HILLS FORD STAGES Closed Road Rallying at its Best
Black Storms to Stages Win to Seal Championship Title

CALLUM Black and co-driver Jack Morton retained their Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship in style with a dominant Hills Ford Stages victory in their Ford Fiesta Rally 2 from Championship rivals Neil Roskell and Dai Roberts in the ND Civils Fiesta Rally 2.

Report by PAUL WILLETTS.

Third in the Much-Marcle-based rally went the way of Steve Wood and Kenny Hull in a Citroën C3 R5.The new two-day format proved popular, with the 140 crews parading through a packed Ledbury town centre on Saturday afternoon before the opening two tests over a short Castlemorton stage, watched by crowds of spectators in the sunshine.

Sunday dawned cloudy but dry for a further ten stages giving competitors some 63 miles of action in the lanes of Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire.

It was a difficult start for Black on the opening two short Saturday tests, lying 59th overnight after some issues, but from first thing Sunday morning he set fastest times on every stage, showing his class to take a comfortable victory from Roskell by one minute 20 seconds, with Wood just three seconds further back in third. Last year’s winner Mark Kelly was leading until stage 6 when he retired the Kelmore-backed Skoda Fabia R5

Event sponsor Will Hill also held eighth overnight, but unfortunately left the road on the morning’s opening test, breaking the rear suspension of his Hills Ford Fiesta Rally 2, his race over despite doing the final loop stages after repairs. Of the locals it was Coleford’s Nik Elsmore and Pauline Nash in the CDS Taxis & Calico Interiors Mitsubishi Evo 9 who took the honours with 16th overall and third in class, improving every stage with a good consistent run. Ben Friend together with regular Monmouth co-driver Cliffy Simmons took the historic honours in the Allglass Anglia Escort RS1800, but it came down to the last nine-mile Marcle Hill test after trailing Barry Stevenson-Wheeler in a similar car by a second, with a final push taking the class by 19 seconds from the Leicester driver.

Event sponsor Tim Hill with fellow veteran Paul Spooner from Abergavenny co-driving in the Hills Ford Fiesta Rally 3 – usually driven by Tim’s son Will – came home 29th and fifth in class.

Justin Brooks and Dan Evans finished 47th and third in class in the immaculate Vauxhall Nova on a rare outing behind the wheel for the experienced co-driver.

Newent’s Geoff Phelps and Colin Jenkins switched to the beautiful Hartpury Farms Mk1 Escort and took 48th and fourth in class on the driver’s local roads.

Steve Chaplin with Forresters Car Club’s Rich Suter on the notes took a solid 51st and fifth in class in the Dave Jenkins Motorsport Escort RS1800.

And it’s been a busy few weeks for Alan Marriage and Ross Motor Club’s Kevin Lane fresh from the Rali Bae Ceredigion, finishing 60th and seventh in class in the Brambourne- backed RS1800.

Kilcot garage owner Jeremy Harris and daughter Alexandra in the hotseat had an excellent run to 66th and ninth in class in the immaculate Escort Mexico.

And Ross father and daughter Paul and Jemma Taylor had a trouble free run to 85th and fourth in class in the Historic Mini.

Returning to rallying after 34 years were Richard Thomas and Paul Cook, who throughly enjoyed it taking 89th and second in class in his former road rally Escort.

Andrew Price with Adam Jones debuting the Ledbury-based AndyLandy modern Mini Cooper took 90th and 11th in class.

The route actually went past Price’s home, which was certainly was local knowledge. A total of 106 cars made the finish back at Much Marcle Showground after a tough day’s rallying. Retirements included Brad Cole with Abergavenny’s Jamie Vaughan in the 2.5 Escort, and Tim Phelps and Ross RC’s Matt Rogers’ Escort RS1800.

The event is well worthy of its Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship status, but the biggest thank you must go to Hills Ford, the local authorities and the residents who embrace the event, which brings a huge amount of brings a huge amount of revenue to the locality.

Across Three Counties

Establishing itself as one the UK’s premier closed road events, The Hills Ford Stages brings people up close to the best drivers and cars in the country, through the counties of Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.

