........Team GMF Wyedean Forest Rally........

Gary Simpson. Andy Burton powering the iconic Peugeot Cosworth out of the Forest of Dean for the last time in 2011.

WHERE THERE’S A WILKES!

Darren Pinchin/Karen Watts. Wyedean 2011

Having won the 1400cc category on the Team GMF Wyedean Forest Rally for the past three years, Taunton driver Julian Wilkes will be first away from the Chepstow Racecourse start in his Vauxhall Nova VX190 at 8.00am on Saturday 11th February as he attempts to extend his record-breaking run of victories still further. With Will Rutherford co-driving, Wilkes heads a capacity entry of 180 cars and will be followed to the first of seven special stages, all of which are in the Forest of Dean, by the Proton Satria of defending 1400 Champions Darren Pinchin/Karen Watts.

There are over fifty 1400s and, once they are all on their way, the next batch of cars to start the event is the ‘Historics’. Graham Waite/Mike Reynolds (Volvo) and former MSA British Historic Champions Dessie Nutt/Geraldine McBride (Porsche 911) head the list which contains some very rapid Ford Escort MkIIs driven by, amongst others, Nick Elliott, Jason Lepley, Stuart Clarke and Peter Smith. Wyedean ‘veterans’ Theo Bengry/Les Forsbrook (Leominster) will also be out in their beautifully restored Opel Ascona 400. Oh, and did we mention that Adrian McNally, of event sponsors GMF Motor Factors, is co-driving for David Edwards in his Escort RS2000?

Whilst, as previously reported, Andy Burton will be missing from this year’s rally, the entry list contains a mouth-watering number of crew/car combinations such that any one of the top dozen could conceivably arrive back in Chepstow to be pronounced winners of the 2012 Wyedean Forest Rally! Steve Perez/Paul Spooner (Ford Focus WRC), who were victorious two years ago, start with No.1 on their doors, ahead of Hugh Hunter/Andy Marchbank whose ex Colin McRae Focus was replaced with a newer model towards the end of last season. Making it a Focus 1-2-3 (at least to start with!) are Charlie Payne/Craig Thorley, while the new pairing of Roger Chilman/Bryan Thomas are next in their Subaru Impreza WRC. The Top Six is completed by the Mitsubishi Lancers of David Wright/Michael Wilkinson & Shaun Gardener/Ben Innes.

The interest remains throughout the entire entry and, with upwards of a dozen classes to be fought over, every single crew will be giving their all from the moment they receive their start times.

A full Entry List (embargoed until Monday 6th February, please) & Spectator Information are circulated with this Press Release.

Note to journalists:

The Team GMF Wyedean Forest Rally Press Office will be situated at Piercefield Park, Chepstow Racecourse, and will be open at the following times :

Friday 10th February : 15.00 – 20.00/Saturday 11th February : from 07.30.

Further details from the Team GMF Wyedean Forest Rally Press Officer:

Andrew Haill
Tel: 0121 313 1416/07836 729549(m)/E-mail: andrew.haill@btconnect.com
to whom all applications for accreditation must be addressed.

The Pirelli MSA Welsh National Rally Championship 2012

Championship winners Alex Allingham/Mark Glennerster,
Wyedean 2011

The GMF Wyedean Forest Rally is the first round of the Pirelli MSA Welsh National Rally Championship, and 2012 promises to be another exciting season as we welcome a new title sponsor Pirelli. Championship organisors the Welsh Association of Motor Clubs are delighted that Pirelli one of the world’s best known brands has agreed to support one of the UK’s leading national championships.

The 2012 championship comprises of seven rounds run entirely on gravel roads, is made up of the Overall championship, Group N, Two-wheel drive and a Junior challenge together with 11 classes many types of vehicle are eligible. The points scoring system awards up to 22 drivers and co-drivers on each event, making for an exciting championship. A point not lost on last year’s contenders in what was to prove one of the closest finishes to the championship for many a year. For 2012 the class structure has been further adjusted to reward those entered in two wheel drive classes. And with invitations accepted by neighboring associations making it easier for more competitors to enjoy the classic forest roads in, Wales the home of rallying.

Juniors aged Under 23s have the opportunity to register in the Free Junior programme, supported by the Colin Mcrae Vision Charity and run in conjunction with the Scottish Rally championship this represents an excellent opportunity for any junior newcomer to the sport of rallying to develop their rally skills.

In 2011 the GMF Wyedean was contended by 34 Welsh crews with Hugh Hunter (Ruthin) taking maximum points from Roger Chilman (Hereford) and Tom Cave (Aberdyfi) who stormed through the opening stage. Tom went on to take the Welsh Junior title narrowly missing out on the overall title to Alex Allingham (Stalybridge). Can Alex make it 3 out of 3 in 2012? Registrations received so far are up on 2011, in class N4 and Class 10(B13) the battles are set to renew when the flag drops on the first stage.

