REPORT / TRACKROD RALLY YORKSHIRE 2025
23/10/2025WORDS BY ROB SAYER | PHOTOGRAPY BY ANDREW SCOTT & GF RALLY MEDIA
The afternoon of Friday 26th September saw the North Yorkshire seaside town of Filey play host to almost 170 rally cars as they gathered on the sea front for the ceremonial start of the 2025 Trackrod Rally Yorkshire.
incorporating the Trackrod Forest Stages and The Trackrod Historic Cup, and organised by Trackrod Motor Club, the event saw thousands of spectators descend upon the stunning local landscapes and forests that made up the challenging 5/6 stage 40/51 mile route. Accommodating several prestigious championships, most notably including the final round of the Fuchs Lubricants British Historic Rally Championship (BHRC) and round 5 of the Protyre BTRDA Rally Championship.
Big names and heavy hitters assembled to contest the Historic Cup, and whilst Barry ‘Baz’ Jordan had already sewn up the overall BHRC championship title at the Woodpecker Rally, a headline duel was expected between local drivers Dan Mennell (Malton) and Paul Thompson (Driffield), both driving Ford Escort Mk II’s as they battled for the Category 3 title. Adding star power to the line up, three time British Rally Champion Matt Edwards competed in Richard Jordan’s Ford Escort, using the event as preparation for the Roger Albert Clark Rally in November. Other notable entries included defending 2024 Trackrod Rally winner and a previous BHRC Champ, Ben Friend. Nick Elliott in a Malton built Fiat Abarth 131 and Malton rally legend Steve Bannister, marking his 50th year in motorsport.
The Protyre BTRDA Rally Championship also saw a strong local contingent. Elliot Payne (Harrogate, Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Matthew Hirst (Doncaster, Skoda Fabia R5) would be the leading contenders here. With close challengers including Liam Clark and Alex Vassallo, both driving Ford Fiesta Rally2s. In the two-wheel drive (2WD) category, Andy Davison headed the field in his Sunbeam VXR, while a lively contest was expected among the smaller 1400 engined entries including Dylan Fowler-Bishop (Nissan Micra), Edward James (Nissan Micra) and Nigel Jenkins (Vauxhall Nova) in the race for the BTRDA Bronze Star title.
PHOTOS BY ANDREW SCOTT
LEG 1
The rally began on Friday evening for the Trackrod Historic Cup, with an epic 11 mile night stage through Dalby Forest. George Lepley & Dafydd Evans drew first blood in their Mitsubishi Gallant VR4. Stopping the clocks almost 12 seconds ahead of closest challengers Matt Edwards & Sion Williams in their Mk II Ford Escort. Another Escort, piloted by Dan Mennell & John Roberts secured third position overnight, a mere 3.7 seconds further adrift. The battle for 4th place was tight and separated by just one second, in the favour of the Subaru Legacy crewed Matthew Robinson & Hannah McKillop. Paul Thompson & Josh Davison rounded out the top five in their Ford Escort as the crews headed back to Filey for the overnight stop.
PHOTOS: GEORGE LEPLEY & DAFYDD EVANS | MATT EDWARDS & SION WILLIAMS | BY ANDREW SCOTT
LEG 2
The opening leg of Saturday’s proceedings would see all crews tackle some of Yorkshire’s most revered special stages. Taking in Cropton, Gale Rigg and the first of two runs through Staindale before returning to Filey for the lunch time service break.
In the Historic Cup George Lepley continued the imperious form he’d displayed during Friday night’s running, the not-always-reliable Mitsubishi Gallant never missing a beat, as they took wins on all three stages and extended their lead to a commanding 27 seconds in the process.
PHOTOS: GEORGE LEPLEY & DAFYDD EVANS – BY GF RALLY MEDIA | MATT EDWARDS & SION WILLIAMS – BY ANDREW SCOTT
The Matt Edwards piloted Mk II Escort would be their nearest rivals, holding second position after the morning’s stages. Second fastest through Cropton, fourth through Gale Rigg and third through Staindale, saw Edwards and Co Driver Williams extend their gap over third placed Dan Mennell & John Roberts to 7.7 seconds. Last year’s Historic Cup winner Ben Friend, with Cliffy Simmons alongside, held 4th place, 23.8 seconds further back and 5.7 seconds ahead of Matthew Stroud & Josh Carr’s 5th placed Escort.
