Mid Wales Stages - 5-6 Mar 16

R5 specification Mitsubishis 1st and 2nd in British Rally Championship National Cup

Posted: March 10, 2016 5:33 AM

Driving an R5 specification Mitsubishi for the Spencer Sport rally team, Osian Pryce and co-driver Dales Furniss won the opening round of the BRC National Rally Cup on this weekend' (5th & 6th March) Mid Wales Stages. In doing so, the Welsh crew also finished an impressive fifth overall in the MSA British Rally Championship event against tough opposition.
Taking second place in the National Rally Cup category were Robert Blomberg and Lars Andersson from Sweden, making it a one-two for the MPart AB built Mitsubishis.

The event started and finished in Newtown in the centre of Wales and featured two stages in the dark on Saturday evening with a further four in daylight on Sunday. The forests that were used for all of the rally's six stages were to prove to be a challenge for the 66 crews, as the snow that had fallen leading up to the event had remained on the higher ground, together with icy patches that had formed on the gravel roads.

Pryce and Furniss set a blistering pace right from the start and ended the evening in third place overall, followed by the other Spencer Sport car of Jamie Jukes/Dave Williams in second and Blomberg/Andersson in the O'Leary's sponsored car in third. Consequently, at the overnight halt, R5 Mitsubishis held the top three places in the National Rally Cup.

The snow and ice remained in place at the top of the mountains for the four Sunday stages, although crews reported it was a little easier to deal with this time as at least they could see where it was. However, that didn't help Jukes and Williams, when they were caught out by the conditions on a downhill section in stage three, their Mitsubishi ending its rally in a ditch.

Pryce and Furniss also left the road on SS3 - albeit at a different location - but powered on to set the second-fastest overall time through the stage. Whilst they held onto third place following SS4, as they consolidated their lead in the National Rally Cup they were overhauled by two crews chasing BRC positions and consequently, they ended the rally in a highly credible place fifth overall. It was an excellent result against some of the top teams in the UK, as well as a number of overseas entries. Blomberg said he had never experienced conditions like it and was used to either snow or gravel in his native Sweden and not an unpredictable mixture of both at the same time! He and Andersson were delighted to get to the finish and claim second place in the National Rally Cup - making it a Mitsubishi R5 one-two.

"I'm very pleased with the result", said Pryce at the finish. "I haven't enjoyed a rally as much as this for a long time and it was great to be on the pace of the front-runners throughout the event. I think we've proved that the Mitsubishi can be a really competitive car in the UK and I look forward to driving it again very soon."

ELFYN EVANS/CRAIG PARRY PLAY THEIR CARDS RIGHT IN WALES

Posted: March 10, 2016 5:31 AM

Elfyn Evans and Craig Parry claimed victory on the opening round of the MSA British Rally Championship for the DMACK British Rally Team. The Welsh pairing used their Ford Fiesta R5 to good effect to conquer the competition and conditions. It was not to be plain sailing as they were pushed all the way, after an event long battle with the Scandinavian pairing of Fredrik Ahlin and Morton Erik Abrahamsen in a similar Ford Fiesta R5. The final winning distance was a mere 17.1 seconds between the two young protagonists. Tom Cave and James Morgan finished a fine third overall making it three Fiestas on the podium.

The MSA British Rally Championship got off to a spectacular start in Wales last weekend (5/6 March). The series, which took a year sabbatical, returned with a bang on the opening round, the Mid Wales Stages. More than 50 of the best crews in the best cars launched themselves into six demanding timed gravel stages over the course of the two-day event.

Treacherous icy conditions greeted the competitors on the opening two tests on Saturday evening. The darkness coupled with the tricky road surfaces was a real baptism for the crews as they challenged the grip and pushed as hard as they dared on the gravel and snow covered stages. The first car away was Evans with co-driver Parry sitting alongside. The Welsh pairing have come off the back of two wins in the WRC2 category in the FIA World Rally Championship and are dovetailing the full British series with their WRC commitments in 2016. Landing the first blow, Elfyn took a staggering 18.2 seconds out of the opposition before Fredrik Ahlin stepped up to take a second out of Evans going into the overnight halt.

Ahlin woke up in a confident mood Sunday morning as he reduced Evans' gap on the opening stage before snatching victory and the outright lead on the second - heading to the midday service with a 3.5 second cushion. An inspired Evans continued the tantalising battle by topping the time sheets on the concluding two tests to overturn Ahlin and win the event by 17.1 seconds. Crews can elect to play their 'Joker' on one of the first six rounds which doubles the crew's points on that event. Having played his on familiar home territory in Wales, Evans has walked away with 50 out of 50 points.

BRC1, the top category for the British Rally Championship saw a real tussle throughout the field with crews swapping positions on the second day. Tom Cave and James Morgan in the Spencer Sport run Ford Fiesta made it three Fiestas on the podium and three different tyre manufacturers in the top three with DMACK, Pirelli and Michelin fighting it out on the iconic stages.

Cave was to not have it his own way as he was pushed hard by the Scottish pairing of David Bogie and Kevin Rae in their striking Skoda Fabia R5. Bogie recorded several top three times, but two spins left him out of touch of Cave, 16 seconds the deficit at the end of the event. Euan Thorburn brought his newly acquired Peugeot 208 T16 across the line in a respectable fifth ahead of Irishman Sam Moffit. BRC2 winner Matt Edwards finished seventh and the DGM Motorsport Citroen DS3 R5 pairing of Jonathan Greer and Keith Cronin ended the weekend together in eighth and ninth respectfully with Desi Henry rounding out the top 10 in his Skoda Fabia R5.

