OUR SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS HELPED MAKE IT HAPPEN
There are a lot of people to thank following the 2026 Hills Ford Stages, but this one is for our sponsors, supporters and event partners.
Quite simply, without their support, we could not have delivered the event we did.
The cost of putting on a modern closed-road rally is considerable. The support we receive from businesses and organisations plays a vital part in allowing us to deliver the event, while helping us keep entry costs as sensible as possible and provide the best value for our competitors.
From our title sponsor Hills Ford and Tier One sponsor GSF Car Parts, through to our event sponsors Cartwrights Waste Disposal Services, Get Connected, MAR Motorsport, Thomas Panels & Profiles, Cherry Rock, Land & Estate Maintenance, Lacey & Owen and R.A. Swann Ltd — every contribution made a difference.
But an event like ours also depends upon organisations prepared to provide their expertise, facilities, services and support.
So our thanks also go to our supporters and event partners, including Volkswagen & Audi Centre, Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, Wales Air Ambulance Charity, Shropshire Rural Support, Chinnicks Theatre Services, Harper Adams University, M-Sport, Rallying the Wright Way, Shrewsbury Colleges Group, University of Gloucestershire Sports Journalism, Halls, Clifton Security, Another Day in Orange, British Rally Marshals Club, Lingen Davies Cancer Support, Special Stage and Design and media by Steve.
Their contribution helped us deliver everything from the competition itself to safety, venues, communications, education, media, community engagement and the wider experience surrounding the rally.
Sponsorship and partnership aren’t simply about a logo on a banner
They help keep our sport affordable.
They help us give competitors value for their entry.
They provide the people, expertise and resources that make an event possible.
So, to every business and organisation that put its name, resources, time or financial support behind the 2026 Hills Ford Stages:
THANK YOU.
You didn’t just support the rally.
You helped make history in Shropshire for fans and competitors.
- Published in Uncategorised
SHREWSBURY-BASED RALLY IS A HIT FOR SHROPSHIRE
The first running of the Hills Ford stages in Shropshire over the weekend of September 19-20 has drawn widespread praise from competitors, officials and, most importantly, local residents.
The special stage rally brought 150 competitors from across the UK to Shrewsbury for a day and a half of competitive rallying based on closed-road special stages in the Shropshire countryside. The event opened with a ceremonial start in Shrewsbury Town Centre on Saturday afternoon, when the cars were flagged away by the town mayor, and thousands of people lined the streets to see the cars heading out towards the first of the competitive action at Weston Park on the Shropshire-Staffordshire border.
The Weston Park stage proved almost too popular as queues formed and some visitors were late in gaining access to the venue. But once inside they were treated to five hours of rally action as the competitors tackled a special stage in the grounds of the stately home.
On Sunday, it was out into the glorious Shropshire countryside, which looked at its very best bathed in early autumn sunshine, and the crowds thronged the special stages to see the action. Competitors on the event reported an amazing response on both the timed special stages and on the non-competitive sections around the area, with residents sitting outside their homes watching the cars go by, waving and cheering. There was a real party atmosphere in the villages on the route. Residents also praised the driving behaviour of the crews on the non-competitive sections that linked the special stages.
It proved to be a hugely competitive event, and victory went to Northampton-based Callum Black and his co-driver James Aldridge in their Ford Fiesta Rally2. The best of the local competitors was Church Stretton co-driver Phil Clarke who, alongside his driver Jason Pritchard from Builth Wells, finished second overall in their Toyota Yaris GR Rally2. Meanwhile, another local co-driver Jack Bowen from Hereford finished third alongside his driver Aled Wyn Morgans from Aberystwyth in their Ford Fiesta Rally2. Other notable performances came from Shrewsbury-based Gareth Price, who took his BMW compact up into a remarkable 10th overall and first in his class.
However, the real winner from the event was the county of Shropshire which gained a massive tourism boost with hotels, pubs, restaurants all enjoying a busy weekend. Meanwhile, the spectacle of this high-profile rally coming to the Shropshire countryside drew widespread praise from residents and local people. The organisers have already been inundated with positive responses to the event and many requests to please run it again next year.
