The 2025 HRCR Mini Cup series returned for its second visit to Epynt on the 27th/28th Sept for the Ynyscynon Tour of Epynt, as told by Kevin Hogan. As a double points scoring round, the rally had attracted no less than 9 Mini’s ready to tackle the challenging military ranges and saw some fierce and exciting battles developing, with positions constantly changing and never more than a few seconds between the top crews. The Triumph TR4 of Stephen Hall/Aggie Foster had also made the 10hr journey down from Scotland to join in the tussle for Category 1 honours.

Held over two days, the event started with scrutineering and a convoyed recce on the Saturday morning followed by 4 stages mid-afternoon and recommencing on Sunday morning for a further 4 stages. Most of the Mini contingent had taken advantage of the extra scrutineering on the Friday evening and so were all out early on the Saturday morning for the convoyed recce. Thus leaving plenty of time before the afternoon start for car fettling and banter with the author who had tried booking into the wrong Hotel!

Rain had been forecast for the Saturday but despite the dark clouds the day stayed dry.

First to show on the leader board were Andrew O’Hanlon/Kevin Hogan and after the first loop of 2 stages they held a 3 second lead over Clive King/Anton Bird with Epynt maestros Ken Pryce/Don James a further 3 secs back and Shane Gamble, with new co-driver Danielle Cooper reading the notes, 4 seconds behind. This set the tone for the event with these four crews fighting hard and never more than a few seconds apart over the two days.

Most crews had got round the first loop without too much drama, although the Mini of Eric Davis/Russell Joseph was forced out after initially suffering ignition problems on the first stage which was then compounded by a slipping clutch and the car was retired. Eric/Russell seem to have had more than their fair share of bad luck in terms of finishing but will hopefully have the car sorted and out on the Wyedean to maintain Eric’s record of competing in every one!

The second loop of stages saw King/Bird on a serious charge and ended the Saturday with top honours some 16 seconds in front of O’Hanlon/Hogan who were just 1 second in front of Gamble/Cooper with Pryce/James 7 secs behind in 4th place.  Thomas Welsby/Amy Mellin finished in 5th place just 1 second in front of Craig King with Bob Ward now on the notes. Harvey Stevens/Craig Hardiman were next up followed by Paul and Jemma Taylor, who were being plagued with a vibration on the front of the car. Hall/Foster had few issues, were making the most of the superb handling of the TR4, setting some very impressive times and leading the category by 44 seconds from King/Bird and Gamble/Cooper.

Sunday was forecast to be dry and sunny, however, overnight rain had left the roads damp but drying, just ready to catch the unwary. This was the case for most of the Mini’s, all reporting some ‘twitchy’ moments on the first stage of the day where damp patches remained. The format for the Sunday was 4 long stages (@13+miles) using most of the classic Epynt roads with a return to service after each stage. During Saturday, Gamble had been having gear selection problems and checking on Sunday morning, a clutch push-rod problem was spotted by O’Hanlon and once resolved there were no further problems.

The battle at the front continued to rage and on stage 5, King/Bird found a big hole on the inside of a grass triangle and managed to break the bolt holding the steering arm, making for some interesting handling and some time lost. This let Gamble/Cooper into the lead by just 2 seconds, O’Hanlon/Hogan a further 6 seconds back and Pryce/James another 7 seconds down and beginning to feel the pace that these “youngsters” were setting. Back at service, King/Bird set about replacing the damaged hub, only to find their only spare was for the wrong side – fortunately, Gamble came to the rescue, with the loan of the correct item. A tricky job in a muddy service area but it was completed in record time and they were out just on their minute. Welsby/Mellin had a fuel issue taking a maximum on stages 5 and 6. Stevens/Hardiman had an oil leak which turned out to be a broken Oil Pressure switch on the engine block and changed this before any damage was caused. Hall/Foster, meanwhile had come valiantly to the rescue of a hapless BMW crew who had slid off one of the forest link roads on the way to stage 5, using the power of the Triumph to pull the car out of the ditch !

Stage 6 was a repeat of stage 5 and there was no let up in pace at the front, the flat crests on the “new road” testing the bravery of the crews to the full. Gamble/Cooper extended their lead to 5 seconds, O’Hanlon/Hogan closing to within 2 seconds of King/Bird and Pryce/James now 15 seconds further back. Most crews reported no further problems at this stage although Taylor/Taylor found the source of their vibration was a missing UJ nut which was duly replaced. Stevens/Hardiman made some adjustments to their clutch as they too had been having problems selecting 3rd gear.

Stages 7 and 8 were the reverse of 5 and 6 and on the first of these King/Bird were making a determined push, taking some 12 seconds back from Gamble/Cooper who were now only 5 seconds in front of O’Hanlon/Hogan.  Back at service, King found a leaking gasket on the water-pump but had little option other than to top everything up and hope for the best, no question of driving for a finish. O’Hanlon had began to suffer heavy brake judder on the stage, all was checked over but nothing found, a warped disc or faulty brake pad being suspected. Another crew with brake issues were Hall/Foster who had bedded-in new brakes but felt the speeds over Epynt had probably worn them out again!  Welsby/Mellin had returned to the fray on this stage but with a bad misfire, decided to retire the car.

Last stage and all was still to play for – there would be no cruising to the finish, however, the status quo prevailed. Despite matching King/Bird on stage time, Gamble/Cooper couldn’t close the gap and finished 2nd Mini Cup crew. O’Hanlon/Hogan were 3rd, still suffering with brake issues and dropping 10 secs to the top pair with Price/James a further 31 seconds behind in 4th spot. Craig King/Bob Ward finished in 5th place with Stevens/Hardiman 6th and Paul and Jemma Taylor 7th.  The Category 1 series leaders, Hall/Foster had a fairly untroubled run, the long journey down being rewarded with a class win, the TR handling superbly and revelling over the smooth tarmac stages.

It had been a superb event, well organised and marshalled and enjoyed by all of the Mini Crews (and a TR4 crew!). The weather had been kind all weekend and the pace at the front was unrelenting, drivers stating that there was nothing left to give from car or crew. This was a tough event on the cars and it is a great credit to all that 7 out of the 9 Mini’s finished so strongly.