Crews savour rally action as Powys hosts championship round

The 44-mile gravel event included classic stages in Myherin, Sarnau, Sweet Lamb and Hafren forests to test competitors to the limit.

Around 27 miles in Myherin featured roads not generally available for use to add another string to the bow for organisers.

The Rallynuts Stages Rally (formerly known as the Severn Valley Stages) is one of the most popular stage rallies in the UK and has a enviable heritage in the sport.

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Jason Pritchard and Phil Clarke in Rallynuts Stages Rally action. Picture by Bob Benyon.

The rally forms a round of the 2023 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship.

The rally was won by Arron Newby/Jamie Edwards in a Škoda Fabia R5 in a time of 0:43:54.

Andrew Burgess and Ian Tomley in Rallynuts Stages Rally action. Picture by Bob Benyon.

Elliot Payne/Tom Woodburn were second in Ford Fiesta Rally in 0:44:24 while championship leaders Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear were third in 0:44:25 in a Ford Fiesta R5.

Hirst’s third place finish ensured he extended his lead at the top of the championship to nine points with a total of 60 while Robert Gough leads the challenge with 51 points.

Jason Pritchard and Phil Clarke in Rallynuts Stages Rally action. Picture by Bob Benyon.

Powys interest was led by Builth Wells driver Jason Pritchard and co-driver Phil Clark who ended 13th overall in a Ford Escort RS1800 and third in class.

David Tomlin/Ian Beamond of Knighton were also in action and ended 32nd in a Ford Fiesta.

Presteigne’s Callum Griffiths and William Lewis were 36th in a Ford Fiesta ST while Epynt Motor Club colleagues Liam Griffiths and Daniel James ended 41st and first in the B10 class in a Ford Escort G3.

Andrew Stokes and Jonny Evans in action. Picture by Bob Benyon.

Newtown’s Jonny Evans co-drove with Andrew Stokes to end 49th in their Ford Escort Mk1.

Further down the field Brecon’s David Jones and Glyn Price ended 64th in a BMW E30 and Knighton’s Richard Manuel co-drive for Tom Phelps in a Ford Escort and ended 76th.

Brecon’s Charles Campbell and Sam Weller ended 96th in a Subaru Impreza while Newtown co-driver Ian Tomley teamed up with Andrew Burgess in a Land Rover Bowler Defender 90 to end 97th and third in class.

Andrew Stokes and Jonny Evans in action. Picture by Bob Benyon.

The third round of the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship is the Plains Rally in Bala on Saturday, May 20 and organised by Knutsford Motor Club.

The rally will contain a compact route of approximately 100 road and 44 stage miles.

Rallynuts Stages Rally winners Arron Newby and Jamie Edwards in action. Picture by Bob Benyon.

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