Author: Paul Evans

Nicky Grist believes this year’s Nicky Grist Stages (Saturday 11 July) will deliver one of the event’s best routes yet, with smooth, fast and demanding stages set to provide a great challenge for competitors.

And as a rally legend with 21 FIA World Rally Championship event wins – including two RAC Rally victories with Juha Kankkunen (1993) and Colin McRae (1997) and three Safari Rally wins (all with McRae) – there is no questioning Nicky’s knowledge and experience when it comes to evaluating special stages!

This year’s Quinton Motor Club-organised event celebrates 17 consecutive years of title sponsorship from Nicky Grist Motorsports.

Nicky founded the company in 1995 (whilst he was still co-driving for Kankkunen in the Toyota Castrol Team Celica GT-Four) and within 10 years Nicky Grist Motorsports had become the place to go in the UK for Stilo helmets and intercoms and other top-level motorsport safety equipment such as tailor-made and off-the-peg race suits, HANS/FHR devices, fireproof underwear, co-driver equipment, Lazer LED lights, race and rally seats, awnings, garage accessories and much more. It now also has its own exclusive NG branded products.

Each year Nicky offers Nicky Grist Stages entered competitors a discount on selected items, delivered free of charge to the event’s service area on the eve of the event.

This year’s Builth Wells-based Nicky Grist Stages will be a round of six major championships – the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series, Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship, HRCR Rally Master Challenge, Kingfisher Insurance Motorsport English Rally Championship, TCS Plant Rally Challenge and ANWCC Rally Championship.

There will be around 44 stage miles in Monument, Crychan (named ‘Bowlsey’ in honour of the late Pete Bowles, a long-time Quinton Motor Club committee member, former Nicky Grist Stages winner and Clerk of the Course), Halfway and Route 60 – with crews tackling the four stages in the morning, before repeating the loop in the afternoon following a midday service halt on the Builth Wells RFC pitch.

As usual, road mileage will be kept to a minimum, guaranteeing an action-packed day for competitors, marshals and spectators.

“Neil Cross and his team have put together a fantastic route for this year’s Nicky Grist Stages – it will be another great challenge for all the crews, and a route that everyone will enjoy,” says Nicky Grist.

“We have the four favourite stages of the rally, with most of it run in different directions. At least 50% of the route is run on roads not used last year, and there is a new finish to Route 60 – so there will be a lot to look forward to.

“The road conditions are really smooth, so a fast rally is in store.

“It promises to be another fantastic event, and I’m looking forward to seeing you all in Builth Wells in July.”

“Working with Nicky, with his wealth of rallying experience, ensures that we can configure the very best stages on the gravel roads on the Mynydd Epynt military range and Crychan forest complex,” says Neil Cross, Nicky Grist Stages Clerk of the Course.

“Keeping the Nicky Grist Stages route fresh also guarantees we can offer an exciting new challenge each year.”

2026 Nicky Grist Stages – Important Dates and Times
Sunday 17 May, 18:00 – Regulations Published
Monday 18 May, 18:00 – Entries Open
Friday 26 June – Seeded Entries Close
Monday 29 June – Final Instructions and Route Details Announced
Wednesday 8 July – Final Entries Close
Friday 10 July, 15:00-20:30 – Scrutineering, Groe Park (Service Area)
Saturday 11 July, 08.31 – First car starts
Saturday 11 July, 15:30 – First car finishes

Located on the banks of the River Wye, the Nicky Grist Stages service area is one of the most picturesque in British rallying – and thanks to the tremendous support of Builth Wells RFC, this year’s event on Saturday 11 July will once again be based on the hallowed turf right in the centre of the scenic mid-Wales market town.

Having previously been based at the nearby Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd, the Quinton Motor Club-organised Nicky Grist Stages moved fully into the centre of Builth Wells in 2019, relocating its Rally Headquarters to the fully renovated Strand Hall on Strand Street and the service area onto the Builth Wells RFC pitch at Groe Park.

The move would not have been possible without the enthusiasm and vision of local councillor Jeremy Pugh, a former Chairman of Builth Wells RFC, and the outstanding support of Powys County Council, Builth Wells Town Council and the wonderful independent businesses and residents of Builth Wells.

Builth Wells Mayors – Councillors Gwyn Davies, Alan Waller and Mark Hammond – have all flagged the rally cars away from the start on Strand Street and awarded trophies at the finish – with the River Wye, Builth Wells’ famous 18th Century bridge and surrounding rolling hills providing a stunning champagne spraying podium backdrop.

