RALLY CLUB

In the week we crown the first British World Rally Champion since Phil Mills won the WRC alongside Petter Solberg, enjoy a throwback with Elfyn Evans from 2015 when his sparkling career on the world stage was only just getting started. And from one great champion, to another - SS14 of the Rally Club podcast is a special feature, going behind the visor with five-time Welsh Rally Champion, and 2025 BTRDA Goldstar Champion Matthew Hirst. From humble beginnings - Matthew and longstanding codriver Declan Dear rolling a hired Peugeot 106 on the Riponian - to becoming the UK’s top club rally driver, this is a success story to rival the best of them! Normally known for his reserved, gracious nature, Matt steps out of his comfort zone in this interview and takes us on his journey, like you’ve never heard it before. From the days of being on windscreen-wiping duty for his Dad’s Escort Cosworth at Twyford Wood, to making changes to his daily routine in order to make the marginal gains in one of the sport’s most fierce…

In this episode of Rally Club, Paul Woodford is joined by one of British rallying’s class of ‘26 star performers, Lee Edwards to talk about how a club rally campaign became one of the sport’s best giant-killing performances of recent years. Prodrive 555 engineering ace Martyn Spurrell takes us back to the glory days of the Group A and WRC Subaru Impreza championship years. And works driver Chris Birkbeck introduces his latest project - the Astra GTE his Vauxhall teammate Pentti Arikkala drove to 3rd place on the ‘87 Manx International. Meanwhile, there are some top tips for anyone wanting to get into club rallying or Rallycross, and an appeal to save road rallying in the South East of England. Don’t forget to subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts, and join in the discussion on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Visit paulwoodford.co.uk/rallyclub

SS12 of Rally Club is packed full of stories, from rising star Luke Constantine to three-time BTRDA Gold Star Champion Elliott Payne. Group A guru Carl Tuer joins us to talk about Formula 2 Astras, Dave Mathewson and Malton Motor Club Chairman Dan Robinson celebrate a successful launch for Mathewsons Live, and Fraser Hughes tells us about an epic targa rally adventure in the Scottish Highlands. Don’t forget to subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts, and join in the discussion on social media.

RALLY CLUB is back for a second series - more rally stories, more encouragement to get involved with club rallying and grassroots motorsport, and more opportunities to tell the world about our amazing sport. Episode 11 of RALLY CLUB is a Comp Safari special, recorded at Gisburn where Paul was competing in Pertrac’s immaculately-prepared Bowler Wildcat in the Northern Off-Road Club Championship. The Bowler isn’t quite so immaculate right now, you’ll find out why. But Pertrac is now focused on getting the car ready for a very special Rally Raid adventure to Algeria later this year. This episode also features interviews recorded at Mathewsons Live in Harrogate, where Comp Safari cars rubbed shoulders with rally royalty, showing off to a sold-out crowd of tens of thousands of motoring enthusiasts and rally fans. Once again, Llandudno-based rock band The Screaming Conrods play us in and out, so a big thank you to Dave Paveley and the gang - look out for their new album, due to be released this summer. Thanks for…

The Lincolnshire Classic Motor Show launched its first year in spectacular style, with a demonstration rally stage hosted by Rallying with Gtouo B. With everything from a Jim Clark Lotus Cortina to the first Bowler Wildcat to ever take on the Dakar, there really was something for everyone. This Special Selective episode of Rally Club goes behind the scenes, featuring the people behind the initiative and enjoying some rally car stories, from Group B to Comp Safari. Don’t forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, so you don’t miss an episode. For Rally Club merchandise, head to RallyingIsLife.com. #RallyClub

Autotesting is one of the sport’s most accessible categories, with competitors of all ages able to compete on a level playing field in any car. York Motor Club is on a mission to not only showcase this cost effective motorsport, but also get people involved. A variety of road, classic, rally and autotest special cars took to a demonstration course at The Motorist in Yorkshire, offering passenger rides and encouraging new sign-ups for Motorsport UK’s free RS Clubman licence. Join Paul Woodford in the Rally Club Spark Mini for stories from the people behind the scenes of this fantastic initiative, and a sideways chat round a hot and dusty grass autotest course. Listen back to series 1 of Rally Club, and don’t forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, follow on social media, and tell the world you’re in the RALLY CLUB.