The DMACK Junior BRC was to provide the same level of excitement with three different marques battling it out over the 68-mile event. From the outset Englishman Gus Greensmith with Alex Gelsomino in the navigator's seat topped the opening stage before Swedish star Sindre Furuseth snatched the lead from Greensmith, overturning an eight second deficit to grab an eight second advantage. The see-saw rivalry continued into the second day with Greensmith in a Ford Fiesta R2T having a good run to the event end, chalking up an 11.9 second advantage. Furuseth in his Renault Twingo R2 leads the championship, though, having played his Joker - as a result he sits five points clear at the top of the championship standings.

Swede Mattias Adielsson led the three-car charge for the Vauxhall Junior Rally Team with a fine third overall in the nimble ADAM while team mates Robert Duggan and Aron Windus finished fifth and seventh respectfully. Josh Cornwell, who finished fourth, also played his Joker in the junior category helping him kick-start his championship with 20 points.

Matt Edwards in his Mitsubishi Evo 9 dominated the BRC2 category and also performed a giant killing act by finishing seventh overall with several more fancied BRC1 cars behind him. Second in the class was Roland Llewellin in a Mitsubishi Evo 10 with Spencer Wilkinson rounding out the BRC2 podium in his Subaru Impreza. Tony Simpson was the lone finisher in BRC4, claiming a respectable 25th overall.

BBC Top Gear presenter Chris Harris brought the exciting rear-wheel-drive Toyota GT86 CS-R3 to the Mid Wales Stages. Harris experienced electrical gremlins on the opening day, forcing him to retire early. Undeterred the Rally Prep team brought the car back into action allowing Chris to finish the grueling event in 30th overall and first in BRC3.

Osian Pryce dominated the National Rally Cup in his Mitsubishi Mirage. The Welshman ended the event over eight minutes in front of Swede Robert Bloomberg in a similar Mirage. Pryce also played his Joker and holds the same advantage as Elfyn Evans with a maximum points haul.

As well as leading the DMACK Junior BRC series, Sindre Furuseth also won the SORT Oil Spirit of the Rally award for his commitment and raw speed on the stages in his Renault Twingo R2.

Quotes from the Mid Wales Stages:

First Overall - Elfyn Evans - Ford Fiesta R5
"To have won the first two WRC2 rallies and now here is a great start to the year. I am really pleased to have won - the last event I won outright was in 2011, so it has been a long time coming. The road position was a disadvantage but when conditions improved on the Sunday I was confident I was able to control the situation but Fredrik did have me worried! I pushed as hard as I could in the afternoon and it all came good in the end."

Second Overall - Fredrik Ahlin - Ford Fiesta R5
"I am happy with the result; the win would have been hard. We started the second day seventeen seconds and finished the rally the same again. I am happier with the progress as we showed we were quick throughout. We sadly lost too much time through Hafren on both occasions and unfortunately we couldn't match Elfyn's speed. We had no dramas and we proved we have the speed to fight for wins this year."

Third Overall - Tom Cave - Ford Fiesta R5
"I am really pleased with third, that was strategy coming into the weekend and to finish on the podium is a good start to the championship. It took a bit of time to get going, as we didn't have much of a chance to go testing before the event. It was a steep learning curve as I had a new co-driver, new car, new tyres and new team, so I tried to hone in slowly. I am very grateful to Spencer Sport, M-Sport and everyone involved, as it was so tight to get the car ready in time after my accident on the Red Kite Rally. A massive thank you to them."

DMACK Junior BRC First Overall - Gus Greensmith - Ford Fiesta R2T
"I am delighted to have claimed the first win in the series. In the normal gravel stages I felt I had the advantage but on the snow we lost a lot of time last night. I changed my driving style for the snow and that made a huge difference and enabled us to claw back the time despite Sindre being on my tail throughout. By the time the final stage came I had the advantage and I then knew I could drive at a relaxed pace and bring it home for the win."

DMACK Junior BRC Second Overall - Sindre Furuseth - Renault Twingo R2
"It was a really tricky rally and I think it was harder today compared to last night. We lost time on Hafren as I am not used to the rough conditions and I did not want to risk anything having played the Joker. We couldn't challenge Gus for the win but I am really happy to finish second and lead the championship."

DMACK Junior BRC Third Overall - Mattias Adielsson - Vauxhall ADAM R2
"It was a real special rally, we are used to ice and snow but not on gravel tyres! I didn't want to push too hard too early as I wanted to get used to the new car. When you are not familiar with a car that's when you make mistakes. Once I found the good set-up, I pushed harder and closed in on the top positions. We are really happy to bring the Vauxhall onto the podium and the team has done a fantastic job and I am really grateful for the opportunity."

The MSA British Rally Championship (BRC) will return to terrestrial TV screens this year after concluding a deal with Channel 4 and BT Sport to cover the seven-round series. The country's premier rally championship will have round one highlights this Saturday on both channels.

The next round of the championship will see the crews cross the Irish Sea as they tackle the classic bumpy Tarmac of the Circuit of Ireland Rally (8/9 April).

