BHRC / RD7 / TOUR OF EPYNT 2024

WORDS BY ANDY COOK | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANDY COOK

In Powys, Wales, situated between Brecon and Llandovery and to the North of the A40 which links the two, lies an area called Mynydd Epynt. This area forms the core of the MOD (Ministry of Defense) Sennybridge Training Area (SENTA) but is known to many in our world simply as “Epynt”.

Epynt has a rich history in British and indeed Welsh motorsport and we the rallying world look fondly upon it. It has played host to countless stage rallies over the years, the RAC Rally and has hosted Britain’s round of the World Rally Championship (WRC) throughout the nineties and noughties.

We have adopted some interesting names for some of the popular viewing locations across this playground over our time using this venue; some have origins from the military themselves and others from rallying. Many rallying folk whom have frequented this special place over the years may be familiar with some of those, such as Bamfords, Burma, Dixies, Piccadilly, and Noel Edmonds to name but a few. All of these evoke many memories of rallying to many generations, and we, the rallying community are very fortunate to still be using the “Sacred Venue” for our beloved sport today.

For round seven of the 2024 Motorsport UK, FUCHS Lubricants British Historic Rally Championship, the smooth roads of this infamous venue would once again play host to The Nigel Ferguson Fabricators Tour Of Epynt. An event that would also signal the end of a three-event-long stint on the tarmac for the Championship.

Organized by the Port Talbot Motor Club, a well-respected motor club that was officially formed in 1965 following a number of years of “Social Activities” for the workers from the Steel Company of Wales. The 2024 edition of their flagship stage rally, The Tour Of Epynt would expand to a two-day event covering 80 miles over 8 stages. Just like many of the stage rallies on Epynt, the venue’s own micro-climate would bring some interesting challenges to the crew on the opening leg of the rally.

Last time out in Scotland at the Argyll Rally, Manxman Mark Higgins would once again triumph in the TR7, beating the Porsche 911 of Seb Perez, but Perez would be the man arriving in Wales leading Richard Hill in the overall standings.

LEG 1 | STAGES 1 – 4

Higgins has a long career in rallying yet unbelievably has never competed on Epynt but that wasn’t going to stop him from giving it a good go. Higgins and Co-Driver Carl Williamson were the fastest on the opening test of the rally and would be four seconds quicker than Nick Elliott & Dave Price over the opening two-miler. Elliott had left the Fiat Abarth 131 at home and opted for his trusty old MKII Ford Escort this time out as it is more accustomed to the tarmac. Severn Valley winner Seb Perez who had Dale Bowen beside him for this one calling the notes in the 911 RS was a further two seconds down in third.

Photo: Mark Higgins & Carl Williamson | By Andy Cook (Xlerate.Media)

“It’s my first time here ever, it’s a bit of a baptism of fire to be fair, you do a recce and you think yeah that’s alright, but when you are hitting everything flat in 5th it’s a different animal.”

Mark Higgins

Before the crews could catch their breath they were straight into a 10.6-mile stage where Higgins more than doubled his advantage, adding another eight seconds to his early lead. Stretching across the ranges from the Westside to the East, the beginning was a bit wet but the second half was dry which can be typical of Epynts own little micro climate; therefore the talk of the opening loop of stages was very much one of what rubber to go on.

Photo: Seb Perez & Dale Bowen | By Andy Cook (Xlerate.Media)

“The first one was wet, slippy, and tricky, which was fine as we were on wets but the second one was bone dry, so the rear tyres were shot. I’m trying not to ruin them too much so it was just a bit of tyre management but I think he (Higgins) has taken a good chunk out of us. We were just not expecting it at all!”

Seb Perez

Just two stages in and there was trouble in the Elliott camp and it wasn’t just the changeable conditions that he was fighting, the Escort was suffering from some brake issues which resulted in a bit of an altercation with a bridge.

“Lost front brakes, just coming into Davrian’s Bridge, putting the handbrake on trying to get it stopped, we just basically spun and hit the bridge backward”.

Nick Elliott

Photo: Mark Higgins & Carl Williamson | By Andy Cook (Xlerate.Media)

Following a brief service halt in the quarry, it was back out for a repeat of the two stages, for which Higgins was again the quickest, behind him, the battle for second was looking rather interesting. Despite fighting with his iffy brakes, Elliott was locked in a battle with Neil Williams and the pair had matched each other’s times on SS3. However, Williams was able to overhaul Elliott in SS4 to end the opening leg of the rally second, some 23 seconds behind the overnight rally leaders Mark Higgins & Carl Williamson.

