Preview of Round 5 : Nicky Grist Stages (11th July)
For the past three years, the highest-placed BTRDA-registered finishers on the Nicky Grist Stages, the fifth round of the 2026 Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series, have gone on to take the Gold Star crown! Matthew Hirst / Declan Dear (Fabia R2) were victorious last year while Elliot Payne (Fiesta Rally2) won the title in 2024 with Patrick Walsh and Tom Woodburn the previous year. As Hirst / Dear and Payne / Walsh head for Builth Wells, it is the latter who currently hold sway, having taken maximum Fuchs Lubricants Gold Star Championship points on each of the last three events.
                            The featured image (above) is Russ Thompson and Steve Link – Joint leaders of the Kingfisher Insurance Motorsport UK English Rally Championship

With four events – including the Nicky Grist – still to run, there is no call on the ‘fat lady’ to sing just yet but, should Payne / Walsh’s run of success continue, she’d be well advised to start rehearsing!  Hirst has one DNF on his scorecard but, with everyone’s five best scores from seven to count, there’s still time to mount a successful title defence. However, it has to be said that a ‘win’ here would help the job along considerably…
Following a string of good results – including 2nd O/A in Kielder, just three seconds behind the winners – Daniel Sigurðarson and Asta Sigurðadóttir (Fabia RS) currently occupy runners-up spot in the points, marginally ahead of a resurgent Russ Thompson and Steve Link in their Class 2 Fiesta. Alistair Ginley (Skoda RS), Dan O’Brien and Trevor Gamble / Chris Davies (both Fiesta Rally2s) have all seen the finish of each event so far, with their consistency rewarded with 4th, 5th and 6th places respectively.  2022 BTRDA Bronze Star Champions Pete Gorst and Mark Twiname have swopped their all-conquering Nova for a Lancer EVO9 and are Thompson / Link’s closest challengers in Class 2. Fellow Mitsubishi pilots Pat Naylor / Tom Bishop & Geoff Smith / Joe Dunn each have one DNF but, as mentioned before, there’s still plenty of time for them to recoup their losses.

Having led both the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Silver Star® Championship and the BTRDA Historic Cup in the early stages of the season, Baz Jordan and Arwel Jenkins’ (Galant VR4) absence from the Plains Rally allowed Rian Walker / Paul Gribben (Adam R2) and Steve ‘Korky’ Ward / John Millington (Escort Mk2) to overhaul them in the Silver Star table and the latter to assume command of the Historics.

<<<   Rian Walker/Paul Gribben (Adam R2) – BTRDA Silver Star and Rallye R2 Cup Leaders

2015 Silver Star Champion – and runner-up by a single point in 2023! – Boyd Kershaw and co-driver Keegan Rees (Escort Mk2) started their campaign with a retirement on Rally North Wales. Notwithstanding, ‘wins’ on both the subsequent Kielder Forest and Plains Rallies have catapulted the ‘Flying Kiwi’ into 3rd place from only two scores! Meanwhile, long-term absentee Max Utting (Fiesta ST150), who returned for the Plains and came away with 2nd place points, also features in the strong field….
Ben Jemison /  Adam Burkill (Chevette HSR) took top BTRDA Historic Cup honours last time out but a non-finish in Kielder is currently holding them back. Similarly, Bryan Jardine’s Escort – runner-up to Jordan’s Galant on both Rally North Wales and Kielder – spat its dummy out on the Plains and, hence, an element of catching-up is now required…

Rian Walker / Paul Gribben (Adam R2) lead both the BTRDA Rallye R2 & R2 Junior Cups but the similar car of Oliver Phillips / Barry Young, which beat them on Rally North Wales before retiring in Kielder and subsequently missing the Plains, and Michael Jenkins (Fiesta), the ‘winner’ last time out, will both be present in Builth Wells as they all attempt to further their respective claims to the title.
While defending Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Bronze Star® Champions, Dylan Fowler-Bishop and Dan Evans (Micra) missed the Kielder Forest Rally and title winners in 2023/24, Nigel & Kaz Jenkins (Nova), didn’t begin their current campaign until the Plains, Luke Watts / Matt Rogers (MG ZR) have been quietly going about their business. Aided, in no small way, by a maximum score in Kielder, they start the Nicky Grist as Bronze Star leaders and it’s not unreasonable to assume that they’d still like to be in that position at the end of the day. Indeed, as the only crew in the category to have, thus far, maintained a 100% finishing record, another one would virtually guarantee their wish!…

                                             Luke Watts / Matt Rogers (MG ZR) – Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Bronze Star Championship Leaders >>>

Dale Glover / David Smalley (Alfasud TI) opened their scoring on the Plains but, having retired from the same event, Ed James / Kevin Lane (Micra Kit Car) would now like to move forward in similar fashion!