Results

Posted: March 10, 2016 5:28 AM

1 Elfyn Evans (GB)/Craig Parry (GB) Ford Fiesta R5 1h 08m 14.3s
2 Fredrik Ahlin (SWE)/Morton Erik Abrahamsen (NOR) Ford Fiesta R5 +17.1s
3 Tom Cave (GBR)/James Morgan (GBR) Ford Fiesta R5 +1m 26.8s
4 David Bogie (GBR)/Kevin Rae (GBR) Skoda Fabia R5 +1m 42.8s
5 Euan Thorburn (GBR)/Paul Beaton (GBR) Peugeot 208 T16 R5 +2m 43.0s
6 Josh Moffett (IRL)/John Rowan (IRL) Ford Fiesta R5 +3m 24.5s
7 Matt Edwards (GBR)/Will Rogers (GBR) Mitsubishi Evo 9 +3m 46.5s
8 Jonathan Greer (GBR)/Kirsty Riddick (GBR) Citroen DS3 R5 +4m 00.4s
9 Keith Cronin (IRL)/Mikie Galvin (IRL) Citroen DS3 R5 +4m 41.5s
10 Desi Henry (GBR)/Liam Moyniham (IRL) Skoda Fabia R5 +5m 29.8s

MSA DMACK Junior British Rally Championship
1 Gus Greensmith (GBR)/Allesandro Gelsomino (ITA) Ford Fiesta R2T 1h 16m 15.7s
2 Sindre Furuseth (NOR)/ Goril Undebakke (NOR) Renault Twingo R2 +11.9s
3 Mattias Adielsson (SWE)/Andreas Johansson (SWE) Vauxhall ADAM R2 +30.7s

MSA British Rally Championship - Class BRC2
1 Matt Edwards (GBR)/Will Rogers (GBR) Mitsubishi Evo 1h 12m 00.8s
2 Roland Llewellin (GBR)/Jack Morton (GBR) Mitsubishi Evo X +5m 10.9s
3 Spencer Wilkinson (GBR)/Glyn Thomas (GBR) Subaru Impreza +18m 48.5s

MSA British Rally Championship - Class BRC3
1 Chris Harris (GBR)/Brynmor Pierce (GBR) Toyota GT86 CS-R3 1h 39m 48.4S

MSA British Rally Championship - Class BRC4
1 Tony Simpson (GBR)/Ian Bevan (GBR) Ford Fiesta 1h 26m 45.6s

MSA BRC National Rally Cup
1 Osian Pryce (GBR)/Dale Furniss (GBR) Mitsubishi Mirage R5 1h 10m 01.4s
2 Robert Blomberg (SWE)/Lars Andersson (SWE) Mitsubishi R5 +8m 10.0s
3 Dan Shacklock (GBR)/Rob Fagg (GBR) Peugeot 206 +18.13.9s

Leaders After:
SS1-3 Elfyn Evans/Craig Parry (Ford Fiesta R5)
SS4 Fredrik Ahlin/Morton Erik Abrahamsen (Ford Fiesta R5)
SS5-6 Elfyn Evans/Craig Parry (Ford Fiesta R5)

Stage Winners:
SS1 Elfyn Evans/Craig Parry (Ford Fiesta R5)
SS2 Fredrik Ahlin/Morton Erik Abrahamsen (Ford Fiesta R5)
SS3 Fredrik Ahlin/Morton Erik Abrahamsen (Ford Fiesta R5)
SS4 Fredrik Ahlin/Morton Erik Abrahamsen (Ford Fiesta R5)
SS5 Elfyn Evans/Craig Parry (Ford Fiesta R5)
SS6 Elfyn Evans/Craig Parry (Ford Fiesta R5)

Mid Wales Stages - 5-6 Mar 16 - NATIONAL A RESULTS
Mid Wales Stages - 5-6 Mar 16 - NATIONAL B RESULTS

Results on Line (Mid Wales 2016) | Results by: Tynemouth Computer Services Rally Results

TOP DRIVERS RELYING ON PIRELLI AS BRITISH RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP RETURNS

Posted: March 9, 2016 7:10 AM

A revitalised MSA British Rally Championship makes its comeback this weekend on the Mid Wales Stages, and Pirelli is supplying tyres to many of the leading crews in a strong field.

The BRC returns after a year's absence, with four-wheel drive machinery to do battle at the front for the first time since 2011. A number of well-known and successful drivers have been attracted to the new-look series and many of those will be using Pirelli tyres.

Leading the Pirelli charge will be two past BRC champions, Keith Cronin and David Bogie. Cronin previously won the BRC in 2009, 2010 and 2012 and makes his return in a Citroen DS3 R5, while Bogie will use a brand new Skoda Fabia R5. Both will be continuing long and fruitful relationships with Pirelli.

Sweden's Fredrik Ahlin provides an international flavour to the entry in his Ford Fiesta R5, while Euan Thorburn's Peugeot 208 R5 makes for a full complement of R5 models in action with Pirelli. Brothers Josh and Sam Moffett, Cronin's DGM Sport team-mate Jonathan Greer and ?koda driver Neil Simpson will be other leading contenders on Pirelli tyres.

Established rally stars are not the only attraction on the Mid Wales Stages. Chris Harris, recently announced as a new host on BBC's Top Gear, will also compete on Pirelli tyres. The popular motoring journalist will be giving a British debut to the new rear-wheel-drive Toyota GT86 CS-R3, entered into the BRC3 category.

The drivers will use the entire range of Pirelli's famous Scorpion gravel rally tyres, ranging from the KM6 to the K8, as well as the GM family of historic tyres for the increasingly popular historic class. The KM specialises in particularly soft, wet and muddy terrain - typical of Wales - while the well-known performance and durability of the K4, with its bespoke tread pattern and specially formulated compounds, make it ideal to cut through loose stones and dirt on firmer ground.

Based in Newtown, the Mid Wales Stages feature classic tests that are also used in the World Rally Championship, including Myherin, Sweet Lamb and Hafren. The rally will begin with two stages held in darkness on Saturday night, adding a challenging extra dimension to the season opener, before four further tests on Sunday.

