Matthew Hirst and co-driver Declan Dear stormed to a commanding victory at the Trackrod Forest Stages Rally this past weekend, driving their Skoda Fabia Rally2. Hirst set the pace from the start, clocking an impressive time of 41 minutes and 7.5 seconds over the five-stage, 45-mile course. Their dominant performance saw them set the fastest time on each stage, underlining their control of the event.
However, despite Hirst's emphatic victory, it was Elliot Payne who captured the headlines by securing his third consecutive British Trials and Rally Drivers Championship title, a historic achievement in the 71-year history of the series. Payne, piloting his Fiesta Rally2, trailed Hirst by 38.9 seconds, finishing second in the rally but ensuring that his closest rival, Russ Thompson, stayed behind him to clinch the championship. Payne's drive was all the more remarkable given he was competing with three fractured bones in his wrist, strategically focusing on the championship win rather than outright stage victories.
Third place overall went to Iceland’s Daniel Siguroarson, driving a Volkswagen Polo R5. Siguroarson delivered a solid performance throughout the rally, finishing behind Payne and securing a well-deserved podium spot.
In the Trackrod Historic Cup, Ben Friend in a Ford Escort took the win. Meanwhile, British Historic Championship leader Perez, driving a Porsche 911, overcame engine troubles earlier in the day to secure second place in the historics, a result that strengthens his title bid as the championship heads to its final showdown in the Scottish Borders this November.
Rounding out the top three in the Historic Cup was Richard Hill in his Mk2 Ford Escort, who secured a respectable third place in the hotly contested event.
While Hirst’s victory in the Trackrod Forest Stages Rally was a masterclass in speed and precision, the weekend truly belonged to Payne, who, at just 21 years old, made history by becoming the first driver to win the British Trials and Rally Drivers Championship three years in a row, marking his place among the sport’s elite.
Photography courtesy of Gary Fothergill and Alex Stefan
