News
© Images by Simon Clarke Photography
October 18, 2011
Challenging end to the BTRDA season
The 56th running of the North Wales Car Club (NWCC) Cambrian Rally attracted over 120 crews from throughout Britain along with French rally driver Laurent Fouques.
Heavy rain throughout the week leading up to the rally and on the day of the event meant muddy and slippery conditions in the classic forestry stages of Penmachno, Clocaenog and Alwen. Of the cars that started, over a quarter never reached the finishing line at Llandudno and those that did had enduring tales of adventure to tell.
Rally favourite and 2011 BTRDA Gold Star Champion Andrew Burton blew the engine of his hybrid Peugeot Cosworth on SS2 and retired from the event along with the 2010 Cambrian winner, Steve Perez when his Lancia Stratos suffered with gearbox failure on SS1, the Penmachno stages claiming some big scalps.
Ludlow based Shaun Gardener, co-driven by Ben Innes in the TNT Tyres (Ludlow) Ltd Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5/9 won the event by just 9 seconds after a titanic battle with Aberdyfi based Tom Cave in a World Rally Car, the Mitsubishi Lancer WRC, the pair setting the same times on several stages or at worst being only within a handful of seconds of each other.
A puncture on the first stage in Penmachno and then catching a car on the Orme stage cost 19 year old Cave valuable seconds, the youngster having to settle for 2nd place honours overall, but taking the WRC class win on the event.
27 year old Llandudno based Millers Oils Rising Star driver, Matt Edwards co-driven by Sam Collis of Chesterfield took Neville Jones’ Vulcan Industrial Fasteners Ltd Subaru Impreza to a commanding 4th place overall and 2nd in class following a late hire deal organised through Geoff Jones Motorsport.
Back behind the wheel of a four-wheel drive rally car for only the third time since 2008, Edwards said “The hatch back version of the car takes a bit of getting used to and we took a while to find our feet. The conditions out there were the slipperiest I’ve seen on this rally and the twist of changing to tarmac from gravel for the last two stages was a real challenge as we don’t have the budget or team support to do a full swap in the last service from gravel to tarmac spec, relying instead on just changing the tyres.” Despite this,
Edwards set 5th fastest times on both stages on the Orme. In the forest, he set the 3rd fastest time on the Alwen stage, just 7 seconds behind rally winner Gardener with Edwards saying “I set a target of a top five finish which we achieved.”
Ffestiniog driver Ieuan Rowlands beat sibling John Rowlands, the latter retiring from the rally with a failed suspension in Clocaenog Forest. Ieuan, co-driven by and Cerrigydrudion’s Emyr Hall in his Volvo engine Ford Escort MK2 finished a stunning 7th position overall and first two-wheel drive car, despite a minor coming together with the scenery in Penmachno and a puncture in Alwen, putting many of the four-wheel drive crews to shame.
Rhuddlan based driver Luke Francis co-driven by John Roberts of Colwyn Bay in the Bob Francis Crane Hire backed Mitsubishi Evo put on a show of great maturity to finish a very credible 8th overall and 3rd in class despite two dramas on the first stage in Penmachno which saw him join several other crews with a puncture and then having a massive high speed moment.
Francis said “The puncture cost me over 20 seconds and in this game, you can only look to pick up a few seconds here and there on the others unless they have major dramas.”
Anglesey driver Keith Parry and co-driver Eryl Evans of Aberystwyth were challenging for 2nd place in the Welsh Forestry Championships, but from being 13th going into the afternoon running of Penmachno North, the car left the road and got stuck in the trees. Despite valiant efforts to free the car, the crew lost over 10 minutes and along with it the 2nd place in the Championship. Parry did however take the Class win in the Championship.
One car that made history on the event was the 1275cc mini of Rob Jones which has taken part in the Cambrian Rally for the last 24 years. Jones of Mochdre was co-driven by Pete Buckley, the North Wales Car Club crew managing to finish the event in 75th place despite a few problems with the car.
Ruthin’s Hugh Hunter and regular co-driver Andy Marchbank of Little Sutton were pushing hard in the newly acquired Ford Focus WRC, taking 4th and 3rd places in the two opening stages in Penmachno and winning the Clocaenog stage. However Hunter retired on SS4, Alwen after colliding with a gate post.
