REPORT / MALCOLM WILSON RALLY 2025

WORDS BY ROB SAYER | PHOTOGRAPY ANDREW SCOTT & ROB SAYER

The 48th running of the Malcolm Wilson Rally kicked off the 2025 Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Championship in stunning style, as competitors took on the fast and technical forest stages of the Lake District.

Based out of Cockermouth, the event once again benefited from its close ties to M-Sport, with scrutineering held at the World Rally Team’s headquarters at Dovenby Hall. A challenging, eight-stage route, covering 43 competitive miles awaited the crews. Featuring some of the most picturesque special stages in the UK and with a stacked, 120 car entry list, the competition was set to be fierce.

Leading the charge were Elliott Payne & Patrick Walsh. Three-time consecutive BTRDA Gold Star champions. Having dominated last year’s event Payne returned in his Fiesta Rally2 carrying the coveted number 1 on the doors.

However, they’d face stiff competition from several other proven winners including Matthew Hirst & Declan Dear. The pairing, fresh from a record-breaking fourth Welsh Rally Championship title are looking stronger than ever following their switch to a Fabia Rally2 last season.

Adding to the excitement, two British Rally Championship front runners also entered into the mix, albeit not registered for BTRDA points. Garry Pearson & Hannah McKillop in their Fiesta Rally2 and Meirion Evans & Dale Furniss in their GR Yaris Rally2 will be looking to gain valuable gravel mileage before their next BRC outing in Carlisle.

Another driver to watch is Callum Black. The two-time Protyre Asphalt Rally Champion impressed here last year with a category win in the BTRDA Bronze Star standings. This time competing in the Gold Star category in a Fiesta Rally2, partnered with Peredur Davies. They could be a real dark horse in the fight at the front.

LEG 1

The opening leg of the rally delivered exciting battles across the picturesque yet demanding forest stages, setting the tone for what promised to be an extremely competitive event.

Stage 1: Hobcarton – 2.22 miles The rally kicked off with the tight and technical Hobcarton stage in Whinlatter Forest, where Meirion Evans wasted no time in making his mark. He claimed the first stage win of the event, edging out Callum Black by a mere two seconds. Elliott Payne and Gary Pearson were locked in an early dead heat, tying for third just one second further adrift. The tight gaps between competitors were a testament to the level of competition this year, with the top 18 cars separated by just 10 seconds.

Stage 2: Comb – 2.50 miles The crews remained within Whinlatter Forest for the second stage, Comb, where a new name rose to the top. Vivian Hamill and co-driver Lorcan Moore set the pace, securing the stage win and vaulting into third place overall. Evans, determined to maintain his lead, finished just one second behind, while Pearson was another second adrift, a result that propelled him into second place overall.

Stage 3: Thornthwait – 2.34 miles The final stage within the Whinlatter complex, Thornthwait, proved to be another nail-biter. Meirion Evans and Matthew Hirst set identical times, reinforcing Evans’ position at the top and elevating Hirst into joint third place alongside Callum Black. Pearson maintained his consistency, finishing two seconds off the pace and further solidifying his hold on second overall. Black’s pace kept him in the fight, matching Hirst’s overall time to form a deadlock for third place.

Stage 4: Wythop – 3.25 miles The rally then moved north to Wythop Woods, where competitors faced a longer and more scenic challenge overlooking Bassenthwaite Lake. This stage saw Gary Pearson strike back with his first stage win of the day, two seconds clear of Hirst. This result widened the gap between second and third overall to five seconds. Evans posted an identical time to Hirst, maintaining his four-second advantage at the top of the standings. Meanwhile, Callum Black’s solid effort kept him in fourth overall, four seconds ahead of Elliott Payne in fifth.

Stage 5: Greystoke – 7.50 miles The longest stage of the morning, Greystoke, offered a crucial opportunity for shake-ups before the first service break. Elliott Payne finally found his rhythm, tying for the fastest time with Pearson. This stellar run catapulted him into third place overall, pushing both Hirst and Black down the order. Pearson’s effort also paid dividends, as his joint stage-winning time slashed Evans’ lead down to just two seconds, setting up an intense battle for the remainder of the rally.

