The Junior category of the Motorsport UK British Rally Championship roared into life at the Severn Valley Stages, as the next generation of rally talent battled across the fast and demanding Welsh gravel.
With a coveted prize package on offer this season, including a BRC entry for 2027 worth around £7,000, the Junior BRC once again attracted a top entry. The pathway is further strengthened by the Stellantis Rally Trophy UK, which provides a competitive platform in the BRC4 category for drivers in Peugeot, Lancia and Opel Rally4 machinery. For the eventual champion, the rewards could stretch even further, with the prospect of a Rally4 outing in Hungary and a test in a Lancia Rally2 car later in the year.
But it was Ben McFall who stole the headlines on the stages around Llandrindod Wells. On his Junior BRC debut, McFall delivered a commanding performance at the wheel of his Ford Fiesta Rally4, mastering the conditions to take an emphatic victory. With co-driver Richard Crozier alongside, he set the benchmark from the outset, clocking the fastest time on six of the event’s seven stages.
Despite the dominance, McFall remained grounded at the finish.
“It was a great learning experience this weekend,” he said. “That was some tough competition — those boys weren’t far off the pace back home, so fair play. It was good racing all day.”
Behind him, the battle for the remaining podium places proved just as intense. Riley Chester and co-driver Robbie Sandford secured second overall after a consistent run, while Sam Mason and James Seymour completed the podium in third. Both crews, campaigning Peugeot 208 Rally4 machinery, finished over a minute adrift but demonstrated strong pace throughout the day.
The fight for second took a late twist on the final stage when Charlie Mathewson and Josh Carr who had been firmly in contention and even claimed a stage win, ran into trouble. An off in the closing miles caused damage to their Peugeot 208 Rally4, forcing them to nurse the car to the finish and ultimately dropping them down the order.
There was early drama for Meghan O’Kane and Nikki Addison, who made their Rally4 debut in a Fiesta. Sadly, engine woes brought an end to their outing on the very first stage.
If the Severn Valley Stages are anything to go by, the season ahead looks set to be fiercely contested.