Club rallying and grass roots motorsport is all about the journey. Whilst some competitors use the pathways designed into our sport to progress to bigger challenges, others are happy to stay immersed and build their legacy in a particular category or championship. SS10 of RALLY CLUB goes on one final journey for this first series of the podcast. Telling the story of competitors like Bernie Nolan and Roger Stanford, who have swapped stage rally and historic touring cars for the lanes of North Humberside Motor Club’s classic tour. Young Cole and Mabel are at the start of their respective motorsport journeys, while Ian Barnes has been competing in club rallying since the 1970s and still, in his seventies, loves nothing more than throwing a rally car around. 2025 was the ‘Year of the Micra’ - I said so! For Dylan Fowler-Bishop and Dan Evans, winning the BTRDA Bronze Star title in their 1400 Micra was not only a dream come true, it opened doors to the next opportunity. And when a double Junior Rally Champion and…

We’re going back to the eighties in this Special Selective episode of RALLY CLUB, as Paul Woodford gets behind the wheel of Spark Developments’ 200bhp fire-breathing Peugeot 205 GTI. It’s the second round of the brand new, super accessible club Rallycross series, organised by the Minicross Drivers Association and we’re back at Blyton Park in Lincolnshire. With an eight-strong team of entries across the Classic and Rally Car classes, Team Spark have put on one heck of a spectacle, all in tribute to Bill and Kath Skermer, two people who need no introduction in the world of club Rallycross. Hear from Championship Coordinator, Jordine Crooks, from Spark’s Jamie McBain, and a host of competitors from all corners of the Rallycross paddock. How will Paul get on with a powerful, lightweight 205 GTI racer, after the user-friendly R53 Mini last Time out? Find out on Rally Club!

SS9 of RALLY CLUB is a works Escort special, with stories from one of the foremost authorities on Boreham-built rally cars, Dave Watkins. Keeping the Escort theme, Jon Seth tells us how he chanced upon a significant Motoring News Championship Mk1 Escort, which he’s now campaigning in its original, unique livery. Paul speaks to the rally driver, tackling an adventure with a difference in the name of charity, and the organisers of the brand new North West Rally Legends event talk about the inspiration behind bringing rally cars back to Haigh Hall for the first time in 40 years. We also talk road rally logistics with a competitor’s perspective of the Rally App Live system, which has benefitted and divided road rally and targa organisers in equal measure. And it’s Rallycross week, as Paul prepares to saddle up in the Spark Developments squad for the second round of the Minicross Driver’s Association Championship, driving a fire-breathing 205 GTI in the pre-90s Classics class. Subscribe for future episodes and…

SS8 of Rally Club takes us back to the heady days of Formula 2 rallying, with Nissan Sunny driver Chris Butcher and Andy Dawe, who worked as a mechanic at the Nissan Motorsports Europe works outfit during the kit car era. Motorsport UK Rallies Manager, Jonathan Jackson provides an update and takes your questions following a successful trial of the new road section insurance scheme, and we check in on the MDA Rallycross Championship organising team as preparations continue for the second round of the series at Blyton Park. We also look ahead to the Plains Rally, with BTRDA Historic Cup Chevette driver Ben Jemison, and new Mini Rally Challenge competitors Tim Kirvan-Rodgers and Mason Woodford. Subscribe for future episodes and bonus content, and follow RALLY CLUB on Facebook and Instagram to join the discussion. #RallyClub

SS7 of RALLY CLUB is a young gun special. The Border Motor Club Classic tour saw 8 year old navigators Alice and Mabel join 11 year old Cole Woodford to get an early taste of the sport. Paul Woodford makes the case for a rally media cadet scheme, with Cole bringing us a behind-the-scenes feature from the Jim Clark Rally, interviewing Asphalt Rally Champion and rally winner, Sam Touzel. Road rally driver Tom Fenton has a very important message for us, following the battle of his life with bowel cancer over the past 12 months. Dan Ellmore and Duncan Brown join Paul to talk about two brand new events, and Danny Cowell fires up the Talbot Samba rally car for a very unique taxi ride to the airport. Subscribe for future episodes and bonus content, and follow RALLY CLUB on Facebook and Instagram to join the discussion. #RallyClub

Join rally presenter, Paul Woodford for SS6 of the RALLY CLUB podcast, which takes us on a journey from the grassroots of rallying, to the very top of the sport. Paul is joined by celebrated Comp Safari and WRC photographer, Gavin Lodge. We also hear from club rally driver, Brian Watson who was once given the keys to one of Ford’s most iconic works Escorts. Special Stage Rally TV Producer, Wayne Golding also joins us in a rare interview, looking back over 17 years of rally adventures and globally-renowned live coverage. Want to get involved in rallying yourself? SS6 explores classic tours; the most affordable and accessible category of navigational rallying with details of two upcoming events in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Also details of how you can WIN a set of Manx Rally podium winner hats, thanks to Protyre Autocare. Proper rally people, proper rally stories, proper rally podcast. Listen now!

27/4/26 BREAKING NEWS! Motorsport UK has announced support for road rally and grass roots motorsport event organisers and competitors with road section top-up insurance. On the face of it, this is fantastic news for the sport. The issue has, for the best part of a year cast doubts over the future of motorsport activities which use the public highway. Motorsport UK promised to find a solution, and they have. But questions remain, particularly around the timing of this announcement. Paul is joined once again by Chair of Eastern Counties Motor Club, Laura Cooledge to discuss the news which broke tonight.