AFTER STAGE 5

POS	LEADERBOARD	TIME (DIF)
1	#5 M.EVANS / D.FURNISS	18:21
2	#2 G.PEARSON / H.MCKILLOP	18:23 (+2)
3	#1 E.PAYNE / P.WALSH	18:34 (+13)
4	#3 M.HIRST / D.DEAR	18:35 (+14)
5	#4 C.BLACK / P.DAVIES	18:38 (+17)

LEG 2

Stages 6 & 7 The 48th running of the Malcolm Wilson Rally continued to deliver high drama as the crews tackled the afternoon loop through the stunning Grizedale Forest complex, with Coniston Water providing a breathtaking backdrop. With the competition tighter than ever, the battle for overall victory remained wide open.

Stage 6: Grizedale South – 8.50 miles The first of the afternoon’s tests saw Matthew Hirst & Declan Dear assert themselves, taking their first stage victory of the event by three seconds. This impressive run propelled them back into third overall, reigniting their charge for a podium finish. Gary Pearson once again proved his consistency, finishing second on the stage, just one second ahead of early rally leader Meirion Evans. This result meant the top two were now separated by just a single second with only two stages remaining, setting up a nail-biting conclusion.

Stage 7: Grizedale North – 8.99 miles The longest stage of the day proved to be a pivotal moment. Garry Pearson continued his relentless pursuit of the lead, snatching the stage win by a single second over Hirst and Evans, who set identical times. After more than 35 miles of competitive rallying, Pearson and Evans were now deadlocked at the top of the standings. With only one stage left to run, crews had a final opportunity to make adjustments and repairs at service before tackling the decisive test: a return to the 7.50-mile Greystoke stage.

Stage 8: Greystoke – 7.50 miles An unpredictable and thrilling finale was all but guaranteed, but few could have foreseen the drama that would unfold. Elliott Payne, the reigning three time champion, found his form at just the right time, matching Pearson’s stage winning effort. Meanwhile, Meirion Evans, who had led the rally from the opening stage, suffered heartbreak when a late stage puncture cost him vital seconds. Despite an outstanding drive, he fell short by just one second, allowing Pearson to snatch victory at the final moment.

Garry Pearson & Hannah McKillop claimed the 2025 Malcolm Wilson Rally victory in their M-Sport Fiesta Rally2 by just one second over Meirion Evans & Dale Furniss in their MEM GR Yaris Rally2.

Matthew Hirst & Declan Dear secured the final podium spot in their Fabia Rally2, also taking top points in the BTRDA Gold Star category.

Payne & Walsh finished fourth overall but secured second place in the Gold Star standings, with Daniel Sigurdarson & Àsta Sigurdardóttir rounding out the Gold Star podium in fifth overall.

In the BTRDA Silver Star Championship, David Henderson & Will Atkins dominated in their Mk II Ford Escort, winning the final three stages to seal victory. Lewis Hooper & Rhys Edwards secured second place, with Rob Dennis & Andy Boswell completing the podium.

And in the ultra-competitive BTRDA Bronze Star category, Dylan Fowler-Bishop & Dan Evans piloted their Nissan Micra to top points, narrowly beating the Vauxhall Nova of Nigel & Kaz Jenkins, who settled for second. Another Micra, driven by Ashley Francis-Adams & Mark Ammonds, claimed third place, marking a strong start to their season.

FINAL RESULTS

POS	LEADERBOARD	TIME
1	#2 G.PEARSON / H.MCKILLOP	44:07
2	#5 M.EVANS / D.FURNISS	44:08 (+1)
3	#3 M.HIRST / D.DEAR	44:21 (+14)
4	#1 E.PAYNE / P.WALSH	44.34 (+27)
5	#15 D.SIGURÐARSON / Á.SIGURÐADÓTTIR	45:16 (+1:09)

NEXT TIME

With the first round of the championship now in the books, attention turns north to Jedburgh for the Border Counties Rally on Saturday, May 10th. The battle for BTRDA supremacy is well and truly underway, and if the Malcolm Wilson Rally was any indication, the season promises to be one of the most competitive in years.
Stay tuned with Xlerate for all the latest updates from the UK rally scene.