Paul Hembery, Pirelli's motorsport director, said: "It's fantastic to see the British Rally Championship - a series that has produced so many iconic drivers and champions - burst back into life again. With open tyre competition, we're looking forward to showcasing our products that have proved to be so successful in national championships previously. As is often the case in Britain the weather will play a major part in this weekend's action, with a possibility of cold weather and even snow, but our range is able to tackle anything. Tyres such as our KM have a fantastic history in the British Rally Championship, with legends of the sport such as Richard Burns and Colin McRae using them to win the title."

Evans And Vatanen In British Title Challenge With DMACK

Posted: February 26, 2016 4:47 PM

The DMACK British Rally Team will kick off its first ever challenge for the MSA British Rally Championship (BRC) title when Elfyn Evans and Max Vatanen hope to repeat history on the Mid Wales Stages next weekend.

The two drivers are aiming to follow in the footsteps of their fathers, both former British rally champions, as they tackle the UK's revitalised premier rally series.

Welshman Evans, from Dolgellau in mid-Wales, and co-driver Craig Parry have had a stunning start to their season so far, taking WRC 2 victory on both rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship this year. Armed with a little local knowledge, Evans is hoping the switch to gravel will help him continue that form when the Newtown-based event gets into gear on Saturday evening.

His father Gwyndaf was crowned British champion 20 years ago in 1996 and Evans will be aiming to get his campaign off to the best possible start at the wheel of his Autotek-run Ford Fiesta R5 Evo.

The iconic Vatanen name will also make an historic return to the Welsh forest stages next week. Forty years after rally legend, former world champion and current DMACK brand ambassador Ari Vatanen claimed the British title, his 25-year-old son Max will tackle the series.

Co-driven by Jacques-Julien Renucci, Finnish-born Vatanen is stepping up to four-wheel-drive for the first time and will be aiming to build both his speed and experience as the championship progresses.

Both Fiesta R5s will be equipped with the latest generation DMACK tyres in a selection of patterns and compounds specifically designed to tackle the wet, muddy forest tracks. The opening round of the BRC features a number of stages through the Hafren and Myherin forest complexes, including the iconic Sweet Lamb test, to the south-west of Newtown.

After pre-event reconnaissance next Friday, the event starts on Saturday evening with two night stages covering 25.67 miles. Sunday offers two loops of two stages, punctuated by a service halt in Newtown, covering an additional 42.35 miles before finish podium celebrations at 3pm.

Alongside the main series, the high-anticipated DMACK Junior BRC has attracted 16 entries from UK, Belgium, Sweden and Australia. With the winner awarded a WRC scholarship into the Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy in 2017, the championship is set to deliver some supreme battles among the stars of tomorrow.

This year's invigorated BRC is promising to be one of the most exciting championships in recent years with the UK's top events across England, Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales promising a fierce challenge.

Elfyn Evans said:
"The BRC has attracted a really competitive entry and I'm looking forward to starting our campaign on my home event in Wales. We've had a strong start to the season in WRC 2 so hopefully I can continue that form. However, the mid-Wales forests are fast, tough and unpredictable, and there are some very quick and experienced drivers, so it will certainly be an exciting event."

Max Vatanen said:
"I've been looking forward to the first BRC event for months. This is a great opportunity for me and, as it's my first time in a four-wheel-drive car, it will also be a big learning season ? but I'm ready for the challenge. I've been working at M-Sport to learn as much as possible about the Fiesta R5 and am looking forward to working alongside Elfyn during the year."

British Rally Championship set for spectacular return to action

Posted: February 26, 2016 4:42 PM

The MSA British Rally Championship blasts back to life next weekend (5/6 March) as no fewer than 54 registered crews from 11 nations tackle the opening round of the series, the Newtown-based Mid Wales Stages.

After a year's sabbatical, the revitalised BRC returns with a new breed of cars, stars and classes for the 2016 season. The championship's top category will feature 4-wheel drive competition for the first time since 2011, as the exciting new R5 cars do battle with S2000 machinery at the front of the field. Support classes include the DMACK Junior BRC that will showcase the talents of the best young drivers in 2-wheel drive R2 specification cars while the National Rally Cup offers the challenge of longer rallies for non-homologated vehicles.

The Mid Wales Stages hosts the opening round of the new championship and its classic stages will be a genuine early-season test for the crews. The first two stages take place on Saturday evening, requiring bravery, commitment and strong lights as drivers thread their way through 26 challenging miles in the depths of darkness.

On Sunday, the crews embark on a day of flat-out competition over classic Wales Rally GB stages including Myherin, Sweet Lamb, Hafren and Pike's Peak with the winner being crowned in the centre of Newtown in the early afternoon.

Further underlining the renaissance of the new championship, ten manufacturers will be represented on the first round with models from Citroen, Ford, Mitsubishi, Peugeot, Proton, Renault, Skoda, Subaru, Toyota and Vauxhall all lining up to contest the six gravel stages.

BRC1
WRC star Elfyn Evans and co-driver Craig Parry will lead the teams away on Saturday evening in their Ford Fiesta R5, ahead of a host of drivers aiming to prove they have what it takes to claim the title. Previous BRC champions David Bogie (Skoda Fabia R5) and Keith Cronin (Citroen DS3 R5) will be keen to repeat their previous title successes, while Euan Thorburn (Peugeot 208 T16 R5) and Marty McCormack (Skoda Fabia S2000) will be looking for a good start to their campaigns.

Underlining the strength of the Irish contingent, Jonny Greer (Citroen DS3 R5), Desi Henry (Skoda Fabia R5), Robert Woodside and the Moffett brothers (all Fiesta R5) will put up a formidable challenge, many of them combining their BRC endeavours with an Irish Tarmac campaign.

International entries from further afield bring the Fiestas of Sweden's Fredrik Ahlin, and Finland's Max Vatanen, son of 1981 World Rally Champion Ari Vatanen, who also won the British title in 1976 and 1980.

