Rally Archive
Mini Powys Lanes Rally
Sponsored by DG Jones Agri
Epynt Motor Club
7th/8th November 2026
Winners: Phillip Jenkins/Lewis Jenkins (Ford Escort)
Photograph: © Adrian Convery Photography
Organiser: Epynt Motor Club
Date: 7th/8th November 2026
Clerk of the Course: Andy Vale
Route: 76 Miles (Maps 147 & 148)
Base: Builth Wells
Starters: 66
For 2026 Epynt Motor Club downgraded their premier road rally, the Powys Lanes, from a Welsh Championship counter to a Closed to Club quasi-Novice event, from which Masters, winners of an Interclub event within the previous five years, were excluded.
The rally moved its based at Builth Wells from Llandovery, and the milage was a more modest 76 miles. However, it proved to be a tough challenge, with slippery lanes and patchy fog making the going hard.
The entry had initially been capped at sixty cars, but, due to demand, this was extended and on the night sixty-six crews took the start.
There was a short runout with the first competitive section starting south of the host town at Dollynwydd and ran down the tricky Littlehill road before finishing just before the A470. There was an intermediate time control, timed to the minute, above Alltmawr. Almost everyone was clean at this control, but only the leading dozen or so runners made the finish on time.
Action then moved to the edge of the Epynt Ranges in the roads around Gwenddwr. Like the first section, the second had one intermediate time control. Everyone dropped time at the final control. Fastest here were Adam Jones/Jac Roberts (Subaru Impreza), but they were to retire soon afterwards with mechanical woes.
This meant that Malcolm 'Tar' Jones/Llyr Davies (Peugeot 206 GTi) led by 20 seconds, with Reian Jones/Trystan Leyshon (Seat Ibiza) and Barry Jones/Hefin Jones (Ford Escort) tied for second place.
Just behind these front runners a dozen or so competitors were delayed by a farmer who was rushing to a report of sheep rustling on the Ranges, and driving against rally traffic. This led to six crews being given nominal times for the section; this was based on the slowest time prior to the interruption, 45 seconds slower than the leaders.
Most of the affected cars were running in the teens, however Car 5, Phillip Jenkins/Lewis Jenkins (Ford Escort) had suffered a puncture on the opening section and, running late, were also caught up in the incident.
The rally now moved across the River Wye and more time was dropped by all on the part around Llandeilo Graban. Jones/Davies extended their lead to 27 seconds, with Jones/Leyshon in second place, two seconds ahead of Jenkins/Jenkins, who had been best at TC3B. Jones/Jones retired from the fight at this point with gearbox failure.
The fourth section started north of Painscastle and, after an easy run across Llanbedr Mountain, moved to the twisty lanes up to Cregrina. The most significant control turned out to be PCR, which was situated at 133½523¼, with an approach of ESE. Thirty-one cars, almost half the entry, approached from the SSE, having missed to take the track immediately to the south-east of the control through 135525. These crews included Duncan Williams/George Williams (Ford Escort) and Jonathan Davies/Andrew Gaunt (Ford Escort); the latter crew would have been in second place but for the fail.
In the battle for the lead, Jenkins/Jenkins were once again quickest over the eight miles and moved into a clear second place, seven seconds behind Jones/Davies, while Jones/Leyshon were being challenged by Max Hughes/Zak Hughes (Peugeot 206 GTi) for third.
At thirteen miles, the fifth section, the last before Petrol, was the longest of the night and included four timing points. It ran north from Llansantffraed-in-Elwel to Llandegley.
It was near The Cwm that the leaders, Jones/Davies, went out of the rally; they planted their Peugeot off the road, with no chance of regaining the tarmac without a tow.
Jenkins/Jenkins were therefore now in first place, but they lost some time as they picked up a puncture around a mile from the end of the section and finished on the wheel's rim.
This excitement meant that at the petrol halt, which was taken at Crossgates, Jenkins/Jenkins held a lead of 47 seconds over Hughes/Hughes, while Jones/Leyshon were in third. Dion Lewis/Arfon Griffiths (Subaru Impreza) had been the only ones to reach the final timing point, TC5E, on time, the nearest to them being Hughes/Hughes, who had been 41 seconds late.
The Semi-Expert Class was led at the halfway point by the experienced crews of Brian Jones/Richard Morris (Ford Escort), while the entire Novice Class contenders had collected a fail at PCR, this left Cain Bromwich/Oscar Bromwich leading the category.
Lewis/Griffiths weren't to enjoy their fourth place success for long, they put their Impreza through a fence and out of the event on the section immediately after the halt.
The ten mile test was the northernmost point of the route, making almost a complete circle starting from Llandewi Ystradenni; it contained one intermediate timing point near Dolau Junctions. Everyone dropped time at this TC and also the one at the end of the section.
There was another change of lead as Hughes/Hughes took a minute off Jenkins/Jenkins at the first TC and the Peugeot crew ended the section 19 seconds to the good.
The next sector was a tight and twist run from Nantmel to the A470, passing through Nantglas. All were late at the first timing point Llwynbarried Hall. Jenkins/Jenkins were fastest here, this put them back in front, twelve seconds ahead of Hughes/Hughes.
The final section was seven miles long and included a tricky off road control at Disserth Mill; this ended the competition for the night. The two leading crews both dropped seven seconds at this timing point, so ended the event in first and second place, twelve seconds apart. Jones/Leyshon finished in third place, almost a minute behind.
Event sponsor Gerwyn Jones, with Dylan Jenkins on the maps, survived a night with an Escort's clutch that started to slip almost from the Start to finish in fifth place.
The leading Semi-Expert crew were Liam Regan/Arwyn Jones (Nissan Micra), who finished in seventh place overall, almost three minutes ahead of their nearest class rival. Meanwhile Mark Robinson/Finlay Robinson (BMW 316) had a similar winning margin in the Novice Class.
RESULTS
- Overall Positions
- Award Winners
- Class Positions
- Time Penalty Details
- Fail & Route Check Penalties
- Overall Positions at Petrol
- Non-Finishers
- List of Starters