- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
The 2026 Nicky Grist Stages delivered a memorable day of gravel rallying in mid-Wales, with Jordan Hone and Sion Williams making a remarkable return to the event, taking victory after leading from the opening stage.
A total of 133 cars started the Quinton Motor Club-organised rally on Saturday 11 July, tackling some of the best-known gravel stages in the Builth Wells area.
Alongside the competition, the event continued its commitment to taking responsibility for its environmental impact through its long-standing partnership with Carbon Positive Motorsport.
It had been 10 years since Jordan Hone last contested the Nicky Grist Stages, when he competed in a 1.4-litre Proton Satria on his way to winning the BTRDA Bronze Star title.
Returning as the reigning Northern Ireland Forest Rally Challenge champion, Hone showed how far he had progressed by leading the 2026 event from start to finish in his Premier Car Parts Škoda Fabia RS Rally2.
Hone and Welsh co-driver Sion Williams set the fastest time on three of the morning’s four stages, reaching the midday service halt with a lead of 12.4 seconds.
They extended their advantage to 14 seconds on the first stage of the afternoon before controlling the pace at the front to secure victory by 7.7 seconds.
The result was Hone’s biggest gravel rally victory to date and Williams’ first overall rally win as a co-driver. “Winning the Nicky Grist Stages is a bit of a shock, to be honest,” said Hone. “It’s been ten years since we were last here in the Proton, and the only thing I could remember was the name of the stages, so to come back and win overall is really special. I’m absolutely delighted.”
Jordan Hone and Sion Williams won the 2026 Nicky Grist Stages. Photo: Paul Mitchell
Meirion Evans and Dale Furniss finished second in their Castrol MEM Rally Team Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. As the number one seeds, they faced the difficult task of running first on the road through loose gravel during the morning stages. Evans reached service in third place but, with the road conditions improved for the afternoon, responded with a series of fastest times.
An overheating issue and subsequent loss of power on the seventh stage interrupted their challenge, but second place secured another strong gravel result and maximum Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship points.
Matthew Hirst and Declan Dear completed the podium in their Delta Salvage, Witham Motorsport and Speedline Corse Škoda Fabia R5. The pair overcame a high-speed moment on the fourth stage and a power steering failure on the road section into service. Repairs by the JD Rallysport team enabled them to continue and secure valuable points towards their BTRDA and Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship campaigns.
Matthew Hirst and Declan Dear completed the podium. Photo: Paul Mitchell
The Nicky Grist Stages has worked with Carbon Positive Motorsport since 2022, and environmental responsibility is now an established part of the event.
The fuel used by the 133 competing cars and 15 organiser vehicles during this year’s rally generated an estimated 53 tonnes of CO₂e.
Carbon Positive Motorsport will offset those emissions on behalf of the Nicky Grist Stages using verified Carbon Reduction Units supporting a carbon reduction project in Colombia.
The event is also supporting future carbon capture in Wales through 53 Pending Issuance Units from the Abergavenny Sequoia Project.
This means the rally’s calculated footprint is being addressed through verified international carbon reduction, while an equivalent level of support is being directed towards a UK-based project expected to deliver carbon capture and wider environmental benefits over time.
Giant Sequioas are being planted at the Abergavenny Sequoia Project, managed by The Great Reserve.
The verified international projects allow action to be taken against emissions immediately, while UK-based projects support future carbon capture, biodiversity and longer-term environmental benefits closer to the motorsport communities involved.
The Nicky Grist Stages is helping to support the Abergavenny Sequoia Project, a
project that is planting 1,500 Giant Sequoias alongside 6,000 native broadleaf trees.
Giant Sequoias are among the largest and longest-living trees in the world. Their ability to continue growing and capturing carbon over many centuries gives well-managed projects such as Abergavenny significant long-term potential.
The inclusion of native broadleaf trees also supports greater biodiversity and helps create a more varied and resilient woodland environment.
Neil Cross, Clerk of the Course for the Nicky Grist Stages, said: “The Nicky Grist Stages is proud to have worked with Carbon Positive Motorsport since 2022.
“The rally is based in a beautiful part of mid-Wales, and while our focus is always on delivering a safe, enjoyable and competitive event, we also recognise the importance of reducing and mitigating our environmental impact wherever we can.”
For Carbon Positive Motorsport, the Nicky Grist Stages continues to demonstrate how practical environmental action can become part of the way a major motorsport event operates, without taking anything away from the competition, enjoyment or character of the rally.
Steve Smith, Director of Carbon Positive Motorsport, said: “By calculating the emissions associated with the rally cars and organiser vehicles, offsetting those emissions and supporting future carbon capture in Wales, the event is taking clear and measurable action.
“It is a great example of how motorsport can continue to move forward in a positive and responsible way.”
Competitors, marshals, officials and spectators can also play their part by taking responsibility for the carbon associated with their own fuel use and journeys through Carbon Positive Motorsport.
It costs relatively little to take positive action, but collectively it can make a meaningful difference for the future of motorsport.