SS5 of the RALLY CLUB podcast is a Cadwell Park takeover. The Protyre Circuit Rally Championship brings all the drama, intrigue and variety of the UK’s premier single venue rally series to Lincolnshire. In a break from the format so far, Paul Woodford captures the memories, stories and adventures of fans, marshals, organisers and competitors. Club rallying has family right at its heart, and as Paul Woodford plays a supporting role to his eldest son, he’s joined by other rally families as they tell their stories. Not only that, with a rich tapestry of stories and discussions, including memories of the Tour of Lincs and how to encourage more road rally cars into stage rallying, this episode of RALLY CLUB has it all. Subscribe for future episodes and bonus content, and follow RALLY CLUB on Facebook and Instagram to join the discussion. #RallyClub

In SS4 of Rally Club we go back in time with stories about people who helped to shape our sport, from top to bottom. Paul is joined by MSUK Rallies Manager Jonathan Jackson, WRC Sporting Manager Iain Campbell, young rally journalist Chris Hosie, eWRC admin Jon Hawkins and we get a behind-the-scenes story with a Group B twist from Dan Ellmore. Carl Dolan brings us stories from Rally North Wales, we hear about a new rally show featuring Group B cars in the North West of England, and we remember the legendary Stuart Turner. Subscribe for future episodes and bonus content, and follow RALLY CLUB on Facebook and Instagram to join the discussion.

A bonus RALLY CLUB Easter Egg - join Paul Woodford for the story of the Clan Crusader’s factory rally exploits. In 1972, a relatively unknown sports car would line up for the start of the Manx Rally, ready to begin a story that would cement the rally pedigree of the Clan Crusader. Andy Dawson would come second behind Roger Clark on the Manx, with Alan Conley taking the second of the Clan factory cars to victory on the Tour of Mull. The Clan Motor Company’s rally adventure may have been short-lived, but it’s an underdog story that will make you see this lightweight seventies GT car in a different light. Don’t forget to subscribe to RALLY CLUB for future episodes, and follow on Instagram and Facebook to join the conversation.

SS3 of RALLY CLUB is a ‘young gun’ special, featuring a number of young stars who are great examples of what club rallying is all about. Paul also hears from a Mini Rally Challenge competitor who built his rally car in a parking space, and we also talk classic tours, rally schools and get your views on an important issue facing the sport. Tommi Meadows // 𝘙𝘈𝘊 𝘙𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘩 𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘱 Phoebe Fletcher // 𝘈𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭 Oliver Schofield // 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘙5 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳? Miles Fieldhouse // 𝘉𝘰𝘣 𝘙𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘕𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 Owen Cule // 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘣𝘮𝘢𝘯! Ian Ross // 𝘍𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘢 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭? Mike Broad // 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘙𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 Subscribe for future episodes and bonus content, and follow RALLY CLUB on Facebook and Instagram to join the discussion. #RallyClub

Continuing my journey through club motorsport, I partnered back up with Spark Developments to take part in the opening round of the MDA Rallycross Championship, driving an R53 Mini in the BMW Mini Series. A typically dramatic day unfolded, with the Spark team keeping me in the race. From crashing in heat 1 and taking my door off, to racing in the final with no power steering, this is a day I’ll remember for a long time. For more information about the MDA Rallycross Championship, visit www.mini-cross.co.uk. For a club motorsport team who know how to build, prep and run cars that finish events - whatever is thrown at them - check out www.sparkdevelopments.co.uk. For renewables for your domestic, commercial and industrial build projects, speak to Rolec Energy - you’ll find them at www.rolecenergy.co.uk.

SS2 is packed full of stories, sounds, reactions, previews and features from the world of club rallying. Gethin Dafis // 𝘙𝘢𝘭𝘪 𝘊𝘪𝘭𝘸𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳 Wyn Lewis // 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘊𝘺𝘮𝘳𝘶 Jamie McBain // 205 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦 Chris Richmond Hand // 𝘙𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘊𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘢 𝘉𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘢 Special Stage preview // 𝘙𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 Graham Raeburn // 𝘙𝘰𝘢𝘥 𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 Tour of Mann // 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴 Brynmor Pierce // 𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘩 𝘙𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 Jordine Crooks // 𝘔𝘋𝘈 𝘙𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 Carl Dolan // 𝘓𝘰𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘙𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘭 Border Motor Club // 𝘒𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘣 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 Subscribe for future episodes and follow RALLY CLUB on Facebook and Instagram to join the discussion. #RallyClub

Join Paul Woodford and Phill Bramhill for a bit of historic road rally atmosphere, from Knutsford & District Motor Club’s Tour of Cheshire. This is a bonus ‘Special Selective’ episode of RALLY CLUB. Next episode out on 16th March.

Paul Woodford goes for a pint with Sam Collis, gets a preview of the Tour of Cheshire with Phill Bramhill, looks ahead to a brilliant new initiative for getting new competitors into road rallying with Laura Cooledge, and gets a rally story from his Mum. This is the first episode of the brand new fortnightly podcast, dedicated to club rallying and grassroots motorsport.

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