Mini Rally Challenge

05/09/2026

Henri Cynwyl / Dilwyn John — Podium at Gareth Hall Memorial

The Minafon Garage / Terraclean Gareth Hall Memorial Rally at Trawsfynydd was a real battle for driver Henri Cynwyl and co-driver Dilwyn John, who kept their cool for a podium finish.

The 18-year-old from Newcastle Emlyn, West Wales, ran top three throughout the 12 short stages to finish third, behind Sven Grube and Alfie Element in first and Jacob Neal and Russell Thompson in second.

Trawsfynydd's narrow, twisty ranges tested both driver and co-driver on round seven of the Mini Rally Challenge Championship — 12 stages across three loops of four, organised by Bala and District Motor Club. A good test of form too, with the closed-road Rali Ceredigion in Aberystwyth coming up this week.

"I really enjoyed the rally. It was really challenging, and to come third in class and 20th overall was great. Sven Grube won the Mini Challenge and I wasn't far off — I was second after the first four stages, but a caliper issue cost me several seconds. We move onwards positively to Rali Ceredigion," said Henri.

Off the back of a strong result at the Tour of Epynt Rally a few weeks ago, Henri remains top of the leaderboard for Highest Placed Under-25 Driver in the Welsh Association of Motor Clubs Championship, with three rallies left to defend it this year.

Two of Henri's sponsors, Andrew Davies of Geraint Davies and Son and Dylan Davies from Cardigan, were also competing on the rally but sadly retired with suspension failure.

Having competed as the youngest co-driver at Rali Ceredigion in 2025, Henri returns this year as the youngest driver, again partnered with Dilwyn — none of it possible, he says, without his sponsors and supporters, including service team W1 Motorsport, Wil Parry and Dafydd Lloyd.

"Having such great sponsors on board who all phone, message and keep up to date with my rallying journey is just terrific. I really appreciate each and every one of them, as well as the individuals who keep in touch with my mum asking for updates and wishing me well. Diolch yn fawr," concluded Henri.

04/09/2026

Henricynwylrallying throwing a MINI round the 90 left.

04/09/2026

As entries open for The Anglo Caledonian Rally we have a surprise one-off entry in the MINI Rally Challenge. Can you guess who it is?

Minirallychallenge.co.uk

04/09/2026

Can you read pacenotes??? Why not turn the sound off and have a go yourself.
Thanks to Ben Hearsey Rallying
Motorsport UK

03/09/2026

The 9th Round of the 2026 MINI Rally Challenge and our final gravel event of the year. See you in Carlisle!

🗳️ ENTRIES NOW OPEN

➡️ Entries are now open for this year's Rally Anglo Caledonian on November 20-21.

Featuring:
📍Rally base at Carlisle Airport
🗺️ Stages in England & Scotland - 115 stage miles [one day events available]
🛞 2WD & 4WD welcome
🏆 The British Historic Rally Championship finale / Mini Rally Challenge
💷 One of the cheapest forest events this year per mile

View the Regulations and enter here 🔗:
https://racrmc.org/rally-anglo-caledonian/index

03/09/2026

As entries open later today for The Anglo Caledonian Rally we have a surprise one-off crew in The MINI Rally Challenge. Can you guess who it is?

02/09/2026

02/09/2026

Good luck to MINI Rally Challenge crew Henricynwylrallying who take part in
rali_ceredigion this week.

Minirallychallenge.co.uk

01/09/2026

Gareth Hall Memorial Rally Report – Jody & Aaron Bevington – ACRE Motorsport
First & Second Loop (Stages 1-6)
The first couple of loops starting the day was good for us setting a third best time on the very first stage, we were looking very quick as we settled into our rhythm and got through the morning as Aaron started to get used to maps instead of regular pacenotes. The other stages we collected decent times wise sitting around 4th/5th as we hit the afternoon stages, whilst keeping one eye on the replaced gearbox after last rally’s bang!
Third Loop (Stages 7-9)
The third loop of stages was quite difficult with a spectacular lockup on the 7th stage, we lost some of the momentum but still with some decent times we managed to stay sat in 4th position, but 5th place was not far behind and closing in with good times. Only 15 seconds separated us at the end of the third loop, the question was would we hold them off before the end of the rally?
Final Loop (Stages 10-12)
After a great day and final loop, we finished the rally in 5th place. Unfortunately, the crew behind us was just too quick in the end, but we put up a great fight and 5th was our best result so far! But the final loop was about finding that rhythm from before the lockup and we did and put some good times in getting quicker after each stage!
Overall, a good day and feeling good on the tarmac after struggling a little bit on previous rallies figuring out what the car does on the black stuff. But we can’t wait to get back on gravel for the Trackrod Rally in September! Also, congratulations on the category winners in the minis, in different leagues!

Minirallychallenge.co.uk

30/08/2026

The Gareth Hall Memorial Rally was the fourth event for the North Wales based crew of Ryan and John Evans in the Mini Rally Challenge (MRC) and their second on tarmac in their R50.

This was a local event for the Bala and District Motor Club crew, the event being held by the club on the Ranges Motorsport Centre, Trawsfynydd.

The event comprised of 12 stages run in three loops of 4 stages between servicing and the stages were on fast, bumpy, narrow roads with blind crests and the odd jump, plenty to catch out the unwary.

On the first loop, the crew experienced a knocking sound on the back end, a legacy from a side impact on their last event, but pushed on to set good times despite overshooting the junction at the triangle where they dropped a few seconds and having a small moment on the downhill jump towards the forest end where the landing was sideways.

Back at service, Cs Motorsport developments resolved the knocking before the second loop of stages, the crew holding the lead with 15 seconds advantage over father and son team Sammie and Paul Green.

The tyres section of this event is on tarmac and loose gravel and always catches people out, the crew dropping 10 seconds after being beached on tyres whilst late breaking for the uphill square left just before the exit of this section of stage 5.

Despite this, a hard push recovered some lost time, and the crew retained their lead.

On stage 6, the crew settled into a rhythm and the order of the day was to push, but keep it neat and not to make any further mistakes.

Ryan’s favourite sections of the stages were the downhill back-to-back hairpins by the service area and the fast downhill approach to the forest end, a technical and committed part of the stages.

The crew took the win in the R50 category with a 15 second advantage over the Greens, the two crews being separated by only a second a stage throughout the day and revelled in the banter after each stage.

The crew switch to gravel for the Trackrod Rally in September with the opening stage being a 12 mile run in the dark through Dalby, something very different and which the crew are looking forward to.

Minirallychallenge.co.uk