With an average of more than 130 cars entered over the last four events, the Nicky Grist Stages attracts several thousand visitors to the area – including competitors, service crews, officials, marshals and spectators. As a result, the rally continues to make a significant economic contribution to Builth Wells and the surrounding region.

The temporary closure of Strand Street for the start and midday regroup also helps prevent rally traffic from causing inconvenience to residents on the main roads and in the Groe car park.

This year’s rally action will take place on nearby gravel roads in and around the Mynydd Epynt military range, with morning and afternoon loops through the popular and challenging Monument, Crychan (named ‘Bowlsey’ in honour of the late Pete Bowles – a long-time Quinton Motor Club committee member, previous Nicky Grist Stages winner and Clerk of the Course), Halfway and Route 60 stages.

The 2026 Nicky Grist Stages will be a round of six major championships – the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series, Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship, HRCR Rally Master Challenge, Kingfisher Insurance Motorsport English Rally Championship, TCS Plant Rally Challenge and ANWCC Rally Championship.

“As Chairman of Builth Wells RFC, I am immensely proud to see the Nicky Grist Stages Rally utilising our pitch as its base,” says Lucas Evans.

“It’s a fantastic example of how our facilities can serve not just the club, but the wider community, particularly during the rugby off-season.

“Events like this bring real energy into the town supporting local businesses, attracting visitors and showcasing Builth Wells at its very best. It’s great to see our grounds playing a part in something that has such a positive economic and social impact.

“We’re delighted to support the rally and look forward to continuing to work together in ways that benefit both sport and the community as a whole.”

“It’s great to see the Nicky Grist Stages use our pitch as its base,” added Builth Wells RFC Captain Ashley Mills.

“It brings a real buzz to the town, supports local businesses and makes good use of the pitch when we’re not playing. We’re proud to play a small part in such a fantastic event.”

“Being a local rally, I always enjoy the Nicky Grist Stages,” says Castrol MEM Rally Team driver Meirion Evans.

“It’s not just the magnificent mid-Wales stages that make the event so special, but the great atmosphere in the host town of Builth Wells. It’s a great service area for people to visit, and the Builth Wells RFC pitch works extremely well for us as a team – as everyone is in one place and there is plenty of room to service the cars.”

“The complete move of the rally from the Royal Welsh Showground to the centre of Builth Wells has been a tremendous success,” says Nicky Grist.

“The town benefits far more from the thousands of people visiting and working on the rally, with shops, pubs and restaurants all gaining from the extra footfall. The use of the rugby field has been a tremendous success; the location is ideal for the rally’s needs but also adds a real atmosphere for all the crews and mechanics on the Friday and Saturday of the rally. I would like to send a big thank you to Builth Wells RFC and the local councils, and hope that we continue our fantastic relationship into the future.”

“Bringing the Nicky Grist Stages into Builth Wells from its previous base in the showground was an obvious choice,” says Neil Cross, Nicky Grist Stages Clerk of the Course.

“From our first meeting with Jeremy Pugh, we were made to feel very welcome and our relationship with Builth Wells RFC and the town has gone from strength to strength. The rugby pitch is ideally located and offers us plenty of room for our competitors. We are grateful to the rugby club for its continued support.”

2026 Nicky Grist Stages – Important Dates and Times
Sunday 17 May, 18:00 – Regulations published
Monday 18 May, 18:00 – Entries Open
Friday 26 June – Seeded Entries Close
Monday 29 June – Final Instructions and Route Details Announced
Wednesday 8 July – Final Entries Close
Friday 10 July, 15:00-20:30 – Scrutineering, Groe Park (Service Area)
Saturday 11 July, 08.31 – First car starts
Saturday 11 July, 15:30 – First car finishes

Picture by Mark Griffin.

This year’s Nicky Grist Stages will feature a challenging 44 stage miles route on gravel roads in and around the Mynydd Epynt military range on Saturday 11 July, including new competitive sections designed to keep the mid-Wales event fresh and exciting.

Monument will open the event, followed by two classic stages on the Carmarthenshire-Powys border – Crychan (named ‘Bowlsey’ in honour of the late Pete Bowles, a long-time Quinton Motor Club committee member, former Nicky Grist Stages winner and Clerk of the Course) and Halfway. The final stage of the loop will be Route 60, which returned last year after a seven-year absence, before all four stages are repeated in the afternoon.