The organising team from Cheltenham Motor Club would like to thank everyone who played a part in the safe running of the event, including the volunteer marshals, but most importantly, the people of Shropshire for such a warm and positive welcome for the rally.
-ends-
Issued by Paul Lawrence on behalf of the Hills Ford Stages.
Photos by Ben Lawrence being sent by ‘wetransfer’
- Published in Uncategorised
THANK YOU TO THE MARSHALS
On behalf of Chief Marshal Luke Watts and the Hills Ford Stages organising team, we cannot thank you enough for your attendance on the weekend, whether helping in Shrewsbury or Weston Park on Saturday, or manning the stages on Sunday. Without all of you, this rally would have been impossible to hold.
To run five stages of good lengths on closed roads was certainly a challenge from a marshals side of things so I am indebted to all of you for making it happen.
As an event moving to a new county, we headed into the unknown slightly, but the positive reaction of many locals has been warming and was showcased perfectly by the packed ceremonial start in Shrewsbury on Saturday afternoon.
Planning is already underway by the key team and we look forward to hopefully welcoming you all back next year to this event.
- Published in Uncategorised
Hills Ford Stages Rally Clothing
GET YOUR RALLY GEAR AT WESTON PARK!
Something else to look out for at Weston Park this Saturday…
Rally Marketing will be joining us with the official Hills Ford Stages clothing range, produced especially for our Shropshire event.
Hoodies, jackets, caps, bobble hats and clothing for the younger rally fans too — all carrying the Hills Ford Stages Shropshire branding.
So while you’re enjoying the four stages and everything else happening around Weston Park, call in and see the Rally Marketing team and get yourself properly kitted out!
And with the weather doing what September weather does… that bobble hat might prove to be a particularly wise investment.
Weston Park
Saturday 19 September
Hills Ford Stages
Come for the rally. Leave with the rally gear.
Don’t forget you can order these after the event too.
https://www.facebook.com/…/Rally-Marketing…/…
or contact at:
+44 (0) 1938 553764
rallym@btinternet.com
- Published in Latest News
2026 STAGE LOCATIONS REVEALED
For months we’ve talked about a new home and a new chapter for the Hills Ford Stages.
Now, for the first time, we can show you where that chapter will be written.
The action begins on Saturday 19 September at Weston Park, where the Hills Ford Stages Rally Festival brings the rally together for an afternoon of motorsport, displays, activities and four competitive stages within the spectacular Weston Park estate.
Then, on Sunday 20 September, the rally heads onto the closed public roads of Shropshire, with five stages creating the Sunday route through some of the county’s most spectacular countryside.
Cressage. Clee Hill. The Lawley. Dorrington. Linley.
Five very different stages. Five communities welcoming the rally. And with each stage run twice, ten competitive tests will help decide not only the winner of the Hills Ford Stages, but potentially the outcome of several championship battles.
The weekend’s stages are backed by businesses whose support is helping us bring the event to Shropshire:
- Weston Park – GSF Car Parts
- Cressage – Lacey & Owen Architectural Services
- Clee Hill – Get Connected
- The Lawley – R.A. Swann Ltd
- Dorrington – Thomas Panels & Profiles
- Linley – M.A.R Motorsport
heir names stand alongside the communities, residents, farmers, landowners, volunteers and motor clubs whose cooperation has made this event possible.
Today we’re revealing the overall location of the rally stages. Detailed spectator information for Sunday, including official viewing locations, parking and access instructions, will follow separately.
Please do not attempt to identify unofficial viewing locations from this overview map. The safest — and best — way to enjoy the rally will be from the official spectator areas we are preparing for you.
Saturday at Weston Park. Sunday on the closed roads of Shropshire.
The 2026 Hills Ford Stages is almost here.
One weekend. Two very different days. One very big rally.
- Published in Uncategorised
Dulson Training Joins DriveWise at Hills Ford Stages
YOU CAN TOW. BUT CAN YOU TOW WELL?
Rally car. Caravan. Horsebox. Machinery. Trailer.
Whatever you’re towing, simply hitching it up and setting off is the easy bit.
Knowing how to do it safely is the skill.
