Matthew Hirst needs to finish sixth or higher on the Wyedean Rally (Saturday 16 November) to win the Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship title for a record-breaking fourth time – although anything less and the title will go to Russ Thompson for the first time.
Having won the last three Forest of Dean events (in 2019, ’22 and ’23), Matthew is favourite for the title despite arriving at the final round second in the points standings.
Co-driven by Declan Dear, the Doncaster driver might have scored three maximums this year, but he has also picked up a DNF and finished a lowly ninth after putting his Delta Salvage/Witham Motorsport Škoda Fabia R5 off the road for six minutes on September’s Phil Price Memorial Woodpecker Stages – so it’s still very much all to play for.
With two wins, a second and a third already in the can, Russ can only improve on his current score by five points – and even if the GPM/PD Extinguishers/The Inn Collection Mitsubishi Evo 9 driver scored maximum Pirelli Welsh points, that might not be enough to take the title.
The Clitheroe charger has not therefore entered the event and will instead watch the outcome of the title unfold online.
And there are plenty of drivers who could take points away from the two title contenders – including the 2023 Welsh Junior and Challenge champion Rob Wilson, who contests his first event since scoring a Pirelli Welsh podium on the Rallynuts Severn Valley Stages. Co-driven by Martin Hagget, the young Ledbury driver will be out for victory in his Mitsubishi Evo 7.
The overall 2WD and class W11 and 12 titles will be decided on the Wyedean, as all the contenders come out for one last throw of the dice.
Geoff Phelps (co-driven by Colin Jenkins) still leads W11 and is in a race against time to repair his Hartpury Farms/Sparkrite Escort Mk2 after hitting a massive rock on the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally.
Iwan Roberts Jnr is just 11 points behind and with three wins and a DNF could snatch the title as the points to drop rule will work in his favour with another good performance in his Roberts of Ffestiniog Ford Escort G3. Daniel Jones has already clinched the 2WD and W11 co-drivers’ titles.
Dan Chester leads class W12. Co-driven by Steven Davey, the Bicester oversteer expert will be hoping to secure the title in his Dan’s Action Vehicles BMW E30 – although he’ll face stiff opposition from Brecon duo David Jones/Glyn Price (Tanners Arms/GJ Price Transport BMW E30) and Andrew and Jaime-Lee Fox (Xwatch Safety Solutions BMW 325).
Defending class champions Martin Walters/Marie Fletcher lead W10 despite recording a rare DNF last time out in their Digger Parts Direct Honda Civic. That allowed Michael Jenkins/Jordan Joines to close the gap to just five points after they took their first class win on the season in their Tutts Clump Fiesta R2 – with it all to play for on the Wyedean.