“It’s been a tricky night with the weather, it’s all gone well so far but it’s a big day tomorrow so have a good night’s sleep and have a good crack at it” “It’s great to come to Epynt and I’ve really enjoyed it so far but its really fast, it will be great just to get the slicks on in the morning and get a feeling” “Apart from the wipers the car’s been great”

Mark Higgins

Photos: Seb Perez & Dale Bowen | Neil Williams & Eurig Davies | Nick Elliott & Dave Price | By Andy Cook (Xlerate.Media)

Another four seconds back from Elliott and some 29 seconds off the pace of Higgins, was Seb Perez. “I had a good run in that last stage, but Marks on another level” “He’s going really well today, fair play to him, but don’t tell him that I said that”.  Rounding out the top five at the end of the opening day action were Rudi Lancaster and Guy Weaver in their MKII Ford Escort RS1800. Like everyone, Lancaster was just trying to get the best out of his tyres given the conditions. “Real pleased, We are trying hard and enjoying the tar”. For now, he was on top of the battle with Richard Hill & Patrick Cooper and would hold a small gap of just four seconds at the end of the first day of action.

LEADERBOARD AFTER LEG 1

POS	LEADERBOARD	CAT / CLASS	TIME
1	#202 M.HIGGINS / C.WILLIAMSON	FIA	22:42
2	#204 N.WILLIAMS / E.DAVIES	CAT3	+23
3	#205 N.ELLIOTT / D.PRICE	CAT3	+2
4	#201 S.PEREZ / D.BOWEN	CAT2	+4
5	#207 R.LANCASTER / G.WEAVER	CAT3	+18

LEG 2 | STAGES 5-8

The rally would be resumed the next morning with the main meat of the bone, a further four stages covering a total of 54 miles and the weather was a lot kinder. Beginning the day with a solid lead of 23 seconds to build upon, Mark Higgins & Carl Williamson wasted no time in bosting that lead by another ten seconds on the first 14-mile stage of the morning.

Photo: Mark Higgins & Carl Williamson | By Andy Cook (Xlerate.Media)

Despite a half spin, Seb Perez had begun his day well by jumping up into P2, although Higgins had taken the stage win by ten, Perez who thought the Porsche was more suited to the dry, was also eleven seconds quicker than his nearest competition, Neil Williams.

Photos: Seb Perez & Dale Bowen | Neil Williams & Eurig Davis | By Andy Cook (Xlerate.Media)

But Williams was first on the road and was having to also play a game of chicken with all the wooly friends that like to hang about on Epynt.

“You don’t wanna be first on the road up here in the morning, we had about five moments with sheep and I thought my luck was going to run out after the third one, I was lifting off” “I’ve never seen so many sheep just sitting on the road, it is what it is, I think we need a six or seven-speed ZF to be fair, I didn’t have anything left on the straights”

Neil Williams

Behind Williams in P4, Nick Elliott was still struggling with his brake problems, clearly, they hadn’t been able to resolve them overnight.

“If we had brakes it would be a really good day”, “The brakes went earlier than we expected because we didn’t fix it, we tried a few things last night but whatever it is it has eluded us; so they faded about mile 7, so it was basically just nursing it and avoid the chicanes”

Dave Price (Co-Driver to Nick Elliott)

Stage six was a repeat of five, this time around Higgins would only manage the win by four seconds, never-the-less, a stage win is a stage win and his overall lead at the midpoint in the day’s action was now up to a whopping 43 seconds; at this point in time the Manxman was starting to think about getting to the end and spraying the Champagne.

“We had a bit of a funny feeling on the last one so we just backed it off towards the end, I also caught a lot of sheep in there” “It’s the back end, it could have just been the tyres going off but we had a wheel issue before so I think it’s just best to be careful”

Mark Higgins

Photos: Nick Elliott & Dave Price | Rudi Lancaster & Guy Weaver | By Andy Cook (Xlerate.Media)

The battle between fourth and fifth was probably where the excitement was for the second day of the rally. Nick Elliott had begun the day with just a two-second gap to Rudi Lancaster, but Elliott would exit both that battle and the rally after going off the road in SS6. Elliott’s retirement had promoted Lancaster into fourth and Hill who was just eight seconds behind him up into fifth.

“It’s plenty quick enough, it’s a lot different today than yesterday obviously, a bit more consistent with the grip and it’s super fast with crests, and bends. There’s nowhere like Epynt, the further it goes on the more I love it, but arriving in the rain yesterday, it was more like why am I here?”

Rudi Lancaster

Richard Hill & Patrick Cooper | By Andy Cook (Xlerate.Media)

Hill himself was also enjoying the more favorable dryer condition, despite having a bit of a spin just before the Burma Road on SS5 “All pilot error and It’s a lot better today” he confirmed, but after the mornings two runs, Lancaster wasn’t a million miles off the pace “We still got another two stages to go and 30 odd miles so we’ll see what we can do”.

Outside of the top five, there was another great battle developing between a pair of MKII Escort RS1800s being piloted by Gareth Bevan and, Adrian Hetherington. After six stages, Bevan and Co-Driver Aled Rees would hold just an eight-second gap to Heatherington & Ronan O’Neil.

Bevan was really enjoying these Epynt stages, and although his day “Started off OK”, he reported that they then lost the brakes on the front, so “had to take it a bit cautious from then on” in SS6. Irishman Hetherington was also really enjoying the stages and that battle with Bevan.

