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Hertfordshire based competitors Martyn Andrews and Steve Greenhill are once again planning an assault on the Independent Paint Supplies Rally Challenge and are the first crew to sign up for 2022. They have retained support from major online oil suppliers Opie Oils for a season of rallying in their B13 Subaru Impreza.

The pair, who also intend to contest rounds of the Pirelli National Welsh Championship, have had some encouraging results since teaming up in 2016, with current form suggesting that a top 10 overall event placing is a realistic prospect. Progress has not been without its issues though; a gearbox that randomly selects 2-wheel drive being the most worrying which has contributed to some heart-stopping moments, resulting in non-starts on the 2021 Cambrian and Rallynuts rallies.

A cautious, but steady increase in pace since the 2016 Woodpecker could be attributed to Martyn’s 26-year break from competitive action, but the 1990 BTRDA Silver Star Champion has now got to grips with four-wheel drive rallying. Martyn commented, ‘Events are super competitive now and everything happens a lot quicker in the Subaru than I remember back in the day with my old Escort.’  ‘We are certainly looking forward to some great rallying in 2022’.

The Committee of Maesteg and District Motor Club, being the Promoters of the IPS Paint Rally Challenge, have given much consideration as to whether running the Championship in 2021 would be viable. As per Motorsport UK directive, Competitor pre event documentation in the foreseeable future will be carried out electronically. Whilst fully understanding the need for such measures to enable our sport to resume, and applauding MSUK’s efforts to get our sport up and running, Rally Challenge organisers have traditionally relied heavily on face to face interaction. With less than 5% of competitors traditionally registering for the Championship beforehand, we as Promoters do not feel that we could raise this amount significantly enough to give our sponsors, Independent Paint Supplies, Swansea, the publicity they deserve for supporting our Sport.

It must be remembered that the Rally Challenge was conceived to help raise awareness and funding for Wales Air Ambulance, to which over £14,000 has been donated. Apart from a percentage from each registration, the main source of support comes from on event collections. With no actual contact with Organisers, Competitors, Marshals and Spectators, this method of fundraising in this manner is naturally not possible.

It is therefore, with reluctance that the decision has been made to withdraw our Motorsport UK application to run the IPS Paint Rally Challenge in 2021.

Our sincere thanks to Directors Colin , Neil, Dom, Joe and Steph for their continued enthusiasm and for sticking by us in such uncertain times. It is a measure of their commitment that the offer of support for 2022 was immediately given after breaking the news of our decision.

We look forward to meeting friends and supporters when life begins to reach some form of normality.  

Terry Frayne

IPS Paint Rally Challenge Co-ordinator on behalf of Maesteg DMC Committee.

The Organising Team of the IPS Paint Rally Challenge have reluctantly decided that the 2020 Championship has been cancelled. The current uncertainty regarding the continuation of rallying in the UK this year has made it highly unlikely that we will be able to provide an equal number of Sealed Surface and Gravel Rounds and the situation means that we have not been able to provide the amount of publicity our loyal sponsors deserve. Only one named Round has taken place. Read More