Damian Cole & Get Connected Backs 2026 Hills Ford Stages
Damian Cole is one of the most successful and respected competitors in UK asphalt rallying.
Over three decades, the South Wales driver has been at the forefront of the sport in a range of state-of-the-art rally cars and has kept fellow competitors on their toes and fans thoroughly entertained.
As he marks 30 years of rallying, Damian can reflect on success in Darrians, Mitsubishis, Toyotas, Subarus, Hyundais, Skodas, a raft of Fords and, more recently, his Citroen C3 Rally2, which is prepared almost within sight of some of the roads set to be used on the Hills Ford Stages.
Cole has battled with some of the best rising stars in the sport and is a record-setting (5 consecutive years) six-time winner of the Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship, the headline championship for the Hills Ford Stages. He still loves his rallying!
As well as being a great competitor, Damian is a long time ambassador for rallying. He’s worked hard to advance safety issues for competitors and has contributed significantly to a number of events through sponsorship from his Get Connected business. He’s recently become title sponsor of the Mewla Rally on Epynt, which he will acknowledge is his favourite venue.
The Hills Ford Stages just missed out on capturing him as a major sponsor for this year’s rally. However, Damian approached the HFS management team at the end of 2025 to discuss offering support for this year’s event. That’s a huge compliment to the team, as Damian has a great eye for detail and is an astute businessman. So, to be approached by him with the offer of support gives great recognition to the work that the team has put in over the years.
“We’re thrilled to have the support of Damian and Get Connected as a Stage Sponsor for 2026,” said Clerk of the Course, Dan, “Damian’s passion for the sport, both as a competitor and as a supporter, mirrors the values we build into every aspect of this event. We look forward to working closely with him and the Get Connected team in the months ahead.”
We’re currently discussing lots of ideas with Damian for Get Connected’s engagement with the Hills Ford Stages, and we look forward to updating you soon about the support and the work we will be doing with Get Connected through the year.
Don’t forget that Get Connected has mobile phone stores across Wales, The Midlands and the South West, including several in the rally’s home county of Shropshire.
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• Damian Cole is a highly respected figure in UK rallying, combining a long and successful competition career with more than three decades of business leadership. • In 1992, Damian founded Oasis Mobile Phones from his spare bedroom. The business was rebranded as Get Connected in 2001 and has since grown into one of the UK’s leading independent mobile phone retailers. • Under Damian’s leadership, Get Connected expanded from a home-based operation to a nationwide business, operating multiple high street stores alongside a dedicated call centre in Blackwood and a corporate sales team based in Abergavenny. • Get Connected works with all major UK mobile network providers, supporting both consumer and corporate customers across Wales and England. • Damian and Get Connected have a long-standing involvement in motorsport, including the sponsorship of Damian Cole and his co-drivers, as well as support for events that generate investment, tourism and wider visibility for regional communities.
HAVE A LOOK AT THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA:
• Getconnected.com
• LinkedIn
• Facebook- Published in Latest News
When Rally Touches Local People
The Hills Ford Stages Rally is back, and Shrewsbury-based Lacey & Owen Architectural Services are joining as a sponsor, helping engage the local community.
One of the most rewarding parts of organising the Hills Ford Stages Rally is when the event reaches beyond motorsport and connects with local people. That’s exactly what happened when Shrewsbury-based Lacey & Owen Architectural Services reached out, becoming one of the latest sponsors for 2026.
Managing Director Mark Owen first contacted the team towards the end of 2025, shortly after news of the rally’s move into Shropshire. The call came completely out of the blue, and those are the conversations that really matter. When a locally rooted, non-motorsport business reaches out simply because they share a passion for the rally, it means a great deal to the organisers.
Mark’s enthusiasm aligns perfectly with the team’s ambition to build meaningful engagement with the people and businesses of Shrewsbury and the wider county. As the event grows, support like this plays a vital role in shaping how the rally connects with its host communities and benefits the region.
The organisers are now working with Lacey & Owen to explore how their support can best fit within the rally’s wider outreach — whether that’s backing the Pathways and Get Involved programmes with local colleges and universities, or potentially sponsoring a stage. With so much happening behind the scenes, and Mark fully focused on running his practice, the team felt now was the right time to officially welcome them on board.