The Great Orme stage was not without its dramas and provided spectators with close-up action and maybe a taste of things to come when the Orme will be used as the opening stages on the WRC Wales Rally GB.
David Howells ploughed his Subaru Impreza into the stone wall leaving him out of the rally and Nigel Seabold contacting heavily with the raised kerbing in his Subaru Impreza, heavily damaging his wheel and losing precious time in the process.
Article by John Evans
The date for the 2012 Cambrian Rally is 20th October
October 04, 2011
Leading rally stars fight for top honours
THIS weekend's Cambrian has attracted some of the UK's leading motorsport stars to North Wales but there will also be plenty of homegrown talent on display vying for top honours.
And the reintroduction of the iconic Marine Drive stage around the Great Orme, which will also be used on Wales Rally GB when it starts in Llandudno in November, adds an extra dimension to the North Wales Car Club organised event which starts on Llandudno promenade at 8am on Saturday and takes in classic special timed stages in the Penmachno and Clocaenog forests before returning to the finish on the promenade in the late afternoon.
The 130 strong field will be led away from the start on Llandudno promenade on Saturday morning by Herefordshire driver Andy Burton in his unique Peugeot Cosworth who has put in some fantastic performances on previous
Cambrians. He has already clinched this year's British Trials and Rally Drivers' Association (BTRDA) Gold Star Championship but says this ishis last chance to win the Cambrian in the Peugeot, which will be retired at the end of the year due to a change in regulations. He also wants to make the Cambrian his sixth BTRDA win of the season.
And among North Walians who hope to be challenging for top spot in the event, are Ruthin's Hugh Hunter in a newly acquired Ford Focus World Rally car who wil start just behind Burton; teenager Tom Cave from Aberdovey in a Mitsubishi Lancer World Rally car, and Llandudno based Matt Edwards in a Subaru Impreza. After an excellent start to the season driving his own MGZR in the BRC Challenge, Llandudno based Matt saw his bid for the title crumble due to mechanical problems. But determined to put in a good performance in his home event he will tackle the Cambrian in a hired Impreza in the hope of finishing his season with a flourish. On last year's event his storming drive through the Penmachno forestry stages put him up there with the very best, and he will be hoping for a top five finish. "The season started really well with some excellent results but things went downhill after mechanical problems set in with the ZR, however I have got a competitive car for the Cambrian, and it would be great to finish the season with a good result on my home event," he said. Ffestiniog's Ieuan Rowlands is always a crowd pleaser who gives 100 percent and he'll be another hoping local knowledge will stand him in good stead. On last year's event axle failure forced him to retire after the first stage but he's hoping for better fortune this time. He will be hoping to lead the two wheel drive field home in his Volvo engined MK2 Escort, in which he be partnered by fellow Bala and district Motor Club member Emyr Hall from Cerrigydruidion.
Friendly sibling rivalry will also be resumed on the event when Ieuan's brother John makes his return to rallying after a six year layoff in another Rowlands Rallying prepared MK2 Ford Escort.
And Rob Jones from Mochdre will be out to beat his own record. This is the North Wales Car Club member's 24th entry on the Cambrian in the same car - a 1275cc British Leyland Mini. A regular award winner on the event, Rob's record of 24 consecutive starts in hishome prepared car is one that is unlikely ever to be beaten.
For rally enthusiasts another competitor to watch out for will be Welsh legend Nicky Grist who is co-driving for Phil Collins in an Opel Ascona. His factory team career in the World Rally Championship lasted from 1993 to 2002. And during that time he won 21 rallies and one world championship title,with more than one driver, but is best known for partnering the late Colin McRae.
And there is bound to be a lot of support for the team from Project Mobility. Two soldiers who have suffered life changing injuries on active serviceare setting out to prove they can compete on equal terms with able bodied drivers on the Cambrian. Driver Wayne Turnbull and co-driver Nathan Cumberland are competing a Land Rover Freelander under the Project Mobilityand say they are looking forward to the experience which they hope will help them achieve a good result in Wales Rally GB.
