Stage rallying takes center stage around the UK this weekend, with action spread across Rali Bae Ceredigon and the Woodpecker Stages.

That, plus the next chapter in the British Hillclimb, Sprint and Sporting Trials Championships, in this week’s edition of ‘Up to Speed’:

British Rally Championship – Rali Bae Ceredigon

The Motorsport UK British Rally Championship will embark on a new journey next weekend as the series heads for the blisteringly fast closed-roads of west Wales and two-days of flat-out action at the Get Connected Rali Ceredigion.

The Aberystwyth based event enters the BRC calendar for the very first time and will play host to the fifth round of the series, after an impressive inaugural running in 2019. The event returns complete with a star-studded entry list and an top-line roster of championships, all eager to sample some of the finest sealed surface roads in the UK.

In a tightly packed schedule, crews will kick off with a ground-breaking double run around Aberystwyth town centre before heading out onto the undulating moorland roads for 14 competitive miles on Saturday evening under fading light.

Sunday hosts the bulk of the mileage with the mammoth 17-mile Llanfihangel stage to start the day, with a further three tests before service. A repeat of the morning’s loop gives a total of 71 miles in the leg, a tough test for the BRC1, Junior BRC and National Rally Title protagonists.

Leading the charge is four-time BRC champion, Keith Cronin. On paper his points advantage is significant but when dropped scores come into play its level pegging with 2021 runner-up Osian Pryce. The duelling Volkswagen Polo GTi pilots have offered up a fabulous contest on both surfaces with each driver taking two wins apiece.

Follow the latest from the British Rally Championship here: https://www.britishrallychampionship.co.uk/

British Hillclimb Championship – Prescott

Reigning champion Wallace Menzies has an opportunity to wrap up the British Hillclimb Championship with a meeting to spare as the series returns to Prescott this weekend.

Menzies has been the ‘one to beat’ again in 2022, with the Scot and his Gould GR59 machine top of the standings by five points in pursuit of a third crown. His nearest rival is Alex Summers and, with outright hill records falling left, right and centre this season, bonus points could yet play a significant factor in the destiny of this year’s title fight.

Six-time champion Scott Moran is third, with Trevor Willis and Matthew Ryder completing the top five.

To keep up to date with the BHC, visit their website: https://www.britishhillclimb.co.uk/

British Sprint Championship – Knockhill

Just four points separate Graham Blackwell and reigning champion Steve Miles as the British Sprint Championship ventures north to Knockhill this weekend.

However, it is third-placed Terry Holmes who arrives in Scotland with momentum on his side, having claimed a double victory in both Run-Offs at Kirkistown last time out.

Holmes took it steady through the qualifiers, posting the seventh-quickest time whilst checking out repairs to his Mygale EcoBoost’s suspension. When the competitive action got underway, however, he was in imperious form, with Pete Goulding’s Mygale FF 200 second on both occasions.

Miles was able to take a solitary podium, outscoring Blackwell to thin the gap at the top of the standings. Follow the latest here: http://www.britishsprint.org/default.asp

English, Welsh, and British Historic Rally Championships – Woodpecker Rally

This weekend marks the 38^th running of the Woodpecker Stages, run this season in honour of popular rallying figure and noted rally school runner, Phil Price.

A capacity entry list across the English, Welsh and British Historic Rally Championships will make the journey to Ludlow for one of the most popular loose surface rallies on the calendar, with over 160 cars slated to take part.

Notable entries include three-time British Rally champion Matt Edwards, who will take part in the BHRC alongside Hamish Campbell in a FIAT 131 with the aim of maintaining his winning form from earlier in the campaign.

In the Welsh Rally Championship, Matthew Hirst will celebrate title success with either a first or second place finish this weekend. Co-driven by Declan Dear, the Ford Fiesta R5+ ace has been in blistering form this campaign, scoring maximum points across all four events to-date.

Nick Dobson sits at the summit of the English Rally Championship, albeit his Ford Escort Mk2 is only a solitary point ahead of David Crossen and Richard Hill.

To follow the event, see the official website here: https://www.woodpecker-rally.co.uk/

British Sporting Trials Championship – Robin Jager, Cumbria

With nine rounds remaining, Thomas Bricknell leads Richard Sharp by 24 points in the Motorsport UK British Sporting Trials Championship.

Sprint is a high-speed discipline in which drivers take turns to set a time around a lap or a point-to-point course. Competitors get practice runs, then two timed attempts to count towards the final results.

Keep up to date with the championship here: http://www.britishsprint.org/