2025 British & Irish Championships

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Motor Sport (North West) Limited Announces Postponement of North West Stages Rally Event.

Motor Sport (North West) Limited hereby announce that the next running of the North West Stages rally, originally scheduled for March 2026, has been postponed to a future date, likely March 2027.

This difficult decision was made by the Directors of Motorsport North West after careful consideration. The primary motivation is to ensure that the organising committee has the time, resources, and financial backing required to deliver an event of the highest possible standard—something both competitors and spectators have come to expect from the North West Stages.

In addition, Motor Sport (North West) Limited is committed to working collaboratively with the organisers of the new closed-road rally event in Yorkshire. By moving to a biannual format, both events will be better placed to share valuable volunteer resources and avoid unnecessary strain on the motorsport community.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Closed road rallying comes to the Yorkshire Dales !

https://www.northallertonautoclub.co.uk/post/closed-road-rallying-comes-to-the-yorkshire-dales

[Sal yet again]

https://yourherefordshire.co.uk/all/news/breaking-news-hills-ford-stages-rally-2025-cancelled-with-organisers-sharing-disappointment-at-communication-with-herefordshire-council/#google_vignette

Not so great news for another closed road event...

[HKSjbg]

Kind of surprising given this event is pretty well established now. Though not surprising given how out of touch some Herefordian residents can be.

Pretty much every country road in the county is being, or has already been, torn up and repaved his summer so it’s a shame none of them will be used!

[AndyRAC]

I just find it utterly depressing; not helped by a biased Councillor causing trouble........

Though, as I've often said, we left the 'closed roads' too late in this country - should have been done 15-20 years ago. Anti-motorsport/ pro green has grown in that period........

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Very nice to see Will Creighton and Mez Evans on the Nicky Grist Stages.

Mez is still not so fast though and only sitting 3rd after the morning. He really should be getting to grips with the Yaris by now.

[Steve Boyd]

Mez is still not so fast though and only sitting 3rd after the morning. He really should be getting to grips with the Yaris by now.He performed better (compared with Creighton) in the afternoon loop where the start intervals for the leading 4WD cars was changed to 2 minutes. It would have been difficult to do this for the morning loop because the number of starters would have left little time to clear the stages before the second runs.
He may also not like the heat - it was over 30 degrees where I was between SS3/7 and SS4/8!

[Fast Eddie WRC]

He performed better (compared with Creighton) in the afternoon loop where the start intervals for the leading 4WD cars was changed to 2 minutes. It would have been difficult to do this for the morning loop because the number of starters would have left little time to clear the stages before the second runs.
He may also not like the heat - it was over 30 degrees where I was between SS3/7 and SS4/8!

Yeah I saw he was better on the second loop, but the damage was already done.

Edit:
Maybe I was a bit harsh, reading this which states he had a spin and a puncture. He thinks he's finally learning how to be fast on gravel...

https://britishrallychampionship.co.uk/nicky-grist-stages-one-two-for-castrol-mem-rally-team-as-squad-prepares-for-brc-gravel-return/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR4nb_zWOO4eAI-HH8TThWFC441TYHgcXeSXMkDd0XbKjWWubRPNhuo9p1buiw_ae m_z9SNJr1I6n3aV2grs29WTg

I'll reserve judgement until after the Grampian.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Grampian entries:

https://www.rallies.info/webentry/2025/grampian/entries.php?type=u

Nice to see Jonny Greer bringing his Yaris Rally2 to a gravel rally.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Surprised to see that Osian Pryce has an entry in for the Ulster Rally in a Hyundai i20 Rally2.

[satnav]

Just looking at the Final results for the Grampian and Calum and Romet have the same time, the regs state that a tie will be decided by the final stage time and so on, Romet had the quickest time on the final stage so surely he should have been 5th and not 6th .....

NCR 13.13.14.3 - Ties will be decided by the least penalty incurred on the FINAL Special Stage of
the event. Should this also involve a tie then the penultimate stage penalties and so on, in reverse
order of running, will apply.

[Steve Boyd]

Just looking at the Final results for the Grampian and Calum and Romet have the same time, the regs state that a tie will be decided by the final stage time and so on, Romet had the quickest time on the final stage so surely he should have been 5th and not 6th .....

NCR 13.13.14.3 - Ties will be decided by the least penalty incurred on the FINAL Special Stage of
the event. Should this also involve a tie then the penultimate stage penalties and so on, in reverse
order of running, will apply.That regulation was revised in Bulletin 1 (https://app-cdn.sportity.com/13b81209-838e-4e23-a9ec-22689dbd1bbc/422f99c1-c372-4a5a-9fd5-118e040a0f34_VGFR%20Bulletin%201%20&%20Final%20Instructions.pdf) to revert to the normal method of deciding ties by fastest on the first stage &c.