The Wyedean can’t come soon enough.

Scot Mike Faulkner heads to Wyedean

Photo credit Linseysport.co.uk

We are delighted to confirm the BSW Timber Rally Team will commence their 2012 rally season on the GMF Wyedean Forest Rally round 1 on the REIS Get connected BTRDA Championship.

Mike Faulkner and Peter Foy will again use the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 they have campaigned successfully over the last 4 years .and will contest the event in preparation for the 2012 MSA Scottish Rally Championship.

Mike, from Kirtlebridge won the 2011 ProTune Remapping Merrick Stages Rally, round 7 of the Scottish Rally Championship and following a fantastic battle with Euan Thorburn finished third overall in the MSA Scottish Rally Championship.

The team will contest the GMF Wyedean Forest Rally on 11th February in preparation for round 1 of the SRC series the Snowman Rally the following weekend.
“I’m looking forward to the Wyedean, its 5 years since we rallied outside Scotland” said Mike “The event has over 10 WRC crews and we are under no illusion the competition will be tough.
This is very much a shakedown event and an opportunity to blow off the winter cobwebs, although we have a number of set up items we will try on the Wyedean in preparation for the Snowman.”
“The Scottish Series will again be competitive and we will need to work hard to secure a podium on the Snowman, we’ve had some great results in Scotland, the stages are fantastic and the competition will be tough,” continued Mike.

Mike and Peter are registering for the REIS Get Connected BTRDA Championship and the Scottish Series, the crew will contest their local event the Malcolm Wilson Rally round 2 of the BTRDA series.

The team are delighted with continued support from BSW Timber the largest sawmilling business in Great Britain BSW sawmills are located throughout the UK, at Fort William, Boat of Garten, Petersmuir, Dalbeattie, Carlisle and Newbridge-on-Wye in Wales. Group Headquarters remain in the town of Earlston in Berwickshire, where the business originated. Today the firm employs 900 people in the UK and Latvia, turnover is in excess of £163 million.

CATHCART RETURNS

After taking time out from rallying during 2011, Matthew Cathcart will make his return to the sport on the Team GMF Wyedean Forest Rally, using the event as a warm-up for a full assault on both the MSA British Rally Championship and the Fiesta Sport Trophy.

The young man from Northern Ireland will be partnered by MSA Team UK Member James Morgan, the current MSA Asphalt Rally Champion Co-driver, and their Ford Fiesta R2 will be run by the P&R Benn Rally Team from their premises in Cockermouth.

The crew are hoping to gain valuable experience in the car on the Wyedean and the set-up information they collect will stand them in good stead for the opening round of the BRC, the Bournemouth-based Rallye Sunseeker at the end of February.

IS CAVE ‘MAN-ENOUGH’?...

At just 19-years old, Tom Cave finished 7th overall on the 2011 Team GMF Wyedean Forest Rally in a Group N ‘production’ specification Mitsubishi Lancer EVOX. Using a variety of different cars, the Aberdovey driver went on to finish 4th overall in the BTRDA Rally Series last year and, with co-driver Craig Parry, claim a very hard-fought Production Cup at the end of the season.

For 2012, Tom returns to the Forest of Dean with a Subaru Impreza which, whilst not in World Rally Car trim, is certainly more powerful than his Lancer, giving him reasonable grounds for optimism for an improvement on last year’s Wyedean result.

Someone who graduated to a World Rally Car last year is Roger Chilman who finished a couple of places in front of Tom Cave last year. As the Herefordshire driver mounts an all-out assault on the 2012 BTRDA Rally Series, he has drafted the vastly-experienced Bryan Thomas into the co-driver’s seat of his Impreza. In an impressive career spanning the best part of three decades, Bryan has secured British Rally Championship crowns sitting alongside both Malcolm Wilson and Mark Higgins and, although he has never actually won the Wyedean, is no stranger to the stages used on the event.

Following in fathers footsteps.

Chris Ingram and the Twingo R2

Jon Ingram write's:- "I won the Wyedean in 2006 and what a fantastic event is was with patches of ice on ss1.
Anyway I have passed the baton onto my young son Chris who is just 17. He won the f1000 championship last year winning 6 rounds. He also competed on the Cambrian in the same lickle Citroen c1 and blitzed the class and beat all the 1400 rally first drivers as well.
He competed on the Grizedale Stages in December last year and was an unbelivable 12th overall again in a 1 litre car.

