On Saturday 16th November, clear skies greeted the crews at Cinderford Rugby Club for the start with the first car off at 8.01am and starting Speech House just after 8.20am
The first loop of Speech House and Yorkley was completed and heading back to Ross was Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear in their Fabia R5, with a 37 second lead over Nik Elsmore/Pauline Nash in their Evo 9 and Bob Morgan/Ade Williams just 4 seconds behind them.
In the battle for top 2WD honours was Tom Llewellin/Ross Whittock in their Weir Rallying Historic escort MK2 with a slender 10 seconds lead over Ben Friend/Cliff Simmons, also in a historic escort MK2
In the front category who led the field away, it was Nigel Jenkins/Kaz Jenkins (1400 Nova) leading the way with a 19 second lead over their son Luke Watts/Matt Rogers (1400 MG ZR).
Leg 2
Onto the next loop and the lead remained unchanged, with Hirst/Dear taking both stage victories through Serridge & Speech House 2, and increasing their lead by another 37 seconds. Although a slight scare with a rather large piece of wood sticking out their rear tyre. Elsmore/Nash remained in 2nd overall, with eyes behind rather than on overall victory. However, the leading 2WD men Llewellin/Whittock had jumped up to 3rd overall in place of Morgan/Williams to round out the overall podium, with the latter struggling with tyres and making a switch at service for the last loop.
Friend/Simmons were keeping the above honest in 5th and 2nd 2WD, just 15 seconds behind Llewellin/Whittock.
Jenkins/Jenkins continued to lead the front category with Watts/Rogers in 2nd, however, with first gear being lost, the latter was losing time to all their rivals.
Leg 3
Onto the final loop, the longest of the rally with runs through Serridge 2, Staple Edge & Yorkley 2.
In the front category, Watts/Rogers were unable to hold onto the runners-up spot eventually losing out by 14 seconds. However, their misfortune meant that Jeremy Easson/Mike Reynolds took 2nd in the category in their MK1 Escort and individual class victory.
That left Jenkins/Jenkins to cruise to a comfortable category win and an overall finish of 14th in their 1400 Nova.
In the 2WD battle, Friend/Simmons pushed hard all the way but come up short in 5th overall and 2nd 2WD & Historic, eventually 30 seconds in arrears.
Taking top honours in the 2WDs & Historics were Llewellin/Whittock, with a hard fought day. They would eventually finish 4th, missing out on the overall podium by 9 seconds. However, taking 3rd Welsh Championship crew on the day for the pair.
Onto the overall podium and that meant FODMC pairing Morgan/Williams took their first ever Wyedean overall podium in their Fabia R5. It's fair to see both were very pleased with their days work at the finish in Ross. To top off their day, they took 2nd Welsh Championship crew.
Taking the runners up spot this year was another FODMC crew Elsmore/Nash in their Evo 9. Another good result for the pair with it the third podium in a row for Elsmore, a two time former event winner.
That left Matthew Hirst Rallying/Declan Dear to sweep to a record breaking fourth in a row overall victory by 1 minute and 56 seconds and taking a clean sweep of stage wins as well for good measure, eclipsing local heroes Graham Elsmore & Stuart Harrolds record of three victories in a row held since the event's first three editions in 1975-1977.
Along with it Hirst/Dear took overall Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship honours again for a fourth time in a row.
On behalf of everyone at the Forest Of Dean Motor Club, we would like to thank everyone who entered and supported the event with a capacity 90 cars starting and a huge congratulations to all class winners and everyone who finished the day.
Photos courtesy of Black Mountains Media 
