In 1965 a few foresighted individuals in Port Talbot Motor Club took a trip to the military roads that wound their way over Mynydd Epynt above Sennybridge, near Brecon…The “Valvoline” road rally had been cancelled due to circumstances outside the clubs control, and a small group of organisers from the club met on the “Mynydd”…little did they know it, but history was being made. That first event ran as a “closed sprint” in the events classification that the then “RAC” required, and the entry fee was a princely £2

Many hundreds of spectators flocked to the mountain top roads, and watched from the many natural vantage points that the moorland provided…indeed the organisers were quite taken aback by the “invasion” and Epynt had made its high speed way into four wheeled motoring legend…
Some compared the spectacle with the Targa Florio that roared through the Madonie Mountains of Sicily, and this was indeed the spirit that Port Talbot MC had set out to capture !

Amongst the cars assembled were Mini-Coopers, tuned Ford Anglias or “Allardettes” as they were known in deference to the famous Ford tuner, Ford Cortinas, Healey Sprites and Triumph Spitfires…a rallying legend to be was Tony Chappell in his indecently fast Lotus Elan, and he had the distinction of the very first win on Epynt, seventeen seconds faster than Jerry Dodd in his MGB roadster.
As darkness fell the cries of “more” ensured that rallying would definitely be back !

A year later and the “who’s who” of rallying were forming a – long – line to enter ! Malcolm Gibbs in a Willment GT, Colin Malkin in a Sunbeam Tiger, Carmarthenshire legend Alun Rees in his Cooper S, Ron Gillard in a Healey…Colin Williams of Skewen in a Ford Corsair and dressed in his best suit ! The variety of cars was huge, Ivor Thomas turning up with a Jaguar 3.4 … historic rallying indeed but then they were new !
One Richard Martin Hurst came down from Brum with a new Rover 2000, claiming the dubious distinction of being the first Epynt “write-off” after a bruising encounter with Devils Leap…with the recent WRC encounter still recalled…some things NEVER change !

The Tour of Epynt just grew and grew, sponsored by Castrol and Peter Russek Manuals, and finally branched out into the nearby forests having outgrown Epynt alone. By 1978 it became the Peter Russek Manuals Rally, staying thus until 1984 when Marlboro came in as joint Sponsors, the tobacco giant taking over totally a year later.
The legend grew, the rally bringing memorable first wins for drivers who would go on to International stardom…amongst these were Louise Aitken-Walker, David Llewellin, Mark Lovell, and George Donaldson, whilst their fellow winners included Graham Middleton, Murray Grierson, Marcus Dodd, Mike Brown, and most recently Jonny Milner…and that is to name but a few !

The event has forged great and lasting bonds with sponsors, those invaluable supporters becoming friends to Port Talbot MC to this day, including all those already mentioned, and the lists added to be long associations with Kayel Graphics and the Leaver family, Enterprise Printing under the direction of Gordon Wellington, and the current association with the City & County of Swansea.

It has progressed, added to the careers of many drivers, and forged a strong and lasting reputation at the very top of British rallying…
Port Talbot Motor Club intends that it will remain at the top of the rallying tree…and the championships that have become a part of the event in 2003 – The Kumho Tyres National, Kumho Tyres Clubman, the Competition Cars Welsh National, the Ralliart UK Evolution Challenge, the ANWCC Forest Championship, and Peugeot 205 Rally Championship – seem to bear that out…
Whoever carries off the silverware at the end of the 2003 rally will have joined rallyings elite…and long may it continue.