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