PHOTOS: DAN MENNELL & JOHN ROBERTS – BY GF RALLY MEDIA | BEN FRIEND & CLIFFY SIMMONS – BY ANDREW SCOTT | MATTHEW STROUD & JOSH CARR – BY ANDREW SCOTT
In the Protyre BTRDA Rally Championship it was the Rally2 Fiesta of Elliot Payne & Patrick Walsh leading the charge in the Gold Star field. Second in Cropton, first in Gale Rigg and second again in the first run through Staindale meant the duo held the narrowest of leads over their closest rivals. Matthew Hirst and Declan Dear were just a half second behind in their Fabia R5 and fighting all the way.
PHOTOS: ELLIOT PAYNE & PATRICK WALSH – BY GF RALLY MEDIA | MATTHEW HIRST & DECLAN DEAR – BY ANDREW SCOTT
Meanwhile, Daniel Sigurðarson & Asta Sigurðardóttir were bouncing back from a DNF in the previous round at the Phil Price Memorial Woodpecker Rally, holding a convincing third place at the end of Saturday’s opening leg. And in a strange mirroring of the BHRC standings from the previous night, the battle for fourth in the modern event was also incredibly close. Joe Cunningham & Joshua Beer seemingly winning that battle in their Fiesta WRC, leading Liam Clarke & Chris Williams’ Rally2 Fiesta by less than a second.
PHOTOS: DANIEL SIGURÐARSON & ÁSTA SIGURÐADÓTTIR | JOE CUNNINGHAM & JOSHUA BEER | LIAM CLARK & CHRIS WILLIAMS | BY ANDREW SCOTT
With just two stages remaining, the situation was primed for multiple grand showdowns en-route to the Filey finish.
PHOTO: GEORGE LEPLEY & DAFYDD EVANS – BY ANDREW SCOTT
George Lepley & Dafydd Evans wasted no time getting back up to speed in the Gallant VR4. Taking the win on stage five, the second run through Dalby Forest, by over 9 seconds. Although Matt Edwards & Sion Williams put in a heroic fight back, subsequently winning the final stage, it wasn’t enough to overhaul the deficit Lepley & Evans had accumulated throughout the day. They earned victory with a triumphant 35.7 second advantage over the three times British Champion.
PHOTOS: MATT EDWARDS & SION WILLIAMS – BY GF RALLY MEDIA | DAN MENNELL & JOHN ROBERTS – BY ANDREW SCOTT
The TrackRod has seen a stand out performance from local man Dan Mennell. Not only securing 3rd place in the Trackrod Historic Cup but also clinching the Category 3 title in the British Historic Rally Championship. Last year’s winner, Ben Friend brought his Mk II Escort home in 4th with Matthew Stroud rounding out the top five.
PHOTOS: MATTHEW STROUD & JOSH CARR | BEN FRIEND & CLIFFY SIMMONS – BY ANDREW SCOTT
The drama wasn’t finished yet either as the BTRDA Gold Star registered crews tackled the final two special stages. Elliot Payne and Patrick Walsh’s challenge came to an abrupt end during their run through the Dalby stage. A catastrophic turbo failure subsequently caused a fire in the car and brought their hopes of victory crashing down. Thankfully the quick acting marshalls were able to extinguish the blaze before anyone was hurt.
PHOTOS: ELLIOT PAYNE & PATRICK WALSH – BY ANDREW SCOTT | MATTHEW HIRST & DECLAN DEAR – BY GF RALLY MEDIA
This would have appeared to gift victory to Matthew Hirst & Declan Dear. However the Skoda pairing would clip a bank in the very same stage and end up rolling the car onto its side. They lost a chunk of time but through the efforts of both marshalls & spectators, the car was righted and amazingly they were able to continue, seemingly avoiding major damage or injury. In a display of defiance, they then went on to post the fastest time in the final stage, and thus secured overall victory for the second consecutive year. This marked the dynamic duos third maximum points haul of the season and propels them back into the championship lead with only two rounds remaining.
Daniel Sigurðarson & Asta Sigurðardóttir finished 2nd overall, 15 seconds behind the winners, and were surely delighted to draw a line under their Woodpecker retirement in spectacular podium style. Joe Cunningham & Joshua Beer rounded out the podium in their Fiesta WRC, although not scoring BTRDA points. Alexander Vassallo who finished 5th overall, would record 3rd in the Gold Star, a result that launches him to second in the championship standings, sandwiched between Hirst and Payne.