As usual, road mileage will be kept to a minimum, guaranteeing an action-packed day for competitors, marshals and spectators – whether watching from official stage side viewing areas or following the action via the Special Stage TV live streaming service.

The Quinton Motor Club-organised event celebrates 17 consecutive years of title sponsorship from Nicky Grist Motorsports and in 2026 will be a round of six major championships – the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series, Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship, HRCR Rally Master Challenge, Kingfisher Insurance Motorsport English Rally Championship, TCS Plant Rally Challenge and ANWCC Rally Championship.

Thanks to the magnificent support of Powys County Council, Builth Wells Town Council, Builth Wells RFC and the businesses and residents of Builth Wells, the 2026 Nicky Grist Stages will once again be based in the heart of the picturesque market town – with the start in Strand Street, the finish on the banks of the River Wye and the service area on the Groe.

The event will also continue its collaboration with Carbon Positive Motorsport, which in recent years has supported the planting of more than 1,500 sequoia and 6,000 native broadleaf trees in Abergavenny, as well as GoSafe, the Wales Road Casualty Reduction Partnership.

Official rally spectator car parks will be manned by volunteers from Tirabad Village Hall and Brecon Rotary Club, with funds raised going directly to both organisations.

“The Nicky Grist Stages is always one I look forward to every year,” says the reigning Protyre BTRDA and Pirelli Welsh Rally Champion Matthew Hirst.

“It’s a proper drivers’ rally – fast, technical and with a brilliant atmosphere. It usually attracts some big names as well, which adds a real intrigue for spectators and makes it even more rewarding for anyone who manages to win it. It’s great to see the organisers continuing to evolve the route while keeping what makes it so special.”

“It is another year and yet another Nicky Grist Stages, and as always the team have put together another great route which covers all of the classic stages that so many crews love to compete on,” says Nicky Grist.

“I have my fingers crossed that we can have another glorious day up on the ranges, when normally the weather adds another challenge for the crews in managing the hot and dry conditions. I look forward to seeing you all in Builth Wells in July.”

“There are always challenges when planning a rally route and this year has been no exception,” said Neil Cross, Nicky Grist Stages Clerk of the Course.

“That said, we are blessed to have so many fantastic stages near the rally base in Builth Wells, and we have been able to create a route, on both NRW and MOD land, which we trust will be both challenging and enjoyable for our competitors. We’ll also ensure competitors continue to get value for money by offering more stage miles for the lowest possible entry fee.”

2026 Nicky Grist Stages – Important Dates and Times
Sunday 17 May, 18:00 – Regulations Published
Monday 18 May, 18:00 – Entries Open
Friday 26 June – Seeded Entries Close
Monday 29 June – Final Instructions and Route Details Announced
Wednesday 8 July – Final Entries Close
Friday 10 July, 15:00-20:30 – Scrutineering, Groe Park (Service Area)
Saturday 11 July, 08.31 – First car starts
Saturday 11 July, 15:30 – First car finishes

The Nicky Grist Stages has achieved Motorsport UK Sustainability Accreditation in recognition of its efforts to reduce its environmental impact in a structured and credible way.

Event organisers Quinton Motor Club successfully demonstrated its environmental policies, action plans and measurable progress in relation to a variety of features including tracking and reducing carbon emissions, waste management and recycling, promoting responsible fuel and energy use, encouraging sustainable travel for competitors, officials and spectators and going paperless wherever possible.

The Builth Wells-based rally also enjoys a long and successful collaboration with Carbon Positive Motorsport, which in recent years supported the planting of over 1,500 sequioa and 6,000 native broadleaf trees in Abergavenny.

This year’s Nicky Grist Stages takes place on Saturday 11 July.

William Creighton scorched to victory on the Nicky Grist Stages (Saturday 12 July), when he won the event for the first time in his Castrol MEM Rally Team Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.

Builth Wells Mayor Cllr. Mark Hammond flagged the cars away from the start of the Quinton Motor Club organised event from outside Strand Hall, as 142 crews headed out for the morning loop of four stages in Monument, Route 60, Halfway and Bowlsey (Crychan).

Co-driven by Liam Regan, number one seed Creighton had the benefit of a dust-free road – offset by the challenge of trying to find grip on the loose gravel surface. He nevertheless set a clean sweep of fastest stage times to arrive at the mid-day service halt on the Builth Wells RFC pitch with an 11.1 second lead. Conditions were a lot more abrasive in the afternoon, and Creighton, balancing tyre management and speed to perfection, held on to win the 45-stage mile event – beating team-mate Meirion Evans by just 2.6 second.

