Nicky Grist Stages entries open, as 43 stage mile BTRDA and Welsh Championship event route is revealed

Entries are now open for the Nicky Grist Stages (Saturday 13 July) – with the official event Regulations and Entry Forms published on-line at nickygriststages.co.uk.

This year’s Quinton MC-organised event will once again take place in some of Mid-Wales’ most classic forest stages in the Carmarthenshire-Powys border area, with 43 stage miles (and only 80 road miles) in an eight-stage route. The event will run on both Natural Resources Wales and Ministry of Defence land on the Epynt ranges, with the emphasis on giving competitors the best smooth and flowing roads available, great value for money and a no-nonsense, action-packed and well organised event.

The 2019 Nicky Grist Stages is the only rally to use Crychan this year, with a fantastic stage through this famous Welsh forest that is just over nine miles long. A short test through Halfway forest will be up next, followed by the return of the popular Monument stage and then a revised Llyn Login stage, which will have most of the asphalt section removed and a flying finish where cars will be airborne as they cross the line. The 21.5 stage mile loop will be repeated in the afternoon (following a mid-day service halt in Builth Wells) giving a stunning 43 miles of competition in total. The Route 60 stage is being rested this year as it is undergoing re-surfacing work by the MOD.

Celebrating its tenth year of invaluable support from Nicky Grist Motorsports, the Nicky Grist Stages will host a round of the Jordan Road Surfacing BTRDA Rally Series for a 32nd consecutive year. The event will count towards the BTRDA Gold Star, BTRDA Silver Star, BTRDA Production Cup, BTRDA 1400, BTRDA Rally First, BTRDA Historic Cup, BTRDA Rallye R2 Cup and the Fiesta ST Trophy, plus the Pirelli Motorsport UK Welsh Forest Rally Championship, FMP Rally Challenge and the HRCR Stage Masters Challenge.

Last year the Nicky Grist Stages was the first rally in Wales to run under new seeding guidelines – and such was its success and popularity with competitors that this year the 1400, Rally First and H1/2 Historic cars will once again run in the first batch of cars in reverse order, followed by the rest of the field in a second batch, running in number order.

The Nicky Grist Stages will be located in Builth Wells this year, with Rally Headquarters based in Strand Hall (in Strand Street), the Start, Finish and Service Area at the Builth Wells RFC in Groe Park and the trailer park and a re-fuelling zone at the town’s Cattle Market car park.

Neil Cross, Nicky Grist Stages Clerk of the Course, said: “We have worked hard this year to bring competitors and fans what we are confident will be a classic Nicky Grist Stages. The forest roads are in great condition, and they haven’t been used since last year’s event. Moving the rally into the centre of Builth Wells will showcase the event to the local population, and we hope the rally community will support the many local businesses during the event.

Regulations and entry forms are available in the Competitors’ section of www.nickygriststages.co.uk

Nicky Grist Stages receives 100 entries in just five days

Quinton Motor Club has received a record-breaking 100 entries in just five days for the Nicky Grist Stages (9-10 July). The event Regulations and Entry forms were only published on-line at www.nickygriststages.co.uk on Monday, which sparked an unprecedented response from competitors.

Already entered is the current leader of the MSA British Rally Championship Fredrik Åhlin (Fiesta R5) – along with this CA1 Sport stable-mates David Bogie, Tom Preston (both ŠKODA Fabia R5) and Alex Laffey (Fiesta R5). Spencer Sport has entered a Fiesta R5 for Tom Cave and its Mitsubishi Mirage for Jamie Jukes, while Ollie Mellors (Proton Satria Neo S2000) and Desi Henry (Fabia R5) also have confirmed entries. Ravenol BTRDA Rally Series drivers Stephen Petch (Fiesta R5+), Karl Simmons (Subaru S11 WRC), Gavin Edwards (Escort Mk2) and Luke Francis and Wayne Sissons (both Mitsubishi Evo) are also already on the list, while Dessie Nutt has entered his historic Porsche 911. Other interesting early entries include Julian Reyonlds in his ex-Marcus Gronholm 2006 Wales Rally GB winning Focus WRC and Richard Burns’ godson, Tom Williams, in a Fiesta R1.

This year’s Builth Wells-based Nicky Girst Stages runs over two days, with a 45 mile planned route on gravel for competitors in the Pirelli MSA Welsh Forest Rally Championship, HRCR Stage Masters Challenge, ANWCC Forest Rally Championship, ANWCC Historic Stage Rally Championship and FMP Rally Challenge on Saturday 9 July. The MSA British Rally Championship crews will continue the following day (Sunday 10 July), with another 60 miles on Tarmac.

The closing date for entries is 5 July and the maximum number of entries is 180.

Neil Cross, Nicky Grist Stages Clerk of the Course, said: “I’m delighted and overwhelmed at the level of response to the entries received to date. We received our one hundredth entry today, which is unbelievable. We are working hard with the MSA and Natural Resources Wales to ensure our original route is available.

 

Regulations and entry forms are available in the Competitors’ section of www.nickygriststages.co.uk

Entries now open for the 2016 Nicky Grist Stages!

Entries are now open for the Nicky Grist Stages (9-10 July) – with the official event Regulations and Entry forms published on-line at www.nickygriststages.co.uk.

2016 celebrates the 36th running of Quinton Motor Club’s forest stage rally, the 29th consecutive year of it hosting a round of the BTRDA Rally Series, the sixth year of title sponsorship from Nicky Grist Motorsports and its maiden appearance as a round of the MSA British Rally Championship.

The big change for 2016 is that the event is actually two rallies – a one day gravel event in the forests on the Carmarthenshire and Powys border on Saturday 9 July for competitors in the Ravenol BTRDA Rally Series, Pirelli MSA Welsh Forest Rally Championship, HRCR Stage Masters Challenge, ANWCC Forest Rally Championship, ANWCC Historic Stage Rally Championship and FMP Rally Challenge, and a two day mixed-surface event for crews contesting the MSA British Rally Championship – with the second day on Sunday 10 July run exclusively on Tarmac over the fantastic Epynt military ranges.

Crews registered for the aforementioned championships are able to enter the Nicky Grist Stages now, thus confirming their place on the starting list. Non-championship registered crews will be able to enter from 13 June. The closing date for entries is 5 July and the maximum number of entries is 180.

Neil Cross, Nicky Grist Stages Clerk of the Course, said: “A lot of hard work and planning has gone into this year’s event. Accommodating the needs of the various championships was never going to be easy, but I believe we will be putting on a feast of rallying across the two days that will be enjoyed by the competitors, volunteer officials and spectators alike.

Nicky Grist said: “The Nicky Grist Stages has become a highlight of the year for all rally enthusiasts, both competitors and supporters alike. I am now into my sixth year of sponsorship of the event. This year I am delighted that the event has been chosen to be a round of the revamped MSA British Rally Championship in its return to the sport we all love. The inclusion of our rally in this championship is just reward for all the hard work and dedication that the successful organising team from Quinton Motor Club have put in over many years. This success was acknowledged last year when the event was voted the best round of the Pirelli MSA Welsh National Championship and shortlisted for the best event award in the BTRDA Series.

 

Regulations and entry forms are available in the Competitors’ section of www.nickygriststages.co.uk