Three amigos battle for the overall Protyre MSUK Asphalt Rally Championship title on the Isle of Man

Steve Wood, John Stone and Mark Kelly will head to the final round of the Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship, the Chris Kelly Memorial Manx Stages (30 September/1 October), aiming to become the overall 2022 driver’s champion – and clinch the Protyre Trophy and prestigious BTRDA Gold Star award.

It will be an intriguing battle, as all three drivers have varying degrees of experience on the Isle of Man.

Organisers reluctantly cancel the Hills Ford 3 Shires Stages

It’s with regret that Cheltenham Motor Club has decided to cancel the 2022 Hills Ford 3 Shires Stages due to complications in procuring an alternative date. The club had previously agreed to postpone the event as it would otherwise have occurred during the period of national mourning linked to the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II.

While the organisers had planned to look for an alternative date for the two-day rally, they could not find anything suitable. As a qualifying round of the Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship and other series, this event is very complex and requires a lot of planning. As a rally that features tests over closed public roads, the organisers must consult with various bodies and seek high-level permission before finalising road-closing orders.

Statement from the Organisers of the 3 Shires Stages Rally

The board and members of Cheltenham Motor Club wish to offer their sincere condolences to the Royal Family following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

As the organisers of the Hills Ford 3 Shires Stages (September 17/18), scheduled to take place during the period of national mourning, the club has decided to postpone the event until a future date.

“As a mark of respect, we feel it would be inappropriate to continue with the running of the event whilst the country is in a state of mourning,” states Alyn Edwards, clerk-of-the-course. “The club gives full consideration to residents’ emotions at this time and believes postponing the rally and looking for an alternative date over the next few months will be the most sensible route for everyone. We hope this will assist residents through this very sad time,” adds Kevin C Smith, Event Director and Chairman of Cheltenham Motor Club.

Battle for the Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship title to intensify on the closed roads of Rali Ceredigion

With four different winners from the first four events, the battle for the 2022 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship title is set to intensify when the two-day Get Connected Rali Ceredigion (3/4 September) gets underway.

It’s the first time that Wales’ only closed road stage rally has hosted a round of the UK’s premier sealed-surface series – and with three rounds remaining, it comes at a crucial time in the battle for the overall and class honours.

Chris Kelly Memorial Manx Stages offers tough island test

Manx Auto Sport has launched details of their popular autumn rally, as the Chris Kelly Memorial Manx Stages [30 September – 1 October] is announced.

Wood becomes fourth Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship event winner this year after Down Rally triumph

Steve Wood has become the fourth different winner in as many rounds of the 2022 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship after scoring maximum points on the Carryduff Forklift Down Rally (Saturday 23 July).

Co-driven by Kenny Hull, the Welshman used all his experience of Irish closed road stage rallying to master the fantastic Bucks Head, Lough Erne, Drumaknocken and Hamilton’s Folly stages – particularly in the morning loop which was damp and incredibly slippery, causing an overshoot on SS2 – to finish 34.5 seconds clear of his nearest sealed-surface series rival. The result moves him up to third in the drivers’ standings.

John Stone takes slender Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship lead to County Down

John Stone takes a two-point Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship lead into the Carryduff Forklift Down Rally (Saturday 23 July) – and extending that slender advantage at the top of the drivers’ standings is his number one target.

The Blackburn driver arrives in fine form having just taken the lead of the sealed-surface series in Argyll, and is quietly confident having scored maximum Protyre Asphalt points on the Down Rally in 2019.

Bogie bags Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally victory

Five-times Scottish Rally Champion David Bogie stormed to victory at the Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally [24/25 June] last weekend, taking his MINI JCW WRC to a maiden Argyll Rally win.

Bogie would team up with co-driver Cammy Fair for the first time, and despite a slow start through the tricky Dunoon Town street stage, eventually finished over a minute ahead of nearest rivals David Henderson and Chris Lees. Michael Binnie and Claire Mole rounded out the top three in their Mitsubishi Evo IX.

Henderson takes Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship honours in Argyll as Stone snatches series lead

David Henderson scored maximum Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship points the first time out in his new Michelin-shod Keco/PAR Petroleum-backed Ford Fiesta Rally2 after a magnificent run on the Dunoon presents Argyll Rally – while third has given John Stone the lead in the drivers’ standings.

Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally ready for biggest event yet

Dunoon will be welcoming over 140 rally cars and crews to the Cowal Peninsula this weekend as the Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally hosts one of the biggest motorsport events in Western Scotland on 24/25 June.

Taking place on the closed-public roads surrounding the coastal town of Dunoon for a second year in a row, a bumper list of entries will tackle two days of fast-paced rallying with some of the best sealed-surface rally drivers in the country taking part in the unique motorsport weekend.