Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear will be aiming for a hat-trick of maximum Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship points in their Delta Salvage/Witham Motorsport Ford Fiesta R5 when the series continues with the Nicky Grist Stages (Saturday 13 July).
After an unscheduled 13 week break in proceedings following the cancellation of the Plain Rally (18 May), the best four scores from six events will now count towards the Pirelli Welsh overall and class titles.
It also means that the Nicky Grist Stages is even more critical in the destiny of the end of season trophies, and it is no surprise to see a very strong entry for what has become the midway round of the all-gravel series.
Dan O’Brien has swapped his O’Brien Group Ford Fiesta RS WRC for a Fiesta Rally2 and, co-driven by Mark Glennerster, he’ll contest his second gravel rally in the car on the Nicky Grist Stages.
James Giddings/Aled Davies are second in the standings and will aim to continue their good run in their Fordpad/Enva/Sar Metals Mitsubishi Evo 9.
Russ Thompson/Stephen Link are in a strong position with a third-place finish and a dropped score already in the can, so expect them to rocket up the leaderboard in their Dunnow Plant Mitsubishi Evo 9.
Peter Baylis has enjoyed a great start to the season, despite a few overheating niggles returning to his Artificial Lawn Company Mitsubishi Evo 9.
Daniel Moss hopes to kick start his season after picking up just five points in the first two rounds. The Gloucester driver can pretty much score every point be wins from now on, and together with co-driver Hannah McKillop he’ll be looking for a trouble-free run in his Hurst Haylage Mitsubishi Evo 10.
Paul Walker/Geraint Thomas were the top Quinton Motor Club crew home last year and will be looking for another good Pirelli Welsh top 10 in their Green Paw Subaru Impreza STI N11.
Rudi Lancaster/Guy Weaver arrive leading the highly competitive Pirelli Welsh Historic W9 class in their Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks Escort RS18000 Mk2.
