Geoff Field.   Connor McCloskey and co-driver Francis Regan head to the podium.

WHEN IRISH EYES ARE SMILING!...

  Geoff Field.   Theo Bengry and Les Forsbrook win Class H4.

A blistering run through the final stage of the Team GMF Wyedean Forest Rally, Speech House, elevated Connor McCloskey and co-driver Francis Regan into the lead of the event just when it mattered! Competing in the Forest of Dean for the first time, the Ulstermen’s Subaru Impreza WRC arrived back at the Chepstow Racecourse finish seven seconds ahead of the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO9 of David Wright/Michael Wilkinson which, in turn, was three ahead of 2007 Wyedean winners Hugh Hunter/Andy Marchbank (Ford Focus WRC).

With just the run through Speech House to go, the timesheets showed Hunter to be in the lead from Euan Thorburn, with Wright third and McCloskey fourth. Mechanical problems with Thorburn’s Ford Focus WRC saw the Scotsman retire prior to the start of the final stage but, with only eleven seconds separating the top four drivers, an upset was definitely on the cards!...

Matt Edwards/Will Rogers took 4th in their Mitsubishi Lancer EVO9 while 2012 Team GMF Wyedean Forest Rally winners Charlie Payne/Craig Thorley (Ford Focus WRC) were 5th. The Top Six was rounded off by Luke Francis/John Roberts who also won a tightly-contested Group N ‘production’ battle in their Lancer EVO9.

The first two-wheel drive car home in the ‘Open’ category was the Ford Escort MkII of Will Onions/Dave Williams, while the similar machines of Theo Bengry/Les Forsbrook and Peter Smith/Patrick Walsh claimed the top two places in the Historic section.

For the fifth year running, Julian Wilkes and Will Rutherford-Child won the 1400cc category in their Vauxhall Nova VXR. Although not staging a repeat of their 2012 giant-killing performance which saw them finish 3rd overall on the snow-affected event, the West Country crew still dominated the category to the point that, by the end of the day, they were almost a minute ahead of the Ford Ka of Yorkshiremen Mat Smith/Giles Dykes whose own performance on what was their first visit to the area was, nevertheless, impressive. Third were former BTRDA Rally First champions David Bennett/Alistair McNeil in a Vauxhall Corsa.

Any chance of a good result for former 1400 champion Darren Pinchin and his co-driver Kaz Watts, from Coleford, disappeared when their Proton Satria slid off the road in Chepstow Park. The resultant delay pushed them down to 5th place in the category at the finish.

The ‘Wyedean’ is the only event in the year that utilises the tracks in the Forest of Dean and, although free of the snow and ice of last year, the stages were still very slippery. Retirements accounted for more than 40% of the original starters, but one crew who were denied the opportunity of starting the first stage were Graham Waite/Gill Cotton whose ‘Historic’ Volvo Amazon suffered a blown oil pipe prior to the start.

  Geoff Field.   Will Onions and Dave Williams win Class B12.

Team GMF Wyedean Forest Rally. Top 10 Overall 2013.

Download the full results here.

Thank You

The Wyedean Forest Rally is a huge undertaking for our motor club and would be impossible to run without a lot of help.
We would like to thank all those that helped, Marshals, Officials and Timing Crews, not forgetting the small army in Rally HQ that helped to make it all run smoothly.

We would also like to thank the local Police, Forestry Commission, Coleford Town Council and FOD District Council for all their support and assistance.

Without all this help and the goodwill of the local people none of this would be possible.

The Official Photographer.

Proofs will be sent out to all competitors.
Pictures may be ordered by contacting Mark Writtle on:- 01746 767929 or by emailing him at:- sales@writtlephotographic.co.uk
Or just click on the logo to visit his website.

Our Sponsor.

Once again GMF Motor Factors will be sponsoring the Wyedean. This is a local company with it's roots firmly in the Forest of Dean. They have provided much needed support in economic times which are far from favorable for any sponsor, for this the FODMC is grateful.
Please click on the logo and visit their website and check out the massive range of spares they carry

38 years old !

Frank Pierson and Jim Smith in 1975 win an award for the
highest recorded speed of 98mph on Spruce Ride,
They also took 3rd o/a.

The First Wyedean Stages was run in October 1975 and has run continuously since.
The entry fee was an eye watering £27.00, the winner, however, did collect a prize of a cheque for £40.00.
The winner of the first rally was Graham Elsmore in his Escort RS1600, who went on to win for a further two times to complete a hat trick.

A new website has been created by Neil Henderson to chronicle all motorsport events held in the Forest of Dean.
It is still early days for the website, but already Neil has uploaded a lot of information.

It is fascinating to see both competitors and officials who are still taking an active part in the Wyedean today, some 38 years later.

If you have any memorabilia you would like to share, I am sure Neil would be delighted to hear from you, just use the contact page on the Dean Rallies website.

You can visit this archive by clicking the logo at the start of this paragraph.

Results

  Wyedean 2013.

Event Officials.

Clerk of Course.
Phil Turley.
07831 406085
E-mail

Entries Secretary
Lilian Turley
Oakdene, 32 Park Road
Berry Hill, Coleford
Gloucestershire GL16 7QU
01594 810161, 07831 409 639
E-mail

Press Officer.
Andrew Haill
0121 313 1416
E-mail

Chief Marshal.
John & Sam Brain.
E-mail