Hirst gets that winning feeling back again after three seasons
Three years after taking his first outright win, Matthew Hirst repeated his 2019 success as he and Declan Dear won Rally North Wales in their
Ford Fiesta R5.
After making a steady start on SS1 in Pantperthog, it was James Williams/Jamie Edwards who set fastest time in their Hyundai i20 R5 ahead of Dylan Davies/Mark Glennerster’s Skoda Fabia. Unfortunately, Williams retired soon after, and Hirst leapfrogged Davies into the lead after setting his first fastest time in Dyfi 1. Despite a big moment on the next stage, Hirst set another fastest time, before giving second best to Davies in Garth 1, the leading two drivers both struggling with tyres that were too soft.
With harder rubber fitted, it all clicked for Hirst who went on to set fastest time on all four of the repeat runs of the mornings tests to secure the win. Davies settled for second as he ran out of tyres, while Tom Llewellin/Dale Bowen took a fine third after a drama-free run in their Mitsubishi Mirage.
Despite slowing for a yellow flag on one test, Robert Ceen/ Peredur Davies were able to finish fourth in their Fiesta, while John Caine/Andrew Sankey had a problem-free run to fifth in their Subaru.
Results
1 Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear (Ford Fiesta R5) 43m 57s; 2 Dylan Davies/Mark Glennerster (Skoda Fabia R5) +24s; 3 Tom Llewellin/Dale Bowen (Mitsubishi
Mirage); 4 Robert Ceen/Peredur Davies (Ford Fiesta); 5 John Caine/Andrew Sankey (Subaru Impreza); 6 Bob Morgan/ Ade Williams (Skoda Fabia R5); 7 Benjamin Ceen/Dylan Thomas (Ford Fiesta); 8 Lewers Firth/Shaun Lapper (Subaru Impreza); 9 Paul Walker/Geraint Thomas (Subaru Impreza) 10 Boyd Kershaw/ Keegan Rees (Ford Escort RS). Class winners: W3 Hefin Lloyd-Davies/Rich Jones (Vauxhall Corsa); W4 Mathew Jackson/Sasha Heriot (Ford Fiesta R2T); W5 Gareth Edwards/Daniel Jones (Ford Escort Mk 2); W6 Freddy Camp/Stephen Spear (Ford Escort 1600); W7 Christopher Davies/Remy Thomissen (Ford Escort); W8 Gary Smith/Clive Jones (Ford Escort Mk 1); W10 Dan Jones/Cyril Jones (Vauxhall Nova); W11 Kershaw/ Keegan; W12 Ashley Davies/Sam Fordham (Ford Escort RS); W13 Caine/ Sankey; W14 Ceen/Davies; A1 Mark Higgins/Claire Williams (Land Rover Bowler Defender 90).