This year he is trying his hand in the BRC and will be driving a Renault Twingo 1600 R2."

WILL PEREZ GET A ‘KICK’ OUT OF WYEDEAN?...

Having been absent from the event last year, 2010 Team GMF Wyedean Forest Rally winner ‘Kick Energy’ driver Steve Perez has confirmed that he will be heading back to Chepstow on 11th February in an attempt to put his name on the trophy for a second time.

Perez will be partnered by Paul Spooner (Raglan) in his familiar Ford Focus WRC that was not only successful on the Wyedean, but went on to take the BTRDA Gold Star Rally Championship title, adding to the British Historic Rally Championship and MSA Gravel Championship titles already claimed by the Chesterfield driver in past years.

Fellow ‘Focus Group’ members Charlie Payne/Craig Thorley will be journeying down from Yorkshire with their particular example and they, too, have proven success at this level of motorsport. They won the Nicky Grist Quinton Stages Rally in July and missed out on runners-up spot in the 2011 BTRDA Rally Series by just one point after the final round in North Wales last October.

HUNTER’S NEW WEAPON!...

With more than a month still to go before the Team GMF Wyedean Forest Rally, entries have long since passed the 50-mark, giving the organisers, Forest of Dean Motor Club Ltd, a good indication of just how popular their event is going to be once again!

Nick Elliott/ Dave Price in 2011 in their Ford Escort.

Amongst the first to arrive was that of 2007 Wyedean winners Hugh Hunter & Andy Marchbank. Hunter, from Ruthin, has recently replaced his Ford Focus WRC, which took him to 3rd overall on last year’s rally, with a newer version and the intention is to mount an all-out assault on the REIS – Get Connected BTRDA Rally Series, of which the Wyedean is the opening round. Hunter and Marchbank took the BTRDA Gold Star Championship title in 2008 and are well aware of what will be required for a repeat performance this year, not least of which is putting the opposition on the back foot by knocking in some good scores early on!..

At this stage, just who that opposition will be remains a mystery but, rest assured, anyone making a serious attempt at a Championship will be present as it gets underway. As has already been well documented, following a change in vehicle regulations, 2011 Wyedean winner, and BTRDA Gold Star Champion, Andy Burton’s Peugeot Cosworth is no longer eligible to compete and, thus far, any plans the Kington driver may have for the new season are being kept firmly under wraps…

The popularity of the Historic category is on the increase, with former MSA British Historic Rally Champions Dessie Nutt and Geraldine McBride already committed to bring their Porsche 911 across from Northern Ireland and Cheltenham’s Nick Elliott/ Dave Price hoping to repeat their class win and two-wheel drive victory in 2011 in their Ford Escort.

Running at the front of the field, contenders for the 1400cc category always put on a good show and, to date, almost a third of the total entries received are from competitors in these ‘small-engined’ cars, with the MG ZR of Marlon Roberts/Steve Deeley being first out of the mailbag.

Looking forward to February 11th 2012

Will Andy Burton return to defend his title ?? The motorsport forums are alive with rumours and gossip.
Will Nic Elsmore enter and match the hat trick of wins achieved by his father Graham ?? He has a huge local following who will be cheering him on.

With our organisers there is no uncertainty, this will once again be a rally that sets the standards for the rest of the year.

Scrutineering will once again be under cover in Chepstow, no more standing around in the snow or rain at the racecourse.
The stages are in pristine condition, they are used only for the Wyedean, for the rest of the year only sheep herders and nature lovers in search of our wild boar will disturb the smooth tracks amongst the trees.
We will, as in previous years, be using the excellent facilities at Chepstow Racecourse for our Rally HQ. All documentation and the prize giving will take place there.

This website will be updated as new information becomes available.

The entry list for the Wyedean Forest Rally can cater for up to 180 cars and the event is a qualifying round of the following Championships & Series :-

REIS - Get Connected BTRDA Rally Series, incorporating
BTRDA Gold Star Rally Championship
BTRDA Silver Star Championship
BTRDA Historic Cup
Millers Oils 1400 Championship
MG ZR Challenge
BTRDA Rally First Forest Rally Championship
Swisher MSA English Rally Championship
Pirelli MSA Welsh National Rally Championship
Brian Dennis Motorsport Welsh Historic Rally Championship
ASWMC Loose Surface Stage Rally Championship
CMSG Stage Rally Championship in association with BP Motor Bodybuilders & Engineers.

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

Nearly 37 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 37 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.

Your Story.

Last year I posted here some write up's from various competing teams.

If you would like a brief write up included (with a picture) of how you are preparing for the Wyedean, or how you fared last year, .... well just drop me a email and I will include it.