September 15, 2011
WRC Car for Tom Cave on the Cambrian
Having effectively clinched the Production Cup and Junior Driver awards in the 2011 BTRDA rally championship, teenage rally driver Tom Cave will embark on arguably the biggest challenge of his rallying career next month, as he competes in the series finale, the Cambrian Rally, at the wheel of a World Rally Car. The opportunity to enter the event in the Mitsubishi Lancer WRC presented itself and, as Tom admits, was far too good a chance to pass up.
Thanks to his and co-driver Craig Parry's performance on last month's Woodpecker Rally, Tom is now uncatchable in both the Production Cup and the Junior Driver categories of the 2011 BTRDA series. And while his performance elevated him to fourth overall in the Gold Star driver standings, he still has the opportunity to climb to third, if he has a good result on the Cambrian.
In addition, another excellent result means that he is also in contention for the Welsh National Rally Championship overall, where he currently holds third place and the Welsh Junior Driver award, which he leads.
So without the pressure of competing for the Group N honours, the chance to drive the Lancer WRC on the Cambrian brings with it the best chance of overall success and the chance to end the season on a high with a top three overall BTRDA finish and the Welsh titles.
However, Tom knows that success on the Cambrian is by no means a given: the event uses stages which form part of the route of Wales Rally GB, the UK's round of the FIA World Rally Championship. As such, it's not uncommon for WRC drivers to enter the event as a warm-up and test for the WRC finale, run just five weeks later. In fact, Ford works driver Mikko Hirvonen ran as course car two years ago and on that occasion, the rally was won by Mads Ostberg.
The car Tom will be using, the Mitsubishi Lancer WRC, will be run by former works Mitsubishi outfit, MML Sports Ltd. While this will be Tom's first foray in a world car, it won't be the first outing with MML Sports. He drove the company's Group N Lancer EvoX on Rally Latvia in 2010 and was on course for a sensational second in Group N before a last-minute puncture.
August 16, 2011
Entry from Project Mobility
Two soldiers who have suffered life changing injuries on active service will set out to prove they can compete on equal terms with able bodied drivers when they take part in the Cambrian Rally.
They are competing a Land Rover Freelander under the Project Mobility banner and say they are looking forward to the experience which they hope will help them achieve a good result in Wales Rally GB. The Cambrian Rally offers the team a challenging insight into what the Wales National GB will throw at the team. "It's an exciting opportunity to test the car and meet some of the many crews that compete at such a high level. We are very grateful to the organisers for welcoming the team with open arms" said team principal, Stefan Povolotsky.
The Freelander will be driven on the Cambrian by soldier Wayne Turnbull, who said he was particularly looking forward to tackling the Marine Drive stage around the Great Orme. “Great Orme is awesome, having watched WRC greats race the tracks and the Lombard rallies facing the challenges that North Wales offers I am excited to be taking the Land Rover rally car through it’s paces alongside my co-driver Nathan. We are crossing new boundaries as a disabled team and we are bowled over by the response and encouragement from the organisers, roll on October 8,” he said. And his co-driver and fellow soldier Nathan Cumberland, who is a double amputee was equally enthusiastic. “This will be my first serious rally as a co-driver, and I am being prepared by the best in class leading up to the event including two of my rally heroes Nicky Grist and Trevor Agnew. Hopefully we will get to the finish, but just to be in the service area with so many great teams will be a fantastic learning experience for us all and we cannot wait to get the car out there and put our teamwork into practice,” he commented.
Project Mobility was recently featured on BBC’s Top Gear. It started life as a scheme to adapt old Land Rovers for off road and overland use by people with disabilities including amputees. Many of the members of the team are serving and ex-soldiers who have lost limbs on active service.
August 12, 2011
Entries now open for Cambrian Rally 2011
Entries for the 2011 Cambrian Rally are now available. Please note the closing date is 27th September
This year there are 7 stages including Alwen and the Great Orme.
There are three ways in which you can pay for entries.
• Cheque (post)
• Bacs (online)
• PayPal (online) - 4.2% surcharge
Click here to download the Entry Form and Regulations
June 28, 2011
WRC driver confirmed for the Cambrian
FINNISH World Rally Championship (WRC) competitor Mattias Therman will compete on the Cambrian Rally.