Jamie Anderson, will be hoping to put up a strong defence of his Mid Wales title, while another previous winner Tom Cave and navigator James Morgan face a race against time to get their Fiesta back on the road after a dramatic accident on last weekend's Red Kite Stages. Two other Fiesta R5s will feature in the hands of Rhys Yates, who steps up from the English Rally Championship, and tarmac specialist Alex Laffey who will be learning fast on the Mid Wales Stages having not contested a gravel rally since 2011. Meanwhile Ollie Mellors is out to prove that the Proton Satria S2000 is still a match for the newer R5 cars.

Making a return to the BRC for the first time in 16 years is Neil Simpson in the Skoda UK-supported Fabia R5 that has looked mighty quick in pre-season testing. Other drivers aiming to prove the value of experience over youth are multiple MSA Asphalt champion Damian Cole in his Fiesta S2000, former BTRDA champion Hugh Hunter who has acquired a new Fiesta R5 and James Slaughter who simply couldn't resist the challenge of getting back behind the wheel at the top level of stage rallying.

With a staggering 21 cars fighting for honours in BRC1, the competition is expected to be absolutely fierce and with such a variety of makes and models, as well as an open tyre formula, it makes it almost impossible to pick a winner at this stage.

DMACK Junior BRC
The DMACK Junior BRC is designed to provide the ultimate proving ground for young drivers under 26 years of age. The ?60k prize fund value on offer to the champion from series sponsor, DMACK Tyres, has attracted a stunning entry that guarantees a closely fought championship in this first year.

Leading the way in a truly international field will be highly rated Swedish star Mattias Adielsson who heads a three-car Vauxhall Junior Rally Team assault in a trio of ADAMs. Norwegian Sindre Furuseth in a lone Renault Twingo will follow before an army of Ford Fiestas, spearheaded by Australians Rhys Pinter and Guy Tyler.

Englishman Gus Greensmith heads the home challenge and, alongside Welshman Meirion Evans, Scot Blair Brown and Irishman Robert Duggan, could form the introduction to an old-school gag. The comedy will be saved for later, however, as the Junior crews prepare to fight for victory in Wales and lay down an important marker for the rest of the season.

BRC2
Chasing the BRC1 runners will be the hotly contested BRC2 class, which is home to such iconic vehicles as the Subaru Impreza and Mitsubishi Lancer. Phillip Morrow, Roland Llewellin and 2010 Mid Wales Stages winner Matt Edwards will be hoping to get among the front-runners.

BRC3
In the BRC3 category, newly announced BBC Top Gear presenter Chris Harris will debut the exciting Toyota GT86 CS-R3, but will be up against stiff competition from young hot-shot Chris Wheeler in a Citroen DS3 R3T.

BRC4
The BRC4 class features the same R2 machinery as used in the Junior championship, but for drivers who just fail to make the 26 year old age cut-off! Tony Simpson, Roger Platt and Marty Gallagher are likely to enjoy a close battle on these longer events, but will have downhill mountain bike legend Gee Atherton trying to deliver a giant killing performance on his local stages in Wales.

National Rally Cup
In the National Cup home-grown heroes Osian Pryce and Dale Furniss will be challenging for honours in their Spencer Sport-run Mitsubishi Mirage. As well as looking to win their class, the Welsh duo will have their sights set on breaking into the top ten overall, as will teammate Jamie Jukes and fellow Mirage driver Robert Blomberg. They will face a stiff test from a number of experienced crews who are stepping up to the longer stage mileage on offer alongside the BRC show.

Ben Taylor, Managing Director of championship promoter International Motor Sport, is buoyant ahead of the new season. He said:
"In the course of the past 20 months, there has been so much work involved to get to this point and it's really exciting how things are taking off. So many people have played a part in what has been achieved and it is incredibly gratifying that the competitors have responded so enthusiastically. It's great for the sport that people are talking positively about rallying again and I can't wait for the new season to get underway!"

BRC Championship Manager Iain Campbell echoes those sentiments:
"I really can't wait until the end of the first two stages on Saturday night. Not only will they be a huge challenge to the crews, it will mean that after all the work from everyone involved and all the hype and anticipation, BRC 2016 will have something tangible. We will have results on the board; we will have heroes, we will no doubt have some heartbreak and the story of the season will have started.

"From having had a year away, it was never on my radar that we would have such a high quality and quantity of entry for the start of this programme. Now the really hard work starts ? maintaining the forward momentum for the future."

The new-look BRC will take in seven events across the British Isles as it tours England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland before culminating on the iconic lanes of the Isle of Man. Asphalt special stages and gravel tests will see the country's best drivers in the best cars fight for overall supremacy on the best events, while the action will feature throughout the year on Channel 4 and BT Sport.

The final event will count for double points, while each driver has one 'Joker' to play on one of the first six rounds. Selected a week before each round, a 'Joker' can only be played only once and will enable a driver to double the points scored on that nominated event.