We’re delighted to welcome Dulson Training Ltd to the DriveWise Zone at the Hills Ford Stages Rally Weston Park, bringing another practical dimension to our message:
The best drivers never stop learning.
Dulson Training specialises in professional driver training, including HGV/LGV, Driver CPC, ADR and commercial driver development – but there’s one area of their expertise that should particularly interest quite a few rally fans…
Safe towing.
They’re planning to bring a van or 4×4 with a trailer to Weston Park, giving visitors the chance to get up close and think about some of the things that really matter when towing:
- Safe coupling and preparation
- Loading and weight distribution
- Manoeuvring
- Observation and awareness
- Understanding how a trailer changes the way your vehicle behaves
And if you’re thinking, “I’ve been towing for years…Perfectly”
When was the last time you checked whether you could do it better?
That’s exactly what DriveWise is about.
Not lectures. Not telling experienced drivers they’re doing it wrong.
It’s about sharing knowledge, discovering new skills and recognising that however long we’ve been driving, there is always something else we can learn.
Dulson Training joins Shropshire Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists (SAMM) and our growing group of DriveWise partners, including Pathfinder Under 17 Driver Training, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service and Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.
From your first experience behind the wheel to advanced driving, professional vehicles and towing, DriveWise is becoming somewhere every driver can discover something.
And all while you’re enjoying the Hills Ford Stages Rally Festival at Weston Park.
Saturday 19th September 2026 Weston Park
- Loading and weight distribution
- Manoeuvring
- Four competitive rally stages DriveWise PATHWAYS – Discover Motorsport Trade stands
- A full rally experience fans and families
- Come for the rally.
*** Go home an even better driver. ***
Because…
THE BEST DRIVERS NEVER STOP LEARNING.
#DriveWise #HillsFordStages #WestonPark #DulsonTraining #RoadSafety #SafeTowing #DriverTraining #AdvancedDriving #SAMM #IAMRoadSmart #Motorsport #Shropshire
Rally car. Caravan. Horsebox. Machinery. Trailer.
Visit Dulson Training to learn new skills
www.dulsontraining.co.uk/driver-training-in-telford/
Because the best drivers never stop learning.
Become the driver your family is proud to travel with.
- Published in Latest News
DriveWise at Hills Ford Stages | Advanced Driving at Weston Park
The Best Drivers Never Stop Learning – Discover DriveWise at the Hills Ford Stages Rally Festival
What separates a good driver from a great one?
It isn’t the car they drive, how long they’ve held a licence or how many miles they’ve covered.
It’s the willingness to keep learning.
That simple philosophy is at the heart ofDriveWise, an exciting new attraction at this year’sHills Ford Stages Rally Festival, where visitors will have the opportunity to meetShropshire Advanced Motorists & Motorcyclists (SAMM), part of IAM RoadSmart, alongside a range of organisations dedicated to improving road safety and driver education.
SAMM has fully embraced the DriveWise initiative and, together with its partners, is creating an engaging and interactive activity zone at Weston Park. Each organisation will showcase its own specialist knowledge through practical displays and hands-on experiences, inspiring visitors to discover that learning never stops and that every driver can continue building the skills, confidence and awareness that make our roads safer.
Taking place atWeston Park on Saturday 19th September, DriveWise brings together rallying, road safety and advanced driving in an engaging, hands-on environment designed to inspire drivers of every age and level of experience.
Whether you’re preparing for your first driving lesson, have recently passed your test or have spent decades behind the wheel, DriveWise demonstrates that becoming a better driver is something we can all continue to develop.
Professional rally drivers are often admired for their speed, but ask any championship-winning crew what makes the real difference and the answer is rarely bravery.
It is observation.
Preparation.
Planning.
Discipline.
The world’s best drivers never stop learning.
The precision and discipline that make championship-winning rally drivers successful are exactly the same qualities that help make Britain’s roads safer every day.
Visitors to the DriveWise Zone will be able to discover how advanced driving develops observation, anticipation and planning, helping drivers recognise hazards earlier, make better decisions and enjoy greater confidence behind the wheel.