The businessman who is well known for backing young Finnish rally drivers, has indicated that he will be competing on the North Wales Car Club organised event in preparation for Wales Rally GB which will start in Llandudno in November.
And Cambrian Rally, clerk of the course, Alyn Edwards says he is confident more WRC challengers will also enter the event.”_The offical shakedown stage for Wales Rally GB is on Tarmac at the Royal Welsh Showground at Builth Wells, but won’t prepare cars and drivers for the forest stages of the event. “Teams who want to give the car a bit more of a test in similar conditions to those they will encounter on Wales Rally GB will find the Cambrian is the perfect opportunity to do so,” _he explained.
Like Wales Rally GB the Cambrian will include a special timed stage around Llandudno’s Marine Drive. There will also be 40 miles of forestry stages.
April 27, 2011
Great Orme confirmed for 2011
The Great Orme in Llandudno has been confirmed for the last stage of the 2011 Cambrian Rally. The Orme is also confirmed for the first stage for the WRC Wales Rally GB.
The last time the Orme was used for the Cambrian was in 2006, whilst on the World Rally scene, it has not been used since the Lombard RAC Rally back in 1981.
At just over 4 miles in length, the Great Orme is a spectacular twisting tarmac stage which clings to the limestone cliffs of this prominent headland and is worthy of being included in such rallying events.
January 11, 2011
New date confirmed!
Please note that a new date for the Cambrian Rally is confirmed as the 8th October 2011.
October 20, 2010
NWCC Team Award
Proving that being slow sometimes wins ... the NWCC Committee took the team award on the Cambrian, the only one of five teams to get all three cars to the finish line. Committee member John H Roberts co-drove for Luke Francis and finished high up in a Lancer Evo, Webmaster Simon Cotton (with Sasha Heriot) drove his 205 to a fine placing in RF1.0 whilst Competitions Secretary Dave V Thomas managed to maintain his 100% finishing record on forest rallies (and that includes all the ones he co-drive on back in the 1970's!!!) by bringing home the borrowed 205 GTI in one piece, son Neil co-driving his third Cambrian although not having contested the event for the past few years. The four other teams all had fast drivers, but reliability (or lack of it) proved their undoing!
October 18, 2010
Perez wins 2010 Cambrian
Steve Perez took the Cambrian title in his WRC Ford Focus winning with a 1.25min lead over rival and 'local boy' Hugh Hunter.
Another local boy, Matt Edwards showed a clean pair of heels to drivers in more powerful cars to not only take a class win but finish ninth overall on the Cambrian Rally which started and finished in the resort on Saturday, and at the same time, he and co-driver and Sam Collis from Chesterfield took their fifth British Trials and Rally Drivers' Association (BTRDA)1400 Series victory of he season in their 586 Sport MG ZR.
Their 1m 38s 1400 class winning margin was made even more impressive, as they completed the last nine miles of the event with badly bent rear suspension after hitting a pothole in the road, which came on on top of the car losing power steering for the final two miles of the Penmachno South Stage. With Matt already BTRDA 1400 Champion for the year, as well as MG ZR and MSA English Champion, the pair put in a blistering first stage time over 12 miles of gravel track in the Clocaenog forest, recording a time 22 seconds faster than any other 1400 crew, closely followed by a time 12th fastest overall despite the duo referring to stage maps, rather than the traditional pace notes. “We got off to a really good start and nailed the first stage in the morning," said Matthew. He then went on to record top ten stage times on the Penmachno forest stages .“Penmachno is one of the most demanding stages in the country, as it has not been graded and altered to allow the large logging lorries to come in and out, which leaves it naturally bumpy, twisty and narrow. We pushed hard in there to try and extend our lead but took no risks and I am astonished at the result. I think it’s the fact the stage is so technical which slowed the more powerful cars down that meant we were able to take such competitive times in there."