“We were here to learn, but it’s great to win,” said Creighton.

“It was great to score a one-two for the team and it’s another tremendous result for Melvyn Evans Motorsport. A big thank you to the team, to Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy and to everyone who supports us. It’s a real privilege to drive the Castrol Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 and it was great to start the Nicky Grist Stages as car number one and finish as number one!”

Evans lost 12 seconds with a spin on the opening stage – with most of the time lost contributed to the car failing to engage reverse gear. That ultimately cost him and co-driver Dale Furniss victory, but the Welshman was delighted by what he considered to be his best performance on gravel.

Despite picking up a couple of punctures, Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear held second for much of the event. A charging Evans demoted them to third on the eighth and final stage – although the Škoda Fabia R5 crew scored top Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series and Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship points.

Osian Pryce led the hotly contested Historic section from start to finish in his first rally in a Wales Motorsport supplied Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2. Co-driven by Phil Pugh, the 2022 British rally champion finished 12th overall, first 2WD and won the BTRDA Silver Star section.

The first Quinton Motor Club crew home was Martin and Tommi Meadows, who finished seventh in class and 43rd overall in their Peugeot 208 R2.

Over 300 volunteer marshals made sure that the event ran safely and smoothly. Each received a HSE compliant individual First Aid kit, Brace’s Bakery Welsh Cakes (supplied by Jonathan Brace who, co-driven by Paul Spooner, won Class H1 in his Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1) and plenty of bottles of water supplied by Nicky Grist.

The rally attracted thousands of visitors to Builth Wells and the surrounding Powys and Carmarthenshire region. The event is indebted to the wonderful support received from Powys County Council, Carmarthenshire County Council, Builth Wells Town Council, Builth Wells RFC, the businesses and residents of Builth Wells, Gwyn Davies of Penmaenau Farm, Dyfed Powys Police and the landowners – Natural Resources Wales and Defence Infrastructure Organisation Wales – on which the stages ran, in making the event such a huge success.

The event also ran in collaboration with Carbon Positive Motorsport, GoSafe (the Wales Road Casualty Reduction Partnership) and Motorsport UK’s National Motorsport Week.

David Spear Commercial Vehicles was the event’s official car supplier and supplied two magnificent Ford Ranger Wildtrak vehicles – perfect for use by the Motorsport UK Safety Delegate and as Double Zero safety car.

“In these exceptionally hot weather conditions, everyone’s a winner on this year’s Nicky Grist Stages – the marshals, officials and the crews,” said Nicky Grist.

“There was a tremendous battle for victory, and any one of the top three could have taken the win as they entered the final stage. In the end it was a fantastic one-two result for Melvyn Evans Motorsport and an impressive BTRDA and Welsh Championship win for Matthew Hirst.

“The event has once again been a great success and Builth Wells has done us proud. The service area on Groe Park really brings the event into the centre of town and the support we have from the local community is exceptional.”

“Huge congratulations to our event winners, William Creighton and Liam Regan,” said Neil Cross, Nicky Grist Stages Clerk of the Course.

“On behalf of Quinton Motor Club, I’d like to say a massive thank you to all our competitors for taking part in such a successful event and to the army of officials and marshals who performed superbly in the hot weather conditions. Without you, the event wouldn’t have run so thank you.

Action from the 2025 Nicky Grist Stages is available to view on the Special Stage TV Facebook and YouTube channels, plus specialstage.tv.

The 2026 Nicky Grist Stages will take place on Saturday 11 July.

2025 Nicky Grist Stages – top 10 finishers
1. William Creighton/Liam Regan (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)….44mins 11.9secs
2. Meirion Evans/Dale Furniss (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)….44mins 14.5secs
3. Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear (Škoda Fabia R5)….44mins 21.5secs
4. Jason Mitchell/Paddy McCrudden (Škoda Fabia R5)….44mins 56.8secs
5. Callum Black/Jack Morton (Ford Fiesta Rally2)….45mins 13.8secs
6. Elliot Payne/Patrick Walsh (Ford Fiesta Rally2)….45mins 27.5secs
7. Alexander Vassallo/Chris Lees (Ford Fiesta Rally2)….46mins 02.0secs
8. James Giddings/Aled Davies (Mitsubishi Evo 9)….47mins 04.6secs
9. Vivian Hamill/Lorcan Moore (Ford Fiesta Rally2)….47mins 28.9secs
10. Dan O’Brien/Niall Burns (Ford Fiesta Rally 2)….47mins 36.1secs

The full set of results can be found here:

https://results.btrdarallyresults.co.uk/results/index.php?EventID=734&e=734&ls=2&simple

William Creighton/Liam Regan have been seeded at number one for the 2025 Nicky Grist Stages (Saturday 12 July) – with the Quinton Motor Club organised event attracting another stellar entry.