“We’re in a bit of a race here with Gareth and we’re enjoying that” “The two boys are way upfront as far as the Championship is concerned, we’re not going to catch them, so our real race is with Richard and Rudi but they’re probably a bit too far ahead of us now as well”

Adrian Hetherington

Photo: Mark Higgins & Carl Williamson | By Andy Cook (Xlerate.Media)

The final loop of two would be the morning stage run in reverse twice and would offer up a fresh challenge in the opposite direction. Higgins would add his seventh stage win to his tally here bolstering his overall lead further by 15 seconds over Perez to 58 seconds. With just one stage remaining, was there really any point in continuing on? after all it was only really adding insult to injury.

“Good run, very different stage going that way wow, quite a few tricky bits, I think we got so used to going the other way but that definitely woke us up, it’s all the crests and knowing where to position yourself.”

Mark Higgins

Rudi Lancaster had a big push on in this stage to take the final podium spot away from Neil Williams with just one to go.

“We had a couple of big moments in there, full chat, fourth gear, big sideways drift, it ain’t ballroom dancing”

Rudi Lancaster

However, Williams was in trouble, Neil explains:

“We had a clutch folk brake (in SS7), no peddles, I couldn’t stop it. We managed to get back into service and all the guys helped us and pitched in to get us back out”

Photos: Rudi Lancaster & Guy Weaver | Neil Williams & Eurig Davies | Richard Hill & Patrick Cooper | By Andy Cook (Xlerate.Media)

In total, the gap between third and fifth place was now just six seconds, which was perfectly archivable over the final 13.64 miles; and so a three-way fight between, Lancaster, Williams, and, Hill in a final stage showdown was to end the rally.

Taking to the top step of the FUCHS Lubricants British Historic Rally Championship podium for the third time this season, Manxman Mark Higgins would dominate this rally from start to finish. With a full house of stage wins, Higgins would once again show his class out on those challenging Epynt ranges on his first-ever attempt at them. Bringing the Triumph TR7 home with a final margin of one minute and twenty seconds over the Porsche 911 RS of Seb Perez; and also taking the FIA category honors.

Photo: Mark Higgins & Carl Williamson | By Andy Cook (Xlerate.Media)

“It’s been a great weekend, a credit to David Applebee and the guys that have built the car it’s been fantastic. Loved Epynt for the first time, I can’t believe I’ve not been here before and I’ve loved every minute of it”

Mark Higgins

Despite being outclassed and out gunned on the day, Perez’s second place would still result in a good points haul to put towards his Championship campaign and another win in Category 2. He would also be leaving Wales still leading the overall driver’s standings and with a 30-point buffer to second-place man Higgins.

Photo: Seb Perez & Dale Bowen | By Andy Cook (Xlerate.Media)

“More points there but unfortunately bridesmaids again to Mr Higgins, but well look forward to the Woodpecker and see what that brings”, “I’ll definitely take it, he’s done a few rallies to be fair to him, so we’ll let him off”

Seb Perez

Having sorted the failed clutch folk, Neil Williams alongside Eurig Davies would, however, come out on top in the battle for the final podium place plus the Cat3 honours. The pair gave it their all in the final stage to rescue the result that they had worked so hard for, taking the final podium place back from Lancaster by just six seconds. Rudi himself had also only just managed to fend off Richard Hill in that last stage, who came in just one second behind him in fifth place.

Photo: Neil Williams & Eurig Davies | By Andy Cook (Xlerate.Media)

FINAL RESULTS

POS	LEADERBOARD	CAT / CLASS	TIME
1	#202 M.HIGGINS / C.WILLIAMS	FIA	1:09:23
2	#201 S.PEREZ / D.BOWEN	CAT2	+1:2
3	#204 N.WILLIAMS / E.DAVIES	CAT3	+1:00
4	#207 R.LANCASTER / G.WEAVER	CAT3	+6
5	#206 R.HILL / P.COOPER	CAT3	+1

GALLERY

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

POS	OVERALL	POINTS
1	S.PEREZ	161
2	MARK HIGGINS	131
3	RICHARD HILL	128
4	ADRIAN HETHERINGTON	119
5	RUDI LANCASTER	109

POS	CAT2	POINTS
1	SEB PEREZ	120
2	PHIL HARRIS	69
3	BEN SMITH	54

POS	CAT3	POINTS
1	RICHARD HILL	96
2	ADRIAN HETHERINGTON	88
3	RUDI LANCASTER	0

POS	CAT4	POINTS
1	DANNY COWELL	40
2	GEORGE LEPLEY	20
3	BAZ JORDON	18

POS	FIA	POINTS
1	MARK HIGGINS	100
2	DAVID PEDLEY	72
3	STEVE WARD	52

NEXT TIME

The Motorsport UK, FUCHS Lubricants British Historic Championship will return to gravel for Round 8 of the season. Where the Phil Price Memorial Woodpecker Rally will see a big change in the event from recent years. Organised by the Sixty & Worcester motor club, the event relocates from its old home in Ludlow to Newtown, Powys with a top lineup of world-class Welsh stages to greet the crews on 7th September. Xlerate.net is also excited to be supporting the event by sponsoring the Sweet Lamb Stage.