A HOST of Powys crews were in action at the Wyedean Stages Rally in the Forest of Dean last weekend.
Matthew Hirst and Declan Dear clinched the Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship title for a record-equalling third time after winning the rally in their Delta Salvage/Witham Group Ford Fiesta R5.
Presteigne's Callum Griffiths is the new OnThePaceNote-supported Welsh Junior champion after a very close and exciting battle for the title.
He and co-driver William Lewis arrived at the Wyedean leading the class, but with six drivers in with a chance of winning there was much to do.
Hitting a few banks on SS3 was an indication of how hard Griffiths was pushing in the morning, as the Presteigne Tyre Services Fiesta ST driver reached first service after three stages with a good lead – and with many of his Junior rivals hitting problems, one hand on the trophy.
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He still had to survive the remaining four stages to be sure of the title, and a “hairy moment” on SS5 got his heart racing – but in the end Griffiths secured the Junior title in style, taking home seventh place Pirelli Welsh overall points, and clinch the 2WD runners-up spot
Callum’s brother Liam was in with a chance of winning the title, but he and co-driver Daniel James broke a driveshaft in their Presteigne Tyre Services Fiesta ST at the start of SS2, which saw them spend the afternoon spectating.
Machynlleth's Gethin Price, co-driven by Steven Brown, also retired in the morning.
The young Machynlleth pilot had hit a pile of logs on SS3 after a high-speed tank slapper in his RKP Haulage Nissan Micra and retired a few miles later when a driveshaft snapped.
Iwan Roberts Jnr/Daniel Jones secured the Hockly Motorsport-supported 2WD category title after another excellent drive in their rapid Roberts of Ffestiniog Ford Escort G3. D
Newtown's Ricky Crone and Montgomery co-driver Ifan Devine lost time in a ditch on SS3 but recovered well to finish third 2WD on the day and fourth in the points standings in their MS Textiles Ford Escort Mk2.
Powys co-drivers Jonny Tad Evans Clive Jones have been shortlisted for the Guy Weaver award for co-drivers.
The opening round of the 2024 Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship is the Get Jerky Rally North Wales on Saturday, March 16th..
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