Callum Black and Jack Morton win the 40th anniversary Protyre MSUK Asphalt Rally Championship title

Callum Black and Jack Morton are the 2023 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship drivers’ and co-drivers’ champions, having scored maximum points on both days of the double header JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion (2-3 September).

The new champions won the title for the first time on the 40th anniversary of the UK’s premier sealed surface series, and were the only crew to score maximum points on more than one round, with victory the Manx National (day two), Argyll Rally and the penultimate and final rounds held over the two day Rali Ceredigion.

Neil Roskell and Callum Black go head-to-head at Rali Ceredigion in fight for the 40th anniversary Protyre MSUK Asphalt Rally Championship title

Neil Roskell and Callum Black go into a head-to-head fight for the 40th anniversary 2023 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship drivers’ title on the final double header round of the series, the JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion (2-3 September).

Roskell, who finished runner-up last year, leads the UK’s premier sealed surface series after six high-scoring finishes in his Michelin-shod ND Civils/Burdens/Witham Motorsport Ford Fiesta Rally2. However, the Blackpool driver has a large total of 46 points to drop (unless he scores less on the final two rounds) – as the best six scores from eight rounds count. Co-driven by Andrew Roughead, the very worst that can happen is that Roskell remains on his current 157 points – which will at least secure him second place again. Not that he’ll be happy to settle for that two years running.

Steve Wood and Neil Roskell separated by just 0.1 seconds after a dazzling Down Rally battle

Reigning champion Steve Wood and Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship leader Neil Roskell were separated by just 0.1 seconds after a dazzling battle on the Carryduff Forklift Down Rally (Saturday 22 July).

The top Protyre Asphalt position swapped several times – and neither driver escaped the eight challenging Northern Ireland stages unscathed as they pushed hard in the often damp and slippery conditions.

Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship battle hots up on the Down Rally

Just 15 points separate Neil Roskell and Callum Black at the top of the Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship leaderboard as they head to Round 6 of the series, the Carryduff Forklift Down Rally on Saturday 22 July – although there are plenty of other drivers in the title chasing pack, and others who could take valuable points away from the would-be champions.

Roskell had a good run on the Northern Ireland event last year, despite the bonnet flying open and smashing the windscreen on the famous Hamilton’s Folly jump.

Callum Black closes in on Protyre MSUK Asphalt Rally Championship lead after Argyll Rally victory

Callum Black has closed in on the lead of the 2023 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship after becoming the first driver this year to win more than one round – with his second victory of the season coming on the Dunoon presents Argyll Rally (23/24 June).

Despite not having driven his Pallas Connections Ford Fiesta Rally2 on wet asphalt before, nor in fact any four-wheel drive rally car, the Brackley driver led after a tricky opening leg – surviving a little off into a ditch towards the end of Leg 1’s final stage.

Series leader Neil Roskell targets first Protyre MSUK Asphalt Rally Championship win of 2023 in Argyll

There have been four different winners from the first four rounds of this year’s BTRDA-organised Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship, setting the scene for an exciting second half to the UK’s premier sealed-surface series – which begins with the Dunoon presents Argyll Rally (23/24 June).

But it’s Neil Roskell who leads the overall drivers’ standings going into Round 5 of the eight-round series – despite not having won a round so far this year. And that’s something the Blackpool driver is keen to put right on the challenging Argyll and Bute closed roads, having finished second and third on the last two rounds respectively.

Jim Clark Rally enjoys a blistering weekend in the Borders

The Beatson’s Building Supplies Jim Clark Rally brought some of the best drivers in the business to the Scottish Borders this weekend [26-28 May], as the three-day motorsport event took place on the closed roads around Duns.

The market town offered a fantastic backdrop for the rally, hosting the event service area and the centre itself seeing the cars assemble for the start and finish celebrations throughout the weekend. A big screen played live coverage of the rally to the fans who were able to get up close to the cars as they passed through Market Square.

James Ford flies to Protyre MSUK Asphalt Rally Championship maximum points on the Jim Clark Rally

James Ford scored maximum Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship points for the first time when he set a string of fastest overall stage times to beat all of his series rivals in a fast and furious Beatson’s Building Supplies Jim Clark Rally.

Co-driven by Neil Shanks, the Preston driver lost time when he caught a slower car on the opening stage, but come day two he flew to a superb fourth overall finish in his Michelin-shod Citroën C3 Rally2 – despite stalling the car at the start of the eighth and final stage.

World-class drivers head to Duns for the Jim Clark Rally

The Beatson’s Building Supplies Jim Clark Rally has attracted a world-class entry ahead of this weekend’s event [26-28 May] as around 240 drivers get set to tackle the highly acclaimed three-day closed road motorsport event.

Henderson returns for the Jim Clark Rally to re-ignite his Protyre MSUK Asphalt Rally Championship title challenge

David Henderson will re-ignite his challenge for the Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship title when he returns for the Beatson’s Building Supplies Jim Clark Rally (26/27 May).

Co-driven by Chris Lees, the Oakenshaw driver led the series after winning the opening round in his Keco/PAR Petroleum-backed Ford Fiesta Rally2 – but elected to miss Rounds 2 and 3, the double header Manx National.