George Heighway is targeting Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship class wins this year, as he returns to the BTRDA series in his super cool 2-litre Heighway Ltd/ASM Developments Toyota Corolla.
George started rallying in 2021 and made his debut at his local Smeatharpe airfield in a 1600cc Corolla, finishing a respectable 36th overall. However, he didn’t do a lot of rallies until about 18 months later, when he bought a Renault Clio V6.
Despite only rallying for a handful of years, the Axminster driver finished fifth in his Protyre Asphalt class last year having scored two podium results – second on the Manx and third on the Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally – in a newly acquired Corolla.
“At the beginning of 2024, I was lucky enough to acquire my current Toyota Corolla,” says George.
“It’s a top spec 2-litre car and is a great bit of kit, and it’s got us three top ten results last season on our local Smeatharpe and Bovington venues.
“We inadvertently ended up entering the majority of the Protyre Asphalt Championship events last season, and that was due to fate and biting the bullet by entering the Manx, as the TSH Stages was cancelled. In hindsight, thankfully the TSH was cancelled because the Manx far exceeded all expectations – and was a complete whirlwind. We were bottom of the reserve list and all hope had been lost until we were having dinner in a local steakhouse the night before the start of the rally, having completed the recce that day, when I had a call from the event organisers to say that we were in! We were seeded at car number 135 and finished a very cheerful 51st overall – and we were completely buzzing afterwards!
“Paul DeBono, a good friend and business partner at ASM Developments, as well as my father Jock, kindly sat in with me last season, and last minute, for the Protyre Asphalt rounds as we ventured into the closed road world of rallying for the first time for the Manx, Argyll and what we’d hope was going to be Rali Ceredigion, but we didn’t start because of an electrical misfire.
“We did the Hills Ford Stages as well. Paul kindly lent me his car, due to the previous electrical misfire issue with mine, which was my old 1600cc AE86 Corolla – but we had a nasty crash on SS7 which led to Paul taking a trip to hospital.
“Fortunately, Paul’s car is now straight and being rebuilt leaving only a bruised ego in the way of long-lasting damages. And note to self, never borrow anything as Sod’s Law something will happen!”
“Looking ahead to the 2025 Protyre season, I really cannot wait to get back to the Isle of Man. The place is just fantastic and having a little more experience we are of course hoping to improve on last year’s result. I’m also very much looking forward to taking the Corolla back home to Ireland as well for the Down Rally.
“This year Tim Currie is sitting beside me. Tim is a very experienced navigator having participated in many rallies over the years. Tim has also entered the Protyre Championship and I’m hoping that we can both score some championship points throughout the year, and who knows maybe even get up in the mix in the 2-litre class.
“Running the car will be my father, the brains and grafter behind it all and the one that keeps things going especially when my morale is a little low, Brad, a friendly and funny face that has always got a trick or two to keep the car in the rally following an excursion or mishap, and Paul of course who we hope to see on a few events between his busy ASWMC series adventures.
“Heighway Ltd and ASM Developments are both sponsoring our season in one way or another. ASM Developments offering all motorsport services and requirements from bodywork, paint work, mechanical servicing and upgrades/repairs to the car and making sure it’s got the best chance of finishing the rallies – drivers’ luck and misjudgement of talent dependant!”
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