Mewla Rally

The Mewla may well have been out of the Protyre Asphalt Championship but it had a good entry and saw the return of spectators to the Epynt ranges too. Jason Pritchard & Phil Clarke (Focus WRC) took an early lead on SS1 but Wayne & Gwynfor Jones (Darrian T90 GTR) took the lead on SS2 and then held the lead through the repeat of the two stages, to lead at 2nd service. Pritchard took the lead back on SS5 and held on to it until the end of the event. Damian & Charly Cole (Fabia R5) were on a charge through the afternoon, with two fastest stages and one joint fastest, to climb up into 2nd place, with Jones completing the podium.

Melvyn Evans wins thrilling Old Forge Garage Mewla Rally to take an early lead in the Protyre MSUK Asphalt Rally Championship

Melvyn Evans charged to victory on the opening round of the 2021 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship by taking his Škoda Fabia R5 to a stunning victory on The Old Forge Garage Mewla Rally.

Mewla Rally

Running without the presence of spectators, on a sunbathed August Bank Holiday weekend, Melvyn Evans & Mark Glennerster (Fabia R5) dominated the event setting 6 fastest stage times out of 9 stages run. They finished 26s ahead of Jason Pritchard & Phil Clarke (Focus WRC), who took the other 3 fastest stage times. A distant 3^rd were Damian Cole & Dale Bowen (Fabia R5) with Darren Atkinson Phil Sandham (Escort MkII) the first 2WD crew home in 7^th overall.

Let the 2021 Protyre MSUK Asphalt Rally Championship battle commence on The Old Forge Garage Mewla Rally

The Old Forge Garage Mewla Rally will see battle commence for the 2021 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship on Sunday 29 August.

A big Asphalt Championship field will fight for opening round points over the famous Epynt military range, with more R5 spec cars than ever before challenging the World Rally Car contingent for overall honours, whilst an enormous variety of vehicles target class success.

Having won back-to-back Asphalt Championship titles in 2018 and ’19, Jason Pritchard will be aiming for a hat-trick of wins when he starts the series in his North Road Garage Ford Focus WRC05.

Old Forge Garage Mewla Rally

The Old Forge Garage Mewla Rally are appealing for spectators not to attend the event at the request of the Ministry of Defence. Like the Nicky Grist Stages this year’s event will see higher than usual amounts of training taking place on the Epynt Ranges.

If you attempt to spectate on either event, you will not only risk the cancellation of these events but all future rallying on the Epynt Ranges.

Mewla completes revised 2021 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship calendar

The Old Forge Garage Mewla Rally has been included in the revised Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship – with the popular Epynt Motor Club organised event now hosting the opening round of the 2021 series on Sunday 29 August.

Cole’s record-equalling Epynt victory makes it winner takes all on Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship finale

Damian Cole scored a sensational record-equalling sixth Old Forge Garage Mewla Rally victory in his Get Connected/Energizer-backed Ford Fiesta WRC (Sunday 25 August) – setting the scene for a winner takes all title decider on the final round of the Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship next month.

Mewla Rally

Warm and dry conditions met the crews on the Mewla and Damian Cole & Paul Spooner (Fiesta WRC) set the early pace, setting fastest times across the 3 stages of the first loop, taking a lead of 13s over Bob Fowden & Den Golding (Impreza WRC). Jason Pritchard & Phil Clarke were struggling with their Focus WRC picking up, trailing back in 3rd place, some 23s off the lead. Cole extended his lead to 25s over loop 2 as Fowden drifted back and Pritchard stemmed the time loss. The long stage 7 saw Pritchard climb up in to 2nd place with Alan Kirkaldy & Cameron Fair (Fiesta R5) up to 3rd overall on only their 2nd visit to Epynt.

Everything to play for, as Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship title contenders return to Epynt for the Mewla Rally

The intense battle for the Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship title continues on the sixth and penultimate round, the Old Forge Garage Mewla Rally on Sunday 25 August, when the eight time King of Epynt and series leader Damian Cole goes head-to-head with last year’s event winner and defending champion Jason Pritchard.

2019 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship calendar announced

* Popular calendar of events now includes the Manx National Rally as a double-header, expanding the Asphalt Rally Championship to seven rounds – with the five best scores to count.
* Protyre Motorsport offers lucrative event-by-event tyre rewards to more classes, for drivers using Pirelli, Michelin and Hoosier tyres.
* Live-streaming from all rounds to expand to two stage-side cameras and its own YouTube channel.