The Kingfisher Insurance Motorsport UK English Rally Championship makes a cross-border sortie on this occasion to include the Nicky Grist Stages and give joint leaders of the drivers table, Russ Thompson (Fiesta) and Elliot Payne (Fiesta Rally2) another chance to assert their authority and claim top spot for themselves. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting once more that, should anything go awry with either of their respective challenges, the scoring is currently so close that maximum points from any of the next 16 drivers in the table would considerably alter the leaderboard’s perspective! This is especially relevant to those at the tail end of the cluster – Baz Jordan (Galant VR4), Dylan Fowler-Bishop (Micra) and Max Utting (Fiesta ST 150) have each registered one maximum score and one ‘did not start’. As they all feature in the Nicky Grist entry list, should any / all of them finish the day with another ‘first in class’, they’ll then have a couple of months to prepare themselves for the second half of the season which culminates on the Grizedale Stages in early December.

<<<  Baz Jordan / Arwel Jenkins (Mitsubishi Galant VR4)

SPECTATORS: The first car leaves the start in Builth Wells at 8.30am on Saturday 11th July and, having completed eight stages totalling 44 miles, is due to return at 3.30pm. Full details can be found at : http://www.nickygriststages.co.uk/spectators/

All photos © Kevin Money / Malcolm Almond
Further information on the 2026 Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series: www.btrdarally.com

AH

Preview of Round 4 : Plains Rally (13th June)
Knutsford & District MC’s Plains Rally – an event steeped in history – returns to both the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series and the Kingfisher Insurance Motorsport UK English Rally Championship this year. Starting out in the early 1960s as a road event and taking crews over the Cheshire Plains – hence the name – it was a qualifying round of the legendary Motoring News Road Rally Championship from 1968 before moving to the forests in 1976. The last time it featured in the BTRDA Rally Series (2019), it was won by Euan Thorburn / Paul Beaton on their way to becoming Gold Star Champions that year.
So, fast forward to 2026 and Elliot Payne and Patrick Walsh (Fiesta Rally2) arrive in Bala for the pre-event formalities as Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Gold Star® Rally Championship leaders. Whether they are still in that hallowed position by the end of the day will be determined by a number of factors and not just purely on their own performance – although it can’t be denied that a good result would put them in the ‘pound seats’!

                                   Featured image above is Elliot Payne / Patrick Walsh (Fiesta Rally2) – Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Gold Star Rally Championship Leaders

Having retired last time out on the Kielder Forest Rally, defending Gold Star Champion Matthew Hirst (Fabia Rally2) is reunited with his winning co-driver from last year, Declan Dear, for the Plains but, as the current Top Six drivers in the points table will all be present, the pair have some catching-up to do!  Daniel Sigurðarson / Asta Sigurðadóttir (Fabia RS) were 2nd in Kielder and hold the same position in the table, one point ahead of Russ Thompson / Steve Link (Fiesta), with Alistair Ginley (Skoda RS), Dan O’Brien (Fiesta Rally2) and Pat Naylor / Tom Bishop (Lancer EVO9) all conveniently placed to push their campaigns forward.
Joining Hirst with just one score to their names so far are Liam Clark / Michael Gilbey (Fiesta Rally2) and Ian Bainbridge / Andrew Roughead (Fabia Rally2). With five out of a possible seven scores to count, these three crews still have some wriggle-room but another DNF would result in a requirement for ‘no-fault’ rallying for the remainder of the season if their campaigns are to be deemed successes….
Baz Jordan / Arwel Jenkins’ perseverance with their Mitsubishi Galant is paying off, both in terms of the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Silver Star Rally Championship and BTRDA Historic Cup. Their nearest challenger in each category is the Escort of Bryan Jardine, while Rian Walker / Paul Gribben (Opel Adam R2) are upholding front-wheel drive honours which also sees them ahead of Michael Jenkins (Fiesta R2) in the race for the BTRDA Rallye R2 Cup.

