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
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