rally.ie - Stories - Wyedean Forest Rally

Punctures Cause Perez's Wyedean Woes

Posted: February 22, 2012 3:23 PM

After a year's absence from the event, Kick Energy Rally driver Steve Perez returned to the Forest of Dean for the Team GMF Wyedean Forest Rally but sadly for him, he couldn't repeat his victory of 2010 on the opening round of the REIS Get Connected BTRDA Rally Series.

Along with Welsh co driver Paul Spooner, the 2010 champions encountered a pair of punctures as well as the treacherously icy stages in their Ford Focus WRC but after sliding off on the opening stage, Perez fought back to set fastest time on the second stage.

However, the first of two punctures came on SS3 whereby the triple British Champion dropped a minute but gamely battled on only for the following stage to end his hopes of a good result when a second puncture proved terminal when the flailing rubber broke the front transmission and also the rim and as a result left the Chesterfield driver stranded mid-stage.

Steve said afterwards:
"It was very icy but despite that, I really enjoyed it, after all, that's what rally driving is all about. Like most, we ended up on a bank in the first stage but we were fastest by 17 seconds in SS2 and I loved it. Then the puncture on SS3 dropped us back but when we got yet another puncture, it ended up breaking the wheel and the halfshaft and although I tried to continue, it was game over. Not scoring this weekend isn't ideal and we know we will miss the Dukeries too so we can't afford too many problems from now on. I'm really looking forward to the Malcolm Wilson Rally next month where I can renew my battle with a certain Mr Bird in his back yard. There's a freezer full of chicken riding on that result if I beat him so he says!"

Tom Cave 'survives' season opener and gains points

Posted: February 22, 2012 3:15 PM

Tom Cave survived what he described as the toughest rally of his career this weekend, when he reached the finish ramp of the Wyedean Rally, the opening round of the BTRDA Champiosnhp, in 11th place. The result doesn't tell the whole story, with sub-zero temperatures and stages covered in sheet ice claiming countless cars from the enormous starting field.

The run-up to the event had been much the same as the rest of the country - snow a week before which had thawed and light drizzle the day before the event. However, the thermometer plunged during the night, meaning that the wet gravel roads forming the route were now completely frozen and in some cases, covered with remains of snow in shade and some in frost.

It was clear from the outset that four wheel-drive was no advantage for the later runners, as they found the going as difficult as their earlier two wheel-drive colleagues. In fact, it was colder in the Forest of Dean than it was in Hagfors, Sweden, for the second round of the FIA World Rally Championship.

While the WRC competitors had the advantage of studded tyres, these are not permitted in the UK and so a cautious approach was necessary.

Even so, Tom and co-driver Craig Parry still spun several times in the first stage, the 20 year-old completely caught out by the lack of grip from the gravel tyres on the Group N Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9 he had rented for the event, as his Subaru was not yet ready.

As a result, he was 48th overall after the first stage but now with an idea of the grip levels, he set about making up for lost time. By the time the crews returned to Chepstow Racecourse for the day's single service after three stages, Tom and Craig were 20th overall and third in Group N.

They tackled the afternoon with a more conservative approach and it paid off; after a quartet of top ten times, they reached the finish of the rally in 11th place overall and third in Group N.

Commenting, Tom said:
"It's been a very tricky day but I'm just really pleased to get the finish. I didn't realise until the finish that we also got a pretty good result, considering the conditions, so not a bad start to the year.

"The biggest problem we had was completely the wrong tyres. We should have been on snow tyres like the other front-runners were. As a result, we lost a lot of time, particularly on the first stage and we just couldn't find a rhythm. I didn't really enjoy the driving today.

"It was also hard as the conditions were so inconsistent; you had to assume every corner was covered in sheet ice and while most were, others were clearer and there was more grip. But I'm glad to get to the finish and get some points on the board for the first round."

Tom's next event will be Rallye Sunseeker in two weeks time, the opening round of the British Rally Championship. He has secured a Citroen DS3 R3T for the BRC but it will not arrive from the Citroen Sport factory in France in time for the first round, so he will tackle that event in a rented Ford Fiesta R2.

Full Results

Posted: February 22, 2012 3:06 PM

Wyedean Forest Rally - (Sat) 11 Feb 12 - RESULTS

Tynemouth Computer Services Rally Results

Seeded Entry List

Posted: February 9, 2012 1:53 PM

Wyedean Forest Rally - (Sat) 11 Feb 12 - SEEDED ENTRY LIST

Cathcart Returns

Posted: February 5, 2012 8:12 PM

After taking time out from rallying during 2011, Matthew Cathcart will make his return to the sport on the Team GMF Wyedean Forest Rally, using the event as a warm-up for a full assault on both the MSA British Rally Championship and the Fiesta Sport Trophy.

The young man from Northern Ireland recently ranked 5th in Motorsport News Fast 50 will be partnered by MSA Team UK Member James Morgan, the current MSA Asphalt Rally Champion Co-driver, and their Ford Fiesta R2 will be run by the P&R Benn Rally Team from their premises in Cockermouth.

The crew are hoping to gain valuable experience in the car on the Wyedean and the set-up information they collect will stand them in good stead for the opening round of the BRC, the Bournemouth-based Rallye Sunseeker at the end of February.

Entries Received

Posted: February 4, 2012 3:09 PM

Available at:

Wyedean Forest Rally

Regulations / Details

Posted: January 4, 2012 11:46 AM

"Welcome to the 37th Wyedean Forest Rally organised by the Forest of Dean Motor Club Ltd and sponsored once again by GMF Motor Factors.

This year we will again be following the popular format developed over recent years. Rally HQ, documentation, scrutineering, service area, start and finish will all be based in Chepstow.

Competitive action taking place within the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley, as always, to ensure maximum value for money, we will be keeping double use of these tracks to less than 10% of the competitive mileage.

We have attracted a number of championships again for 2012;

The historic classes will run between the 1400’s and the open competitors. The Historic running order will be class H1(cat. 1) followed by H2, H3 and H4 classes.

We would urge you to get your entry in very quickly for, as always, we anticipate an oversubscribed entry.

Regs can be found at

Wyedean Forest Rally

Wyedean Forest Rally - (Sat) 11 Feb 12