More classic mid-Wales forest stages will form round five of the 2006 HRCR Classic Stage Rally Challenge, the Rally Marketing Mid-Wales Historic Stages on 24/25 June.
Another popular event on the schedule, the Newton-based event runs over the classic Hafren and Sweet Lamb complexes, with two stages on Saturday afternoon and six more on Sunday.
Gareth Lloyd and Ryland James are having a fantastic season in the West Wales Rally Spares Escort Mk2 and have a perfect score to date with four wins from four events. Driving better than ever, Lloyd is matching the pace of the top BHRC crews and it's hard to see them being stopped from retaining their title. However, there is still a long way to go yet!
But Lloyd/James will not have it all their own way on the Mid-Wales, and James Potter/Bob Stokoe came very close to taking their debut Classic win on the Severn Valley. Meanwhile, Charlie Taylor/Steve Bielby are getting quicker and quicker in their Escort Mk2, even though many of the Welsh stages are new to the north-eastern crew.
Other strong runners in the growing Classic category include Ian Rix/Daniel Stones and Rob Archer/Peter Field who are overdue some better luck with their Escort. The Mid-Wales will also mark the return to the series of Martin Freestone/Joanne Lockwood in their Escort and Freestone will surely resume his good-humoured rivalry with Lloyd.
Having enjoyed an excellent run on the Severn Valley, Terry Brown will again team up with Paul Willetts to chase victory in his Escort Mk2, and another crew with victory firmly in their sights is Stuart Clarke/Cliff Simmons in their Mk2, while Dick Slaughter/Geoff Dearing are aiming for a return to top results after retiring with a lack of brakes on the Severn Valley.
Martin Jones/Kevin Owens have been a revelation with their pace on previous gravel events this season in their Escort Mk2, while the class D3 battle will be headed by the Escorts of Richard Lane/Frank Richer and Chris Shooter/Bev LeGood. However, a dark horse in D3 could be the Escort Mk2 of Jason Lepley/Howard Pridmore.
Finally, offering variety to the Escorts are the Talbot Sunbeam Lotuses of Julian Burch/Chris Derbyshire and Adrian Seabridge/Daniel Seabridge. The Mid Wales Historic Stages is organised by Newtown and District Automobile Club Ltd. For more details about the event, please visit the website at: www.newtown-mc.co.ukThe historic rally starts from Newtown at 4pm on Saturday, 24 June and resumes at 8am on Sunday morning.
