he Phil Price Memorial Woodpecker Rally will remain in its new home of Newtown, Powys, in 2025, following the successful transition from Ludlow last year.
The 30th August event will once again embrace the iconic Welsh forests, but this time with an even more exciting stage line-up featuring world-renowned tests made famous by Wales Rally GB; in mid-Wales.
First run in 1983, the rally is backed by Phil Price Rally School and continues to evolve while staying true to its heritage. The move to Newtown in 2024 marked a turning point for the Sixty and Worcestershire Motor Club-organised event, as the unavailability of traditional English Marches stages such as Haye Park and Hopton forced a relocation across the border. That move proved successful, and the rally is building on that momentum.
The 2025 edition will feature a brand-new format centred around the spectacular forests of mid-Wales. Crews will contest around 45 competitive miles through iconic gravel stages, including rarely-used fast and flowing roads.
Technical challenges will form the nucleus of the event, with a popular forest complex hosting three of the event’s four tests in the morning loop.
To keep road miles to a minimum and enhance the rally experience, servicing will be located at Llanidloes Rugby Club, offering the perfect location for access back into the forests for the afternoon run.
Meanwhile, the rally headquarters, pre-event documentation, start and finish celebrations will all be based at the Britpart facility in Newtown, as in 2024.
Chairman of the Organising Committee Alan Corns is excited about what’s in store.
“After a great response to the 2024 edition, we’ve taken another step forward for this year,” Corns said.
“The stages we have planned are some of the most respected gravel stages in the world, and we’re thrilled to be bringing them into the heart of the Woodpecker Rally. We’ve worked closely with Natural Resources Wales and our stakeholders to create a route that combines world-class rallying with the accessibility and friendly atmosphere our event is known for.
“Britpart coming on board last year to host the rally base has really elevated what we can offer this year, and with Llanidloes Rugby Club supporting service, we’ve been able to streamline logistics for crews and make it a better experience all round. While we still hope to return to Ludlow and the English stages one day, Newtown has welcomed us with open arms, and we’re proud to call it home again for 2025.”
Named in memory of respected rally driver and coach Phil Price, who passed away in 2021, the event will continue to host top-level UK championships. These include the Fuchs Lubricants British Historic Rally Championship, Protyre BTRDA Rally Series, Pirelli Motorsport UK Welsh Rally Championship, TCS Plant Rally Challenge, ANWCC Forest Stage Rally Championship, Celtic Micra Challenge and the MINI Challenge.
Further event information, including entry and spectator details, will be released in the coming months.
More information on the event can be found on the event website www.woodpecker-rally.co.uk