In a change of venue, the 2025 Historic Rally Festival took place last weekend at the Royal Welsh Showground at Llanelwedd.

The popular event had previously been staged at Weston Park in Shropshire.

It was hoped that the spectator-friendly showground venue would allow better viewing and facilities to showcase the rally demonstration event.

Despite Storm Amy doing her best to disrupt preparations for the weekend spectacular, spectators certainly were not left disappointed, with 80 cars of various vintage on display, including some iconic Group B cars, all set within the undercover facilities of the various showground buildings.

Saturday afternoon and Sunday provided 16 circuits of a short rally prepared stage, mainly transversing up and down the straight asphalt aisles in the lower end of the show field. Cars set off in 30 second intervals, but as it was classed as a demonstration even, no times for the circuit were recorded and therefore no overall winner was declared.

Local interest came from Sara Williams, who dusted off the Brecon Car Rentals Subaru N12 and with her father Jonathan in the co-driving seat soon was up to speed and driving in spectacular fashion.

And equipped with a new car, Jeff Jones from Cwmdu and Graham Isaac debuted the Peugeot 106 GTI and enjoyed the outing despite some niggling mechanical issues.

Again, Brecon & Epynt Motor Clubs provided radio and safety marshals for the event and ensured its safe and smooth running.

The Historic Rally Festival is a MotorsportUK permitted rally demonstration.

Competitors enjoyed a completely tarmac format over 35 stage miles, with no road sections or mixed surfaces, while the revised schedule featured six runs on Saturday afternoon and ten on Sunday, running the stage in reverse. Srews benefited from on-site scrutineering, undercover service areas, trade stands, and motorhome parking.