All eyes will be focussed on Mid Wales next weekend (September 5-7) as the eagerly anticipated JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion hosts the penultimate rounds of the pulsating FIA European Rally Championship and the Probite British Rally Championship.
Rali Ceredigion celebrates its fifth running and brings together 106 competing crews from across the continent for the three-day contest – the biggest in the British Isles.
The Mid Wales event could well be crowning champions come Sunday afternoon, but before then competitors will face 10 closed-road stages in the breathtaking countryside of Ceredigion and Powys.
There’s also two high-speed, crowd-pleasing tests in the heart of Aberystwyth town centre on Friday and Saturday evenings.
The FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) fight will pit Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 drivers Miko Marczyk from Poland and Italian Andrea Mabellini against each other – with the pair separated by just 11 points before the UK round.
However, when dropped scores are taken into account the contest is even closer, with Mabellini leading Marczyk by just two points – setting up a tantalising battle in the lanes of Ceredigion.
Keeping a watchful eye on the title-sparring pairing will be Irishman Jon Armstrong, who sits third in the championship in his Ford Fiesta Rally2 after scoring his second podium of the season in the Czech Republic.
British driver Max McRae in a Citroen C3 Rally2 is number six with recently crowned Irish Tarmac champion Callum Devine (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) in seventh.
Local interest will focus on the return of two-time Rali Ceredigion winner Osian Pryce. The Welshman has now acquainted himself with his new Hyundai i20 Rally2 and with no pressure to score points for a championship, the Machynlleth man will be gunning for the Ceredigion hat-trick.
Fellow countryman Meirion Evans is another tipped for great things on home soil as the Lampeter driver, in his Toyota Yaris Rally2, will be eyeing an overall podium as well as the BRC win to help bolster his British Championship aspirations.
With points and a half on offer for this round, Evans will lock horns with teammate William Creighton in a winner takes all fight. If Irishman Creighton wins the BRC section in Ceredigion and the stars align perfectly, he could be crowned British champion in Aberystwyth.
A whole host of drivers are aiming to spoil that party, including Garry Pearson and 2024 Junior WRC Romet Jürgenson who has enjoyed a stunning debut season in Britain’s premier rallying series.
Following the International field will be the hotly contested national rally with a plethora of rallying talent eager to strut their stuff on the biggest stage in UK rallying.
Jerseyman Sam Touzel heads the entry in his Ford Fiesta Rally2 and will be seeking the win to put the icing on his 2025 National Asphalt Championship title winning cake. Alan Carmichael (Hyundai i20 Rally2) and Dylan Davies (Skoda Fabia R5) will be hot on his heels.
Meanwhile, the battle for two-wheel-drive honours includes Welsh aces John Dalton (Darrian T90), Kevin Davies (Ford Escort Mk2) and Huw James (Fiat 131 Abarth), to name but a few.
Fans will get a chance to meet the top drivers and cars at the Rali Show and autograph session which runs from 2.30pm to 3.30pm at Aberystwyth Bandstand before the Ceremonial Start on Friday.
The weekend’s action kicks off with the popular Aberystwyth street stage at 5.10pm on Friday, which features a range of spectating options for locals, before they tackle 126km of closed-road stages on Saturday.
The three-stage loop includes the new Cwm Elan test which takes crews through the iconic Elan Valley followed by the mammoth 33km-long Y Diafol stage, which includes the Devil’s Staircase and then the all-new Mydroilyn stage.
Sunday offers two passes over two stages including the annual blast through Nant y Moch before finishing with the Mynydd Bach Power Stage.
ERC championship leader Miko Marczyk said: “To fight for the title it’s necessary to fight for the win in each race. I am ready for good competition and I would really like to show the potential of our driving in Wales. I am motivated, it’s the moment of the season where it will be necessary to take more risks. I will fight to the end.”
Osian Pryce, 2019 and 2023 Rali Ceredigion winner, said: “We are really looking forward to the event, some new challenging stages await along with some Rali Ceredigion classics.
“After our shakedown on the Ulster Rally, I feel a lot more confident, having made good progress with the car – gelling with it quite quickly. I’m really looking forward to seeing the atmosphere in Aberystwyth and starting my home event with the support of sponsors, friends and family.”
National Rally top seed Sam Touzel said: “This rally has some of the best stages and best scenery I have ever seen. The stages are world-class – they have everything, fast, technical, demanding and always a few surprises.
“The atmosphere is great, the whole area comes alive and taking the rally into the town is always a buzz. I am looking for points in the BRC Open championship, but most importantly, create great memories with the team, soak it all in and enjoy every stage and every moment of this great event.”
