By Paul Evans

The 2018 Pirelli MSA Welsh Forest Rally Championship gets underway this weekend with the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally.

North Wales duo Luke Francis (from Rhuddlan in Denbighshire) and co-driver John Roberts (from Llysfaen in Conwy), the 2016 champions, will once again be strong contenders in their Ford Fiesta WRC – and eager to steal an advantage whilst Callum Black, the reigning champion, is away working as a driver for the NBC network at the Winter Olympics in South Korea.

A close battle for victory is anticipated, with a number of top Welsh drivers entered. Pembrokeshire’s Julian Reynolds is out in his new Ford Fiesta R5, Ruthin’s Hugh Hunter drives a Fiesta WRC and Keith Parry, from Llangefni on Anglesey, contests the event in a Subaru Impreza.

Reigning Group N champions Andy Davies will face opposition from former champions Paul Davy (both in Subaru Imprezas, while others contesting the class include Brynmor Pierce (Fiesta) and Dan Moss (Mitsubishi Evo).

The Cambrian Rally starts from St George’s Place in Llandudno at 08.00 on Saturday. The first stage is in Penmachno forest at 09.00, and spectators can also see the cars in action on the Llyn Elsi stage from 09.43 – and the cars will re-visit these stages at 13.30 and14.25 respectively.