Hills Ford Stages Rally: An Impressive Display of Speed and Expertise, by Steve Andrews

The Hills Ford Stages Rally is one of the UK’s premier closed-road events and takes place across the stunning countryside of Herefordshire, Worcestershire, and Gloucestershire. Visitors to the yearly event get a close-up look at some of the nation's top rally drivers and vehicles.

The event welcomes a diverse group of participants, including both professional rallying teams and individual enthusiasts. The term “amateur” here refers to those not part of a team or competing in a specific championship. The rally cars are varied in type and age, from classics like the Mini and Ford Escort to modern, four-wheel drive, purpose-built, vehicles. They can be run by professional teams or enthusiastic amateurs, but all are legally roadworthy.

Last month’s rally kicked off with a ceremonial start in Ledbury Town Centre, Herefordshire, marking the start of a two-day motorsports extravaganza that included six stages on Sunday, September 15, and a special stage on Saturday, September 14, which is run twice. Every stage takes place on smaller roads, and crews are carefully timed while driving smoothly and cleanly on the brief closed stages.

The organisers are also focused on the relationship the rally has with local communities and parishes. Closed Road Rallying is very much the public face of UK Motorsport, and we represent an industry, not just the sportsmen and women who compete.

The rally route is decided through extensive consultation with local parish councils and county councils. The aim is to minimise the impact on residents by carefully selecting roads and ensuring that any closures are as brief and unobtrusive as possible. We keep residents fully informed about the event and any temporary road closures.

Aside from the demanding work that goes into creating the stages themselves, every effort is made to highlight the benefits of Motorsport. That ranges from promoting awareness of professional driving and driving standards to fostering relationships between educators and those that offer career opportunities.

The rally’s carbon footprint is also a central topic of discussion, and even more so for motorsport globally. Motorsport often faces criticism for its environmental impact and is frequently involved in the politics of carbon emissions. The organisers have addressed these concerns in their piece “Breaking the Myth,” which explores the various aspects of motorsport and highlights the significant benefits that outweigh the environmental costs.

Organising the rally is a complicated task that usually takes the entire year, and preparations for 2025 are already underway.