A celebration of closed road rallying at it's best, offering a dynamic experience for drivers with an exhilarating and challenging journey through the picturesque landscapes of Herefordshire, Worcestershire, and Gloucestershire. Against this backdrop of natural beauty, competitors tackle unique road stages that showcase the region's diverse terrain, presenting a true test of skill and adaptability.

Kicking off with the iconic Ceremonial Start in Ledbury Town Centre, the rally sets the stage for an adrenaline-fueled competition. As daylight wanes, the introduction of early evening special stages adds a thrilling twist, pushing drivers to their limits in the changing light conditions.

Year after year, this annual event has captured the hearts of drivers and fans alike, drawing them to the region to witness the unparalleled rallying action amidst stunning surroundings. With each edition, the Hills Ford Stages Rally continues to raise the bar, introducing new challenges and pushing competitors to reach new heights of performance and determination.

Exciting Updates for 2024

New Championships, New Opportunities!

It all Begins in...
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Opening the rally is a Ceremonial Start in Ledbury Town CentreWe look forward to seeing you there

Resident F.A.Q's

Here we want to give a quick understanding of what Cloased Road Rally is all about. Hundreds of hours are put in behind the scenes to ensure w bring a posative, prosperous and safe event to your region
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  • What goes on behind the scenes to design a safe event for you,
  • What are the local benefits
  • What are our carbon offsett obligations
  • What do we give back to the local communities
  • What is a Safety Action Group

BECOME A PART OF THE RALLY

Marshalling offers an unbeatable combination of excitement, camaraderie, and personal fulfillment, making it a truly enjoyable experience for volunteers who love motorsport and want to be part of the action.
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Marshalling a motorsport rally can be an incredibly fun and rewarding experience. Here's why:

Exciting Atmospher | Close-Up Action | Team Camaraderie | Variety of Roles | Behind-the-Scenes Access | Personal Satisfaction

the details count

In collaboration with various stakeholders, including councils, parish councils, police, residents and professional bodies in order to bring the the best that motorsport has to offer.
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Safety is a paramount concern in professional motorsports events, with stringent regulations and protocols in place to ensure the well-being of competitors, officials, residents and spectators alike. This will involves continual meetings with includes a Safetry Action Group to monitor progress. The rally organisers, many of whom hold vairing  positions of authority in the community, from Police officers to high ranking officials

Carbon Conscious

Understanding our carbon footprint and assessing the environmental consequences of our actions are important in fulfilling our obligations to offset our impact on the environment.
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Motorsports future

In a proactive step, we have made a commitment to back the Severn Valleys TreaScapes project throughout 2024. This initiative is dedicated to the planning and creation of green areas along a specified corridor.  This aligns with our steadfast dedication to local environmental stewardship and our pledge to establish a positive legacy for the motorsport community and beyond.

Become a rally driver

If you have a passion for rally driving and are eager to learn more, you're in the right place! Rally driving is an exhilarating sport that requires skill, focus, and dedication.
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Whether you're interested in honing your driving skills or understanding the intricacies of rally, there are plenty of resources and opportunities available to help you pursue your passion. From rally schools and training programs to online forums and community events, you can immerse yourself in the world of rally driving and embark on an exciting journey of learning and discovery. So, if you're ready to take the wheel and explore the thrill of rally racing, let's get started!

If you think I have to be the fastest. You will more than likely loose!

Professional drivers in highly engineered cars setting the standard in car control and finesse. Being accurate and smooth every second is an art form of dancing under extreme conditions

So What is Stage Rallying

Rallying is not like Formula 1. Consistency in rallying is paramount. It’s not just about raw speed; it’s the ability to maintain a steady, reliable pace throughout the entire day. Drivers have to drive to the highest of standards. Being consistent minimises errors, preserves the vehicle, and maximises overall efficiency. Ensuring a strategic and reliable approach to conquer the diverse challenges of the course. every stage even public road times are assessed to meet specific average time controls and limits. bales and chicanes are used to reduce top speeds to maintain overall safety throughout the event.

Thank You To Our Motorsport Marshals

Motorsport officials, stewards, and marshals are the backbone of any rally event, playing vital roles in ensuring the safety, fairness, and smooth operation of competition. Understand their roles and be part of a community of friends.

 

 

"NO EGOS HERE"

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Hills Ford Stages

Hills Ford Stages