REPORT / WYEDEAN STAGES 2025

WORDS BY ALFIE ELEMENTS | PHOTOGRAPY BY ANDREW SCOTT & NIGEL PRATT (BLACK MOUNTAINS MEDIA)

The Richard Cole Contracting Wyedean Stages 2025 delivered a day of unrelenting gravel action, which ended with a shower of champagne. The Forest of Dean has long been one of British rallying’s most recognisable backdrops, where the stages are fast and slippery in places, and always provide a demanding challenge. This was the forty-seventh running of the Wyedean and the final event of the 2025 Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship.

As the Wyedean is conveniently located near Bristol, South Wales, and the Midlands, this event is always well-liked by rally enthusiasts and draws in a large crowd that lines the stages.

This year was similar to the previous years’ event, with 40 stage miles spread across Yorkley, Serridge, and Speech House. This meant that when the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship came to an end here, the spectators would undoubtedly help to create a fantastic atmosphere out on the stages.

Heading into the Wyedean, there were three main title contenders in the Welsh Championship. After missing the first couple of rounds, multiple Welsh Champion Matthew Hirst, with Declan Dear alongside him, would be on a charge in search of his fifth Pirelli Welsh Gravel Championship title at the event.

In the run-up to the event, it wasn’t looking great for Liam Clark in his Ford Fiesta Rally2, due to him not having an entry. However, due to a last-minute withdrawal just a few days before the off, Clark would be lucky to get one last blast in at the final event of the Welsh Championship.

After a retirement on the Cambrian Rally, James Giddings and Aled Davies were also looking for one last strong push to help with their Pirelli Welsh Gravel Championship campaign to round out their year.  

4WD

The four-wheel drive entry was led by Welsh Championship regulars and previous winners Matthew Hirst and Declan Dear, the pair being favorites for the event in their Skoda Fabia R5.  Their main competition would be Liam Clark, with Harry Stubbs alongside him in the Ford Fiesta Rally2. Nik Elsmore would also be on a hard charge for Hirst, in his freshly hired Skoda Fabia R5 with Pauline Nash. James Wilson & Paul Mulholland in the Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 were a surprise addition to the entry list after a couple of years out of the sport. Local Bob Morgan was another regular to watch out for in his Skoda Fabia R5, along with Rob Morris, in his Citroen C3 Rally2, who was also looking for a strong result after only a handful of gravel events under his belt.

PHOTO: MATTHEW HIRST & DECLAN DEAR | BY ANDREW SCOTT

The first loop of stages started with an 8.8-mile run through Speech House. Hirst was hot off the blocks with a 16-second lead over Elsmore, who spent that first stage adjusting to the new car. Championship rival, Liam Clark, was third overall through the opening stage, just 28 seconds down on Hirst. After two completed stages, Hirst was leading the event by 20 seconds over Elsmore, with Clark a further 11 seconds behind in third. After a break from rallying, Wilson was an impressive 43 seconds adrift after the opening loop, and Morris was up to 6th overall, suffering a misfire.

PHOTOS: NIK ELSMORE & PAULINE NASH | LIAM CLARK & HARRY STUBBS | JAMES WILSON & PAUL MULHOLLAND | ROB MORRIS & PAUL SPOONER | BY ANDREW SCOTT

After the first service of the day, the crews headed to Serridge for a 5.6-mile blast. Hirst was still in control and extending his lead, having posted a time that was 6 seconds faster than Elsmore, with Clark 11 seconds back. Championship contender Giddings was setting respectable times himself, but was seemingly already out of reach as he was over a minute and a half behind after three stages. The fourth stage was a repeat of the Speech House test, and this is where we sadly lost Elsmore, having suffered a broken wheel. Who can catch Hirst now?

PHOTOS: MATTHEW HIRST & DECLAN DEAR | JAMES GIDDINGS & ALED DAVIES | BOB MORGAN & ADIE WILLIAMS | BY NIGEL PRATT (BLACK MOUNTAINS MEDIA)

After a quick service, the crews head back out for the final loop of two stages. The second pass through Serridge, Hirst was 9 seconds faster than Clark; With Wilson a second off, Clark and Morgan a further 13 back.