It wasn't quite such a good day though for Ruthin driver Hugh Hunter in a Ford Focus World Rally Car who had hoped to notch up his third overall Cambrian win, but an accident on the first Penmachno stage of the day saw him lose valuable time to arch rival Steve Perez from Derbyshire also in a Ford Focus WRC. After being pushed back on to the track by spectators, Hunter and co-driver Andy Marchbank went all out to make up the lost time and finished in a creditable second place. Hugh explained: "I knew there was a problem with the car on the first corner of the first stage, it wouldn't turn in, oversteered badly and was locking up under braking. This made for a particularly interesting ride. "With these problems causing us to lose a lot of time we we're really happy to find we were leading the event at first service and felt we could have gone on to win. Unfortunately it went wrong on the next stage when the car locked up under braking again and we went off into the scenery. It took spectators well over a minute to get us back on the road, fortunately with no real damage. This left us in second place which we maintained to the end with fastest times on the last two stages."
Meanwhile former Cambrian clerk of the course Jon Madoc-Jones from Llysfaen, co-driven by 16 year old Tom Bishop from Lincolnshire who was navigating on his first forest rally, took a class win in a Vauxhall Corsa, with Rob Jones from Colwyn Bay co-driven by Ceri Hughes in a British Leyland Mini took second place in the same class. This was the 23rd time that Rob had competed on the Cambrian in the same car - a record that's unlikely to be beaten by any other driver.
October 13, 2010
Battle for the Cambrian title
Hugh Hunter will be going for an outstanding three wins on the Cambrian, however, Hunter in a Ford Focus World Rally Car will have his work cut out to beat newly crowned British Trials and Rally Driver Association (BTRDA) Gold Star champion Steve Perez in a newer Ford Focus WRC.
Hunter who admits to having a mixed season so far, with unfortunate retirements on three events, hopes that local knowledge will pay off, and he will emerge the victor over Derbyshire based Perez.
Leading the two wheel drive challenge, and hoping to get in the mix for overall honours with the top four wheel drive cars, will be Ffestiniog's Ieuan Rowlands and fellow Bala Motor Club member Emyr Hall in a Volvo engined Ford Escourt Mark 2. Always a crowd pleaser for his spectacular driving style, Ieuan has entered selected events this year retiring whilst leading the Bulldog Clubmans rally, finishing 9th on the Plains rally and winning the Gareth Hall Memorial Rally outright, but usually pulls out something special on the Cambrian.
Multi Cambrian winner John Roberts, who also hails from the Ffestiniog area, has posted a late entry in a newly built Escort Mark 2, and Llandudno driver, Matt Edwards, who has had his best ever season, will lead away the 1400 cc cars from the start on Llandudno promenade on Saturday morning just weeks after clinching three major national titles. He has emerged victorious in the BTRDA 1400 Series, the MSA English Championship, and the MG ZR Championship despite being without a drive until only a few weeks before the start of the season.
October 10, 2010
Cambrian to be show on BBC F1
BBC TV’s F1 anchorman Jake Humphrey will co-drive for racing pundit Tony Jardine in this month’s Cambrian Rally, as part of the Go Motorsport campaign.
Jardine believes that the event will prove a sizeable challenge for Humphrey, whose competitive experience extends to a Lotus on Track Elise Trophy race at Silverstone last year.
“We’re throwing him in right at the deep end,” admitted Jardine. “Luckily he lives close to my office in West London so, fingers crossed, we’ll find a couple of hours to plot our adventure in the days building up to the event. But he’s now up to his neck with GPs in the Far East and then the Commonwealth Games in India. It’s all going to be a bit of a rush but it will be fun and, more importantly, a great advert for
Go Motorsport.”
If all does go to plan, highlights of brave-hearted Humphrey’s latest escapade will be screened to millions of viewers as part of the BBC’s build-up to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Further coverage of his exploits will be aired on the BBC website and on Humphrey’s online blog and Twitter page
September 11, 2010
Entries close 6th October!
Just to remind everyone that Entries close on Wednesday 6th October. Please can we ask you get your Entry in as soon as possible to ensure you get included.
Entry Form – http://www.cambrianrally.co.uk/competitors
Regulations – http://www.cambrianrally.co.uk/competitors/regulations
Many thanks,
Cambrian Rally Committee
North Wales Car Club
August 18, 2010
Entries for 2010 are Open!