Mark Said. “Rallying has always been a sport that I follow closely, I love the idea of rallying and the energy it brings. When I heard the news that the Hills Ford Stages where relocating to Shropshire it felt like a fantastic way to get involved in the event, and help provide a spectacle for the community I live and work in.”
Lacey & Owen are proudly based in the heart of Shrewsbury town centre, reinforcing the rally’s growing local footprint.
HAVE A LOOK AT THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA:
• Laceyandowen.co.uk
• Instagram
• Facebook
About Lacey & Owen Architectural Services
Founded in 2010 by Stuart Lacey and Mark Owen (BSc Hons, MCIAT), Lacey & Owen Architectural Services Ltd is a chartered practice delivering creative, cost-effective design solutions across residential, commercial and industrial sectors. Following Stuart’s retirement in 2019, Mark now leads the practice as sole director, supported by a skilled and experienced team.
The practice focuses on adding real value for clients through modern, affordable design and construction methods, while maintaining the highest professional standards as chartered members of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT). Specialising in planning and building control application, Lacey & Owen work with private individuals, construction companies and other architects, to provide high quality designs and sensible advice for your construction project.
With offices in Shropshire and Derbyshire, the practice delivers projects nationwide, from one-off self-build homes and extensions to housing developments, community buildings, and commercial units, offering an accessible, holistic service tailored to each client’s brief.
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Eight Championships Confirmed for Hills Ford Stages 2026
The Hills Ford Stages continues to attract strong national and regional backing, with eight championships confirming their support for the 2026 event.
The breadth of championships reflects both the confidence placed in the rally and its appeal across a wide range of competitors, from modern national contenders to historic and club-level entries.
Among those confirmed is the Protyre Motorsport UK National Asphalt Championship, which will once again see the Hills Ford Stages play a key role in the title fight.
Paul Wakely, Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship Co-ordinator, said:
“We’re greatly looking forward to this year’s Hills Ford Stages, as it will bring a wonderful new challenge for competitors and a fitting finale to the Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship. It has always been an extremely popular event with our contenders, and with titles up for grabs it’s guaranteed to be an exciting championship showdown.”
Historic competitors will also be well represented, with the HRCR Stage Masters Championship, Roger Albert Clark Historic Asphalt Championship, HRCR Mini Cup, and HRCR Category 1 Championship all confirmed.
From the HRCR Stage Masters perspective, organisers commented:
“We are so pleased that the Hills Ford Stages is back for 2026. Our competitors simply loved it last time — it’s a great challenge while retaining a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.”
The Roger Albert Clark Historic Asphalt Championship will see the Hills Ford Stages host the finale of its inaugural season.
Championship manager Colin Heppenstall said:
“We’re delighted to be finishing the first season of our new historic asphalt championship on the Hills Ford Stages. It looks like being a very successful event and is well placed for lots of competitors. Congratulations to the organising team for rebuilding the rally in a new region — we can’t wait.”
Strong regional championship support comes from the JD Tyres Welsh Tarmac Championship, which will contest the Hills Ford Stages as a double-header event, offering two points-scoring opportunities.
Rob Baldwin, Welsh Association of Motor Clubs Secretary, said:
“Competitors are looking forward to the challenge of a rally set in an area not previously used, with the event forming a double-header and providing two valuable points-scoring opportunities.”
The popular ANWCC Mini Challenge also returns, continuing to provide an accessible route into stage rallying.
Dave V Thomas, Championships Manager, commented:
“ANWCC is pleased and amazed by the enthusiasm from competitors and organisers for the Mini Rally Challenge. It’s an excellent way to get into stage rallying at an affordable level and we see it going from strength to strength.”
Completing the line-up are the TCS Plant Rally Challenge and Celtic Micra Challenge, both welcoming the opportunity to be part of the event.
A spokesperson for the championships said:
“We are delighted to be part of the exciting plans for the 2026 Hills Ford Stages and applaud the forward-thinking approach being taken, recognising the benefits the event will bring to the region.”
Dan, Clerk of the Course for the Hills Ford Stages, said:
“Having eight championships supporting the 2026 event is a real endorsement of the rally’s rebuild. It reflects the confidence competitors and officials have in the event, and we’re focused on delivering a challenging and rewarding rally for everyone involved.
