By Paul Evans

The sight and sound of rally cars thundering through a Welsh forest will return after 308 very long and quiet days this Saturday, when competition restarts with a Covid-19 compliant test event.

Needless to say, the 15 available spaces filled up quickly for the Rali Adfer Coedwigoedd Cymru (Welsh Forest Restoration Rally) – with the very limited number of drivers and co-drivers permitted to take part complying with the maximum 30 persons gathering rule.

Eight stages totalling around 30 stage miles will be held in the privately owned Gorsedd Bran forest in Denbighshire, with competition all done and dusted within a handful of carefully controlled hours.

It’s not the biggest event, but it’s the most important rally since the coronavirus restrictions forced the cancellation of all motorsport in Wales – as it’s designed to prove that motorsport can operate safely and not contribute in any way to the spread of the virus.

Feels quite strange to be preparing for a gravel rally in Wales again at long last. Huge amount of effort gone in behind the scenes by the organising club's to make this happen. Looking forward to helping ensure the event is safe and successful on Saturday. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

— Jamie Edwards 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (@jemsport) December 8, 2020

Held in vast open outdoor rural spaces, this is an opportunity motorsport has been campaigning for – and finally, it’s been given a chance.

It’s hoped that this event will unlock the door to an inevitably slow and cautious return to full motorsport competition as we knew it.

There will be mechanics (albeit only two to a car), medics, countdown clocks and that familiar mud on hot metal smell, but the event will look and feel very different too.

There will temperature checks, face mask coverings, hand sanitiser stations, social distancing, team bubbles and no spectators – plus it’s also going to be a largely paperless and contactless event, with QR codes, downloads and clouds for final instructions, running orders and results.

Gatherings to compare stage times and swap tales of high-speed tank-slappers will not be allowed, and there will be a dedicated eagle-eyed Covid officer on site to make sure every Motorsport UK and Welsh government regulation is enforced.

It’s taken months of negotiations to get this event off the ground, and after at least four other test rallies had tried and failed to gain approval from the Welsh government to run, motorsport is eager to show how successfully and effectively Covid-19 compliant rules can be applied.

And rally crews have come out in force to support the event, with the former BTRDA Gold Star champion Hugh Hunter leading the field away at number one. The rapid Ruthin pilot will be co-driven by Dale Bowen in a Fiesta R5.

They’ll be followed at number two by the 2018 Welsh Forest Rally champions Dylan Davies/Llion Williams, with the rest of the 15 strong cast – which includes competitors from outside Wales, thanks to a very recent relaxing of the travel restriction rules – following quickly behind.

Double Welsh Forest and six time National Asphalt champion Damian Cole, co-driven by Jamie Edwards, will act as course opening zero car.

Rally crews have not competed against each other in a Welsh forest since the Visit Conway Cambrian Rally on 8 February, and this event is only the second forest rally to take place in the UK since the first coronavirus wave in the spring.

Let’s hope that the Rali Adfer Coedwigoedd Cymru draws that barren chapter to a close, and heralds the rebirth of motorsport in Wales.

Seeded entry list – all 15 crews
1. Hugh Hunter/Dale Bowen….Ford Fiesta R5
2. Dylan Davies/Llion Williams….Skoda Fabia R5
3. Ian Bainbridge/Will Atkins….Skoda Fabia R5
4. Tim Phelps/Elwyn Manuel….Ford Escort
5. James Curtis/Stuart Thomas….BMW 328
6. Ricky Crone/Jonny ‘Tad’ Evans….Ford Escort Mk2
7. Arwel Lloyd Jones/Sion Williams….Ford Escort Mk2
8. Ross Leach/Hannah Davison….Subaru Impreza
9. Jade Paveley/David Paveley….Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 3
10. Fraser Anderson/Rhys Stoneman….Ford Fiesta R2T
11. Matthew Steadman/Brynmor Pierce…Lancia Delta Integrate Evo
12. Huw Roberts/Phil Roberts….Peugeot 306
13. Ioan Lloyd/Dai Roberts….Ford Escort
14. Geoff Phelps/Ian Jones….Ford Escort Mk2
15. Julian Birley/Steve White….Talbot Sunbeam 1600Ti