Preview, round three: Welsh Rally

The 2006 Armajaro MSA British Historic Rally Championship switches to asphalt for round three, the Matador Welsh Rally on Saturday/Sunday 29/30 April.

For the first asphalt event of the BHRC season, crews face the notoriously challenging Epynt ranges in Mid-Wales on an event that has three long stages on Saturday afternoon followed by 12 shorter stages on Sunday. In all, 110 stage miles make up the Brecon-based event.Category 1Patrick Watts/Elgan Davies will line up as firm favourites for category 1 success in their Sunbeam Tiger, having won the opening two gravel events and also won on Epynt a year ago. Keeping the brakes working on the mighty Tiger is always a bit of a headache on Epynt, but Watts/Davies will be very tough to beat.However, Dessie Nutt/Geraldine McBride are more than capable of rivalling the Tiger in their Porsche 911 and showed on the Astra Stages that their rebuilt engine has given them increased pace for 2006.

After the B5 runners, a clutch of Lotus Cortinas will battle for B4 spoils, with Philip Atkinson/Stuart Harrold and Neil Calvert/Michelle Calvert set to rejoin their great battle from the Astra. There will be little to chose between them on Epynt, with Paul Mankin/Des Bell and 'Pop' Gunson/Peter Gunson chasing hard. However, even the quickest Lotus Cortinas will need to watch the pace of Jonathan and Graham Gale in their less-powerful Cortina GT.

The B2 class battle is set to be a major feature of the rally, with Clive King/Bob Ward sure to be very strong in their Mini Cooper S. However, the MG Midget of James Stait/Stewart Lawson will be very quick on Epynt along with the Mini Coopers of Mike Barratt/Joanne Watson and Phil Smith/Barbara Smith.Category 2The battle for glory in the post-historic (1968-74) category will be eagerly awaited, as up to five cars are in with a real chance of victory. Fresh from a mighty victory on the Astra Stages, Jimmy McRae and Campbell Roy will be flying along in their Prepfab Porsche 911RS, but Mark Solloway is an absolute Epynt ace in his Escort RS1600 and heads to his home ground with a one-point lead in the overall championship.

Some experts believe that Solloway and Kevin Lewis will be unstoppable, given his recent form over Epynt and, if the car is reliable, Solloway will be awesome. Meanwhile, David Stokes won last year with a nicely controlled performance in his Escort. Partnered by Guy Weaver, Stokes could just let Solloway make the early pace and play more of a waiting game as the tough event unfolds.

Another new factor in the category 1 mix is the expected debut of the Porsche 911RS of Steven Smith/John Nichols. Few crews have performed better than Smith/Nichols on asphalt in recent times and if the new car is ready to run, they will set a fierce pace. Also in the mix is the Porsche 911 of Nick Whale/Sally Wood, another crew capable of winning. Given Whale's expertise on asphalt, they will surely be on the pace.

Another gaggle of Porsches makes class C4 very strong, with Sean Lockyear/Chris Wood, Andrew Street/Jez Mason, Paul Drinkall/Roy Brown, Peter Lythell/Liz Jordan and Graham Wilson/Keith Fellowes all aiming to chase McRae and Smith in the Porsche contest. Offering variety to the 911s is the Datsun 240Z of Hugh and Debbie Myers, making its 2006 debut.

Stokes and Solloway will be the C5 benchmark, but Graham Samuel/Tony Phillips will be running close in their Escort, along with Rikki Proffitt/tba and Neil Parsons/Chris Parsons.

Bob Gibbons/Neil Cook should be the C3 pacesetters in their Escort RS2000, provided it is refettled after being damaged on the Astra, but Martin Kenny/Dave Stocking will also be quick in their Mk1

Meanwhile, class C2 is set for another tremendous contest with at least four Escort crews in contention. Russell Morgan/Martin Kenyon have started the season in superb form in their Mk1, but Ken Forster/John Stanger-Leathes and Robin Shuttleworth/Mark Midgley will be fierce opponents. Meanwhile, John Worthing/Bill Robertson will be aiming to get back into the thick of the class battle after a troubled day on the Astra.The Matador Welsh Rally is organised by South Wales Automobile Club, Forresters Car Club and Epynt Motor Club. For more details about the event, please visit the website at: welshinternationalrally.comThe historic rally starts from Brecon at 1pm on Saturday.