Stellar entry set for Phil Price Memorial Woodpecker Rally
Posted: September 2, 2022 5:33 AM
A capacity entry will head to Ludlow this weekend as the Phil Price Memorial Woodpecker Rally blasts back into action on Saturday 3 September.
Supported by Presteigne Tyre Service and Phil Price Rally School, the Sixty and Worcestershire Motor Club organised loose surface stage rally is one of the most popular events on the British rallying calendar and has attracted a bumper entry as it returns to its traditional Ludlow Racecourse base.
Forced to run behind closed doors in 2021 due to COVID restrictions, the rally returns to full strength with stages in both England and the Welsh Marches, as over 160 cars tackle the one-day forest event, renamed for 2022 in memory of the highly regarded rally driver and coach Phil Price, who sadly passed away in 2021.
The event’s popularity has been boosted by a variety of top-line championships, including the Fuchs Lubricants British Historic Rally Championship which makes the trip for the first time. They will be joined by the MRF Tyres BTRDA Rally Series, Pirelli Ravenol Motorsport UK Welsh Rally Championship, Seacon UK English Rally Championship, Welsh Historic Rally Championship, IPS Paints Rally Challenge, ANWCC Forest Stage Rally Championship and HRCR Stage Masters Rally Challenge.
Carrying the coveted number one on the doors will be BTRDA series leaders Matthew Hirst and Declan Dear in their Fiesta R5 who have already taken two maximum scores so far this season. But the fight will be a tough one as British Rally Championship regular Elliot Payne embarks on a mammoth weekend of competition, kicking off at the Woodpecker.
Payne and co-driver Patrick Walsh will tackle Saturday’s event in a Fiesta Rally2, before hot footing it to Aberystwyth to take on the next round of the BRC which starts later that evening, aiming to score valuable points in both championships in the process!
Equipped with a brand-new Ford Fiesta Rally2, Callum Black and Jack Morton make a spectacular return to rallying, armed with the latest specification machine from M-Sport World Rally Team. Whilst they may take a few miles to get up to speed, Black pace is well proven and could well take a victory on his debut in the car.
Stephen Petch last won the event in 2016 and rounds out a trio of Fiesta Rally2’s at number four. He and Michael Wilkinson are adapting to the new car this year and will need to be on form to keep up with the leading pack.
Local hero Perry Gardner rounds out the top five in his Fiesta R5. The Ludlow driver has impressed onlookers with his pace in older specification machinery this year and with jack Bowen on the notes, could well use their local knowledge to secure a top result.
But you need to look well down the top twenty if you are betting on a winner this year with names like Russ Thompson/Steve Link and Richard Hill/Patrick Cooper sitting outside of the top five seed, it will be tough to predict a winner.
To enable all cars to enjoy the best road conditions, two-wheel drive crews will run first on the road in reverse seeded order before the heavy-hitting four-wheel drive’s and that’s where you will find the battle for the British Historic Rally Championship.
Heading that charge will be three-time British Rally Champion Matt Edwards in his FIAT 131 Abarth who has enjoyed a sensational return to historic rallying with Hamish Campbell on the notes. Edwards has hauled the FIAT to multiple event wins in 2022 and aims to continue that winning way at the Woodpecker.
Nick Elliot/Dave Price will be in the sister car aiming to hunt them down, whilst Hereford’s Roger Chilman leads the Ford Escort MK2 charge. The local honours could well be the strongest battle of the two-wheel-drive brigade as Ludlow’s Henri Grehan and Joe Price go head-to-head for top spot, both in Ford Escorts.
Ludlow is well represented outside of the Historic crews with Neil Weaver wheeling out his impressive Opel Corsa S1600 with co-driver Jamie Edwards alongside. Weaver is just behind Robert Gough on the road in his immaculate Ford Escort MK2 which was once owned by WRC ace Ari Vatanen.