The top seeds will be driving the same Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 that won the event last year (in the hands of Chris Ingram/Alex Kihurani) – with Castrol MEM Rally Team stable-mates Meirion Evans/Dale Furniss also contesting the event.

Double Protyre Asphalt rally champions Callum Black/Jack Morton will also appear in their Ford Fiesta Rally2, the celebrated pair contesting the event for the first time since winning the Interclub section in 2021.

Osian Pryce won the Nicky Grist Stages in 2022, in what was his 100th rally start. That victory in a Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 helped him become British Rally champion that year, and he returns this time in a Wales Motorsport-prepared Escort Mk2, co-driven by Phil Pugh.

Jonathan Brace wasn’t planning to rally this year, but the return of the Route 60 stage was too much of a temptation and he’s back out with co-driver Paul Spooner (2002 event winner) in his magnificent Dave Jenkins Motorsport-built Brace’s Bakery Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1.

Defending Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series champion Elliot Payne, who won the Nicky Grist Stages in 2023 and scored maximum Gold Star points on the event last year, will be aiming to extend his championship lead when he and co-driver Patrick Walsh contest the event in their Alan Causey Autosport-prepared Ford Fiesta Rally2.

David Henderson leads both the BTRDA Silver Star and Jordan Road Surfacing BTRDA Historic Cup and, co-driven by Will Atkins, will be aiming for a hat-trick of victories in his 2-litre Escort. He’s only four points ahead of Lewis Hooper, who also leads the BTRDA Junior R2 Cup in his Fiesta Rally2 (co-driven by Silver Star leading navigator Rhys Edwards).

Meanwhile Dylan Fowler-Bishop/Dan Evans will be aiming to extend their lead in the BTRDA Bronze Star Series.

Over 50 crews from the Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship will contest the event. These include the four-time and reigning champions Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear (Škoda Fabia R5), James Giddings/Aled Davies (Mitsubishi Evo 9), Rudi Lancaster/Guy Weaver (Escort Mk2), Bob Morgan/Ade Williams (Škoda Fabia R5), David Tomlin/Keith Ashley (Ford Fiesta R5) and Russ Thompson/Stephen Link, who claimed maximum Welsh points on the event last year in their Mitsubishi Evo 9.

Liam Clark arrives at the event leading both the Pirelli Welsh Championship overall and the Junior section. Should he still be leading the Under 25s at the end of the Nicky Grist Stages, then the young Fiesta Rally2 driver from Keighley in West Yorkshire will be invited to join the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team at Rally Japan later in the year and gain invaluable WRC experience working as weather crew. The same can be said for Hereford’s Jack Bowen, who comes into the event as top-placed Pirelli Welsh Junior co-driver.

In addition to historic-spec cars competing in the BTRDA and Welsh championships, there will be crews battling for points in the HRCR Stage Masters Challenge. These include last year’s champion Paul Holmes/Liz Beesley, who return in their Escort RS2000 Mk2.

Brecon duo Colin and Harri Evans (BMW 318ti) will be aiming to continue their challenge for the TCS Plant Rally Challenge title – a series which raises funds for the Wales Air Ambulance.

The leading competitors from the ANWCC Forest Stage Rally Championship will also be in attendance. It is one of the largest Motorsport UK regional associations, with over 130 member clubs.

Top seeded Quinton Motor Club crew are Paul Walker/Geraint Thomas, who will start at car 30 in their Subaru Impreza.

The event will continue its collaboration with Carbon Positive Motorsport, GoSafe (the Wales Road Casualty Reduction Partnership) and be part of Motorsport UK’s National Motorsport Week.

The 2025 Nicky Grist Stages will start from Strand Street in the centre of Builth Wells, with the first of the smaller capacity 1400cc and Historic class cars leaving at 08:31, followed by the top cars in seeded order – flagged away by the Mayor of Builth Wells, Cllr. Mark Hammond.