The Regs and Entry Form are now available to download from the Competitors section
Entry Form – http://www.cambrianrally.co.uk/competitors
Regulations – http://www.cambrianrally.co.uk/competitors/regulations
SPECIAL OFFER
There are 6 stages this year including Clocaenog and Penmachno.
The organisers (North Wales Car Club) are able to offer an entry fee of £345 and for BTRDA Rally First Competitors, a special entry fee of £325 – if entered before 1st September. After this date the entry fee will increase to £395 and £345 respectively. Charges will apply for payments via paypal.
ACCOMMODATION OFFER
We have two hotels offering some great deals for competitors and crews for the Friday and Saturday night. The St Georges Hotel and the Esplanade Hotel, both located on the promenade in Llandudno. Both hotels have parking and are situated opposite the Start/Finish line.
The Esplanade Hotel (Signing On) is offering a special rate of Room and Breakfast for £40.00pppn (Quote Cambrian Rally)
For the St Georges Hotel (Please call and quote Cambrian Rally)
http://www.esplanadehotel.co.uk
http://www.stgeorgeswales.co.uk
Many thanks,
Cambrian Rally Committee
North Wales Car Club
June 28, 2010
Management Cars ‘Allowed’
It has been announced by the Cambrian Rally committee that they are now allowing Management Cars for this years rally in October. However, there will be strict guidelines and penalties for any competitiors that don't comply with the regulations. Management Packs are £25 - only one per competitor. See Regs for more information
April 08, 2010
NWCC - New website
The North Wales Car Club (organisers of the Cambrian Rally) have just launched their brand new website. The site is packed with forthcoming events, images and videos from previous events. Membership to join the club is only £15.00 per year (Nov - Oct). So if you fancy getting involved in helping organise one of the best rallies in Wales then you need to contact us at www.northwalescarclub.co.uk
February 16, 2010
Multi Awards for Cambrian
The Cambrian Rally has scooped yet another award, the ANWCC Rally of the Year 2009. The votes from competitors and officials giving the verdict to the reigning holders of the McGivern Trophy ... North Wales Car Club. The event attracted a full entry including WRC drivers testing for the WRGB that followed a week later. Claire Thomas, Secretary of the forthcoming 2010 event, accepted the award on behalf of the North Wales Car Club from Allan Dean-Lewis MBE of the MSA. The committee would once again like to thank all the volunteers and marshals for giving up their time.
The 2009 Cambrian rally was won by Norwegian World Rally Championship (WRC) competitor Mads Ostberg, and fans also had the thrill of seeing World Rally Chapionship runner-up Abu Dhabi Ford works driver Mikko Hirvonen powering through the Clocaenog and Penmachno forests to clear the route for competitors.
"The WRC teams who used the event as a shakedown for the Rally GB were all very complimentary about the event and said the facilities and organisation were on a par with anything they experience anywehere in the world, and it seems that club competitors agree with them," said the event's clerk of the course Alyn Edwards.
February 04, 2010
Awarded ‘Best Event for 2009”
The North Wales Car Club is pleased to announce that the Cambrian Rally scooped 'Best Event of 2009" for North Wales at the recent Welsh Rally Association Awards ceremony on 30th January.
October 20, 2009
“The Cambrian was like a WRC event”! - Mikko Hirvonen
The BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team confirmed today they had a successful weekend in North Wales and thanked the North Wales Car Club for looking after them.
Mikko Hirvonen commented - "It was useful to have the opportunity of driving in Wales on gravel roads of a type we'll see next week. I tested for three days in the north of England earlier in the week but the Cambrian was more of a proper practice - a bit like driving a normal leg of a WRC event. We didn't have any problems and I felt comfortable with the feeling in the car. The last stage was almost 30 kilometres, so that sort of practice really helps with the long stages that we'll have on Rally of Great Britain,"
We hope to see Mikko in the Cambrian again next year and wish him the very best for next weekend.