  <<<<<  Baz Jordan/Arwel Jenkins (Galant) – BTRDA Silver Star & Historic Cup Leaders

Boyd Kershaw and Keegan Rees (Escort Mk2) took top Silver Star honours last time out but that came on top of a DNF on Rally North Wales. Such is the strength of the competition that the top eight cars in the points table have all finished both events so far, leaving the ‘Flying Kiwi’ down in 9th place. Hence, with plenty of scope for improvement and the pair’s proven speed, this must be viewed in terms of a ‘work-in-progress’… Nick Dobson / Phil Sandham’s Escort Mk2 leads Class 6 and is currently just shy of a podium place in Silver Star while Steve ‘Korky’ Ward / John Millington’s Historic spec. version is 5th. Ben Jemison / Adam Burkill started strongly in their quest for BTRDA Historic Cup honours but then their Chevette HSR waited until the final stage in Kielder before throwing its toys out of the pram. So, a reset is now required – not to mention a good result!…

Having opened the season with a ‘win’, defending Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Bronze Star Rally Champions, Dylan Fowler-Bishop / Dan Evans (Micra), missed the last round but now return to an event that they contested last year, even though it wasn’t a Championship qualifier. However, with the benefit of hindsight (which is always 20/20!), they’d probably have been better staying at home as they rolled into retirement on the opening stage!
Moving swiftly on, Luke Watts / Matt Rogers (MG ZR) currently hold sway in the Bronze Star points table but into the mix this time we also find Ed James / Kevin Lane (Micra Kit Car), Dave & Freddy Brick (Nova) and Dale Glover / David Smalley (Alfasud TI). Giles Armitage / Josh Rhodes (Peugeot 205) took a well-deserved maximum in the BTRDA Rally First Cup in Kielder and more of the same would be much appreciated by all concerned.
                                                     Luke Watts/Matt Rogers (MG ZR) – Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Bronze Star Championship Leaders   >>>>>

Following the Kielder Forest Rally, the Kingfisher Insurance Motorsport UK English Rally Championship has three joint leaders, i.e. all those who scored maximum points in their respective classes. So far, so good, then, for Elliot Payne (Fiesta Rally2), Russ Thompson (Fiesta) and Baz Jordan (Galant)…. However, the job gets even tougher now for each of them as repeat performances are required to maintain their positions as ‘Kings of the Castle’!  With the top fifteen drivers currently separated by a mere four points, major changes can be expected in the look of the leaderboard throughout the season. At this stage, it’s still perfectly possible for someone to rise up through the ranks, casting the early runners aside as they do so!

<<<<<  Russ Thompson/Steve Link (Fiesta) – Joint Leaders of the Kingfisher Insurance English Rally Championship

The Plains Rally features ten special stages, totalling 43 miles, and the first car leaves the start in Bala at 08.00 on Saturday 13th June, returning there for the finish from 16.30.
Full details of the Plains Rally : www.plainsrally.co.uk
All photos © Kevin Money & Malcolm Almond.
Further information on the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series : www.btrdarally.com
& Kingfisher Insurance MSUK English Rally Championship : www.englishrally.co.uk

Missing from the calendar last year, the Kielder Forest Rally returns to both the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series and Kingfisher Insurance Motorsport UK English Rally Championship on 18th April. The event is based at Hexham Auction Mart which hosts the start, finish and service area.

The 2026 Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Gold Star® Rally Championship began on Rally North Wales at the end of March and, as a direct result of their efforts, Elliot Payne and Patrick Walsh (Fiesta Rally2) arrive in the north-east as leaders, followed by defending champion Matthew Hirst, now with Jack Bowen for company in his Fabia R5. The records show that Hirst won the event in 2023/24 while Payne held the upper hand in 2022…

                                    Feature image (above) is Elliot Payne/Patrick Walsh (Fiesta Rally2) – 2026 Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Gold Star Championship Leaders

Also intent on pursuing their Gold Star aspirations which began in North Wales are Alex Vassallo / Chris Lees (Fiesta Rally2) and Daniel Sigurðarson & Asta Sigurðadóttir (Fabia RS), while the newly-formed partnership of Liam Clark / Michael Gilbey (Fiesta Rally2) starts Round 3 on equal points with Russ Thompson / Steve Link who have transferred the running gear from their previously successful Lancer EVO9 into a Fiesta bodyshell. A class win, finishing ahead of those still faithful to the Mitsubishi marque – Geoff Smith / Joe Dunn, Pete Gorst / Mark Twiname and Pat Naylor / Tom Bishop – will have given the 2024 Gold Star runners-up considerable encouragement after the disaster that was last year…

<<< Russ Thompson / Steve Link

Alistair Ginley (Skoda RS) and Dan O’Brien / Niall Burns (Fiesta Rally2), who have already opened their accounts, will be looking for the opportunity to push on while Daniel Hiorns / Rob Fagg (Fiesta S2000T), 2nd Gold Star finishers on last year’s Grizedale Stages, rejoin the race for the first time this season.

