Pritchard becomes 2018 Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Champion after dramatic finale on the Ford Parts Cheviot Stages Rally

Jason Pritchard is the 2018 Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Champion, after taking his third maximum points score of the season on the Ford Parts Cheviot Stages Rally.

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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.

Close three-way fight for Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Championship title, as series reaches exciting climax on the Cheviot

Three drivers are in contention for the 2018 Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Championship title, as the close fight for overall honours and the prestigious BTRDA Gold Stars goes down to the final round – the Ford Parts Cheviot Stages Rally (Sunday 28 October). But while Jason Pritchard and Daniel Harper go head-to-head on Otterburn, series leader Wayne Sisson will be watching the stages streamed live on-line at home, as he sits out the title decider.

The AMS Arnside Motorsport Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10 driver has a strong 100% finishing record this year – consisting of two thirds, two fifths and a seventh place points finish.

Pritchard powers to Mewla Rally victory, as Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Championship heads into title showdown

Jason Pritchard powered to a magnificent victory on the penultimate round of the 2018 Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Championship, the Old Forge Garage Mewla Rally, in his first rally on Epynt in his North Road Garage Ford Focus RS WRC05.

Mewla Rally

Truly grim weather conditions blighted the Epynt military ranges for the Mewla rally, for the penultimate round of the Protyre MSA Asphalt Championship. Jason Pritchard & Phil Clarke (Focus WRC) set the fastest stage times on the first loop of 3 stages and it proved to be a lead they never relinquished. Damian Cole & Jamie Edwards (Fiesta WRC) did keep Pritchard honest with two fastest stage times on the next loop of 3 but with only a handful of seconds separating their stage times for the rest of the event, the initial 17s lead became a 26s victory. Completing the podium, almost two minutes further back, were Daniel Harper & Chris Campbell (Mini WRC).

Sisson takes slender Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Championship lead to Epynt, as chasing rivals close in

Wayne Sisson takes a slender 16 point advantage into the penultimate round of the 2018 Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Championship, the Old Forge Garage Mewla Rally (Sunday 26 August), as he prepares to defend his lead from a chasing pack of rivals who are snapping at his heels.

Harper hits the jackpot as Sisson maintains Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Championship lead after thrilling Carryduff Folklift Down Rally

Daniel Harper scored one of his best results of his rallying career when he finished fourth overall and took maximum Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Championship points on the Carryduff Folklift Down Rally in his Minisport-run John Cooper Works Mini WRC. And in a thrilling 11 special stage battle over the big jumps and twists of Northern Ireland’s closed roads, Wayne Sission survived a high-speed off through a fence to maintain his lead in the series in his AMS Arnside Motorsport Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X.

It was Harper’s first appearance in Northern Ireland since 1995 (when he rolled out of the Ulster Rally), but he was quickly into his stride and setting some consistently fast times as others around him spun into the scenery and left bodywork parts scattered across County Down.

Carryduff’s Jonny Greer wins Carryduff Forklift Down Rally!

Jonny Greer and Kirsty Riddick have won the Carryduff Forklift Down Rally, round four of the McGrady Insurance MSA Northern Ireland Stage Rally Championship!

Driving his Citroen DS3 R5, the Carryduff man secured the spoils by 20.1 seconds from Portglenone’s Desi Henry, with current N.I. Championship leader Derek McGarrity in third.

Greer was lying in 10th overall after the short opening test in the Eikon Centre complex but he quickly stamped his authority once the event moved on to the closed roads between Hillsborough and Castlewellan. He moved up to second overall after stage two and then assumed a lead that he was never destined to relinquish after the third test.

Down Rally

Our first trip to Northern Ireland saw us take in the Down Rally. The stages have featured many times over the years on the Circuit of Ireland and Ulster Rallies, with Hamilton’s Folly being the stand out. Jonny Greer & Kirsty Riddick (DS3 R5) stole a march on the rest by setting some blistering times on the opening loop ahead of David Bogie & John Rowan (Fabia R5) with Desi Henry & Liam Moynihan (Fabia R5) further back after sustaining damage on landing off one of the big jumps. Greer held his lead through the 2nd loop of stages as Henry closed in on Bogie and passed him. Bogie did sneak back ahead but retired before the last loop of stages.

Carryduff Forklift Down Rally midday report

Times are still unofficial but at first service, it looks like reigning McGrady Insurance N.I. Champions, Jonny Greer and Kirsty Riddick, head the Carryduff Forklift Down Rally leaderboard in their Citroen DS3 R5!