The first rally of a brand-new season brought excitement and nerves alike, especially for debutant Ioan Thomas. As this was his very first rally, anticipation was high, and the team was eager to see him take on the challenging conditions.

The weather didn’t make things easy, with wet and slippery stages putting drivers to the test. The drama kicked off early on Stage 1, where Ioan experienced a few spins — not unusual for a rookie finding their feet on the rally circuit.

Stage 2, however, marked a turning point. Under the expert guidance of Dylan Davies, who shared his invaluable experience about when to push and when to hold back, Ioan clocked the 5th fastest time. Smiles replaced nerves as confidence began to build.

Ioan maintained steady performances throughout the day, making the ultimate achievement of finishing his first rally unscathed, gaining priceless experience in the process.

Acknowledgements and Thanks
Congratulations to all the award winners of the event!

A huge thank you goes to Dylan Davies for his brilliant guidance this weekend. We’re looking forward to Jonathan Davies stepping in to lend his expertise at the upcoming Lee Holland Rally in Anglesey.

To Jonathan Davies — your support in preparing the car and your time servicing at events is invaluable. It’s safe to say it’s absolutely priceless! 😉

Special thanks to Mark and Josh at Ceir Castle Motors for their advice and support in helping Ioan achieve his goals. Rhian and Nigel, your continued support from Ioan’s days as a navigator to his journey as a driver means the world.

Our appreciation also goes to the F1000 organising team for ensuring everything ran smoothly at our first event.

Finally, a massive thank you to our sponsors:

BCCIT for all your computing needs
Technegol Ltd for sound, stage, and lighting solutions
If you’d like to support Ioan in his British J1000 Championship journey, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Diolch hefyd i Gwyneth (Mam) a Dad (Dad-cu) am bob cymorth dros y penwythnos!

See you in Anglesey on 2nd March!