Britpart Woodpecker Stages 2026

HRCR's post-event report on the West Wales Rally Spares Stage Masters Challenge crews at Woodpecker says the Challenge driver's title is now decided: Paul Holmes, driving his Escort RS2000 with Liz Beesley at the event, is champion elect. The co-driver's title stays open, with reigning champion Liz Beesley in a strong position while Kevin Hogan or Ian Jones could still take it over the remaining rounds. In the Challenge classes, Freddy Camp and Stephen Spear won their class by a single second from Jeremy Wells, and Rudi Lancaster with Andy Richards scored maximum co-driver points. HRCR — Woodpecker Witterings →

Post-event coverage fills in the detail behind the final classification. The organiser's report describes Payne switching to a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 at the last minute, then fighting Donnelly all the way to a 12-second win; Rhys Yates took third on his first event in a Rally2 car since 2024, with Daniel Sigurdarson and Asta Sigurdardottir fourth and Ollie Mellors/Ian Windress fifth. Russ Thompson and Stephen Link took maximum Welsh championship points on round five after James Wilson slid off, and HRCR confirms Rob Latham collected the Exol Oil award. Organiser's report →

The classification is published as final: last year's winners Elliot Payne and Patrick Walsh win the 2026 running by 12 seconds from Mark Donnelly and Martin Brady, with Rhys Yates and Dale Bowen third. Seventy-seven crews are classified as finishers and eleven as retirements, matching the 88 crews in the timing system. Final results →

Rally day: the event runs from Newtown over eight stages, two runs each through Cwm Mawr, Ednol Hill, Fron Wen and Cwmysgawen. The timing service lists 88 crews, with the classification still marked unofficial. Last year's winners Elliot Payne and Patrick Walsh head the main class timing by 11 seconds from Mark Donnelly and Martin Brady, with Daniel Sigurdarson and Asta Sigurdardottir third. Nine crews are recorded as retirements. Live timing →

The organiser's event preview names last year's winners Elliot Payne and Patrick Walsh as first away from Newtown. Matt Hirst/Declan Dear, Ollie Mellors/Ian Windress, David Kelly/Shane Buckley and Rhys Yates/Dale Bowen are among the leading crews confirmed for Saturday's running. Event preview →

HRCR publishes its own preview of the event, aimed at historic-class entrants running the Radnor stages. The preview directly denies rumours that the 2026 running might be cancelled, addressing chatter that had circulated among competitors. With just over a week to go, this is the most recent confirmation that the event is proceeding as planned. HRCR preview →

Hereford Times runs independent coverage confirming the Radnor Forest complex's return and the full 2026 championship line-up. The piece corroborates the organiser's own route announcement from the day before, rather than relying solely on the club's own publicity. It's the clearest third-party confirmation found for this year's route changes. Hereford Times →

The organiser announces the revamped 2026 route: the Radnor forest complex returns after being dropped from the 2025 running. Three stages now run through Radnor itself, alongside Cwmysgawen, with a repeated daytime loop bringing the total to eight special stages. This restores ground the rally used to run regularly before its 2025 absence. Route announcement →

Britpart is confirmed as title sponsor for the 2026 running — the first time the Woodpecker Stages has carried a title sponsor. The Sixty & Worcestershire Motor Club-organised event keeps its Saturday 12 September date and its regular championship line-up of Pirelli Welsh, TCS Plant, HRCR Stage Masters and ANWCC Forest. Full route details are still to follow at this point. Sponsor announcement →