Fresh from an impressive performance on November’s Roger Albert Clark Rally, Category 4 newcomers Marty McCormack and Barney Mitchell pleased the fans with a popular BHRC overall and Category win on their return to the Championship. Usually found in an Escort, Rally North Wales was their maiden BHRC outing in the BMW E30 M3. However, it was Riponian victors George Lepley and Dafydd Evans who took the lead on the first stage with a five-second advantage despite a lack of brakes in their Mitsubishi Galant VR4. Sadly, driveshaft failure on the next test forced the pair’s retirement, leaving McCormack to storm to the win in the BMW. 2025 BHRC champions Baz Jordan and Arwel Jenkins tackled their first event of the year in their Galant VR4, finishing second in the category, albeit over three minutes down.

‘Drive of the rally’ was in Category 2, as Ben and Steven Smith drove their Porsche 911 not only to a dominant Category 2 win, but in doing so, set several top three overall times on the way

In Category 3, the Irish ruled the roost, with Damian Tourish and Kevin Duggan seeking redemption after technical issues curtailed their challenge in round , the pair going almost three seconds faster than their compatriots, the returning Paul Barrett with Rory McCann, on the opening test. Tourish extended that lead to almost five seconds on the next test before a cruel puncture in Dyfnant South derailed his charge, retiring for good in the next stage.

Behind Barrett and McCann, the scramble for the top spots was looking like it was going to BHRC debutant Tom Cave, who was impressive on his maiden outing in his Ford Escort MKII. Regularly setting top three times, Cave was holding a strong second before a puncture dropped him down the order to seventh. Nick Elliott and Dave Price (FIAT 131) picked up the place after a solid day. whilst Ben Friend and Osian Owen banished their recent demons to round out the podium in their Escort MKII.