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Rallynuts Preview

The next round of the West Wales Rally Spares HRCR Stage Masters Challenge is the Rallynuts Stages and amongst their bumper entry we have 16 Challenge contenders out. There were 2 crews still on the reserve list as we went to press so hopefully they will get a run if there are some withdrawals.

Top seed and joint Challenge leaders Rudi Lancaster and Guy Weaver will be strong contenders again in their Woolacombe Bay RS1800. Rudi and Guy are determined to have a good crack at winning the Challenge this year but it will depend heavily on Rudi’s work commitments. Current title holder Baz Wheeler is next with usual co-driver John Pickavance followed by Rob Dennis, both in Escort RS1800s. Jonathan Brace and Paul Spooner have undoubtedly sourced a wiper motor since their RNW outing and will be keen to register more than their 5 starters points. Mike Simpson and Dale Gibbons join us for the first time this year, Mike’s son used the car on the AGBO Stages so Mike wasn’t allowed out on RNW! Andy Stokes and Jonny ‘Tad’ Evans grabbed good points last time out in their RS1600 when Brace retired but both were being beaten on the day by Bena & Steven Smith who were flying but are absent this weekend. Lee Ashberry will be hoping that he and Ian Jones can gain confidence after a good but steady run in north Wales in March, a bump last year and a niggling injury held them back a little. John Morgan and Llinos Jones-Edwards turned out a stunning fuel injected Escort on the last round and with a stable to choose from it will be interesting to see which car is out. Steve Ward and Phil Sandham are out again and will go well in their RS1800, they are out on a regular basis and have a wealth of experience. Hywel Davies has a stable of cars available too but appears to have opted for his un-arched pinto for this foray into the woods. Stuart Anderson will be continuing Adam Houston’s education in the fantastic Chevette HS as they look to take another maximum score in the D4 class. Paul Holmes and Elizabeth Beesely just need to finish in D3 to hoover up the points while Graham Thatcher and Tim Samuel will try to keep Anderson honest in their Triumph TR7 V8. Two more crews make their season debut, Jeremy Wells will have 2 cars at his disposal this year but has elected to start with his Mk2 Escort and Devonian Freddy Camp and Stephen Spears will be sampling BDA power as they steer their Mk1 Escort around the fine forests of mid Wales.

The rally is based in Builth Wells and Llandrindod Wells and uses Myherin, Sweetlamb and Hafren. Full spectator information is available on their website.