It was great start to the 2024 West Wales Rally Spares HRCR Stage Masters Challenge with 16 registered crew making the start. Eight classic forest stages in Gartheiniog, Dovey (Big Ray), Dyfnant East and Dyfnant West repeated twice made up a somewhat elongated route with service based at the start venue in Welshpool cattle market.
A number of new crews signed up for the Challenge including Rob Dennis, Lee Ashberry, Paul Holmes and Elizabeth Beesely, Phil and Mik Squires, Steve Ward and Phil Sandham and Graham Thatcher and Tim Samuel.
On the day it was Rudi Lancaster accompanied by the vastly experienced Guy Weaver who took the initiative and led the Challenge crews all day to claim maximum points in their Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks class D5 RS1800. If Rudi can get time off to contest the Manx Rally in May he could be a serious contender. A stellar performance by young Ben Smith in his C5 Escort saw him mixing it with the big boys. Guided by father Steven they were just 22 seconds behind Lancaster at the finish.
Next up in the heavily subscribed D5 class were defending Challenge champions Baz Wheeler and John Pickavance in the Metric Services RS1800, they had a good day and will be in for the long haul with a second title being the aim. Not far behind them was the immaculate Denwell Coaches RS1800 of Rob Dennis who had a reasonably trouble free day and bagged a load of points. Behind them a gaggle of Escorts were in pursuit with Steve Ward and Phil Sandham the best followed by the C5 RS1600 of Andrew Stokes and Jonny Tad Evans who claimed to have taken it a bit too easy on the first stage of the day, otherwise they too had a trouble free day. Lee Ashberry and Ian Jones were only a handful of seconds behind Stokes but an old wrist injury and confidence after a roll last year held them back a little in their RS1800.
Tony Jardine belied his years with a stunning run in his Hillman Avenger, his many years of experience allowing him to wring the best out of the car. A few seconds behind him were Bob Gibbons and Jon Harris in the Physio Joint RS1600, self-inflicted tyre issues in the morning slowed progress but he bit the bullet at lunchtime service and fitted new for the afternoon.
Stuart Anderson brought out his very nice Vauxhall Chevette HS to bring variety to the series and was mentoring a new co-driver in the shape of Adam Houston who had never read pace notes in his life before this event! Despite a few blips they made it to the finish and scored maximum D4 class points. Paul Holmes and Elizabeth Beesely also claimed maximum points in the D3 class but are concerned that they won’t get a run on the Rallynuts Stages due to being a reserve entry. It was great to see the Triumph TR7 V8 of Graham Thatcher and Tim Samuel out on the stages, the burbling beast a great sight. The car hadn’t been used since the Wyedean Rally last year and the pair were a little concerned before the start but persevered and will be the recipients of the Exol Oil award. Rounding off the Challenge crews were Bill Douglas and Dave Tearl in their Volvo 244GL, this pair epitomise clubman rallying and have a lot of fun in an unusual rally car.
Unfortunately two of our crews didn’t make the finish, the plus side being that they suffered relatively minor mechanical failures. Jonathan Brace and Paul Spooner were going well until their wiper motor burnt out on the Brace’s Bread RS1600. After a couple of dodgy moments they decided discretion was the better part of valour and elected to save the car for another day. John Morgan and Llinos Jones-Edwards hadn’t been in the wood for 20 years but their recently acquired fuel injected RS1800 suffered clutch failure in the afternoon spoiling what had been a highly enjoyable day.
A number of crews have entered the next Challenge round, the Rallynuts Stages with a few newcomers boosting the numbers for the mid Wales based event.
