Rally Archive
Autumn Road Rally
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Carmarthen Motor Club
12th/13th September 2026
Winners: Rhodri Evans/David 'Garth' Powell (Ford Escort)
Photograph: © Adrian Convery Photography
Organiser: Carmarthen Motor Club
Date: 12th/13th September 2026
Clerk of the Course: Alan James
Route: 110 Miles (Maps 145, 146, 158 & 159)
Base: Carmarthen
Starters: 79
Seventy-nine cars lined up at Carmarthen Cattle Market for the start of the Welsh Championship's seventh round. Not amongst them were the top seeds Meirion Evans/Marc Hughes (Ford Escort) who failed Scrutineering after falling foul of recently tighten rules regarding advertising on sun strips.
Carmarthen Motor Club had laid out a 110 mile route, which, in conditions of torrential rain and some fog, proved a challenging test.
There was a further reduction in the number of leading runners before the start of the first competitive section, Richard Jerman/Shaun Richards (Ford Escort) were forced to retire as the car's wipers failed as they left the start car park.
The organisers had expected the opening sections, around the south-western edge of Brechfa Forest, to be relatively easy, but thick fog meant that everyone lost time at both TC2 and TC4. Rhodri Evans/David 'Garth' Powell (Ford Escort) immediately made it clear that they would be contenders for the win; they were six seconds faster than George Williams/Cadog Davies (Ford Escort) to TC2, and maintained their lead despite losing five seconds to their challengers at TC4.
Mike Roberts/Dafydd-Sion Lloyd had been fourth fastest to TC2, but went out shortly afterwards when their Escort developed gearbox problems. Similar difficulties stopped the Proton Satria of Dylan Parry/Dave Thomas; gear selection glitches left them with just fourth gear. Osian Jones/Jamie Mills (Nissan Micra) were in fifth place at TC2, but they also joined the retirement list before TC4 when their engine failed.
The second section ran from TC5 near Alltwalis to TC8 at Esgair, and included a track through Gilfachmaen, the length of which meant that TC7 was timed to the minute. The two crews battling for first place both reached TC7 on time - only six crews did - but then the Escort of Williams/Davies was hit by a misfire problem that had caused issues on previous events, they dropped over a minute to their rivals at TC8.
At the end of the section Evans/Powell held a lead of 1m03s over Gethin Dafis/Ryan Griffiths (Ford Escort), while Williams/Davies were in third, 12 seconds further back. Arwyn Jones/Mathew Pryce (Ford Escort) were in fourth, one second off third. Fifth was now held by Reian Jones/Michael Gilbey (Seat Ibiza). Max Hughes/Tristan Leyshon (Peugeot 206) and Tomos Evans/Dilwyn John (Ford Escort) had both cleaned TC7 and were now in a close fight for sixth place with Hefin Jones/Llyr Davies (Ford Escort); the three crews being separated by just two seconds.
Approaching TC7 the Vauxhall Chevette of Lucas Adams/Aled James hit a bank, this broke a steering arm, leaving the car wedged across the road. This delayed more than a dozen cars behind them; these were all awarded a notional time for the following time control.
There was no respite for competitors as another tight section followed, it ran from TC9 at Blaen-y-coed to TC12 at Blaenpant and included another two tracks. Williams/Davies, now with a clean running engine, were fastest over the sector, only dropping time at the final control. They were now back in second place, 53 seconds behind Evans/Powell and 54 seconds ahead of Dafis/Griffiths. Evans/John had emerged from their tight sixth placed battle, but were now tied with Jones/Gilbey for fourth.
A short two miler from Drefach to the A40 completed the first half before a halt at St Clears. Williams/Davies narrowed the gap to the leaders by five more seconds, but at the break Evans/Powell still held an advantage of 48 seconds. Dafis/Griffiths were in third, but over two minutes off first place. On the final first half section, Evans/John had pulled out eight seconds on Jones/Gilbey and were in a clear fourth place.
Andy Davies/Kieran Price (Subaru Impreza) had been quickest to TC14 and were now in ninth place, but they withdrew early in the second half after picking up punctures.
At this point the Semi-Expert Class was led by Andrew Thomas/Mathew Phillips (Peugeot 205 GTi), who were a minute ahead of Thomas 'Forge' Jones/Emyr Evans (Peugeot 206 Cup), while Liam Regan/Jason Thomas (Nissan Micra) held a substantial advantage in the Novice Class.
After the restart the route took a long loop north from St Clears to Whitland, reaching as far up as Cwmbach. However, almost all of the top twenty crews reached the ten TCs on time and there was no alteration in the battle for the top places. It wasn't until the penultimate section to the west of Laugharne, which included two tracks, that the fight was restarted.
At TC29, just south of New Mill, Evans/Powell were 42 seconds late, while Williams/Davies reached the control on time and were now just six seconds off the lead. The deficit was cut by a further second at TC30. There now remained a short but tight test, a loop to the south of the A40 at Bancyfelin Hospital. Evans/Powell held on to take victory as they were seven seconds ahead of their rivals, giving the driver his maiden rally win.
Williams/Davies took the runner up spot, two minutes ahead of third placed Dafis/Griffiths, while Jones/Gilbey took the second fastest time on the final section to come through and finish in fourth place. There was a tight fight for fifth, with Jones/Pryce finishing just a second ahead of Evans/John.
Dafydd Hughes/Andrew Davies (Ford Escort) came through in the second half to clinch the Semi-Expert Class by a comfortable margin. Meanwhile Regan/Thomas continued their domination of the Novice category, finishing a minute and a half ahead of their nearest rivals.
Arwel Hughes Jones/Dylan John Williams (Ford Escort), in a borrowed car, had a steady run; they finished in ninth place, which was sufficient for them to clinch the Welsh Road Rally title for the third time in four years.
RESULTS
- Overall Positions
- Award Winners
- Class Positions
- Time Penalty Details
- Fail Penalties
- Overall Positions at Petrol
- Non-Finishers
- List of Starters
- Welsh Championship Points