Fairfield Merlin Stages – 28th July 2024

The next round of the JD Tyres Welsh National Tarmacadam Championship will be the Fairfield Merlin Stages Rally to be held at Pembrey Motor Racing Circuit, The Welsh Motorsport Centre on Sunday 28th July 2024. Such is the popularity of the event, which is also a round of the TPS Rally Challenge, the entry list was oversubscribed well before the closing date for entries.

Amongst the entries will be a number of four-wheel drive Rally 2/ R5 specification cars, which with their turbocharged engines and four-wheel drive should prove to be the pacesetters on the event.

Having won the Jaffa Stages at the challenging Pembrey venue last December, Phil Turner/Paul Williams will surely be the crew to beat on this occasion, as the pair return with their Ford Fiesta R5 which they debuted on the Jaffa. Whilst Phil hasn’t been competing this year, as his grandson Thomas Cooper has been driving the car, Pembrey is a favorite venue for Phil who has won three times at the venue.

An interesting entry has been received from Ian Hucklebridge who finished third overall in a Ford Escort Mk 2 on the Jaffa Stages last December. For the Fairfield Merlin, Ian will be making the trip from Aylesbury and has chosen the event to debut his new Ford Fiesta R5, and if her can get to grips with his new car he will surely provide a stiff challenge for Turner. Joining him at Pembrey will be his son, Oliver who previously navigated for his father, but will be driving his own Ford Escort Mk 2 on this occasion. There will also be a third Fiesta driven by Aberystwyth’s Richard Owen Morgans, who will be competing in the more recent Rally 2 version.

Whilst the four-wheel drive cars are favorites for victory, there are a number of two-wheel drive cars who are capable of pushing them if the conditions are dry. Having taken outright wins on a number of occasions on Welsh Tarmacadam Championship rounds in the past, surprisingly Nigel Gibbard has never won at Pembrey. Last year, he and Bedwyr Harries finished in the runners up spot and will be keen to go one better this year in their Darrian T9GTR.

Another Darrian crew who would like to get a first Pembrey win will be Richard Merriman/Kath Curzon, the pair having won the Welsh Tarmacadam Championship on a number of occasions and they will be looking to break their Pembrey duck in their T90.

Chasing the leading runners will be a host of quick local drivers in their highly modified Ford Escort Mk 2’s, including Stefan Davies, Phil Lloyd and Craig Kampschulte. Joining them on this occasion will be another local driver Huw Jones, who has achieved a number of class wins in his road rally specification Peugeot 206, but for this event he has entered in a Ford Escort, and it will be interesting to see how he gets on.

Having enjoyed much success in circuit racing, Endaf Owens has tried his hand on a few rallies, and on the 2023 Jaffa Stages he led the event outright in his Ford Escort Mk 1 before retiring with mechanical issues near the end, and he will be keen to take a good result on this occasion. Amongst the other entries, Chris Jones will bring his Gilbern Invader Mk3, the Welsh sportscar having previously finished in the top ten at Pembrey on a number of occasions, whilst Mark Jones competes in his older Gilbern Genie. After winning his class in a Vauxhall Astra GTE on the Jaffa, Sean Jones will be out in a Vauxhall Chevette HSR and it will be interesting to see how he gets on in the more powerful car.

Adding a bit of variety to the entry list, Marcus Paggett will be looking to take another class win and top ten finish in his Nissan Micra Kit Car, and local Eurig Howells will be hoping for a class win in his 1600cc Talbot Sunbeam.

Running behind the main field will be the Formula 1000 Junior runners in the Championship for 14 – 17-year-old drivers, which should prove to be highly competitive, with a very healthy 15 car entry. C rews will attempt six special stages, with the first car due to start at 09.30hrs.

Spectator Information: - Gates open at 8.00am. Admission £15.00 Adults Children up to 15years F.O.C.

There is no spectator vehicle access to the service area. Parking will be on the spectator viewing areas between the Circuit crossing point and Honda curve, thereafter on the model flying club runway.