By Martyn Craske

Matlock Motor Club will host the opening round of the 2026 HRCR Clubmans Championship with the 5^th running of the Dansport Historic Rally. A new Clerk of the Course, experienced Master Navigator Kelvin Phipps, is picking up the reigns from Martin Phaff.

The event will still retain its tried and tested format. The compact route, all contained within map 119, will cover around 175 miles. Setting off from the Casa Hotel in Chesterfield, crews will face a challenging “Short & Sharp” Saturday evening section, including tests, as they battle their way towards a hearty pie & pea supper, with an opportunity for a “Noggin and Natter” about the evening’s exploits. Sunday will see a full day’s sport concluding once again with warm hospitality at the Peak Edge Hotel.

Bringing the event forward to February has given the competitors access to some different, interesting and longer tests. The regulations hint towards some slippery surfaces which are likely to be exacerbated by some of the challenging weather that the Peak District can produce at this time of year.

This will also be the first event for the new HRCR Beginners Championship. These crews will be provided with A4 printed maps to copy onto their own map. Easing the navigation demands should free them up to focus on the challenging task of managing the clocks.

A combination of early season enthusiasm and the great reputation of the Dansport meant that the entry had filled up within 24 hours of going live. With nearly a third of the field entered as “Masters” Kelvin and the team will have their hands full with the challenge of seeding them all.

Amongst those hoping to be seeded at the head of the field will be the top crews from the 2025 Championship. John Haygarth has drafted in Andy Pullen for the opening round of the season while Martyn Taylor will be accompanying Paul Dyas in his Cortina. There is bound to be a strong challenge from Lewis Ayris/Matthew Outhwaite (who, even as Experts, were championship runners up). All these crews will once again be fiercely fighting for first blood in the 2026 championship.

Martyn Taylor will be back in the Cortina with Paul Dyas for the Dansport Historic this year.  Photo by Paul Freeman

But the form book is full of possibilities. Haygarth and Taylor each tasted victory in 2022 whereas Ryan Pickering will be hoping to replicate his 2023 win, this time sitting in Mick Valentine’s Escort. Other past winners taking part are Dan and Nick Darkin who won in 2024, in the little Mazda MX5. There is also Ali Procter, who took the honours in 2021, and has now moved behind the wheel, with Lynsey managing the the maps.

There are a similar number of “Experts” taking part. The hot tip in this class will be the pairing of Lewis Ayris and Matthew Outhwaite, coming up from the Oxfordshire in their Escort. Others to look out for will be Bob Duck/Andew Parr in their Mini and Mark Goodwin/Anthony Davies in the TR7.  You also can’t discount Michael Helm in his TR6 from getting a good result, as he will look to benefit from many years of local knowledge, held in the head of the previous Clerk of the Course, Martin Phaff.

Lewis Ayris and Matt Outhwaite will be looking to produce a good performance on the first event of the season.  Photo by Phill Andrews

Of the 17 or so Novices on the entry list, the highest placed crew in last year’s championship, Chris and Gethin Phillips in their Volvo Amazon, will doubtless put up a good fight, hopefully without attacking too many gateposts this time. They are bound to be chased hard for class honours with so many fellow novices vying for a good result.

Chris Philips, seen here with Kevin Chaffey, will be out with his son Gethin navigating on the Dansport, hopefully avoiding the gateposts this time.  Photo by Ian Skelton

The clubmans event has 11 entries submitted, several of whom are total beginners. It is difficult to read the form here, but it is good to see so many people dipping their toes into Historic Rallying. They are bound to receive a warm welcome from the organisers as well as their fellow competitors. They should be warned though that historic rallying is addictive.

The spectacle of the event is enhanced by the four decades of automotive history with an eclectic range of cars from A40s and Amazons to Novas and MX5s. Amongst them are vehicles of every shape and size including Mini’s, Porsches, Triumphs, MGs and of course the ubiquitous Escorts.

A great entry list, brilliant peak district lanes, with the odd smooth white and challenging tests should add up to Matlock Motor Club delivering the Dansport Historic Rally we all know and love, whilst ensuring it goes from strength to strength.

Photos in the gallery by kind permission of M&H Photography