Report
Full results available below. Some photos in the slideshow above and more in the GALLERY (see below).
With Wales and the rest of the UK, hopefully, recovering from the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic, this was our first competitive event since the Valentine Novice Rally of February 2020 – a break of fifteen months. It was also the first post-pandemic Autotest/PCA in Wales.
Our Acting Competition Secretary, Peredur Davies, was keen to have events resume as soon as restrictions were lifted and with fellow organisers Will Hughes and Dion Bee, had put together a programme of tests at Anglesey Showground. So many organisations have seen their calendar of events decimated since March 2020 and Anglesey Agricultural Society were keen to welcome us back to a venue we have not used for a few years.
The original Permit application to Motorsport UK was to run a Clubman Autotest, but further easing of restrictions prompted a very last-minute appeal to our governing body to add Permit for a Production Car Autotest, which was thankfully granted and encouraged more competitors to submit an entry. This was the first of what is programmed to be a series of six Friday evening events through to the end of July. All documentation had to be completed online as required by Motorsport UK’s Covid guidance and the club has adopted Sapphire Solutions’ TimingAppLive package to provide the entry system as well as on-event timing and results.
Thirteen crews had submitted entries and completed documentation; two in the Autotest event and eleven in the PCA and they were divided into groups to have three runs at each of the four test sites, with the worst performance at each site to be dropped from their total. Unfortunately, the previous day had been extremely wet and windy and, although the wind eased off on the day of the event, the rain persisted. Nevertheless, a full team of timekeepers and marshals turned out to brave the conditions and ensure that the event ran smoothly.
After a drivers’ briefing by Joint Clerk of the Course Peredur, and with Covid-19 Officer Rhian Jones on hand to ensure social distancing and mask wearing where appropriate, the action kicked off soon after six o’clock. The wet conditions inspired some enthusiastic driving; unfortunately, there was also an accompanying surfeit of wrong tests and penalties for line. cone and ‘wheels-on-the-grass’ infringements. Sadly, not all crews completed the competition, with a drive-shaft on Shaun Bee’s Mini not surviving the first test and the Volkswagen Golf of Tony Hughes Jones and Hefin Hughes giving the ghost before the halfway mark.
Fastest Time of the Day in the Autotest went to Dafydd Roberts in his Vauxhall Corsa, competing in his first event for two and a half years, having taken a break to work on his car. Congratulations to him and to Phillip Roberts (Toyota) navigated by Dylan Williams as winners of the PCA.
Many thanks to the organising team; to the competitors for supporting the event; and especially to the timekeepers and marshals for their sterling work. We look forward to the next one on June 4th.
Selected photos in the slideshow above - more in the GALLERY. Full results below.
Results
Detailed results available here: Summer Series Round 1 Results.
Latest News
In light of the most recent Welsh Government announcement regarding the relaxation of Covid guidance, we are pleased to announce that we have been able to secure a Permit to run a PCA in addition to the Autotest on this date. Please see this additional information regarding the event: Addition to the Summer Series Round1 Supplementary Regulations.
Please read all sections, however the most notable change is the addition of a permit for a PCA as well as an Autotest, with a total of no more than 25 cars across both events.
Entries now close a day later, at 19.00 hours on Thursday, 20th May 2021.
For those already entered, would you please contact Joint Clerk of the Course, Peredur Davies, on 07748 081300 to let him know if you wish to change your entry from the Autotest to the PCA.
Information
The first of six autotests and PCAs to be held every two weeks at Anglesey Showground on Friday evenings.
The Supplementary Regulations now published and are available here: Summer Series Autotests 2021 SRs - Round 1
Once you have read and understood the SRs, to enter the event go to Summer Series Round 1 Entry Form
See Section 8 of the SRs on how to pay the entry fee by PayPal or by bank transfer.
Please note that competitors will need a minimum of 2021 RS Clubman competition licence, available free of charge from Motorsport UK at: RS Clubman licence application.
You will also need a current C&A Motor Club membership card. To apply for membership or renew a lapsed membership go to: C&AMC Membership