October 20, 2009
Final Results for 2009
You can now donwload the final results for the 2009 Cambrian Rally (PDF File)
http://www.cambrianrally.com/downloads/final_results_09.pdf
October 20, 2009
Mikko Hirvonen’s Stage Times
Stage Times for Mikko Hirvonen:
SS1 - 5.09
SS2 - 8.03
SS3 - 6.36
SS4 - 7.33
SS5 - 14.47
October 19, 2009
“Mads was hard to beat” - Hugh Hunter
NORWEGIAN rising star Mads Ostberg stormed to victory on the Cambrian Rally at the weekend winning four out of five challenging stages in the Penmachno and Clocaenog forests to push last year's winner Hugh Hunter from Ruthin into second place. Ruthin based Hugh Hunter, whose company Lewis & Hunter Contracting sponsored the event was pleased with his runner-up position behind world class opposition. "Obviously I would have liked to win again, but Mads was hard to beat", he smiled.
There was disappointment though for Will Nicholls from the Isle of Wight who had hoped to clinich the British Trials and Rally Drivers' Championship, of which the Cambrian is the final round, but an error of judgement let through Yorkshireman David Wright to take the title. Spectators also had the treat of seeing current world championship leader Finland's Mikko Hirvonen and co-driver Jarmo Lehitenen in a Ford Focus RS powering through the stages in a Ford Focus RS as he set target times for the competitors.
October 19, 2009
Mads Ostberg - Winner Cambrian Rally 2009
On behalf of the North Wales Car Club we would like to congratulate Mads Ostberg who took the Cambrian Rally 2009 title in his 09 WRC Subaru Impreza.
Class winners included:
• WR1 - Mads Ostberg / Jonas Andersson
• B13 - Nasser Al-Attiyah / Giovanni Bernnacchini
• N4 - Alex Allingham / Mark Glennerster
• B12 - Ieuan Rowlands / Kelvin Savage
• H3 - Paul Griffiths / Sam Collis
• H2 - Andrew Haddon / Mark Crisp
• 1.4S - Graham Middleton / Ella Flynn
• N3 - Harry Hunt / George Gwynn
• RF1.4 - David Bennett / Alistair McNeil
• B10 - Julien Fouques / Cyril Laborderie
• 1.4C - Sion Matthews / Gary Matthews
• 1.4L - Tony Simpson / Stefan Arndt
• RF1.0 - Alistair Sutherland / Gill Cotton
• H1 - Gwilym Roberts / Lowri Davies
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers and marshalls who worked so hard on the day to make this event happen. We look forward to an even bigger and better event for 2010.
October 08, 2009
” I’ll be going flat out ” Mikko Hirvonen
CURRENT FIA World Rally Championship leader Mikko Hirvonen commented ...
"It's going to be great to be back in North Wales, I'm really looking forward to it and pleased to have the opportunity to have a good shakedown for the Rally GB.
"This is a perfect opportunity for me to sample stages which will be similar to those we'll encounter on Rally GB so close to the event. I will be going flat out so that I get a good feel for the car, and it will be great that I've heard there will be plenty of spectators, because I'm sure that that will help me to record some good times".
And Hirvonen says he's looking forward to setting some fast times on the challenging stages which he last drove in 2002 when as an emerging talent he drove to victory on the Cambrian in a Subaru Impreza.
This time he will be in a BP Ford Abu Dhabi WRC Ford Focus RS which he recently claimed third place in the Spanish round of the WRC.
October 06, 2009
Mikko Hirvonen confirmed!
The North Wales Car Club are pleased to welcome back World Rally driver Mikko Hirvonen with co-driver Jamo Lethtinen. Mikko has kindly agreed to set the target times for the competitors on the day in his Ford Focus RS. Mikko is looking forward to getting in some extra testing under his belt ahead of the final round showdown at Rally GB to decide this year's Drivers' championship winner. The Rally GB starts just five days after the Cambrian.
Mikko is no stranger to the Cambrian, in 2002 a young Hirvonen won the event in his private WRC Subaru Impreza. The Cambrian won 'Best Event' in 2008 by the BTRDA, this years' is shaking up to be even better!
Is Sebastien coming? Watch this space!
October 01, 2009
Its hotting up!!
