Chris Kelly Memorial Rally

The conclusion of the Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship saw 3 drivers fighting for the title. It would have been 4 had the Three Shires not been cancelled, as the countback denied Neil Roskell the chance to fight for the title he won in 2021. Mark Kelly & Neil Colman (Fabia R5) were fastest through SS1 and with SS2 cancelled they continued on through the rain soaked and flooded stages to the frist running of the Lhen. They went off in the appauling conditions and handed the lead to Peter Taylor & Jack Morton (Fiesta WRC). Neil Roskell & Andrew Roughead (Fiesta R5) had a point to prove and they went fastest through SS4 to grab the lead from Taylor.

North West Stages

The 21st North West Stages, sponsored by Legend Fires, was set to be a memorable rally being only the 2nd closed rally in England and the first in the North. Simon Bowen & Richard Robinson (Impreza WRC) set the early pace going fastest on the first 3 stages before dropping over a minute on the final stage of the opening loop. Peter Taylor & Andrew Roughead (Fiesta WRC) were fastest through that stage to take the lead by 9 seconds in to first service. Alex Laffey & Stuart Loudon (Fiesta R5) were just 9 seconds behind, with Steve Simpson & Pat Walsh (Fiesta R5) tied with them in 2nd overall.

Cheviot Stages Rally

The elements threw all they had at the 88 crews who started the Cheviot Stages Rally, resulting in carnage throughout the day. With the MSA Asphalt Championship up for grabs stage 4 saw Daniel Harper & Chris Campbell (Mini WRC) leave the equation as they crashed out after aquaplaning off. Jason Pritchard & Phil Clarke (Focus WRC) still had to get a reasonable points score to overhaul Wayne Sisson for the title and with the tricky conditions that was not going to be easy. Peter Taylor & Andrew Roughead (Fiesta WRC) took the first stage and after being beaten on stage 2 by Harper they had a 9s lead after the first loop of stages.

Tyneside Stages Rally

On what will be our only visit to Otterburn this year, Peter Taylor & Andrew Roughead (Fiesta WRC) took a dominant win by over a minute. A total of 9 fastest stage times sealed the victory but after the first loop of 3 stages it was Rory Young & Allan Cathers (Fiesta R5) who were leading, courtesy of fastest times on stages 2 & 3. Young steadily drifted back through the rest of the rally, as expected in an R5 up against a WRC machine. He was caught up in an intense battle with another Fiesta WRC, this one driven by Stephen Petch & Michael Wilkinson.