No idea why they chose what they said in the regulations or why they changed it, but the results software writer may well have been saved some work by the change!

[Fast Eddie WRC]

He thinks he's finally learning how to be fast on gravel.

I'll reserve judgement until after the Grampian.

So... I cant say 3rd place was particularly impressive by Evans. To be well off his teammate from the very start and to finish behind young Max McRae was pretty poor. He even dropped behind him for a better road position and still didnt go faster !

All credit to Creighton who dominated despite opening the road. And to McRae for good consistent pace and no mistakes.

It was a big shame that Jurgenson had an engine problem on Friday evening and then a puncture on Saturday morning. He was the only one who couldve fought Creighton for the win.

[saco0o]

everytime i see this Garry Pearson dark fiesta i get the impression it has a different body kit from the rest of the fiestas out there. idk why

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Surprised to see that Osian Pryce has an entry in for the Ulster Rally in a Hyundai i20 Rally2.

He's actually got a 2-event deal with the Irish team... the second being at home at Rally Ceredigion !

[Fast Eddie WRC]

4 Stage wins so far in Ulster for Osian Pryce. Great to see someone keeping Callum Devine honest.

[archie106]

https://www.rallynorthwales.co.uk/get-jerky-rally-north-wales-looks-ahead-with-2026-return-to-welshpool/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwMQbCNjbGNrAxBsIGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEe o9nspYitJrln81kpwksTqICK9I_wlP6WJtLEvtwvcsX1bh7cys rbiTyyd2M_aem_pKdQpcy7jG44Iqk-zXkRzg

New forestry sounds interesting, wonder if it's an entirely new plantation that they are using or just a few new roads! (Or simply a stage which hasn't been used in a few years)

[Steve Boyd]

https://www.rallynorthwales.co.uk/get-jerky-rally-north-wales-looks-ahead-with-2026-return-to-welshpool/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwMQbCNjbGNrAxBsIGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEe o9nspYitJrln81kpwksTqICK9I_wlP6WJtLEvtwvcsX1bh7cys rbiTyyd2M_aem_pKdQpcy7jG44Iqk-zXkRzg

New forestry sounds interesting, wonder if it's an entirely new plantation that they are using or just a few new roads! (Or simply a stage which hasn't been used in a few years)There's a good sized plantation on Carnedd Wen to the south of the A458 between Foel (where they often pass through on the way to/from Dyfnant) and Mallwyd. I can't recall it ever being used so it would be good if that was to become available.

[Steve Boyd]

The organisers of the Trackrod Rally have announced that they're having to change their planned route because of the moorland fires near to Langdale forest.
https://www.rallyyorkshire.co.uk/route-change-for-trackrod-rally-yorkshire-due-to-moorland-fires/

[Sal yet again]

Inevitable in light of the ongoing sad situation up at Langdale. Will be interesting to see which stage will now get the second run.

Looking ahead, the Malton in November relies on Langdale for two of its six stages so hopefully for all concerned the weather will change.

[archie106]

There's a good sized plantation on Carnedd Wen to the south of the A458 between Foel (where they often pass through on the way to/from Dyfnant) and Mallwyd. I can't recall it ever being used so it would be good if that was to become available.

That would be great, however my understanding is that it is a privately owned plantation, could be managed by NRW though? Could get a fairly long stage in there.

[Steve Boyd]

That would be great, however my understanding is that it is a privately owned plantation, could be managed by NRW though? Could get a fairly long stage in there.Private ownrship might not be a barrier to use if the owners were happy with a road re-instatement plan similar to the Rally4Wales scheme used on NRW plantations.
We'll just have to wait and see what's announced.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

I see Jon Armstrong has been drafted in to the M-Sport Team (BRC) for Rali Ceredigion.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Interesting to see how Garry Pearson goes after this...

'Recently heading out to France for coaching with former World Rally Championship driver Eric Camilli, Pearson has maximised his preparation as he bids to score important BRC points, and also help his M-Sport team-mate Jon Armstrong in the ERC.'

https://britishrallychampionship.co.uk/pearson-aiming-to-mix-it-in-ceredigion/

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Big time loss by Meirion Evans on Y Diafol this morning. Will Creighton should have the BRC Title in the bag now.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Armstrong leads but lucky to get away with this...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G0JesqyWAAAYtnN?format=jpg&name=medium

[archie106]

Hitting a bird and a gatepost in the same stage - just hoping no radiator damage. Fantastic time though, would have been a big stage win without the spin.