Many drivers are surprised to discover that advanced driving isn’t about driving more slowly or taking the enjoyment out of motoring. Better observation and smoother vehicle control can lead to less stressful journeys, improved fuel economy, reduced wear on vehicles and, in some cases, lower insurance premiums.
DriveWise will also featurePathfinder Under 17 Driver Training, where young people can experience driving before reaching legal driving age in a safe and controlled environment, building confidence and responsibility long before they begin driving independently.
Visitors will also be able to meetShropshire Fire and Rescue Service, whose crews witness first-hand the consequences of serious road traffic collisions, andMidlands Air Ambulance Charity, whose critical care teams provide lifesaving treatment at the roadside across the region.
Together, they share one simple message.
Passing your driving test isn’t the end of learning.
It’s only the beginning.
The Media Officer for the Hills Ford Stages Rally said:
“DriveWise is about celebrating great driving, not just great motorsport. Every organisation involved shares the belief that we can all continue learning throughout our driving lives.
Whether you’re preparing for your first lesson or have been driving for forty years, there is always something new to discover. If visitors leave Weston Park inspired to become even safer, more confident drivers, then DriveWise will have achieved exactly what it set out to do.”
DriveWise forms part of theWeston Park Rally Festival, taking place alongside four competitive rally stages, manufacturer displays, trade stands, family attractions and thePATHWAYS – Discover
Because the best drivers never stop learning.
Become the driver your family is proud to travel with.
- Published in Uncategorised
There When Every Second Counts: Hills Ford Stages Supports Two Lifesaving Charities
Hills Ford Stages Partners with Midlands Air Ambulance Charity and Wales Air Ambulance Charity
The organisers of the Hills Ford Stages Rally are proud to announce a new partnership with Midlands Air Ambulance Charity and Wales Air Ambulance Charity, helping to shine a spotlight on two organisations whose crews save lives across the rural communities that the rally calls home.
Throughout the 2026 event, visitors will have the opportunity to meet volunteers from both charities, learn more about the lifesaving work they carry out every day and discover how donations and volunteers help keep these vital emergency services flying.
Every time an air ambulance is called into action, someone is experiencing one of the most difficult moments of their life. Within minutes, highly trained critical care teams are bringing hospital-level treatment directly to patients, often in remote locations where every second can make the difference between life and death.
While many people associate the distinctive helicopters with major sporting incidents, the reality is very different. Every day, crews respond to serious road traffic collisions, farming accidents, medical emergencies and incidents across the countryside, serving the very communities that welcome the Hills Ford Stages each September.
That shared connection makes the partnership a natural fit.
Midlands Air Ambulance Charity has now completed more than 80,000 missions since launching in 1991, while Wales Air Ambulance Charity has attended more than 57,700 incidentssince 2001. Together, they provide advanced emergency care to thousands of patients every year across England and Wales.
Unlike many emergency services, neither charity receives day-to-day Government funding for its operations. Every mission depends upon the generosity of local communities, volunteers, businesses and supporters.
For the Hills Ford Stages, supporting the charities is about recognising the people who stand ready to help everyone, whether that’s a farmer working alone, a family travelling on rural roads, walkers exploring the countryside, a competitor in a rare accident that needs their help or anyone whose ordinary day suddenly becomes an emergency.
The partnership forms part of the rally’s wider commitment to supporting the communities that host the event, alongside its education, volunteer and community engagement programmes.
Visitors attending the Rally Festival at Weston Park will be able to meet representatives from both charities throughout the weekend, learn some life saving skills too. and find out more about their work and discover how they can support these remarkable organisations.
“The helicopters may be one of the most visible symbols of emergency care, but behind every mission is an incredible team of doctors, paramedics, pilots, fundraisers and volunteers. We hope our visitors will take the opportunity to learn more about their work because, while we all hope we’ll never need them, we’re all grateful they’re there.”
- Published in Latest News
Home Rally Beckons for Shrewsbury Driver Gareth Price
Shrewsbury rally driver Gareth Price says that the upcoming Hills Ford Stages is really good news for the local businesses that help him with his rallying programme.
Price, who was born and bred in Sundorne in Shrewsbury and now lives in Bomere Heath, is competing in this year’s Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship in a BMW E36 Compact and has been scoring good class results despite limited experience at this level.
