The Forest of Dean Motor Club would like to thank all the marshals, safety crews, radio marshals, timing crews and officials for helping us make the event such a great success. The competitors appreciated all your hard work - the weather was certainly a bonus!

Having been forced to retire following an accident on last year’s event, ANDY BURTON returned to win the Get Connected! Carless Fuels Wyedean Forest Rally for a record-breaking fifth time. Co-driven by SHELLEY ROGERSON, the Hereford driver brought his hybrid Peugeot Cosworth back to the finish at Chepstow Racecourse ahead of Coleford resident, and former event winner, NIK ELSMORE, in a Mitsubishi Lancer.

In his Group N ‘production’ specification car, Elsmore actually led the rally by a handful of seconds at one point but, as the day wore on, Burton moved ahead to put himself into the record books.

The rally was the opening round of the Silverstone Tyres Gold Star Rally Championship and WILL NICHOLLS/NICK BROOM (Subaru Impreza WRC) began the defence of their 2007 title in fine style with 3rd place overall. Event sponsor DAMIAN COLE (Hyundai Accent WRC) was 4th, just ahead of last year’s winners, HUGH HUNTER/ANDY MARCHBANK in a Ford Focus WRC.

Such was the closeness of the competition that, after 45 miles of flat-out motoring, just over one minute covered the first five crews at the finish.  

The strong two-wheel drive contingent was led home by Cheltenham’s NICK ELLIOTT/DAVE PRICE in their Ford Escort MkII who were an amazing 10th overall. Irishmen FRANK KELLY/ADRIAN FRIEL were next in their similar car, while all eyes were on GRAHAM ELSMORE/STUART HARROLD, the winners of the first-ever Wyedean Forest Rally in 1975, who turned the clock back by entering this year’s event in an Escort. Pleasing the hordes of spectators who turned out to witness their return, they finished just outside the top twenty and their efforts were rewarded with a class win.

Always a hot-bed of competition, the 1400 Championship was responsible for nearly fifty entries on