British Historic Rally Championship title set for Carlisle decider

The Fuchs Lubricants British Historic Rally Championship will crown its 2022 champions at this weekend’s Carlisle Stages Rally [22 October].

After five action-packed rounds of the season so far, the coveted title will be decided over six stages in the English and Scottish Borders as Kielder Forest hosts the thrilling concluding chapter of the year.

Edwards unstoppable in Yorkshire as BHRC title goes down to the wire

Three-time British Rally champion Matt Edwards was unbeatable in Yorkshire last weekend, storming to a dominant victory in the Fuchs Lubricants British Historic Rally Championship at the Trackrod Historic Cup [23-24 September].

Edwards and co-driver Hamish Campbell set the fastest stage time on each of the event’s six stages in their FIAT 131 Abarth to take their third win of the 2022 season. The pairing finished an impressive one minute and twenty-seven seconds up the road from second-placed Simon Webster, with Ben Friend rounding out the podium in third.

British rally champion crowned in Yorkshire

The North York Moors proved a happy hunting ground for Welsh star Osian Pryce as he clinched the Motorsport UK British Championship with victory on the Trackrod Rally Yorkshire.

The 29-year old from Machynlleth piloted his Volkswagon Polo GTR5 to fastest stage times on the opening four of six timed forest stages to emerge over 20 seconds clear of his main championship rival Keith Cronin, from Bantry in Ireland.

Welsh duo to continue bid to conquer Yorkshire then British rallying

Motorsport UK British Championship leader Osian Pryce made the perfect start in his quest to win a maiden title by taking an early lead over main rival Keith Cronin in the Trackrod Rally Yorkshire.

Welshman Pryce, driving a Volkswagon Polo GTR5, finished the opening night stage of round six on the North York Moors 5.2 seconds ahead of four times previous champion Keith Cronin, from Ireland in a similar vehicle.

Matt Edwards denied Donegal International Rally debut win after stunning Irish Tarmac performance

Matt Edwards made one of the most incredible maiden appearances in the 50-year history of the Donegal International Rally (17-19 June) when he challenged for victory from the start, only to retire from the lead of the event just four stages from the end of the three-day, 20 stage and 187 stage mile classic.

Matt had taken a 19.2 second lead going into SS17, which was the first run over the famous Atlantic Drive stage, when his Pirelli-shod Citroën C3 R5 left the road – the cause of which isn’t determined.

Triple British champion Matt Edwards to make Donegal International Rally debut in a Citroën C3 R5

Triple British Rally champion Matt Edwards will contest the Donegal International Rally (17-19 June) for the first time in a Pirelli-shod Citroën C3 R5.

It will be the Colwyn Bay-based driver’s first rally in a modern state-of-the-art four-wheel drive car since he won the 2021 British title on last year’s Ulster Rally in a Volkswagen Polo GTI R5.

Matt has never driven a Citroën C3 R5 before and this ex-Mads Østberg example is on loan from Darren Gass.

Matt will be co-driven by David Moynihan. Whilst they have never competed together before, they have developed a good working relationship whilst working with Pirelli in this year’s Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. David has also been instrumental in putting the deal to do Donegal together.

“I’ve never been to the Donegal Rally before, not even to watch, but having worked with Pirelli in this year’s Irish Tarmac Rally Championship I know what an important event it is and how highly regarded it is held in Irish motorsport,” says Matt.

Edwards takes Plains and simple British Historic Rally Championship win

Three-time British Rally champion Matt Edwards stormed to a second Fuchs Lubricants British Historic Rally Championship win in a row on Saturday [21 May], taking his FIAT 131 Abarth to a convincing Plains Rally victory.

Plains Rally

After recent clashes with the Manx National it was good to get back out on the Plains again and it gave us the opportunity to visit the Llangower stage for the first time too. Matthew Hirst & Declan Dear (Fiesta R5) were in a tight battle with David Henderson & Chris Lees (Fiesta R5). The battle switched almost every stage with Hirst leading by 3s into service. The gap was down to 1s after 7 stages but stage 8 saw Henderson retire and Hirst took a comfortable victory by almost a minute and a half. James Giddings & Aled Davies (Evo IX) were 2nd with Bob Morgan & Adie Williams (Fabia R5) completing the podium.

Rallynuts Stages Rally

Less than 6 months after the last Rallynuts Stages Rally, the MRF Tyres BTRDA Championship were back in mid-Wales. Matthew Hirst & Declan Dear (Fiesta R5) set a superb time through the opening stage, 15s faster than 2021 rally winners Elliot Payne & Patrick Walsh (Fiesta Rally2). This was followed by another stage win through Hafren to take a 23s lead into service. Ian Bainbridge & Tom Woodburn (Fabia R5) were fastest on stage 3 to snatch 2nd place from Payne. Hirst followed up with two more stage wins from the repeat runs of the three stages to take victory by 31s.

Edwards and Hirst claim Rally North Wales wins

Reigning British Rally champion Matt Edwards stormed to a scintillating National win at Saturday’s WKD Trained Dogs Rally North Wales [26 March], whilst Matt Hirst made it back-to-back Interclub victories after a gruelling day in the forests surrounding the Dolgellau rally base.

Edwards, from Conwy and co-driver Hamish Campbell blasted their FIAT 131 Abarth to a nail-biting Historic category win in the National Rally whilst Hirst and co-driver Declan Dear sealed their second Interclub win in a row at Rally North Wales, taking their Ford Fiesta R5 to six fastest times in a fine display during what would be a difficult day of competition for many crews.