Championships
Protyre MSUK National Asphalt Championship
HRCR Stage Masters Championship
Roger Albert Clark Historic Asphalt Championship
HRCR Mini Cup
HRCR Cat 1 Championship
JD Tyres Welsh Tarmac Championship
ANWCC Mini challenge
TCS Plant Championship and Celtic Micra Challenge
The Hills Ford Stages organising team expects further announcements in due course as preparations for the 2026 event continue.
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The 2026 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship
We’re pleased to confirm that the Hills Ford Stages will once again feature on the 2026 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship calendar.
Clerk of the Course Dan and Cheltenham Motor Club Chairman said: “It’s great to see the Hills Ford Stages rounding off the 2026 Protyre Asphalt season. We’re looking forward to welcoming competitors and fans to Shropshire for another challenging and memorable finale.”
Magnificent seven-round 2026 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship calendar unveiled
The 2026 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship is set for a magnificent seven-round showdown spanning England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and the Isle of Man – with the calendar featuring familiar favourites (some with new dates, new routes and/or new formats) and an exciting brand-new event location to guarantee a fresh and exhilarating challenge for every competitor.
The UK’s premier sealed-surface series is once again run and promoted by the BTRDA and retains its inclusive class structure, designed to welcome the greatest variety of cars and drivers of all abilities who want to challenge themselves on some of Britain’s best asphalt stages.
Protyre Motorsport – the largest UK supplier of Pirelli, Michelin and Hoosier motorsport tyres – proudly continues as the championship’s title sponsor for an unprecedented ninth consecutive season.
The championship format sees the best five scores from seven rallies count towards the end-of-season points tally, with no double-header rounds.
The 2026 Protyre Asphalt season launches into action on 21/22 February with the East Riding Stages Rally. The BTRDA series will hold top billing at the Beverley & District Motor Club-organised event, which is based in the centre of Beverley and features fantastic closed road stages across East Yorkshire. New for 2026 are four Saturday evening stages run in the dark over the Yorkshire Wolds just to the west of Beverley, providing an extra 18 stage miles and further spectating opportunities, and the remaining 10 stages run in daylight on the Sunday.
Round 2 is the classic Manx Rally on 8/9 May, which returns to its traditional spring date. Organised by Manx Auto Sport, the iconic Isle of Man closed road stages annually attract one of the biggest Protyre Asphalt entries of the season. With superb ferry and accommodation deals, plus significant stage miles, the Manx Rally offers competitors excellent value.
The series then moves to Scotland for Round 3 and the Borders Competitions Jim Clark Rally (22/23 May). The Duns-based event will have a new format next year, with 35 stage miles / four stages on Friday evening and 65 stage miles / six stages on Saturday. To help minimise cost and time, registered Protyre Asphalt competitors will have the option to either recce all the stages on the Friday (whilst their cars are being scrutineered) and be ready to start the event later the same day, or recce earlier in the week and do the shakedown stage on Friday.
Round 4 keeps the series in Scotland for the Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally on 19/20 June. The Mull Car Club-organised event ran as a closed road stage rally for the first time in 2021 and has been on the Protyre Asphalt calendar every year since 2022, with picturesque closed road stages held in the stunning Argyll and Bute region.
The focus shifts next to Wales for Round 5 and the Tour of Epynt on 25/26 July. The Port Talbot Motor Club-organised event hosted the final round in 2025, and next year a new date sees it run in the height of summer. There are few more spectacular motorsport venues than Mynydd Epynt on a sunny day, with a promise of fast and sizzling action over the famous rollercoaster military range roads above Sennybridge.
There is also a new date for the penultimate Round 6, with the Down Rally moving from mid-July to 22 August. The Rathfriland Motor Club-organised event is famous for its incredible Northern Ireland closed road stages, including the legendary Hamilton’s Folly, and they’ll play a pivotal role in determining the overall and class titles next year.
The seventh and final round of the series will be the Hills Ford Stages on 19/20 September. This will be a brand-new challenge, as Cheltenham Motor Club moves the event to the Shrewsbury area, with stages in the grounds of historic private estates and through the stunning Shropshire Hills.
“We’re absolutely delighted with the 2026 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship calendar, as it visits all corners of the United Kingdom and contains some of the very best closed road stages available,” says Paul Wakely, Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship Co-ordinator.