Seeded Entry Lists

Posted: February 26, 2016 11:18 AM

No Driver/Co-Driver (Car) [Class]
Mid-Wales Stages BRC A 2016
1 Elfyn Evans/Craig Parry (Ford Fiesta R5) [B1]
2 Keith Cronin/Mikie Galvin (Citroen DS3 R5) [B1]
3 David Bogie/Kevin Rae (Skoda Fabia R5) [B1]
4 Tom Cave/James Morgan (Ford Fiesta R5) [B1]
5 Fredrik Ahlin/Morton Erik Abrahamsen (Ford Fiesta R5) [B1]
6 Euan Thorburn/Paul Beaton (Peugeot 208 R5) [B1]
7 Max Vatanen/Jacques Renucci (Ford Fiesta R5) [B1]
8 Jamie Anderson/Ross Whittock (Ford Fiesta R5) [B1]
9 Josh Moffett/John Rowan (Ford Fiesta R5) [B1]
10 Jonathan Greer/Kirsty Riddick (Citroen DS3 R5) [B1]
11 Sam Moffett/Karl Atkinson (Ford Fiesta) [B1]
12 Martin McCormack/David Moyniham (Skoda Fabia S2000) [B1]
14 Rhys Yates/Tom Woodburn (Ford Fiesta R5) [B1]
15 Hugh Hunter/Andy Marchbank (Ford Fiesta R5) [B1]
16 Matt Edwards/Will Rogers (TBC) [B1]
17 Desi Henry/Liam Moynihan (Skoda Fabia R5) [B1]
18 Alex Laffey/Andrew Roughead (Ford Fiesta R5) [B1]
19 Phillip Morrow/Jonny Hart (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [B2]
20 Neil Simpson/Elliott Edmondson (Skoda Fabia R5) [B1]
21 Ollie Mellors/Ian Windress (Proton Satria Neo S2000) [B1]
22 Damian Cole/Paul Morris (Ford Fiesta S2000) [B1]
23 Robert Woodside/Allan Harryman (TBC) [B1]
24 Roland Llewellin/Jack Morton (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X) [B2]
27 James Slaughter/James Whitaker (Ford Fiesta R5) [B1]
28 Mattias Adielsson/Andreas Johansson (Vauxhall ADAM) [BD]
29 Sindre Furuseth/G?ril N?rsteb? Undebakke (Renault Twingo R2) [BD]
30 Gus Greensmith/Alessandro Gelsomino (Ford Fiesta R2T) [BD]
31 Rhys Pinter/Mark Swallow (Ford Fiesta R2) [BD]
32 Robert Duggan/Gerard Conway (Vauxhall ADAM) [BD]
33 Meirion Evans/Jonathan Jackson (Ford Fiesta R2T) [BD]
34 Josh Cornwell/Dai Roberts (Ford Fiesta R2) [BD]
35 Guillaume de Mevius/TBC (TBC TBC) [BD]
36 Arron Windus/Rhianon Gelsomino (Vauxhall ADAM) [BD]
37 Guy Tyler/Steven Fisher (Ford Fiesta R2) [BD]
38 Nick Carr/Joe Sturdy (Ford Fiesta R2) [BD]
39 Adam Bustard/Aaron Johnston (Ford Fiesta R2T) [BD]
40 Amittrajit Ghosh/Ashwin Naik (Ford Fiesta R2T) [B4]
41 Chris Wheeler/Yan Griffiths (TBA TBA) [B1]
42 Chris Harris/Brynmor Pierce (Toyota GT86 CS-R3) [B3]
43 Spencer Wilkinson/Glyn Thomas (Subaru Impreza) [B2]
44 Tony Simpson/Ian Bevan (Ford Fiesta) [B4]
45 Gee Atherton/Keaton Williams (Ford Fiesta R2) [B3]
46 Umberto Accornero/Andrew Edwards (Ford Fiesta R2T) [BD]
47 Blair Brown/Richard Simmonds (Ford Fiesta R2T) [BD]
48 Will Graham/Alex Kihurani (Ford Fiesta R2) [BD]
49 Nabila Tejpar/Fiona Scarrett (Ford Fiesta R2) [BD]
50 Roger Platt/Ian Davis (Ford Fiesta R2) [B4]

Mid-Wales Stages BRC B 2016
61 Osian Pryce/Dale Furniss (Mitsubishi Mirage R5) [N7]
62 Robert Blomberg/Lars Andersson (Mitsubishi Mirage R5) [N7]
63 Donnie MacDonald/Andrew Falconer (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [N6]
64 Jamie Jukes/Dave Williams (Mitsubishi Mirage R5) [N7]
66 Sacha Kakad/James Aldridge (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) [N6]
67 David Bennett/Alastair McNeil (Vauxhall Corsa) [N1]
68 Lee Hastings/Julie Mcguire (Subaru Impreza) [N6]
69 Kit Leigh/Tim Leigh (Ford Fiesta) [N2]
70 Dennis Parry/Mathew Parry (Subaru Impreza) [N6]
71 David Ashburn/Jonny TAD Evans (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) [N6]
72 James Nicholls/David Allman (Peugeot 205 Mi16) [N3]
73 Alan Desbois/Bridge Carey (Peugeot 306RWD) [N2]
74 Dan Shacklock/TBC (Peugeot 206) [N2]
75 Edd Cobley/John Tomley (Land Rover Defender 90) [N8]
76 Brian Palmer/Matt Lister (Land Rover Defender 90) [N8]
77 David Johnston/Joseph Monaghan (Land Rover Defender 90) [N8]
78 Alun Horn/Clive Jones (Ford Escort) [N4]
79 Scott Faulkner/Richard Mills (Land Rover Defender 90) [N8]
80 Christian Femont/Peter Janssens (Land Rover Defender 90) [N8]
81 Thaarique Fazal/Amanda Burney (Vauxhall Nova) [N1]
82 Stephen Richards/Kevin Handley (Land Rover Defender 90) [N8]
83 Thomas Bell/Noel Dancy (Land Rover Defender 90) [N8]
84 James Webley/Russ Anderson (Land Rover Defender 90) [N8]
85 Andrew Craig/Trevor Cattle (Land Rover Defender 90) [N8]

