Welsh ace roars into the rally record books
WELSH rally driver Matt Edwards stamped his name firmly in the record books after becoming Motorsport UK British Rally champion for the third time in a row at last weekend’s Modern Tyres Ulster Rally.
After a scintillating battle with team-mate and fellow Welshman and title contender Osian Pryce, Edwards and co-driver Darren Garrod hurled their Pirelli shod Melvyn Evans Motorsport Volkswagen Polo GTI through the treacherous lanes around Newry in County Down with ultimate precision.
Trading times throughout the event with his rival, the contest went down to the penultimate stage when an error from Pryce saw him launch his Polo off the road, giving Edwards his third title.
The victorious Welsh driver joins an illustrious list of names on the BRC trophy including Colin Mcrae, Richard Burns and Ari Vatanen. But even those iconic drivers could not secure the coveted title three times in a row and Edwards becomes the first in BRC history to do just that.
“This means everything to me,” said an emotional Edwards at the final stop line of the season.
“Everyone knows what the BRC means to me. I gave absolutely everything I could today.
“This Polo has been at all sorts of shapes on the roads on this rally and we have gone absolutely nuts to try to do the job.
“And a huge credit to Melvyn Evans who stuck by me. We could have easily not been here this weekend with all our budget problems after bouncing it off those Isle of Mull and Cambrian Rally hedges.
“That said, I don’t give up and this is the reward for that.”
The Ulster Rally had been a battle royal between the two contenders with Edwards needing to win to become champion.
However, Pryce also had his eyes on the prize after a hard-fought year and was doing everything in his power to not become a BRC runner-up for the third time in his career.
But his Volkswagen left stage on the eighth test, coming to rest on its roof, and the title fight was over .
The Melvyn Evans Motorsport team were also confirmed as British Rally Championship Teams victors.
Another great Welsh driver – Elfyn Evans – was narrowly beaten to the World Rally Championship crown by team-mate Sébastien Ogier at the Monza Rally in Italy.
Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia swept to a remarkable eighth title in nine seasons after a thrilling showdown with Evans and Scott Martin.
The lead changed six times across three days of challenging stages in the foothills of the Italian Alps and at Monza’s iconic race circuit.
The outcome was decided when Evans spun in the penultimate speed test, allowing Ogier to win by 7.3 seconds despite a final morning fright when he clipped a concrete barrier, taking a chunk out of his front right tyre.
His winning margin over Evans was 23 points.
“It’s been a pretty okay year,” said Evans. “Though I can’t help but feel a bit disappointed right now.
“You always look to the places you could have done better. We stalled twice on the second run of Monza. I locked up the brakes and couldn’t get the car turned and went into the bales and we had another stall later on.
“Not a great stage, but I have to say a really special thank you to this team.”
The 2022 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship has eight rounds for 2022. It has three events in Mid Wales, three in the north and two in the south, beginning at the end of March and running until October.
Most events are of a one-day format of 45 stage miles.
Rally North Wales opens the series on March 26. Next is the Rallynuts Stages on April 9.
Round three is the Plains Rally in the forests of North Wales on May 21. The Vale of Neath hosts round four, the Amman & District MC Red Kite Stages on June 12.
Round five will be the Nicky Grist Stages on July 9.
The Eventsigns Woodpecker Stages Rally has stages in Radnor forest on September 3.
The seventh and penultimate round is the Winner Garage Skoda Wyedean Rally route within the Forest of Dean on October 15, and the final round is the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally on October 29.