HIRST ON TARGET FOR THE WELSH CHAMPIONSHIP CROWN

Matthew Hirst is set to clinch the Welsh Rally title on Saturday’s Wyedean Stages.

Hirst and co-driver Declan Dean have won four of the five rounds to date and only a rear-suspension failure on their Ford Fiesta R5 on the Woodpecker Rally has interrupted their dominance of the championship.

With early challenger

Dylan Davies not entered for the Forest of Dean event, which is round six of seven, Hirst only needs to finish in the top six to be secure as champion in his debut season in the R5 car.

Hirst and Dear are seeded as car one on the Wyedean, which has a capacity field of 90 cars. Having won the event the last time it ran in 2019, Hirst is keen to seal the title with a victory.