The Viking Links Mid-Wales Clubman Stages 2016
101 Dylan Davies/Llion Williams (Subaru Impreza) [M5]
102 Paul Davy/Roger Allan (Subaru Impreza) [M5]
103 Tomas Davies/Eurig Davies (Ford Fiesta R5) [K1]
104 Mark Worley/Hamish Campbell (Subaru Impreza) [M5]
105 Andy Davies/Max Freeman (Subaru Impreza N12) [M5]
106 Wug Utting/Dan Nieroda (Subaru Impreza N12b) [M5]
107 Nick Elliott/Dave Price (Ford Escort) [H3]
108 Martyn England/Dawn England (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X) [M5]
109 Harry Gardner/Elliot Graham (Subaru Impreza n12b) [M5]
110 Boyd Kershaw/Bryan Hull (Ford Escort) [M3]
111 Mike Brown/Aled Davies (BMW M3 Compact) [M4]
112 Andrew Jones/Iestyn Williams (Ford Escort MK2) [M3]
113 Craig Golder/John Caine (Subaru Impreza) [M5]
114 Simon Thomas/Mark Williams (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo) [M5]
115 Terry Brown/Den Golding (Ford Escort MKll RS1800) [H3]
116 Andy Williams/Andy Darlington (Subaru Impreza) [M5]
117 Richard Ceen/Aled Edwards (Ford Focus WRC 2005) [M5]
118 Tim Green/Rob Smith (Subaru Impreza) [M5]
119 Ben Friend/Cliffy Simmons (Ford Escort Mk2) [H3]
120 Geir Espeland/Christina Espeland Ekeberg (Ford Escort RS 1600) [K2]
121 Stanley Orr/Guy Weaver (Ford Escort RS2000) [H2]
122 Hywel Davies/Richard Crozier (Ford Escort mkII) [M3]
123 Dick Slaughter/Tim Sayer (Ford Escort MK11 RS 1800) [K2]
124 Shawn Rayner/Declan Dear (Ford Escort MkII) [H3]
125 Tim Cains/Richard May (Peugeot 309) [M3]
126 Steven John Williams/Paul Roberts (FORD Escort MK 2) [M3]
127 Nev Jones/Chris Davies (Ford Escort) [K2]
128 David Jones/Glyn Price (BMW E30) [M4]
129 Gwyn Jones/Rob Leeman (Ford Escort) [M3]
130 Andrew fox/Jaime-lee. Fox (Bmw E30) [M4]
131 Colin Griffiths/Martin Griffiths (BMW COMPACT) [M4]
132 Ron Hall/Phil Spilsted (Subaru Impreza) [M5]
133 Sion Ellis/Siobhan Pugh (Nissan Sunny) [M3]
134 Rikki Proffitt/Graham Wild (Datsun 240Z) [H2]
135 Robert Bradley/Shaun Hughes (Ford Escort) [M3]
136 Pete Barlow/Mark Dillon (Ford Escort RS 2000) [H3]
137 Tim Bevan/Darren Ikin (BMW 328) [M4]
138 Craig Jones/Mike Bartlett (BMW E36 Compact) [M4]
139 Bill Douglas/Dave Tearl (BMW 1800) [H1]
140 Hugh Evans/Kevin Ellis (Triumph TR8) [M4]
141 J Alan Jones/D Stephen mills (Ford Escort Mexico Mk1) [M2]
142 Mark Baldwin/Mitchell Baldwin (Ford Escort) [H3]
143 James Ball/Gavin Gwillym Haycock (Suzuki Ignis) [M1]

Class
B1 = BRC 1
BR = BRC RGT
B2 = BRC 2
BD = DMACK Junior BRC
B3 = BRC 3
B4 = BRC 4
B5 = BRC 5
N1 = Class 1 - All 2wd non-homologated cars up to 1450cc
N2 = Class 2 - All 2wd non-homologated cars 1451cc - 1650cc
N3 = Class 3 - Front wheel drive non-homologated cars 1651cc - 2050cc
N4 = Class 4 - Rear wheel drive non-homologated cars - 1651cc - 2050cc
N5 = Class 5 - All 2wd non-homologated cars over 2051cc
N6 = Class 6 - Any 4wd car not classified in Class 7 or 8
N7 = Class 7 - Any derivitive of FIA R5 car out with its homologation
N8 = Class 8 - Land Rover Defender & Wolf models in the Defender Challenge by Bowler Motorsport 2016

Excitement builds for Mid Wales Stages - Over 120 entries received for new-look Mid Wales Stages

Posted: February 24, 2016 10:17 AM

As entries close for this year's rally, organisers are pleased to have received almost 120 entries across the three events which form the Newtown-based Mid Wales Stages. The new-look 5th/6th March event has the honour of being the opening round of the MSA British Rally Championship and eyes have most certainly been on the enviable list of crews entering the series this year from across the world.

In the National A event, entries have flooded in from Australia, India, Finland and Norway all keen to vie for the BRC crown. Newly announced Top Gear presenter Chris Harris is also worth a mention, entering his brand new Toyota UK backed GT86 which will see its UK debut on the event. The National B event for BRC Cup and Defender Challenge crews boasts 30 entries including a trio of the unique Mitsubishi Mirage R5's.

But the Newtown & District Automobile Club organised event has seen impressive levels of entries in the Viking Motorsport - Links Electrical Clubmans Rally as well which takes place on Sunday 6th March. Over 40 entries form the one-day event and range from World Rally Cars to Historic Escorts and even a Datsun 240Z. This section of the rally plays host to the contenders in the Pirelli MSA Welsh Rally Championship, Jelf Motorsport Welsh Clubman Forest Championship, ANWCC Forest Rally Championship, HRCR Stage Masters and FMP Rally Challenge.

