Paul and Julian Doroszczuk are targeting back-to-back titles in their Drockspeed Motorsport Escort Mk2, as they return to defend their B11 class trophy in the Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship.
The flying Welsh crew enjoyed a great year long battle with Geoff Glover/Keith Barker (RWD Astra), Phil Turner/Ian Meakin (Toovey Race Engines/ST Motorsport Escort Mk2) and Richard and Pat Egger (Highland Cottage Vauxhall Nova) to clinch the B11 award by just four points – securing it on the final round of the series, the Ford Parts Cheviot Stages Rally.
The sight and sound of the Doroszczuk brother’s immaculate normally aspirated Cosworth-engined Escort Mk2 was one of the many highlights of the 2018 series, and with Protyre offering increased tyre incentives throughout the B classes, another epic title battle is eagerly anticipated.
“No sooner had the realisation that we were Protyre Asphalt Rally B11 champions sunk in than we began turning our attention to 2019 and what would be a fitting encore to such an unforgettable year,” said Julian.
“After careful consideration of the range of options available to us, we have decided to come back and see if we can successfully defend our B11 title in 2019.
“With the chance to carry on old rivalries with the likes of Geoff Glover, build on the friendships made in 2018 with Phil Turner and Ross Brusby, to name but a few, and with the promise of more competitors taking up the challenge and committing to the championship as a consequence of the excellent organisation – and the genuine approach of Jane and her organising team of ‘by competitors for competitors’ – it was an easy decision to make in the end.
“The season gets underway on the 10th March with the Rallynuts National Tour of Epynt, a venue where we achieved our best ever result last year – so the challenge is to continue where we left off in terms of pace and get the season off to a flying start.”
Doroszczuk is also looking forward to the Masterpixel Media Manx National Rally (10/11 May), which this year is a double-header event – with points awarded at the end of both the first and second days of competition.
“We have always gone well in previous years on the Isle of Man, with a strong second in class last year proving the turning point in our championship winning season,” added Julian. “So the opportunity to compete over two full days on some of the most iconic stages in asphalt rallying is an exciting prospect and one which could prove a real game changer in terms of championship points and whether we can go on to successfully defend our title or not.
“With all other rounds remaining the same as last year, we hope we can put the recent first hand experience of competing on every round last year to good use and eliminate some of the wrong choices made – for example, the opening tyre choice in Belgium, which cost us time. Hopefully that experience will give us the edge in terms of pace and overall outcomes to help us secure back-to-back championship victories.”
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