Preview of Round 6 (FINAL): Rallynuts Stages – 13th November.
Having already been confirmed as both Scottish and BRC National Rally Champions this season, Garry Pearson and co-driver Niall Burns start the final round of the MRF Tyres BTRDA Rally Series, the Rallynuts Stages, as leaders of the MRF Tyres BTRDA Gold Star® Championship. However, although a glance at the points table confirms their status, it also reveals that they’re not home and dry yet !…

The featured image is Garry Pearson and Niall Burns (Skoda Fabia) – MRF Tyres BTRDA Gold Star Championship leaders on the recent Cambrian Rally.

In the Drivers’ category, Callum Black (with Jack Morton alongside in his Fiesta R5) could, conceivably, overhaul Pearson’s Skoda Fabia for Gold Star honours while, for his part, Burns needs to keep a wary eye on George Lepley’s co-driver, Tom Woodburn, throughout the Builth Wells-based event.  So, with battle lines drawn, we also have early-season Gold Star leader Elliot Payne, with Patrick Walsh, in another Fiesta R5, plus Ian Bainbridge / Will Atkins (Fabia R5) who could either help or hinder (depending on which side of the fence you happen to be sitting!) those intent on ultimate success.

<<<<<<<  Callum Black / Jack Morton (Fiesta R5) in action on the Cambrian Rally.

For their part, Lepley / Woodburn (Lancer EVOX) have made Class B13 all their own this season with five maximum scores from five starts but, in the driver’s case, although he was also leading the Gold Star points following the Trackrod Rally and a Top Three finish is still a distinct possibility, he now finds himself unable to regain top spot – just!  Elsewhere in B13, there’s a real power struggle taking place – Richard Hill’s Lancer starts the Rallynuts in 2nd place but the chasing pack includes Ian Joel / Graeme Wood (Escort Cosworth), Ian Baumgart / Dave Robson (Impreza) and a brace of Lancers for Maxx Bradshaw / Liam Whiteley and Mathew Hirst / Declan Dear. You’d be well advised to keep your distance while that one is sorted out!…

Similarly, in the MRF Tyres BTRDA Silver Star® Championship, although Owen McMackin (Escort Mk2) has already staked his claim to the drivers title, there’ll be a good deal of jockeying for position going on behind him. Ashley Davies (Escort), accompanied by 2021 Silver Star Co-driver Champion Sam Fordham, currently occupies runner-up spot but, among those in a position to unseat him, we find Ioan Lloyd who has had some excellent results this season in his Peugeot 208 R2. Silver Star winner on the opening round of the season, Jason Pritchard (Escort Mk2) returns and, while not in a position to fight for overall Championship honours, the newly-crowned Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Champion could well finish in among those who are!
      Ashley Davies and Sam Fordham (Silver Star Co-driver Champion) – Ford Escort Mk2 on the Cambrian Rally >>>>>

Paul Street / Ian Jones (Escort) and Baz Jordan / Arwel Jenkins (Avenger) have been shadowing each other throughout the whole season of JORDAN Road Surfacing BTRDA Historic Cup events but, on the recent Cambrian Rally, a maximum score for the former was just enough to claim the AC de Monaco Trophy in 2021 ahead of the latter crew. With several Historic Crews now preparing for the Roger Albert Clark Rally it will be Martin Freestone who has the opportunity to firm up his third place in the Historic Cup.

In spite of retiring from the Cambrian Rally with only ‘three wheels on their wagon’, Ioan Lloyd / Sion Williams have maintained their advantage in both the BTRDA Rallye R2 Cup & BTRDA R2 Junior Cup in their Peugeot 208. So, as we approach the final event of the season, Williams is already assured of the Co-drivers’ title but, in order to join him on the list of 2021 Winners, Lloyd must see off both Jonathan Jones and Sam Bilham (Fiestas) for the R2 Cup and Bilham alone for the Junior Cup. That word ‘pressure’ springs to mind again, but doubly so in this instance…

Without wishing to cause any offence to those involved, it’s been a strange year in the Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA 1400 Championship in that, with just the final round to go, a 1400C car leads the table instead of the more powerful 1400S variety. There’s one very good reason for this state of affairs – consistency! Edward Wain / Noel Murphy’s MG ZR has finished all four events it’s started, a luxury not afforded to any of the ‘usual suspects’ in the series… So, each with scores in hand, Steve Black / Paul Morris (Suzuki Swift), Richard Jordan / James Gratton-Smith (MG ZR) & Aaron Rix / Abi Haycock (Escort) are all in a position to emerge from the forests of mid Wales as BTRDA Bronze Star Champions. Based on their experiences from earlier in their campaigns, however, the expression ‘to finish first, you must first finish’ seems particularly pertinent here…

<<<<<<<  Edward Wain/Noel Murphy (MG ZR) – Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA 1400 Championship leaders.

With Jessica Mitchell confirmed as 2021 MRF Tyres BTRDA Rally First Champion Co-driver, it’s come down to a straight fight between Simon Double (MG ZR) and Tom Naylor (Fiesta ST) for the opportunity to join her from the Drivers’ side. Simon, with four scores to his credit, holds the upper hand from Tom who has only visited three finish ramps to date. Consequently, from Tom’s perspective, completing the route is imperative if he is to stand any chance of overhauling his rival at the last gasp…

                                                                                                18 year old Tom Naylor (Fiesta ST) on the Trackrod Rally >>>>>>>

SPECTATORS: Two locations are available from which to enjoy the action, with both Sweet Lamb Hafren and Myherin offering excellent viewing opportunities. Full details on pricing and locations can be found at www.rallynutsrally.co.uk
All photos © Kevin Money / Malc Almond
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