Crews will then tackle a loop of four stages – Monument, Route 60, Halfway and Bowlsey (the Crychan stage, named in honour of the late Pete Bowles, a long time Quinton MC committee member, previous Nicky Grist Stages event winner and Clerk of the Course) – before a 50 minute midday service halt on the Builth Wells RFC pitch, beginning at 11:35. The loop of four stages will be repeated in the afternoon, before the traditional champagne finish ceremony on the banks of the River Wye from 15:15 onwards.

Spectator information will be published on the event website soon and will feature two dedicated areas for fans to view the action – one in the much-anticipated Route 60 stage and the other near the end of the Halfway test.

2025 Nicky Grist Stages – top 10 seeded entries
1. William Creighton/Liam Regan (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)
2. Elliot Payne/Patrick Walsh (Ford Fiesta Rally2)
3. Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear (Škoda Fabia R5)
4. Meirion Evans/Dale Furniss (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)
5. Callum Black/Jack Morton (Ford Fiesta Rally2)
6. Jason Mitchell/Paddy McCrudden (Škoda Fabia R5)
7. Russ Thompson/Stephen Link (Mitsubishi Evo 9)
8. Liam Clark/TBC (Ford Fiesta Rally2)
9. Vivian Hamill/Lorcan Moore (Ford Fiesta Rally2)
10. Dan O’Brien/Niall Burns (Ford Fiesta Rally 2)

The 2025 Nicky Grist Stages has been given the official go-ahead to run on its scheduled date of Saturday 12 July – with the famous Route 60 stage returning for the first time since 2018 in a new-look and fresh challenging 45 stage mile route.

The Quinton Motor Club-organised event, which celebrates 16 consecutive years of title sponsorship from Nicky Grist Motorsports, will run on both NRW and MOD land in and around the Mynydd Epynt military range.

Thanks to the magnificent support of Powys County Council, Builth Wells Town Council, Builth Wells RFC and the businesses and residents of Builth Wells, the 2025 Nicky Grist Stages will once again be based in the very heart of the picturesque market town – with the start in Strand Street, the finish on the banks of the River Wye and the service area on the Groe.

The popular compact and low road mileage route will contain stages in Monument, Halfway and Crychan (named Bowlsey, in honour of the late Pete Bowles, a long time Quinton MC committee member, previous Nicky Grist Stages event winner and Clerk of the Course) and Route 60 – with one loop of four stages run in the morning and another loop run after mid-day service.

The 2025 Nicky Grist Stages will be a round of five major championships – the Protyre Autocare BTRDA Rally Series, Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship, HRCR Rally Master Challenge, TCS Plant Rally Challenge and ANWCC Rally Championship.

The event will also continue its collaboration with Carbon Positive Motorsport, which last year supported the planting of over 1,500 sequioa and 6,000 native broadleaf trees in Abergavenny, as well as GoSafe, the Wales Road Casualty Reduction Partnership, and be a key part of Motorsport UK’s National Motorsport Week.

“I am delighted that we have got what is probably the most-liked stage of the Nicky Grist Stages back in the 2025 edition – Route 60,” says Nicky Grist.

“Route 60 is such a fantastic stage with wonderful high speed and flowing corners that nearly everyone enjoys. I was also overjoyed when we found out that Storm Darragh did not affect us anywhere near as badly as other stages in Wales and I am looking forward to catching up with everyone at the event in Builth Wells in July.”

“At the beginning of the year there were some doubts as to whether we would be able to run the 2025 Nicky Grist Stages, thanks to the damage caused in the Welsh forests by Storm Darragh and military training operations combining to seriously curtail the stage mileage available to us on both NRW and MOD land,” admits Neil Cross, Nicky Grist Stages Clerk of the Course.

“However, with the invaluable co-operation and hard work of NRW, the MOD and Rally4Wales we have instead put together a fantastic route which brings back firm favourite stages and reconfiguring old classics.”

2025 Nicky Grist Stages – Important Dates and Times
Sunday 18 May, 18:00 – Regulations published
Monday 19 May, 18:00 – Entries open for registered championship contenders and Quinton Motor Club members
Monday 26 May – Entries open for all competitors
Friday 27 June – Seeded entries close
Monday 30 June – Final Instructions and route details announced
Wednesday 9 July – Final entries close
Friday 11 July, 15:00-20:30 – Scrutineering, Groe Park (Service Area)
Saturday 12 July, 08.31 – First car starts
Saturday 12 July, 15:30 – First car finishes