Jason Pritchard/Phil Clarke complete Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship hat-trick with third title win on the Cheviot

Jason Pritchard and Phil Clarke have won the Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship for a third time in a row after an incredibly tense and exciting finale on the Ford Parts Cheviot Stages Rally (Sunday 24 October).

Cheviot Stages Rally

With the title going down the wire it was Jason Pritchard & Phil Clarke (Focus WRC) who came up victorious, taking a 3rd consecutive Protyre Asphalt Rally title. They had a big scare with an off on the 3rd stage of the first loop of stages, but once their main opposition, Mark Kelly & Neil Colman (Fiesta R5) retired after stage 6, then they just had to bring it home. Frank Bird & Jack Morton (Fiesta Rally2) took a dominant win by 31s from Gordon Morrison & Hannah Davison (Fiesta R5). Pritchard came home 3rd to take the title just ahead of Neil Roskell & John Cope (Fiesta R5) in 4th, with John Stone & Tom Woodburn (Polo R5) rounding out the top 5.

Mark Kelly, Neil Roskell and Jason Pritchard head to Otterburn for exciting 2021 Protyre MSUK Asphalt Rally Championship title showdown

Three drivers go into the final round of the Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship aiming to become the 2021 drivers’ champion – with Mark Kelly, Neil Roskell and Jason Pritchard battling for the title on the Ford Parts Cheviot Stages Rally (Sunday 24 October) over the Otterburn military range in Northumberland.

Darren Spann appointed Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship Manager

The BTRDA has appointed Darren Spann as Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship Manager from 2022, following the retirement of Jane Evans at the end of the 2021 season.

The BTRDA gives Jane a huge thank you for her amazing work over the past four years as she rebuilt the Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship to its current status as the premier asphalt championship in the UK.

Darren Spann’s appointment brings a wealth of experience from the world of rallying. Having run the hugely successful Motorsport News Circuit Rally Championship since its inception seven years ago, he has also been Clerk of the Course for the Neil Howard Stages Rally since 2012, turning the event from a single venue stage rally into one of the biggest events on the Oulton Park calendar. He was pivotal in bringing the Wales Rally GB stage to Oulton Park in 2019 and recently successfully hosted the opening round of the 2021 British Rally Championship.

Pritchard wins big on the PokerStars to put him back in contention for the 2021 Protyre MSUK Asphalt Rally Championship title

Jason Pritchard won big on the PokerStars Rally, taking maximum Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship points on both Legs 1 and 2, setting fastest time on every stage and winning the double-header round of the series by 5mins 20.9secs.

Having won the Manx National a record-equalling five times and the IOM Historic Rally twice, his invincible record on the Isle of Man continues as he and Phil Clarke dominated the event from start to finish in their North Road Garage Ford Focus WRC05.

The Isle of Man weather threw everything at competitors, but Jason sailed off into the distance on Friday night to open up a 2mins 51.7secs gap after Leg 1. He wasn’t even that happy with his driving, with ‘untidy’ being the self-assessment of what appeared from outside the car at least to be something of a Manx masterclass – whilst carnage raged in his wake.

Pokerstars Rally

The Pokerstars Rally was nothing short of utter domination by Jason Pritchard & Phil Clarke (Focus WRC) as the pair set fastest time on every stage completed and took victory by over 5 minutes. Mark Kelly & Neil Colman (Fiesta R5) were a fine 2^nd overall, after a challenging event which saw two stages cancelled and another with most of the crews getting notional times, on the opening night. Completing the podium were Damian Toner & Denver Rafferty (Escort MkII) who were 16.4s ahead of local crew Steve Colley & Kirsty Duke (Evo IX). Rounding out the top 5 were John Stone & Tom Woodburn on their first event in their Polo R5.

Can anyone deny Jason Pritchard victory on the Isle of Man, as the Protyre MSUK Asphalt Rally Championship dice is thrown on the PokerStars?

Jason Pritchard has an incredible record on the Isle of Man, winning the Manx National a record-equalling five times and the IOM Historic Rally twice. He’s never contested the PokerStars before, but as it features the same classic Manx stages there is only one pre-event question – can anyone deny the double Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally champion another victory on the Isle of Man?

Melvyn Evans extends Protyre MSUK Asphalt Rally Championship lead with maximum points on the Hills Ford Three Shires

Melvyn Evans has extended his lead in the Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship after securing another maximum points score on the Hills Ford Three Shires Stages Rally.

Three Shires Stages

The 2^nd running of the Three Shires Stages saw a grandstand finish as Meirion Evans & Jonathan Jackson (Polo R5) took victory by 4s, following a stunning time through the final stage. They had been 4s behind Ollie Mellors & Max Freeman (Iriz R5) going in to that final stage but 7 fastest stage times, plus 2 joint fastest stage times, saw the Welsh crew take the win they gave up on stage 2, to Mellors. The final step on the podium saw an even tighter battle as Melvyn Evans & Mark Glennerster (Fabia R5) took 3^rd on countback, after finishing equal with Mark Kelly & Neil Colman (Fiesta R5). 5^th place went Robert Swann & Darren Garrod (Impreza WRC) with the time gaps growing down the rest of the top ten. The first 2WD crew home were James Ford & Matthew Daniels (Escort MkII) in 10^th place overall.

Pritchard switches to Fiesta S2000 as the Protyre MSUK Asphalt Rally Championship heads to the Three Shires

Jason Pritchard will contest this Sunday’s Hills Ford Three Shires Stages Rally in his North Road Garage Ford Fiesta S2000. It is the first time that the double Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally champion has driven the car in competition for over two years.

Jason got his 2021 campaign off to a flying start on last weekend’s The Old Forge Garage Mewla Rally, finishing second in his Focus WRC05.

For Round 2, Jason has decided to wheel out his Fiesta S2000 for the first time since the 2019 Rally van Wervik. He and co-driver Phil Clarke were the top Protyre Asphalt crew in Belgium after the first loop of stages, highlighting what a quick – not to mention great sounding – car it is on narrow single track lanes.