Nicky Grist Stages - 08/07/23
Words and Images by Mitcham Media
Spontaneous Saturday Spin to Spectate at the Nicky Grist Stages.
Having a weekend in Shropshire it was only a short nip across to Builth Wells to attend our first gravel rally and first UK rally of 2023, and as always a round of the BTRDA does not disappoint.
Horsing the truck into a ditch at the side of a Welsh back road it was time for a hike up the fire road, trudging up the gravel with the noise of screaming 1400’s getting ever louder as we approached the stage.
The spot we found gave us a close up view of a downhill 90 right on the top of a ridge before a straight cut into the side of the hill below us and then follows the hill round out of view. The crews were out of sight for 15 seconds as they went full chat into a hairpin left before coming back into out view winding their way up the other side of the valley.
We had an excellent birds eye view across the valley onto the stage which gave an almost drone like perspective to spectate.
The 90 left was anxiety inducing with a near shear drop if anyone overshot the corner.
After the stage finished we made the 20 minute journey back into Builth Wells to see some of the service shenanigans. The crews had a 50 minute service which gave them ample time for lunch and a bit of chilled time and craic, or in some cases enough time to sort some major repairs.
The drivers and co-drivers we all congregating around the service park talking close calls and lines.
Making the most of being in town we grabbed some quiche and cake from a boujee cafe along with a coffee before making our way back out into the dusty forrest for the second loop of stages.
We trekked back to the same spot but this time made our way into the forrest rather than onto the ridge. The spot we were greeted with was a long straight into a fast and slidey right hander straight into a fast left before having to slow for the 90 right mentioned in the first loop.
The spot was excellent with cars being framed by the thick bracken lining the stage, and when you faced back down the stage you could see the stage fall away seemingly into nothing.
Overall it was an excellent event, thank you to all the organisers and competitors for putting it on.
Check out below for some more photos from the day.