PHOTOS: JOE CUNINGHAM & JOSHUA BEER | ALEXANDER VASSLLO & MICHEAL GILBEY | BY GF RALLY MEDIA
In the Protyre BTRDA Silver Star Championship, David Henderson & Chris Lees returned to form in their Ford Escort MKII, with a maximum points win after a previous DNF and second place at the Woodpecker. Now sitting pretty, and third overall in the Silver Star standings but are expected to rise when dropped scores are applied.
PHOTO: DAVID HENDERSON & CHRIS LEES – BY ANDREW SCOTT
Barry Jordan & Arwel Jenkins, having already secured the BHRC overall championship last time out, achieved their best Silver Star result of the season, finishing 2nd in their Mitsubishi Gallant. Meanwhile, the Opel Adam R2 of Tom Constantine & Tony Walker secured third place on the Silver Star podium.
PHOTOS: BARRY JORDAN & ARWEL JENKINS | TOM CONSTANTINE & TONY WALKER – BY ANDREW SCOTT
Finally, in the ProTyre BTRDA Bronze Star Championship, the battle between Nova and Micra continued to dominate the season. Nigel & Kaz Jenkins won again in their Vauxhall Nova, repeating their success from previous rounds, the result sees them positioned third in the standings.
PHOTO: NIGEL & KAREN JENKINS – BY ANDREW SCOTT
Dylan Fowler-Bishop & Dan Evans, who finished second once again, lead the Bronze Star standings with two round remaining. Securing the final spot on the podium were Ed James & Kevin Lane in their Nissan Micra Kit Car, maintaining a 100% finishing record and staying second overall in the standings.
PHOTOS: DYLAN FOWLER-BISHOP & DAN EVANS | EDWARD JAMES & KEVIN LANE – BY ANDREW SCOTT
FINAL RESULTS – TRACKROD FOREST STAGES
| POS | LEADERBOARD | CHAMP | TIME |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | M.HIRST / D.DEAR | BTRDA | 37:28.8 |
| 2 | D.SIGURÐARSON / Á.SIGURÐADÓTTIR | BTRDA | 37:45.5 (+16.7) |
| 3 | J.CUNNINGHAM / J.BEER | 37:58.5 (+13.0) | |
| 4 | A.GINLEY / K.GRAY | 38:16.9 (+18.4) | |
| 5 | A.VASSALLO / M.GILBEY | BTRDA | 38:23.5 (+6.6) |
| = 6 | S.PETCH / M.WILKINGSON | 38:21.7 (+8.2) | |
| = 6 | L.CLARK / C.WILLIAMS | BTRDA | 38:21.7 (+0.0) |
| 8 | D.HIORNS / R.FAGG | BTRDA | 38:44.1 (+12.4) |
| 9 | S.PAWSON / L.WHITELY | BTRDA | 39:49.1 (+1:05.0) |
| 10 | P.NAYLOR / I.LAWRENCE | BTRDA | 40:21.4 (+32.3) |
FINAL RESULTS – TRACKROD HISTORIC CUP
| POS | LEADERBOARD | CHAMP | TIME |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | #102 G.LEPLEY / D.EVANS | BHRC | 52:01.2 |
| 2 | #181 M.EDWARDS / S.WILLIAMS | 52:36.9 (+35.7) | |
| 3 | #104 D.MENNELL / J.ROBERTS | BHRC | 52:54.2 (+17.3) |
| 4 | #101 B.FRIEND / C.SIMMONS | BHRC | 53:18.8 (+24.6) |
| 5 | #112 M.STROUD / J.CARR | BHRC | 53:35.9 (+17.1) |
| 6 | #105 D.HENDERSON / C.LEES | BHRC | 53:41.3 (+5.4) |
| 7 | #111 P.THOMPSON / J.DAVISON | BHRC | 54:21.6 (+40.3) |
| 8 | #110 R.HILL / P.COOPER | 54:29.2 (7.6) | |
| 9 | #108 T.WALSTER / W.ATKINS | BHRC | 54:37.1 (+7.9) |
| 10 | #118 J.MATHEWSON / T.SPENCER | 54:41.4 (+4.3) |
NEXT TIME
The British Historic Championship has concluded for 2025, however, the BTRDA Rally Championship continues on with two rounds remaining, heading next to North Wales for the Cambrian Rally.