Now he will have the chance to compete in his home county and says that the Shrewsbury-based Hills Ford Stages on September 19-20 is great news.
Price has been rallying for nearly 10 years and started in road rallies. But last year, he built up the BMW he is now using and moved to special stage rallying. This year, he has stepped up another level to compete in the national-level Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship and has already recorded some top four class finishes.
Price is able to compete thanks to the support of CR M-Tech Motorsport, EDJ Agri Limited and AB Bodyworks, which are all Shropshire-based businesses, as well as E and M Motor Factors in Aberystwyth who support his co-driver Liam Evans.
So far this season, Price has competed in Yorkshire, on the Isle of Man, in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, but now comes his home rally which is based just five miles from his home.
He said: “It’s brilliant being in your home area. It’s good to have family and friends there as well to enjoy it as much as we will and see what we’re doing. The money that the rally will bring into the area is brilliant for Shrewsbury and Shropshire. It’s not often we get a big event in our area, so it’s good news all round. We’ve got a few friends coming along to have a look and obviously our sponsors will enjoy coming to see us in action.”
- Published in Latest News
Hills Ford Stages Launches Where Community Begins
The Hills Ford Stages Rally has announced Shropshire Rural Support as one of its chosen charities for 2026, launching a new community initiative that celebrates volunteering, friendship and the organisations that help strengthen communities across Shropshire.
Called Where Community Begins, the campaign reflects the rally’s belief that motorsport is about far more than competition. Behind every event are hundreds of volunteers, clubs, officials and community organisations who give their time to help others and create something bigger than themselves.
While the Hills Ford Stages is best known for bringing top-level closed-road rallying to the county, the organisers believe the event is about much more than motorsport.
Behind every stage are hundreds of volunteers, marshals, officials, rescue crews, radio operators, medical teams and community organisations who freely give their time to help deliver one of Shropshire’s biggest sporting weekends. It is that spirit of community, friendship and looking out for one another that has made Shropshire Rural Support a natural partner for the rally.
For more than 35 years, Shropshire Rural Support has provided free, confidential support to people across the county’s farming and rural communities. Staff and trained volunteers, many with farming backgrounds themselves, offer a listening ear, practical support and help people find the right services when life becomes overwhelming.
The charity will have a presence at the new Hills Ford Stages Rally Festival at Weston Park on Saturday 19 September, where visitors will be able to meet the team, learn more about its work and discover the many ways local communities can support one another.
The Fundraising Manager at Shropshire Rural Support, said:
“We’re delighted to be working alongside the Hills Ford Stages Rally. While our organisations are very different, we share a common belief that strong communities are built by people supporting one another. Whether that’s through volunteering, community events, outreach or simply taking the time to have a conversation, those connections make a real difference.”
The organisers of the Hills Ford Stages Rally, said:
“People naturally see the rally cars, but behind every event are hundreds of volunteers and officials who give up their time because they enjoy being part of something bigger than themselves. That sense of community has always been one of rallying’s greatest strengths.
“Partnering with Shropshire Rural Support feels like a natural fit because both organisations recognise the importance of bringing people together and looking after one another. If our event can help encourage people to volunteer, join a club or simply discover a community where they feel they belong, then we’ve achieved something that reaches far beyond motorsport.”
The partnership marks the beginning of a wider community initiative that the Hills Ford Stages Rally will launch over the coming weeks, celebrating the clubs, volunteers and organisations that help strengthen communities across Shropshire.
The campaign, Where Community Begins, will share the stories of the people behind local clubs, charities and volunteering groups, highlighting how something as simple as joining a club or getting involved can create lifelong friendships, build confidence and help tackle isolation.
For the Hills Ford Stages Rally, supporting Shropshire Rural Support is not simply about fundraising during one weekend in September.
It is about working together to leave a lasting legacy by encouraging people to connect with others, become involved in their communities and discover that sometimes the first step towards changing a life is simply finding somewhere to belong.
Together, let’s celebrate the people behind our communities & Shropshire Rural Support.
Farming images courtesy of James Pugh Photography
- Published in Latest News