The entry list for this year’s GET CONNECTED! CARLESS FUELS WYEDEAN FOREST RALLY, which is based at Chepstow Racecourse and takes place on Saturday 9th February, contains the names of both the first winners (1975 – GRAHAM ELSMORE/STUART HARROLD) and the last (2007 – HUGH HUNTER/ ANDY MARCHBANK).

Coleford resident Elsmore, the original ‘King of the Dean’, is still the only driver to record a hat-trick on his ‘home’ event, taking victories in 1975, 1976 & 1977. He has hired a Ford Escort RS for the day and, while unlikely to challenge for outright honours this time, his flamboyant driving style will no doubt bring the spectators out in their droves!

Meanwhile, Hunter’s first place on last year’s subdued event was his only victory of the season. His Ford Escort WRC has since been replaced by a more modern Focus, but the North Walian will have his work cut out if he is to achieve a repeat performance this time. Why? Because also lining up at the start will be several other past Wyedean winners, including four-times champion ANDY BURTON (1995/2000/2003/2004 - Peugeot Cosworth), JON INGRAM (2006 – Subaru Impreza S12), NIK ELSMORE (2001 – Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX) & DAVE JENKINS (1996 – Ford Escort WRC).

Add to that 2007 Silverstone Tyres BTRDA Gold Star Champion WILL NICHOLLS (Subaru Impreza WRC) who is setting out on the road to defend his title, last year’s series runner-up and event sponsor DAMIAN COLE (Hyundai Accent WRC) & 2006 Gold Star Champion SHAUN GARDENER (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO) and one can see the daunting task facing anyone with designs on winning this time!

The Silverstone Tyres Silver Star Championship also gets under way in Chepstow and, with current champion GRAHAM MIDDLETON turning his attention to the 1400cc Championship this year, the field is wide open for a new two-wheel drive champion. Middleton’s victory in a front-wheel drive Hyundai Coupe proved to be a break with tradition in a series that has seen rear-wheel drive machinery ruling the roost for years!

Looking at the runners and riders for 2008, the Silver Star Championship has obviously attracted the attention of a number of Irish crews, with FRANK KELLY, ADRIAN HETHERINGTON & SEAMUS O’CONNELL each bringing their Ford Escorts across for the Wyedean. Closer to home, the similar cars of ANDREW BOWEN & HENRI GREHAN must be regarded as serious contenders, while former double Silver Star Champion JON BALLINGER is also wheeling out his Opel Manta once again.

Assuming their place at the front of the field once again, the 1400 Championship contenders number forty-five on this occasion and it is 2006 champion NEIL WEAVER (Vauxhall Nova) who returns to the scene of his triumph to lead the rally away from the start at 8.00am on Saturday 9th February. Having won the Gold Star crown in 2004 and the Silver Star last year, Graham Middleton is using a Suzuki Ignis for his attempt to become the first person to win all three constituent parts of the BTRDA Rally Series. However, it goes without saying that there are any number of people whose sole intention is to see that it does not happen, viz Neil Weaver and 2007 Champion CLIVE WHEELER (Citroen C2) to name but two!  
 
This popular event, which affords competitors their only opportunity in the season to sample the special stages in the Forest of Dean, takes in 45 miles of flat-out motoring and the hope is that the snow, which caused such chaos in the area during the run-up to last year’s rally, will be absent this time!...

The entry list for the GET CONNECTED! CARLESS FUELS WYEDEAN FOREST RALLY (Saturday 9th February) has already topped the 100-mark and included in that number are the winners of the very first Wyedean, which took place back in 1975, and the defending champions who were victorious in 2007.

Forest of Dean rallying legend GRAHAM ELSMORE from Coleford, who won the first three Wyedean Rallies, is reunited with co-driver STUART HARROLD and has entered this year’s rally in a hired Ford Escort RS. Whilst unlikely to challenge for outright victory in a two-wheel drive car (although stranger things have happened!), Elsmore’s extensive knowledge of the area will pay dividends when it comes to any class battles in which he may become embroiled on the day.

Since last year’s victory, HUGH HUNTER/ANDY MARCHBANK have replaced their Ford Escort WRC with a more modern Focus WRC and will be looking for a repeat performance this time. In the Wyedean’s 33-year history, the only driver, apart from Elsmore, to achieve back-to-back wins is ANDY BURTON (2003/4) and he, too, will at the Chepstow Racecourse start in his familiar Peugeot Cosworth attempting to take what would be his 5th outright victory.

Chepstow Racecourse is preparing to welcome competitors for the GET CONNECTED! CARLESS FUELS WYEDEAN FOREST RALLY which takes place on Saturday 9th February and, as a qualifying round of no less than eight major Championships, the 180 available places in the entry list are expected to be snapped up very quickly!

Sponsored for the third consecutive year by Abergavenny-based mobile phone company Get Connected!, in association with Carless Racing Fuels, the event contains 45 miles of competition in seven special stages, one of which will be held within the Racecourse itself, while the remainder of the route takes competing crews into the picturesque Forest of Dean.  
 
The 2008 Get Connected! Carless Fuels Wyedean Forest Rally is the opening round of the Silverstone Competition Tyres BTRDA® Rally Series (incorporating the Silverstone Tyres Gold & Silver Star Championships + the BTRDA® 1400 Championship), both the MSA English & Pine Lodge Maps Welsh Championships, the Formula 1000 Forest Rally Championship and several regional series.