Summer Trial 2025 - 82 Strong Field Heading to Shropshire

Ah the great British summer, hose pipe bans, handkerchief hats, sunburns, and the Summer Trial of course! That’s right, if you thought the British Grand Prix or Wimbledon were the UK’s premier summer sporting events, then think again, as over three days of the third weekend of July the rallyists come out to play, taking part in what is now an established fixture on the regularity rallying calendar.

Ok, so perhaps that’s talking it up a touch, but with a bumper entry of 82 crews, there will certainly be a bit of a buzz as the Summer Trial heads to Shropshire this coming weekend. With Shrewsbury and the fantastic Albrighton Hall as a base, the rally has the fabulous and expansive Shropshire countryside on its doorstep. Last year’s Summer Trial took place in Clerk of the Course and Competition Director Guy Woodcock’s current backyard, and this year the route is somewhat of a trip down memory lane for the man at the controls, as we revisit the lanes of his youth. “This is the area I grew up in, we’re even using the pub I had my first pint in as a coffee stop, and it’s also where I learned to drive, driving a tractor to and from the pub”. It’s best we don’t mention the ages at which either of these events occurred, different times, but it’s fair to say that as the ST completes another leg of the Woodcock odyssey, Guy is excited for those on the rally to experience the tremendous driving roads of the area.

But just what can the crews expect from this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty? “We’ve everything from climbs to plains” says Guy, “There will be some familiar locations, like the Long Mynd and the Long Mountain on the border with Wales, as well as some roads people might not know so well.” Guy stresses that there has been a lot of consideration given to potential tourist traffic in the area, and that some routes, like the one over Long Mynd, will be transit sections to avoid hold ups caused by members of the public out enjoying the area as well. “It’s unavoidable at this time of year, but we’ve done what we can to get into the wilderness a bit, and we’re hopeful that the recent good weather will also have bought forward any farming activity like silage cutting that can sometimes coincide with our days in the countryside.”

Potential traffic aside, and without giving too much away, there are some exciting and challenging regularities planned, with a few even taking place on private land. As always with the Summer Trial, the action will begin on a gentle keel on the Friday, with the difficulty ramping up as the weekend progresses, with Guy hinting that concentration levels will need to be maintained to achieve a result. “There are one or two longer regs” he tells me, “Focus will have to be sustained on these, as they extend to 40 or so minutes long in some cases, and of course on Sunday there will be one or two things that might cause navigators to look twice.”

There are a number of tests at various venues to get stuck into as well, including an old favourite in Rednal Kart Circuit and a new airfield venue, which will no doubt be relished by the drivers. The entry itself has an unusual breadth of experience to it for the Summer Trial and a glance through the listings reveals names that have won almost everything, including former HERO-ERA Cup and Golden Roamer Champions, such as Paul Crosby and Pete Johnson, who are entered in Paul’s MG TB, one of three pre-war machines on the rally. Also hoping for a strong weekend will be last year’s Summer Trial winners Dick and Harry Baines, in their familiar Mini, who are somewhat specialists at this sort of event. Ken and Sarah Binstead will also be a threat, riding high after their recent HC2 podium, as well as numerous trophies last season, and last year’s second placed entrants Rob Robinson and Matt Outhwaite, competing in the youngest car on the rally, a 1991 Mazda MX5, will also be hoping to climb up a step on the podium.

Indeed, the entry is full of familiar names, that could all go well on any given day, and especially if the rally gods bestow a sprinkling of luck upon them as well. Malcolm Dunderdale and Anita Wickens are out in the diminutive Gordini, experienced navigators Iain Tullie and Henry Carr will be competing, and this year’s Flying Scotsman winning navigator Ryan Pickering is out with experienced driver Kevin Haselden. Father and Son James and Archie Holt could do well, James rounded out the podium last year with Pete Johnson navigating, and others, such as Christopher and Claire Day, who won their class on this year’s HC1, could also find themselves near the sharp end.

With such a strong and numerous entry who knows what names could be top of the pile come Sunday afternoon. Whoever does triumph, will have done so by besting one of the most competitive entries that this rally has ever had and as Guy alludes to, will need to remain vigilant and studious of the road book until the very last mile. It ought to be an excellent foray into the tremendous landscape of Shropshire, all we need now is the weather!