The final stage of the day was a 6.8-mile pass of Staple Edge, and there was no change at the top as Hirst was still the man to catch. Hirst won every stage of the day and thus cemented his win of over a minute and twenty seconds.  Just three seconds back from Hirst through the final stage was Wilson, who`d been on a charge all afternoon, but it was too little, too late. Clark had done everything he could, but finished second overall with a minute and twenty gap to Hirst upfront. Wilson rounded out the podium in third overall with a minute and thirty seconds off the leader.

PHOTOS: LIAM CLARK & HARRY STUBBS | JAMES WILLSON & PAUL MULHOLLAND | BY ANDREW SCOTT

Matthew Hirst and Declan Dear would take the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship title at the final round, having finished three points ahead of Liam Clark. Meanwhile, James Giddings, suffering a retirement on stage six with gearbox issues, would be placed third overall in the Championship.

Hirst reflects on his wins

“It’s a great achievement and something we`re very proud of. The event has a fantastic history when you look at the previous winners, and it always attracts a strong crowd, so to take the win five years in a row is special.”

“The Welsh Championship is also a title we value highly, and this year feels particularly rewarding considering we skipped a third of the season to focus on other events. It`s a great way to finish this year on a high.”

PHOTO: MATTHEW HIRST & DECLAN DEAR | BY NIGEL PRATT (BLACK MOUNTAINS MEDIA)

2WD

In the two-wheel drive category, Tom Llewellin & Sion Williams led the pack in their Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2 with Ben Friend & Cliff Simmons seeded behind them. Another strong contender for the two-wheel drive category was Nick Elliot & Dave Price in the Fiat 131 Abarth. Other contenders for the two-wheel-drive category include Natalie Robinson & Sam Collis, Geoff Phelps & Colin Jenkins and locals Nigel & Karen Jenkins. With Phelps & Jenkins picking up the two-wheel drive win on the Cambrian, they were on track to carry on from their recent success.

PHOTO: BEN FRIEND & CLIFFY SIMMONS | BY ANDREW SCOTT

After the first stage, Friend was leading the two-wheel drive category by ten seconds over Elliot. Phelps was a further forty seconds back, but sadly, Llewellin had issues during the first stage with a spring securing the exhaust manifold failing. They were able to get back to service after the second stage, to then gain valuable seat time ahead of their Roger Albert Clark Rally assault. Jenkins also had issues with the Nova during the opener, with the drive shaft popping out just half a mile into the stage.

PHOTOS: NICK ELLIOTT & DAVE PRICE | GEOGG PHELPS & COLIN JENKINS | NIGEL & KAREN JENKINS | BY NIGEL PRATT (BLACK MOUNTAINS MEDIA)

Friend carried on the pace into the second stage, Yorkley, and was three seconds faster than Barry Stevenson-Wheeler & Richard Wise. Phelps also continued with his pace and set a top-three two-wheel drive time. After the first service, there was a fifty-second gap between the top five two-wheel drive cars. With the 1400 Nova fixed, locals Nigel Jenkins & Karen Jenkins were back rallying and setting rapid times.

With three stages to go until the next service, it was all to play for with Friend continuing to set top times. Llewellin is now in a super rally following his issues in the first loop; he was also setting quick times. Mike Simpson & Dale Gibbons seemed to be on a charge as they were setting consistently fast times stage by stage. Elliot was another to set respectable times all day; however, with two stages remaining, could he catch Friend`s Escort?

PHOTOS: BY ANDREW SCOTT

Going into the final two stages, Friend had a forty-second lead over Elliot in his 131, but sadly for Friend and Co-Driver Simmons, the pair would retire on the final stage of the day with a snapped steering arm. This handed the two-wheel drive win over to Nick Elliot & Dave Price in the Fiat 131 Abarth. The second two-wheel drive home was Barry Stevenson-Wheeler & Richard Wise, who finished a minute and fifty seconds behind Elliot. Third place was Geoff Phelps & Colin Jenkins, the pair being just three seconds off Barry. This sees Geoff and Colin as class winners in the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship.

FINAL RESULTS

The Wyedean was a great way to round out the 2025 Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship, with tough stages in the Forest of Dean to challenge the crews. It was another classic ending to a strong year of rallying in the Welsh Forests, with our multiple Welsh Champs taking a record-breaking fifth title at The Dean.

PHOTO: PIRELLI WELSH RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP PODIUM | BY NIGEL PRATT (BLACK MOUNTAINS MEDIA)