.uk

Preview of Round 3: Nicky Grist Stages (12th July)   Following the storm damage encountered in the Welsh forests during last winter and the subsequent temporary prohibition of all forms of motorsport therein, Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series contenders can now look forward to their first visit of the year to Wales for the Nicky Grist Stages on 12th July. Maximum BTRDA points scorers on the 2024 event – and subsequent Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Gold Star Champions! – Elliot Payne and Patrick Walsh (Fiesta Rally2) head for Builth Wells as leaders of the Series once more but won’t underestimate the magnitude of the task ahead if they are to maintain station!

The featured image is Elliot Payne / Patrick Walsh (Fiesta Rally2) – Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Gold Star Rally Championship leaders on the Border Counties.

Indeed, on stage times alone, Matthew Hirst and Declan Dear (Fabia Rally2) have beaten Payne/Walsh on each of the first two rounds of the Protyre Autocare Series but, due to a regulation infringement on the Border Counties Rally, were subject to a time penalty leading to a significant demotion in the published final results. Hirst/Dear registered a DNF on last year’s Nicky Grist Stages but, in 2023, pushed winner Elliot Payne all the way, losing out by just eight seconds at the end of the day!

Missing from the Nicky Grist line up are current Gold Star runners-up, Daniel Sigurðarson and Asta Sigurðadóttir, giving 3rd place Alexander Vassallo and co-driver Chris Lees (Fiesta Rally2) an excellent opportunity to improve still further. Looking to muscle in on the action in the Nicky Grist Stages will be a very quick Callum Black / Jack Morton (Fiesta Rally 2), Russ Thompson / Steve Link (Lancer EVO9), and Liam Clarke ( Fiesta Rally 2) who, between them, either didn’t start or didn’t finish the previous Border Counties!… Meanwhile, Viv Hamill / Lorcan Moore (Fiesta Rally2), who set fastest time overall on the second stage of the Malcolm Wilson Rally but were unable to translate their speed into a result, also return for more.

With two sets of maximums already under his belt, David Henderson (Escort Mk2) holds the upper hand in both the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Silver Star® Championship and the Jordan Road Surfacing BTRDA Historic Cup. However, as his co-driver isn’t BTRDA registered, Rhys Edwards (Lewis Hooper – Fiesta R2) and Dave Jackson (Ben Jemison – Chevette HSR) currently top their respective categories but, with Jemison choosing to absent himself from Builth Wells, that particular table is looking particularly susceptible to change!

<<<  David Henderson (Escort Mk2) – BTRDA Silver Star Championship & BTRDA Historic Cup Leader

Tom Constantine / Tony Walker (Opel Adam R2) and Steve ‘Korky’ Ward / John Millington (Escort Mk2) are also in the Silver Star mix, with the latter crew Henderson’s nearest challengers in the Historic Cup as well…2024 BTRDA Rallye R2 Cup Champions Hooper & Edwards’ defence of their title is going according to plan, although they’d be a lot happier if Constantine / Walker weren’t quite so attentive!  Ashleigh Morris / Matt Baddeley (Fiesta R2) are, thus far, also maintaining a 100% finishing record and could – given the right set of circumstances – upset both the leading crews’ aspirations!

                                                                             .Lewis Hooper/Rhys Edwards (Fiesta) – BTRDA Rallye R2 Cup Leaders >>>

In a similar vein to Silver Star, the Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Bronze Star Championship has seen the same crew heading for home with maximum points after each of the first two events. Dylan Fowler-Bishop / Dan Evans (Micra) rule the roost at this stage but, at the same time and with five events still to run, Bronze Star Champions for the past couple of years, Nigel & Kaz Jenkins (Nova) haven’t had the best of starts to their season. They finished two seconds behind the Micra crew on the Malcolm Wilson Rally and weren’t far behind when an off on the Border Counties forced the Nova into a rare retirement.

<<<< Dylan Fowler-Bishop/Dan Evans (Micra) – Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Bronze Star Championship Leaders

Ed James / Kevin Lane (Micra Kit Car) were runners-up last time out, leaving them handily placed to benefit should anything untoward occur to those currently ahead of them. Similarly, Rob Evett’s Nova has monopolised Class RS-B to-date and another maximum score could also see him mingling with the Bronze Star leaders!…

SPECTATORS: The first car leaves the start in Builth Wells at 8.30am on Saturday 12th July and, having completed eight stages totalling 44 miles, is due to return at 3.30pm.
Full details can be found at : http://www.nickygriststages.co.uk/spectators/
All photos © Kevin Money / Malcolm Almond
Further information on the 2025 Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series at www.btrdarally.com

AH.