Story Highlight
– Paul Woodford competes in the UK’s largest road rally.
– First East Yorkshire driver since Ron Shipp in 1974.
– Rali Cilwendeg features navigational tests on public roads.
– Paul advocates for rallying’s accessibility and growing popularity.
– Event promises a unique overnight rallying experience.
Full Story
A motorsport enthusiast from South Cave is gearing up to participate in the UK’s largest road rally, following in the footsteps of a celebrated Hull driver from over half a century ago. Paul Woodford, a respected figure in the rallying community known for his presenting work, has called his upcoming participation in Rali Cilwendeg a “dream come true.” This challenging and intricate competition involves drivers and their co-drivers navigating special tests on private roads and farm tracks, alongside public road sections.
The overnight rally traverses many miles through West Wales and is known for attracting large spectator crowds, evoking the excitement of the sport’s golden era during the 1970s and 80s. At 40 years old, Paul is believed to be the first driver from East Yorkshire to compete in this renowned event since Hull’s Ron Shipp, who achieved a commendable fourth place in 1974. “It’s been a bucket list item for such a long time and I never thought it would quite happen,” Paul shared. “It’s really a lot of local Welsh crews that do it because it’s so specialised.”
Paul acknowledges that it will be a tough challenge to replicate Ron’s historic finish in his Vauxhall Firenza, which was backed by Thompsons of Hull. A former sales director with Swift Group, Ron, who passed away seven years ago, was an accomplished rally driver. His brother Alan Shipp reflected on Ron’s capabilities, stating, “Rallying was only part of his expertise. He was one of the best in the country.” Ron frequently competed in local events, secured numerous victories, and took part in the RAC Rally against renowned figures like Roger Clark. Additionally, he and Alan undertook a non-stop motorhome journey from Land’s End to John o’Groats and contributed to breaking a world speed record for towing a caravan.
Describing Cilwendeg as “the ultimate road rally,” Paul speaks of the accessibility of road rallying as a pathway into the motorsport world. He has spent the past year preparing with support from Motorsport UK, constructing a road rally car which he has been using for smaller navigational events known as ‘12 cars,’ organised by local clubs. “Autotesting and other low-cost events have helped me get my bearings in this,” he explained.
Recently, Paul participated in Rali Bro Teifi in West Wales, another event that combines navigational rallying with special tests. His training has also included various local competitions across North Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire, distinct from stage rallying, where teams race on fast closed routes. Road rallying, in contrast, is done without helmets or overalls, in less modified vehicles, and demands a high level of focus as crews balance vehicle control with navigation.
During the Cilwendeg rally, Paul and his navigator Joanna James are set to tackle ten hours of driving, starting at 10pm on Saturday, October 18. They will navigate speed-controlled sections on public roads between tests located within farmyards, quarries, and forests, with only one break for refueling. “You get to about 2:30-3am and everybody is absolutely wiped,” Paul noted. “The garage sells out of Red Bull, and everyone is socialising while refuelling their rally cars.” He remarked on the presence of police monitoring the event due to its popularity, saying, “I’ve never seen that on a road rally before.”
As the event concludes, Paul describes the atmosphere as jubilant, with drivers and navigators exhausted yet celebrating over breakfast after a long night. “It’s a mad part of the sport that more people should know about,” he added. Balancing his rallying passion with his role as a commercial director at an IT firm, Paul champions the sport’s potential to attract new participants and spectators, referencing its historic ability to draw larger crowds than the English Football League during its peak decades ago.
Paul is actively involved in Motorsport UK’s ‘Streetcar’ initiative, which seeks to promote grassroots rallying events and increase public engagement. “It’s certainly gaining in popularity, and I think it needs a bit of an injection of information because people don’t realise how much is happening around them and how accessible it can be. This was partly about bringing this aspect of the sport into the spotlight,” he stated.
For those interested in learning more about road rallying, Beverley and District Motor Club, as well as North Humberside Motor Club, offer resources and information. Updates on Paul’s progress leading up to the Cilwendeg and during the event can be followed on his YouTube channel.
