The Nicky Grist Stages has had several very famous winners since it was first run as a forestry event in 1980 – but none more so than Malcolm Wilson OBE, who secured victory exactly 40 years ago!
And it’s a victory that remains dear to the M-Sport boss’ heart, as it was his first public outing in a Metro 6R4.
Back in 1985, the Quinton Motor Club stage rally was very different to what it is now. Called the Nicolet Stages Rally, it ran in November, was based in Betws-y-Coed and had 34 miles of stages in Penmachno and Clocaenog forests.
For the works Austin Rover team, the event was a full-blown dress rehearsal for the Lombard RAC Rally, and it was the first public outing for Malcolm and co-driver Nigel Harris in the Computervision Metro 6R4.
The appearance of the new Metro 6R4 attracted a huge number of spectators to the Welsh forests, as Malcolm beat Richard Gough/Mel Lewis (Ford Escort) to win the event by just over three minutes.
“I think I was probably quite nervous with it being my first event in a Metro 6R4,” recalls Malcolm.
“It was a totally new team. Most of my career I had been in Fords or with my own car like the Audi Quattro, so I was quite apprehensive before the start as everything was so new and so different.
“There weren’t any other four-wheel drive cars on the event, so it would have been a bad job if we hadn’t done the business, but it was still a great way for me to get a chance to drive the car, apart from testing, in an event before the RAC Rally.
“We had a good run, but better still it gave us a better understanding of the car – and there is nothing better than winning to give you a confidence boost.”
And 19 years later, Malcolm’s son Matthew Wilson (co-driven by Scott Martin) won the 2004 Nicky Grist Stages, driving an M-Sport Ford Focus WRC 02 in front of the whole family.
“The 2004 Nicky Grist Stages was another great day,” adds Malcolm.
“We didn’t really expect Matthew to win if I’m honest, but he did a really polished job with no drama and no stress.
“We were all there as a family. I think both Elaine’s [Malcolm’s wife] parents and my parents were there, as well as all the guys that had worked for M-Sport for a very long time, so it was a real family affair and it was great to see Matthew win.”
Other famous winners of the Nicky Grist Stages include Allan Edwards (1980), Chris Mellors (1986), Andrew Burton (1996, ’98, ‘00, ’05 and ‘07), Andreas Mikkelsen (2006), Elfyn Evans (2016), Matt Edwards (2018 and ’21), Osian Pryce (2022), Elliot Payne (2023) and Chris Ingram (2024).
Based in Builth Wells – with the start ceremony on Strand Street, the service area on the Builth Wells RFC pitch and the champagne finish on the banks of the River Wye – this year’s Nicky Grist Stages will feature a compact route with minimal road mileage and 45 stage miles in Halfway, 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), Monument and Route 60.
This will be the 16th consecutive year of title sponsorship from Nicky Grist Motorsport and the event will be a host 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.
And M-Sport continues to play a significant role in this year’s Nicky Grist Stages, as the top-placed Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship Under 25 Junior driver and co-driver at the end of the event be invited to gain invaluable FIA World Rally Championship team experience working as a weather crew for M-Sport on Rally Japan later this year.
Competitors can enter the event here.
Many thanks to Steve Pugh for the picture.
