Challenge contenders are reminded that as registration includes membership of Maesteg and District Motor Club, you are entitled to enter events run by any Club affiliated to the following Associations as long as you state Maesteg DMC on your entry form:
https://www.wamc.org.uk/
https://www.aswmc.org.uk/
https://www.awmmc.org.uk/
Round 5 – The Nicky Grist Stages Report
Clerk of the Course Neil Cross and his Team again put on their customary polished event, seen by many as the highlight of the Challenge Calendar. The town of Builth Wells, aware of the economic boost to the town, fully embraced the Rally with the mayor flagging competitors away at the start. See full report here.
Click here for the current scores.
Round 4 – The JD Tyres Bob Show Memorial Brawdy Stages
Latest Points Total Following Round 4, the JD Tyres Bob Shaw Memorial Brawdy Stages – click here.
The Minafon Garage Gareth Hall Memorial Stages
Due to a technical issue, entry to this Round on August 18th has been delayed. They are now available and access to the Supplementary Regulations is via the Rallies.info website by clicking on the Virtual Notice Board link under the event heading.
Stunning star-studded rally entry heads to Builth Wells for the 2024 Nicky Grist Stages
Top image credit: Stanley’s Photos
Bottom image: Last year’s winner: Elliot Payne.
Credit: Mike Frayne
A star-studded entry, made up of competitors from six major UK championships and several of the top Probite British Rally Championship drivers who are using the classic mid-Wales stages as a gravel test, will gather in Builth Wells this weekend for the Nicky Grist Stages (Saturday 13 July).
Read more here.
Abingdon Motorsport CAR-nival
Jenkins ‘Day Out’ Nets Him A Current Podium Spot.
Craven and Maesteg Motor Club member Michael Jenkins, who is more at home on forestry events, recently brought his Fiesta to Abingdon to enjoy his day out rather than make a serious bid for Rally Challenge points. Michael commented, ‘Myself and fellow Craven member Colin Minton enjoy the social side of this event held on Abingdon Airfield which was opened in 1932 to train RAF Bomber Command.’ ‘I left the car on forestry suspension which made for some unusual handling!’ Michael’s points however have launched him to second in the current drivers standings prior to Round 4, the Bob Shaw Memorial Stages at Brawdy.
For the current points please click here.
Abingdon Motorsport CAR-nival
Jenkins ‘Day Out’ Nets Him A Current Podium Spot.
Craven and Maesteg Motor Club member Michael Jenkins, who is more at home on forestry events, recently brought his Fiesta to Abingdon to enjoy his day out rather than make a serious bid for Rally Challenge points. Michael commented, ‘Myself and fellow Craven member Colin Minton enjoy the social side of this event held on Abingdon Airfield which was opened in 1932 to train RAF Bomber Command.’ ‘I left the car on forestry suspension which made for some unusual handling!’ Michael’s points however have launched him to second in the current drivers standings prior to Round 4, the Bob Shaw Memorial Stages at Brawdy.
For the current points please click here.
Plains Cancellation / Rally Yorkshire Details
With the recent news that the Plains Rally will not run due to a lack of entries making it unviable, I can release details of the proposed format for the reserve Forestry Round, The Rally Yorkshire, which will now be a points scoring Round.
Rally Challenge Contenders may claim points in all sections of the event which includes-
The Trackrod Historic Cup which has 57 miles including 12 miles in Dalby on Friday evening.
Saturday is the Trackrod Forest Stages with 45 miles, (all single use), in the Dalby, Langdale, Cropton and Gale Rigg areas.
Two Challenge Rounds in New 2025 Rule Trials
It is planned that the Bob Shaw Memorial Stages at Brawdy and the Builth Wells based Nicky Grist Stages will be the first single venue and multi-venue rallies respectively to trial Motorsport UK’s new National Competiton Rules (NCRs). In order to follow the FIA format, there will be no year book as we know it. The innovation aims to make it easier for competitors to access the rules for their particular Motorsport discipline.
For a further explanation visit https://www.motorsportuk.org/the-sport/trialncr/
Entries in big demand for Sealed Surface Rounds
Details of when Supplementary Regulations for the Bob Shaw Memorial Stages are available have not been finalised but please keep an eye on the Pembrokeshire Motor Club website not to be disappointed. It has been confirmed that two Stages will run on the Saturday evening before the hours of darkness, before the traditional format on the Sunday.
Unfortunately, the Abingdon Stages is well over-subscribed.
Free Photographs
Images taken on Rally Challenge Rounds that our Photographer attends will be free of charge to Registered Contenders and forwarded electronically. To request images, please apply to Mike Frayne at taffchippy@proton.me
They may only be requested one event at a time.
For images replicated on Social Media / Websites / Publicity etc., they must be credited to Mike Frayne.
News Story – Bonnie Selected to Attend Motorsport UK Academy
Reigning Junior Rally Challenge Champion Bonnie Papper was recently selected to attend the Motorsport UK Academy where it was announced that she has been invited to join the M-Sport Team on World Championship Round, Rally Croatia. She is to join the Weather Crew to assist in refining Pace Notes to suit changing conditions on the Stages. When she returns, Bonnie is to share her experience of being given such a good opportunity to help forward her Co-driving career.
Previous Champions
xxxxxxxxxDriver Co-Driver
2013 Thomas ‘TC’ Lloyd Claire Williams
2014 Jason Hodge Mark Crisp
2015 Morgan Handford Chris Williams
2016 Wynne Watkins Siobhan Pugh
2017 William Mains Dawn England
2018 William Mains Paul Wakely
2019 William Mains Rhys Stoneman
2020 Tom Coughtrie* Ian Fraser* Leaders at time of cancellation*
2022 John Caine Liam Whiteley
2023 Ernie Graham Dan Evans
Click here for Qualifying Rounds 2024
