Last August, twenty years after being part of the HRCR Nocturnal Challenge, the Gremlin appeared as a welcome addition to the Clubman series. 70 starters began and 61 finished with Dan Willan & Niall Frost in the Volvo PV544 leading them home, Paul Crosby & Andy Pullan in the Porsche 911 in second and the Escort of Mick Valentine & Matthew Fowle in third. Dan Darkin & Nick Darkin in the Mazda MX5 picked up the Expert top spot and first Novices home were Paul Bloxidge & Oli Waldock in the VW Golf GTi.

Dan Willan and Niall Frost Volvo PV544 on their way to victory in 2022.  Can they do it again this year?  Photo by RallySport Media.

This year the event is once again based out of the Old Railway Garden Centre in Three Cocks and will run approximately 110 miles of regularity with a plot and bash to finish off.  8 special tests at largely new venues are promised and at the time of writing the entry list is pretty much full.

The Masters list is looking impressive with Dan Willan and Niall Frost returning (ah crap), and Paul Crosby in the Mini Cooper S back with Ali Procter (swapping back to the nav chair after his second place driving on the NYC).  Gavin Rogers will be hoping his Reliant Scimitar has overcome its rough running issues and will certainly be vying for a podium place with Georgina Clark after disappointment on the North Yorks.  Mick Valentine has a new co-pilot this year in John Thornley, whilst Jon Dunning & Henry Carr in the Yellow RS2000 hope to maintain their good run following a third overall on the NYC.  John King will also be looking for a result with Martin Pitt after retirement on the NYC with head gasket failure (Toyota MR2).

Of course, we mustn’t forget Leigh Powley & Brian Gough in the Toyota Corolla who just missed out on a podium last year and with 3^rd on the Tour of Cheshire and a 9^th on the NYC in 2023, will be looking to get back up in the top three to help their Championship ambitions.

Leigh Powley and Brian Goff (Toyota Corolla) will be looking to improve on their NYC performance. Photo by RallySport Media.

Experts Dan & Nick Darkin after a strong finish in Yorkshire are missing from the line up this year so Les Andrew and Peter Blackett (Peugeot 104) will want to improve on their NYC placing of 20^th overall and Paul and Sandra Heaney will be eager to be further up the leader board in the Lancia Fulvia.  Lynsey Procter must be hoping to emulate her NYC performance (2^nd overall) but this time with Peter Higton. It will also be good to see Tim Sawyer back in the drivers seat once more with Suzanne Barker telling him where to go!

Les Andrew, this year with Peter Blackett (Peugeot 104) hoping to head up the experts.  Photo by Phill Andrews.

The HRCR Novice entry is quite small this time around but Jac Wales and David Morris will be looking to pick up some useful points in the MGB GT as will Rob and Julie Clifton (Vauxhall Magnum), who have returned to the Championship after a period away.  The distinctive orange A40 of Ian Prout and Kev Bryant will also be out on their first go at the Gremlin Historic.

Jac Wales and David Morris (MGB GT) will be fighting to head the Novices this year.  Photo by RallySport Media

If last year is anything to go by then the 2023 running of the Gremlin Historic could well be one of the keenly fought rallies of the year and is surely to be a highlight of the 2023 championship.