A SENSATIONAL line up of 130 crews will head for Newtown this weekend as the revised Phil Price Memorial Woodpecker Rally takes place across some of the most famous forest stages in the world.

Traditionally offering stages in the English Marches, the Woodpecker Rally has been forced to relocate for 2024 due to the unavailability of some of the forests. 

However, now on the billing is an exciting ensemble of world-famous stages in the heart of Wales, such as Hafren, Sweet Lamb and Ceri.

OTHER NEWS: 

First run in 1983, the rally will be supported for a third year by Presteigne Tyre Services and Phil Price Rally School and the Sixty and Worcestershire Motor Club event will now enjoy its home at the Britpart facility on the outskirts of Newtown. 

Fans will be able to witness the pre-event checks on Friday at the Britpart facility in Newtown from 3.30pm with free entry and start on Saturday from 8.30am.

The Britpart Ceri test offers the first opportunity to see the cars flat out, at 8:59am on Saturday and 1.28pm for a repeat run. 

The Xlerate Sweet Lamb test is a fan favourite and offers prime viewing at the Sweet Lamb Complex just outside of Llanidloes at 11:17am and 3:47pm on Saturday before returning to the Newtown finish just before 5pm.

The event was renamed in 2022 in memory of the highly regarded rally driver and coach Phil Price, who sadly passed away in 2021 and will once again welcome a variety of top-line championships, including the Fuchs Lubricants British Historic Rally Championship, the Protyre BTRDA Rally Series, Pirelli Motorsport UK Welsh Rally Championship, Reis Motorsport Insurance UK English Rally Championship, TCS Plant Rally Challenge, ANWCC Forest Stage Rally Championship and HRCR West Wales rally Spares Stage Masters Rally Challenge.