With only 16 days to go, this years' Cambrian is really hotting up. We've got WRC drivers, over 130 entries and a real test for the boys, one of Australia's most promising rally drivers, Molly Taylor. She was a massive 30 seconds quicker than fellow drivers in the International Rally of Yorkshire. She will driving in the 1400 class in a Peugeot 106. Molly will definately be one to watch!
September 30, 2009
“It will be a good test for Rally GB” - WRC Team
WORLD Rally Championship contenders will be contesting this year's Cambrian Rally. Norwegian driver Eyvind Brinildsen will tackle the event in Skoda Fabia 2000.
The appearance of the Skoda will mark the first time a latest specification Super 2000 car has tackled a round of the British Trials and Rally Drivers Championship of which the Cambrian is the final round in 2009.
His compatriot and twice Norwegian rally champion, the hugely experienced Mads Ostberg will be competing a Subaru Impreza and should be as impresive in the forests of North Wales as he is on home ground.
And Quatar driver Nasser Al-Attiyah and Cyprus competitor Spyros Pavlides both driving Subaru Imprezas will also be using the October 17 Llandudno based event as a warm up for Wales Rally GB on the weekend following the Cambrian. "It will be a good test for Rally GB. I've done two rallies in the UK before but I don't know much about this one, said 21-year old rising star Eyvind.
Earlier this year Nasser Al-Attiyah finished second in the Rally dos Sertões in Brazil behind former World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz of Spain. His co-driver on the Cambrian will be Italian Giovanni Bernacchin, while in the navigator's seat for Spyros Pavlides will be Briton Chris Patterson. "We are very pleased that these international competitors have recognised the value of the Cambrian as a warm-up for Wales Rally GB and are hopeful of receiving entries from other World Rally Championship competitors," said clerk of the course Alyn Edwards.
September 29, 2009
New Skoda Fabia S2000 - Confirmed.
P-WRC driver Eyvind Brynildsen and co-driver Denis Giradaut have confirmed today that they are entering the Cambrian in the brand new Skoda Fabia S2000. Brynildsen switched to rallying from karting in 2005 and by the start of 2009 had started 13 WRC rallies. His best result by the season start was 2nd in Group N in Norway and 3rd in Group N in Spain (both '07). He was also runner-up in the Norwegian Championship ('07).
September 28, 2009
Mads Ostberg - WRC confirmed
The Norwegian WRC driver Mads Ostberg confirmed today his entry for the Cambrian Rally, in his 2009 Subaru Impreza WRC. Mads is the double Norwegian Champion and he's quick, will be interesting to compare his stage times against the field. Mads first experience of the WRC was back in 2006, when he was runner-up. In 2007 he won all seven rounds and was crowned Norwegian Rally Champion. Mads drives for the Adapta World Rally Team and is currently leading the Impreza driver season.
September 24, 2009
WRC Teams are coming !
We are excited to announce that some of the WRC teams will be entering the Cambrian ahead of the Rally GB. Confirmed drivers so far are Nasser Al-Attiyah and Spyros Pavlides. More teams will be announced shortly when they are confirmed. Watch this space!
August 27, 2009
** Entry Form and Regs Now available **
The Entry Form and Regulations are now available. Click Here for more information
August 24, 2009
Lewis & Hunter sponsors Cambrian Rally 2009
The Cambrian Rally is pleased to be sponsored by Lewis & Hunter Contractors, suppliers of Asphalt and Macadam. Based in Ruthin, Hugh Hunter was last years' winner of the Cambrian Rally in his ex works WRC Ford Focus. For more information on Lewis & Hunter please contact 01824 702870.
August 19, 2009
45 STAGE MILES CONFIRMED
5 stages totaling 45 miles (73km) has now been confirmed. SS5 is a challenging 16.2 miles (26.1km). See competitors pages for more info.
August 17, 2009
Regulations Available End of July
The regulations for 2009 are almost ready to go to print and should be available at the end of July. To be automatically notified please sign up to our newsletter on the home page.
June 18, 2009
International Competitors (NEAFP)
The Cambrian Rally has now been authorised for foreign participation (NEAFP) under the FIA International Sporting Code and MSA regulations.