Fans will have plenty of opportunities to catch the cars, crews, and the action over the weekend as they are welcomed back to the event for the first time since 2019. Ludlow Racecourse hosts pre-event technical checks on Friday 2nd September, from 14:00 to 19:00 and the venue will then host the Ceremonial Start [08:31], mid-event service [11:39] and ceremonial finish [from 15:58] during rally day itself.
Those looking to watch the cars in action can head to Haye Park just outside of Ludlow or Radnor Forest in Powys, with four chances to view during the day. Haye Park runs twice and takes place at 08:55 and 13:09 whilst Radnor also enjoys a double run at 10:10 and 14:24. Car parking is £10 per car with Spectator Information provided and can be used as a pass across any other event spectator car park.
British Historic Rally Championship blasts back into action at the Woodpecker Rally
Posted: September 2, 2022 5:32 AM
The Fuchs Lubricants British Historic Rally Championship makes a welcome return after the summer break as it heads to the Phil Price Memorial Woodpecker Rally for the first time next weekend [3rd September].
The Ludlow based event will offer crews some of the best forest stages on both sides of the Welsh and English border as fan favourites such as Radnor and Haye Park lie ahead for the one-day gravel blast.
With three events down on the BHRC calendar so far in 2022 it’s a fitting event to re-start the season after a three-month break, as Ludlow resident Henri Grehan heads to his home rally in the lead of the hotly contested series.
With unrivalled knowledge of the stages used on the Woodpecker, Grehan and co-driver Dan Petrie will be well placed to capitalise on their eight-point advantage in the standings and could well hammer home a maiden BHRC victory on home soil.
Taking fourth in the opening two rounds, Grehan knuckled down to take second place at the Plains Rally in May, hauling his Ford Escort Mk2 to his maiden BHRC podium in the process. But the Shropshire man has plenty of work to do if he is to keep the chasing pack at bay.
And that pack of over 40 registered contenders is led by three-time British Rally Champion Matt Edwards, who has turned the BHRC upside down thanks to his performance behind the wheel of the FIAT 131 Abarth. With Hamish Campbell alongside, Edwards has taken wins at Rally North Wales and the Plains Rally, with the latter being secured by over a minute.
Edwards has been helping develop the Italian machinery this season which has seen an uprising thanks to his effort, leading to Nick Elliott and Dave Price also wheeling out their example for the last two rounds. Sadly, Elliott’s engine cried enough on the Plains so will be looking for a strong run at the Woodpecker to improve on his third place in the championship.
Hereford’s Roger Chilman skipped the Plains but returns in his Ford Escort MK2 at the weekend. Consistent runs to third place on both rounds he has contested in 2022 put him in a solid position with three points scoring events to go and could well have the pace on home turf to upset the leaders.
We haven’t seen Joe Price and Chris Brooks since the Riponian but as an all-Ludlow crew, it was too much to resist to bring their Ford Escort MK2 back to the series and are another crew that could accrue hefty points.
Ben Friend and Cliffy Simmons are facing an uphill struggle to retain their 2021 BHRC crown with one retirement and a non-start to contend with. They resume their championship defence in their Ford Escort MK2.
Ludlow is already well represented but will also see local ace Robert Gough team up with Sam Collis for his home rally in their Ford Escort MK2.
Chris Skill and Brian Hodgson head the Category Two [cars between 1968-1975] charge in their Escort MK1 and will have their second place at the Plains Rally fresh in their minds. With current leader Adam Milner staying away, it opens the challenge right up, with Warren Philliskirk/Garry Green and Phil Jobson/Ali Procter throwing their hat into the ring. Rory & Paul McCann add variety with their Hillman Avenger in the category.
After a ceremonial start on Saturday morning inside the rally base at Ludlow Racecourse, crews head out to tackle the opening Haye Park test near Ludlow, before two stages in the Radnor Forest in the Welsh Marches. Service splits the day before a repeat loop in the afternoon ahead of the champagne celebrations back at the Racecourse.
Seeded Entry Lists
Posted: September 1, 2022 4:26 PM
Regulations Available - Tue 12 Jul / Entries Open - Thu 14 Jul @ 7pm
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