Stone relights his Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship title fire with maximum points in Northern Ireland

John Stone has re-ignited his Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship title challenge by scoring maximum points on the Carryduff Forklift Down Rally in his Legend Fires-backed Ford Fiesta WRC.

Co-driven by Jack Morton, the Blackburn driver was fastest out of the blocks on a very wet and slippery opening stage to open up an immediate advantage – which was the start of a titanic battle between Stone and arch rival Damian Cole, who immediately set about fighting back after an over-cautious start. As Cole began his fight back, Stone lost a slight bit of momentum on SS2 when a software issue with the new boost pack on his ex-Mikko Hirvonen car made it feel down on power, but he’d retained his lead at the end of a tricky opening loop of three stages.

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Down Rally

Over 120 crews took the startline at the Eikon Centre for the Down Rally, in a small window of good weather which surrounded the event. Jonny Greer & Kirsty Riddick (Fiesta R5) were defending their 2018 victory and came out the blocks faster than the opposition to take almost 10 seconds out of the next fastest crew Meirion Evans & Jonathan Jackson (Fabia R5), through the opening stage. By the time the crews had got to the first service Greer was first with just 1s chipped off his advantage but stage 4 would see Evans fall away as he dropped 7 minutes with a puncture. Jon Armstrong & Noel O’Sullivan (Mini WRC) had climbed up to 3rd overall after a fastest time on stage 2 but a puncture cost them 50 seconds on stage 4 so the top 3 was shook up. Daniel Harper & Chris Campbell (Mini WRC) were up to 2nd place with Stephen Wright & Liam Moynihan (Fiesta R5) up to 3rd place.

Competitors Rev Up for the Carryduff Forklift Down Rally

It has been more than three months since competitors in the McGrady Insurance Motorsport UK Northern Ireland Stage Rally Championship were in action but now they’re revving up to compete in round four of the series at this weekend’s Carryduff Forklift Down Rally!

Headquartered at the Eikon Exhibition Centre in Balmoral Park, near Lisburn, a capacity entry of 130 high-powered rally cars from across the UK and Ireland are set to tackle stages on closed roads in County Down as well as two spectator tests in the grounds of the exhibition centre.

Cole aims to extend Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship lead as rivals gear up for spectacular Down Rally showdown

Damian Cole is looking to extend his lead in the Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship when he takes his Get Connected/Energizer-backed Ford Fiesta WRC to the Carryduff Forklift Down Rally (20 July) – but he’ll have plenty of tough opposition aiming to deny him the maximum haul of points he’s searching for, most notably from John Stone (Fiesta WRC) and from an array of top R5-spec cars driven by the likes of Melvyn Evans (ŠKODA Fabia R5), Meirion Evans (Hyundai i20 R5), Alan Kirkaldy (Fiesta R5) and Oli Hopkins (Mitsubishi Mirage).

Six time champion Cole has been super consistent so far this season, with a second placed points finish on the opening Rallynuts National Tour of Epynt Rally and a pair of fifth-placed points scored on the Masterpixel Media Manx National Rally.

Cole capitalises on Pritchard’s misfortune to move into Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship lead following Rally van Wervik

After completing 12 special stages in mixed conditions, Damian Cole / Dale Bowen emerged as leading Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship contenders as they finished eighth overall on the Rally van Wervik, moving into the Championship lead as a result.

Cole sees chance to close in on Pritchard’s Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship lead at Rally van Wervik

Two of the leading contenders for this year’s Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship title will drive different cars on the next round of the series, the WOODSTOXX – MOTUL Rally van Wervik (Saturday 15 June), with Jason Pritchard electing to use his North Road Garage Ford Fiesta S2000 and Damian Cole switching back to his Get Connected/Energizer-backed Ford Fiesta WRC.

Having scored maximum points on all three rounds so far this year in a Focus WRC05, series leader Pritchard wants to give that car a rest in preparation for later qualifying events, and in a tactical move is aiming for a strong points scoring finish in a Fiesta S2000.

Pritchard extends Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship lead after record-equalling fifth Manx National victory

Jason Pritchard has extended his lead in the Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship after taking maximum points on both days of the double-header Masterpixel Media Manx National Rally – with his latest win on the Isle of Man equalling Kenny McKinstry’s five event victories.

The Builth Wells driver had opened up a 57 second lead after a slippery points-scoring first eight stages on Friday, and had to do it all again if he was to score another maximum points haul on eight dry and fast stages on Saturday.

Manx National Rally

A fantastic weekend of rallying saw Jason Pritchard & Phil Clarke (Focus WRC) take their 5th consecutive win on the Manx National Rally, to equal the overall victory record held by Kenny McKinstry. For 2019 the event counted as two rounds of the Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship, with Friday as round 1 and Saturday as round 2. Fastest times of 3 of the opening loop of 4 stages saw Pritchard hold a 55s lead over Jamie Jukes & James Morgan (Mirage). Dan Harper & Chris Campbell had gone fastest on stage 2 and were 2nd but a minute dropped on the 4th stage saw Harper retire for the day, as a precaution. 3rd overall were Andrew Dudgeon & Joe Dooley (Evo 6.5) just over 20 seconds back. John Stone & Jack Morton (Fiesta WRC) were close behind in 4th with Harper in 5th, briefly.

Protyre Asphalt Rally Champion and series leader Pritchard heads magnificent Manx National entry

Jason Pritchard will start the Manx Auto Sport-organised Masterpixel Media Manx National Rally (10-11 May) as favourite – but such is the quality of the double-header Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship entry that the defending champion, series leader, four time event winner and number one seed will need to be at his very best to take the top spot once again.

Pritchard gets his Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship title defence off to a winning start on the Tour of Epynt

Jason Pritchard got the defence of his Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship title off to the best possible start by winning the opening round of the 2019 series, the Rallynuts National Tour of Epynt Rally, in his North Road Garage Ford Focus WRC05.