The rally offers classic Welsh stages and is based at Theatr Hafren in Newtown, Powys. It kicks off with two stages totaling over 25 miles under the cover of darkness on Saturday 5th March for National A and B crews. The remaining 43 stage miles are contested by all events on Sunday 6th, before the Ceremonial Finish greets the successful finishers back in Newtown.

Event regulations are available to download and a full online entry system is available via the event wesbite:

Entries Received

Posted: February 2, 2016 2:52 PM

Available at:

www.rallies.info/webentry/2016/midwalesnata/

Entries flood in for Mid Wales Stages thriller

Posted: February 2, 2016 2:48 PM

Just two weeks ago, the event regulations were released for the first round of the 2016 MSA British Rally Championship and organisers of the Mid Wales Stages have reported receiving a record numbers of entries. The re-vamped 5th/6th March event has already amassed 60 entrants across the three events which make up this year's rally, significantly up on levels seen at this point in the Newtown & District Automobile Club organized event in previous years. And there is much more to come, promises Clerk of the Course Chris Tomley.

The Newtown, Powys based event provides crews in the MSA British Rally Championship and Defender Challenge by Bowler Motorsport, with a with a tough two-day format across some of the stages used on final round of the World Rally Championship, Wales Rally GB. Tomley believes that the new look event which includes 25 miles of night stages, has really engaged with both BRC and Clubman competitors, who are all keen to sample some legendary Welsh forest stages.

"It's really encouraging to see that entry levels are well up on this time in previous years and the excitement is starting to build across the organising committee" says Tomley. "We have well over 20 entries from the MSA British Rally Championship and many of the names listed so far are in addition to the contenders who have announced their intention to compete in the series, but have not yet placed an entry".

But it's not just British Championship crews that have buoyed the ever expanding list.
"The Pirelli MSA Welsh Rally Championship has been a mainstay of the event for many years and we are pleased to see number building in that area too for the Sunday event" he says. "Not only that, but we have a good spread across all our championships including the Jelf Welsh Clubman series, alongside several Historic crews on board. These include Viking Motorsport prepared car of Geir and Christina Espeland from Norway, who add a touch of European flavor to the Viking Motorsport ? Links Electrical Clubman event. It's really encouraging to see the list building at a rapid pace and it would be really nice to think the entries could be full by the closing date. At this rate, that could be possible".

The rally is based at Theatre Hafren in Newtown and kicks off with two stages totaling over 25 miles under the cover of darkness on Saturday 5th March. The remaining 43 stage miles are contested on Sunday 6th, before the Ceremonial Finish greets the successful finishers back in Newtown.

Event regulations are available to download and a full online entry system is available at the event website.

World class stages are waiting, as British Championship opener is GO!

Posted: January 20, 2016 4:17 AM

Entries have opened this week for the opening round of the all new MSA British Rally Championship (BRC), The Mid Wales Stages. Based in Newtown, Powys, the revamped 5th/6th March event which is organised by Newtown and District Motor Club will kick off the eagerly anticipated BRC with a tough two-day format across some of the stages used on final round of the World Rally Championship, Wales Rally GB.

Event organisers have been working hard on a new-look format for the 68 stage mile all-gravel rally which has been running since 1977 and have devised a route that will be an eye opening introduction to the British Championship for crews from around the world.

After the British Rally Championship crews complete the "recce" of the stages beforehand on Friday 4th March, the rally kicks off with two stages totaling over 25 miles under the cover of darkness on Saturday 5th with Hafren/Sweet Lamb and Myherin providing a challenging wakeup call over stages used on the WRC finale'.

Day two will see Pikes Peak, Myherin and Sweet Lamb all featured on the schedule to complete the 43 stage miles before the mid-afternoon Ceremonial Finish back in Newtown greets the successful finishers.

Theatre Hafren in Newtown will play host to the event, providing Rally HQ, documentation and pre-event scrutiny. The start and finish ramp, pre and post event press conferences will also be hosted by the Theatre and College centre with the Service Park a short distance away in the industrial park opposite.

Whilst eyes are undoubtedly on the British Rally Championship runners, event organisers have ensured the 2016 Mid Wales Stages has a format to suit everyone and have devised a National B Rally which follows the BRC schedule for those competitors not entered in the championship.

The event is once again honoured to welcome crews from the MSA Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship who will follow the Sunday route of event, providing 43 stage miles across classic Welsh stages. They will also be joined by the JELF Welsh Clubman Rally Championship and ANWCC Forest series. The Mid Wales Stages is also the opening round of the newly introduced HRCR Stage Masters Historic Rally Challenge which will see a wide range of historic vehicles on the event which has been renowned for its historic connections over the years.

Returning to the event once again is the Defender Challenge by Bowler Motorsport which will follows the two day BRC route and provides an impressive sight as the popular Land Rover Defenders blast through the forest stages.

Chris Tomley, Clerk of the course is pleased with how the event has come together. "It's been a really tough task to change the format of the event and accommodate all of the recent rule changes" he says.

"But the team has worked tirelessly to ensure all our championships and competitors are provided with a challenging and enjoyable rally and we think we have managed to achieve just that. We have arguably some of the best stages in the world at our finger tips and it's a real honour to be able to showcase these to the MSA British Rally Championship competitors. Add to that the Pirelli MSA Welsh Rally Championship, ANWCC, HRCR Stage Masters and Defender Challenge crews and I think we have all the ingredients for a really impressive event." Rally Guide 1 and the event regulations are available to download fro the event website (Link below)

You can keep up to date with all the event news on Social Media at:

www.twitter.com/midwalesstages
www.facebook.com/midwalesstages

Regulations / Entries Open / Event & Club Websites

Posted: January 8, 2016 6:50 AM

Available at:

Mid Wales Stages

Newtown And District Automobile Club