"Some of the finest stages in the World"
Posted on March 15, 2023
WITH a challenging route taking in some iconic forest stages previously used on Wales Rally GB, and a brand new closed road test for National competitors, the 2022 Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally has been hailed as one of the best in the event’s long history.
While Swedish World Rally Championship competitor Oliver Solberg, made headlines after taking the overall win at the 2022 Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally, the event also saw an outstanding drive from rising British star, Ruairi Bell.
The Londoner ticked an important box by winning the Cambrian round of the Motorsport UK British Rally Championship and giving Solberg a run for his money. After standing on the BRC podium three times during the season without a win, he put in a strong performance on the challenging North Wales stages.
“It’s been such a difficult weekend out on the stages and we have had three podiums on the trot now and so to finally win is fantastic,” he commented.
The event attracted a high quality entry from both National and Inter-club competitors and was also a round of the MRF Tyres British Trials and Rally Drivers Association Championship, the Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship, the Welsh Historic Rally Championship, the Bowler Land Rover Challenge, and the Association of North Western Car Clubs Championship.
The British Trials and Rally Drivers Association Championship round was hotly contested, with Matthew Hirst in a Fiesta R5 trading fastest times over the first four stages with Callum Black in a Fiesta R2 who looked to be on course to repeat his 2021 victory until three punctures on successive stages saw him limp out of contention.
Hirst who had been on outstanding form all season, completed a successful day by confirming his status at the top of the Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship having clinched the title by taking victory on the previous round.
The 2023 Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally will be run for the 68th time on October 28th, and competitors and spectators alike can expect an action packed day of top class competition.
