New drivers impress as Armed Forces rally team tackle 2026 opener at Bovington

It is first time out in 2026 for the Armed Forces Rally team and what better place to get to grips with a brand new season than the Bovington Stages Rally?

Four evergreen Land Rovers, also known as Romeos, that have been continually built and rebuilt for nearly 30 years, raced around Bovington Camp in Dorset, joined by 91 other more traditional rally cars in the annual event organised by Bournemouth Motor Club.

The two-day event on the closed tarmac roads is an ideal introduction for the newest members of the team.

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Debutant Trooper Chris Webb was in with driver Lance Corporal George Martin in Romeo 1, while Lance Corporal Callum Leaf was co-driving Private Josie Harris in Romeo 2. Pte Harris is the current forces champion, the first time a female has ever won it.

New driver Lance Corporal Pat Amey drove with Lance Corporal Stanley Richardson in Romeo 5, and Submariner Leading Engineer Tech George Pappas-Lord was in with Lance Corporal Ash Wilcock in Romeo 6 – and all of them had something to prove.

With so many team newcomers, the aim was clear: to learn their limits helped by dry conditions on day one, giving maximum grip. Sadly, the rear differential on Romeo 6 exploded at the start of the penultimate stage on day one, meaning LCpl Wilcock had to rely on front wheel drive only to nurse his Land Rover to the end. He scored a stage maximum time, but he'd be firing back on four-wheel drive on day two.

That day was much more of a challenge as overnight rain had turned the concrete surfaces into a slippery and unpredictable test of car control and commitment. Big-time penalties would be applied to crews hitting the chicanes and the special stage furniture. Many did, and 27 cars would retire by the end of the day.

Of the forces crews, only LCpl Martin in Romeo 1 managed to keep his run clean. That proved the difference following a close battle on day one between him and LCpl Amey in Romeo 5.

On the now slippery tarmac, the outcome was finally decided when Amey locked up on entry to a tight chicane and touched the furniture, picking up a 30-second penalty which handed the top place to LCpl Martin and Tpr Webb, who also finished overall second in class 2. 

LCPL Wilcock and LET George Pappas-Lord brought Romeo 6 home in third with Pte Josie Harris and LCpl Leaf in fourth place. The next round of the British Rally Championship will be the Severn Valley Stages in the mountains of Wales in April.