Sam Touzel will be aiming to snatch the lead of the Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship when he contests the R Kings Down Rally on Saturday 19 July.
With work commitments preventing series leaders Jason Pritchard/Phil Clarke from travelling to Northern Ireland, this leaves the Jersey driver and co-pilot Max Freeman with a golden opportunity to take command of the BTRDA sealed-surface series, as they contest the event in their Michelin-shod Smart Scaffolding Ford Fiesta Rally2.
And they arrive at Round 5 on fantastic form, having won their maiden Protyre Asphalt rally last time out on the Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally – which puts Sam second in the drivers’ standings, a mere one point behind the three-time champions.
Neil Roskell returns to the Down Rally with memories of missing out on maximum Protyre Asphalt points by just 0.1 seconds in 2023. The Blackpool driver will be partnered by Rob Fagg – the man who navigated for Steve Wood two years ago, and who denied Neil the crucial points that would have seen him challenge for the title on the final round that year, instead of having to settle for the runners-up spot! But all will surely be forgiven if they win this time in their ND Civils/Burdens/Witham Motorsport Fiesta Rally2.
Brad Cole arrives at the Down Rally fourth in the drivers’ standings after scoring a career-best fourth-place points finish last time out in his Trick Motorsport-prepared and East Budleigh Garage-run Hydroline Solutions Fiesta Rally2. Co-driven by Dan Petrie, the last time the Somerset driver contested the Down Rally was in 2022, when he bounced back from hitting a bank and damaging the steering in his Escort Mk2 on the opening stage to score an impressive Protyre Asphalt top 10 result. He’ll be aiming to avoid the scenery and targeting a podium finish this time.
Mark Kelly played down his title chances at the beginning of the season, and indeed with three scores already dropped his championship challenge is pretty much over. But a string of fastest Protyre Asphalt stage times towards the end of the Manx, and second-place points, demonstrates his championship-winning pace in his new Kelmore Volkswagen Polo GTI R5, and he and co-driver Will Atkins will be eyeing up maximum points this time.
John Stone’s season has got better the more events he’s done, and he’ll be pleased to see that there are no night-time stages on this year’s Down Rally. Daylight always brings out the best in the Legend Performance Engineering Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 driver – and the last time he contested the Down Rally was in 2022, where he collected second-place points to maintain his Protyre Asphalt lead. John will be co-driven this time by Kenny Hull.
Stephen Simpson is also enjoying a good season. The vastly experienced Manchester driver scored third-place points on the 2023 Down Rally and the 2007 Protyre Asphalt champion will be partnered by the equally practiced Mark Glennerster in his Tudor Glass Fiesta Rally2.
Roger Duckworth began the season with a seventh-place points finish on the East Riding Stages, but that’s the last time the Technia Fiesta R5 has scored points. Hopefully the return of co-driver Alun Cook will bring him some luck as the Towcester ace aims for a clean run and a good points finish.
St Austell father and son pairing Roger and Tommi Henderson scored a magnificent result last time out in their DKMS We Delete Blood Cancer Fiesta Rally2 and will be keen to keep that momentum going – especially as Tommi leads the Junior co-driver standings.
After radiator damage and overheating forced Mark Holmes out of Argyll, he’ll be hoping for better luck (and softer landings) when he returns in his ND Civils/Mark Holmes Auto Engineering Fiesta R5 – this time co-driven by Thomas Simkiss.
Nathan Bolton/Phil Kenny have had an up and down time of things since switching from a Mitsubishi to a Monza Installs/Legend Performance Fiesta Rally2, so will be aiming to settle into a good rhyme early on.
Huw James has been on sensational form this year and not only leads Class C and the Escort Challenge, but is seventh in the overall drivers’ standings, thanks to outrageous results like sixth-place overall points in Argyll. Co-driven by Lewis Sim, the A&D Tyres Escort Mk2 driver will need to maintain that pace, however, as he’ll have some stiff competition.
Gordon Montana Morrison has won Class C on both his appearances this year, although he cannot afford a non-finish as he’s already dropped two scores. He’ll be battling with Huw for 2WD honours and will be co-driven this time by Mike Dickson in his Lochwinnoch Motors Heavy Haulage Escort Mk2.
Max Murray scored an overall top 10 Protyre Asphalt result and finished second in Class C last time out in his BVS Vehicles Citroën DS3 R3T. That puts the Manxman second in the class title chance and together with co-driver Matty Owen will be looking for another strong result against their more powerful Escort rivals.
Lee Edwards/Sam Spencer were the early 2WD leaders on the Manx Rally and ended up scoring a strong podium finish – and they’ll be aiming for another strong class result like that in their magnificent 3-litre Escort G3.
Three wins from three starts sees Alyn Welsby arrive with the Class E lead. Co-driven by Dan Parsons, the Cymru Camper Furniture/CP Developments Escort Mk2 driver has a 13-point lead over Bryn and Brian Jones (W Jones & Son Escort MK2) as the Welsh crews battle it out at the top of the table.
Anthony Jevons has just a one-point lead at the top of Class F. Expertly guided by Margaret Kelly, who leads the Protyre Asphalt Ladies’ Challenge for Co-drivers’, the Milford Haven driver will be looking for his first class win of the season after four consistent finishes in his Pirelli-shod Fiesta Rally2.
Protyre Asphalt Junior leader Luke Constantine is the driver putting Anthony under pressure in Class F. He can effectively count all the points he scores from now on, and with two class wins already that puts him and co-driver Ifan Devine in a strong position as they attack the lanes in their Constantine Motorsport Opel Adam R2.
With a second, third, fourth and dropped score in the bag, Tommy Graham/Mark Pickering cannot be discounted for the class title in their R/S Motors Leyburn Escort Mk1. The Leyburn driver is third in the standings, a mere five points off the lead.
Charlie Wright will be aiming to get his first Protyre Asphalt points on the board when the Newport driver teams up with Adam Westerby in his Fiesta R2T.
Jack Edwards won Class G and finished second Junior on the Manx. Co-driven by Adam Burkill, the Wrexham youngster will be aiming to return to that form when he contests the event in his Mold Tyres/Porthmadog Holiday Let Vauxhall Nova.
Jack is currently tied on class points with Andrew O’Hanlon, who together with co-driver Kevin Hogan won Class G in Argyll in his Mini Cooper S. Whoever out of the two drivers wins on the Down Rally will move up and share the class lead with Will Mains.
Action from the Down Rally will be streamed live and free-to-view on the Special Stage TV Facebook and YouTube channels.
Organised by Rathfriland Motor Club, this year’s event features eight stages totalling 61.68 stage miles in a one day compact format. The start (09:01), regroup (13:31), podium ceremony/prizegiving (17:00) and rally show will be located at The Boulevard outlet shopping centre in Banbridge. There will also be a ceremonial start the evening before (Friday 18 July) for the top 20 seeded crews and invited competitors, beginning at 19:30.
From your Gran. “ Just relax and enjoy what you do best…”