The opening local rally event of the year, the Matt Edwards Rallysport Showground Stages 2026, took place last weekend at the Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd, writes Mark Griffin.

After a few years’ break, this popular event was resurrected three years ago by Newtown & District Automobile Club. With enthusiastic support from multiple British Rally Champion Matt Edwards, it has gone from strength to strength.

Aimed at clubman grassroots competitors and catering for two-wheel-drive cars only, the event attracted a near-capacity entry over 10 timed stages totalling 27 miles. Not only popular with competing crews, hundreds of spectators also attended, filling the car parks to capacity.

Previous venue winner Dan Evans and co-driver Karolina Griffiths were among the favourites in their rapid Ian Evans Motorsport-prepared Vauxhall Nova SR. Despite predominantly dry weather, the road surface proved treacherously slippery. Evans and Griffiths set the fastest time on the opening stage and dominated throughout the day, with only stage two taken by Daniel and Clive Jones in their Renault Clio.

Brecon youngster Joe Palmer, co-driven by the hugely experienced Steve McPhee, also impressed. Fresh from success in Africa, McPhee helped Palmer recover from an early spin on the opening test, which cost them around 15 seconds. Despite this setback, they went on to post top-six stage times and several second-fastest stage results, securing a class win and an outstanding third overall.

Jonathan Young, partnered by Motorsport UK Academy co-driver Sam Weller from Brecon, had a fairly consistent day despite the powerful rear-wheel-drive Escort RS struggling for traction on the slippery surface, finishing just outside the top ten.

After ten stages, Evans and Griffiths took a comfortable win by 51 seconds, with Dylan Davies amd Llion Williams runners-up in their Escort RS and Palmer and McPhee completing the podium in the Micra.