05-05-2025
- Automotive
- Powys County Times
Woodpecker Rally confirms Newtown as 2025 base once again
The Phil Price Memorial Woodpecker Rally is set to return in 2025, with Newtown remaining its base.
Following the successful transition from Ludlow in 2024, the rally will again take place in the Welsh town on August 30.
The event will incorporate stages renowned worldwide, Myherin and Hafren, both made famous by the Wales Rally GB.
The rally, which was first run in 1983, is sponsored by the Phil Price Rally School.
The shift to Newtown in 2024 was necessitated by the unavailability of the traditional English Marches stages, such as Haye Park and Hopton.
The move, however, proved fruitful, and the rally is now capitalising on this momentum.
The 2025 edition will introduce a new format, with crews contesting approximately 45 competitive miles through gravel stages.
The fast, flowing roads of Myherin, which are seldom used, will be included.
The technical challenges presented by Hafren will form the core of the event, with three of the four morning tests taking place in this popular forest complex.
To minimise road miles and enhance the rally experience, servicing will be located at Llanidloes Rugby Club, providing easy access back into the forests for the afternoon run.
The Britpart facility in Newtown, which served as the rally headquarters in 2024, will continue to host pre-event documentation, start, and finish celebrations.
Chairman of the organising committee, Alan Corns, said: "After a great response to the 2024 edition, we've taken another step forward for this year.
"Myherin and Hafren 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.
"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."
Additional event information, including entry and spectator details, will be announced in the coming months.