As far as the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Silver Star Rally Championship is concerned, Baz Jordan / Arwel Jenkins (Mitsubishi Galant) rule the roost after Rally North Wales, but Bryan Jardine (Escort Mk2), Ben Jemison / Adam Burkill (Chevette HSR) and Oliver Phillips (Opel Adam), who has secured the services of defending Silver Star Champion Co-driver Rhys Edwards, will all be hoping that the leaders’ time in the spotlight is short-lived!

                                                                                                                                             .Oliver Phillips (Opel Adam R2) >>>>>>

Having registered a ‘failure to agree’ on Rally North Wales, Boyd Kershaw / Keegan Rees and their Escort Mk2 will be hoping for better things in Kielder and an opportunity to open their respective accounts. Those in similar cars who have already jumped that hurdle include Steve ‘Korky’ Ward / John Millington and David Dobson / Phil Sandham.

Jordan and Jenkins’ success on the opening round also sees them at the top of the BTRDA Historic Cup charts but, to name a few, Jardine, Jemison and Ward will have the leaders very much in their sights as the season progresses!
Tony Simpson took maximum BTRDA Rallye R2 Cup points in North Wales but his absence from the Kielder Forest Stages line-up opens the way for the Opel Adams of Phillips / Edwards & Rian Walker  / Paul Gribben and Michael Jenkins’ Fiesta to advance their cause.

After the first round of the Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Bronze Star® Rally Championship, the leader board has a familiar look to it in that defending champions Dylan Fowler-Bishop / Dan Evans (Micra) began 2026 where they left off at the end of last season – with a maximum points score. Luke Watts / Matt Rogers (MG ZR) are their nearest rivals, with Geraint Williams / Ifan Rowlands (Nova) in 3rd.

<<<<<<  Dylan Fowler-Bishop/Dan Evans (Micra) – Fuchs Lubricants BTRDA Bronze Star Championship Leaders

Rally North Wales wasn’t kind to BTRDA Bronze Star contenders, a number of whom retired during the day. However, it’s good to see that Dave & Freddy Brick (Nova), Dale Glover / David Smalley (Alfasud Ti) and Giles Armitage / Josh Rhodes (Peugeot 205) have all dusted themselves down and are back for more!

Once again suffering a delayed start due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control, the Kingfisher Insurance Motorsport UK English Rally Championship begins in Kielder. All BTRDA-registered crews are automatically eligible to score points in the class-based series such that, following the opening encounter, there are always several joint leaders, i.e. all those who have scored maximum points in their particular class, of which there are seven! It’s only as the season progresses that further success will begin to separate the men / women from the boys / girls!…
2025 Champion Lewis Hooper (Fiesta R2) is not defending his title and, thus, the way is open for a new name to join, for example, his, Elliot Payne (Fiesta Rally2) in 2024 and Ernie Graham (MkI Escort RS1600) the previous year. At the same time, the brief list graphically illustrates the variety of vehicles in which it’s possible to add a Motorsport UK-titled Championship to your CV!…

                                                                          .Ernie Graham (MkI Escort RS1600) 2023 Motorsport UK English Rally Champion >>>>

The Kielder Forest Rally offers 43 miles of special stages in a total route of under 140. The first car leaves the start at Hexham Auction Mart at 09.00 on Saturday 18th April and is due back at the finish at 16.30.   Full details of the Kielder Forest Rally : www.kielderforestrally.co.uk
All photos © Kevin Money & Malcolm Almond

Further information on the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series : www.btrdarally.com
& Kingfisher Insurance MSUK English Rally Championship : www.englishrally.co.uk

Unfortunately, shortly after the regulations for the 2026 Kingfisher Insurance Motorsport UK English Rally Championship and the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series had been published, it was announced that, due to insurmountable problems with the proposed route, the organisers of the Malcolm Wilson Rally – the opening round of both Championships – had been forced to cancel the upcoming event.

The featured image above is of Lewis Hooper and Rhys Edwards, the 2025 Kingfisher Insurance Motorsport UK English Rallly Champions in action on the Grizedale Stages. 

Since that time discussions had been taking place as to the possibility of adding another qualifying round to the calendar later in the season but, with no positive outcome in sight, the decision was taken to revert to a seven-round BTRDA Rally Series (best five scores to count), while the English Rally Championship will be won and lost over six events – also best five to count.

So, the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series will now start in Welshpool on 28th March with Rally North Wales, while Kingfisher Insurance Motorsport UK English Rally Championship contenders – automatically eligible through their BTRDA membership – set out on the Kielder Forest Rally, based in Hexham, on 18th April. Meanwhile, the remainder of the calendars remain as previously published and, to end the season, a rapid run through the Lake District on the Grizedale Stages (5th December) will provide answers to any remaining questions relating to either Championship at that point!