“We’ve prioritised the feedback received from our competitors and worked hard to minimise costs where possible. We truly believe this calendar represents a great cost-effective and gripping challenge for those crews who want to compete in the best national asphalt rallies the UK has to offer.
“Kicking off with top billing on the East Riding Stages Rally is a fantastic start, and finishing the year with a brand-new Shropshire-based Hills Ford Stages guarantees a thrilling conclusion. The overall and class champions will have certainly earned their Protyre Asphalt titles!”
“We are delighted to continue our title sponsorship of the Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship into a ninth consecutive year, and very much look forward to another action-packed season of rallying,” added Shaun Chetwyn, Protyre Motorsport Manager.
“The 2026 calendar has a good geographical spread of events, with some of the best national asphalt rallies in the UK offering competitors the chance to compete on some of the most iconic roads.
“Protyre Motorsport will once again be on every event to give competitors an unrivalled tyre support package, and we look forward to meeting old and new friends throughout what is guaranteed to be a thrilling 2026 season.”
The 2026 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship Regulations will be published in December.
For more information on the Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship, please go to asphaltrallying.com.
2026 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship
21/22 February….East Riding Stages Rally
8/9 May….Manx Rally
22/23 May….Borders Competitions Jim Clark Rally
19/20 June….Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally
25/26 July….Tour of Epynt
22 August….Down Rally
19/20 September….Hills Ford Stages
- Published in Latest News
Cheltenham Motor Club Awarded MSUK Sustainability Accreditation
Cheltenham Motor Club is proud to announce that it has been awarded Motorsport UK’s Sustainability Accreditation, recognising its ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility and innovation in motorsport event management.
This national accreditation forms part of Motorsport UK’s Environmental Sustainability Programme, which supports clubs and organisers in reducing environmental impact while promoting positive change across the sport.
The award reflects the Club’s continuous efforts to ensure that the Hills Ford Stages Rally remains one of the most sustainable events on the UK rally calendar. Behind the scenes, the organising team has implemented a range of new practices to significantly reduce the rally’s carbon footprint — including the minimisation of printed materials, the streamlining of logistics, and the adoption of digital systems across event operations.
Beyond these operational improvements, Cheltenham Motor Club has also taken proactive steps to enhance the local environment. Working in partnership with community groups, the rally supports local planting and rewilding initiatives, helping to restore biodiversity and create a lasting positive legacy in the region.
“We’re absolutely delighted to receive this recognition from Motorsport UK,” said Dan, Clerk of the Course for the Hills Ford Stages Rally. “Sustainability is a shared responsibility, and we’re committed to leading by example — showing that motorsport can be both thrilling and environmentally conscious.”
Motorsport UK also congratulated the Club on the achievement, commenting:
“The panel was very pleased to approve Cheltenham Motor Club’s application for Sustainability Accreditation. It’s clear a great deal of work has gone into this, and we’re delighted to confirm that both the Club and the Hills Ford Stages Rally are now fully compliant with the Motorsport UK Sustainable Rally Charter. Congratulations to everyone involved.”
Cheltenham Motor Club extends its thanks to all volunteers, partners, and supporters who continue to help make the Hills Ford Stages Rally a benchmark for sustainable motorsport.
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Hills Ford Stages Rally Appoints Clifton Security as Official Security Provider for 2026 Event
The Hills Ford Stages Rally is pleased to announce that Clifton Security has been appointed as the preferred security staff provider for the 2026 rally.
Clifton Security, specialists in event security, will provide a professional and visible presence throughout the event, ensuring the safety and smooth running of the service park and key stage intersections. Their SIA-approved Stewards offer a high standard of professionalism, delivering peace of mind for competitors, officials, and spectators alike.
In addition to in-person security, Clifton Security offers secure key management and rapid emergency response, with detailed incident reporting to its customers.
Dave Arlett, founder of Clifton Security, said:
“We are proud to support the Hills Ford Stages Rally once again. Our team is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for everyone involved, ensuring the event runs smoothly from start to finish.”
With this partnership, the Hills Ford Stages Rally continues to prioritise safety and professionalism, reinforcing its reputation as a well-organised and welcoming motorsport event.
Contact Clifton at
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