Huw James (Wales) and Gordon Montana Morrison (Scotland) are tied for the lead in an exciting battle for the Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship Class C title – while third-place Max Murray (Isle of Man) is only three points further behind with only the Ynyscynon MOT Centre Tour of Epynt (27/28 September) remaining.
Huw and Gordon have each won two rounds and finished second once, meaning that the Escort Mk2 drivers are tied on 42 points.
However, if neither rear-wheel drive aces finish the final round and Max wins, the BVS Vehicles Citroën DS3 R3T driver could steal the title.
Huw could have all-but sealed the title last time out on the R Kings Down Rally. Co-driven by Lewis Sim, the Welshman led the class by 0.1 seconds at mid-distance – despite collecting a puncture on SS1 and surviving a massive jump over the famous Hamilton’s Folly jump – before disaster struck his A&D Tyres Escort Mk2 when holding a top 10 overall position.
“We had an issue with the car on the sixth stage – it got stuck in first gear off the start line with a suspected roll pin,” said Huw.
“It’s frustrating that such a small part can cause a retirement, but that’s rallying.
“We never dreamed of lying tenth overall and first two-wheel drive over the pond, but we have proven a point and we shall come back stronger.”
Lee Edwards/Sam Spencer eventually won the Class C on the Down Rally after a tremendous push in the afternoon in their 3-litre Escort G3 – denying Gordon the three points which might prove decisive at the end of the season.
Gordon survived a sideways brush with a bank after a wild Hamilton’s Folly jump and (co-driven by Mike Dickson) finished second in class in his Lochwinnoch Motors Heavy Haulage Escort Mk2 – with Max in third.
It really couldn’t be closer as they head to the final showdown on Epynt – a venue Gordon has never been too, but where Huw has contested more than a dozen rallies!
The seeded entry closing date for the Tour of Epynt has been extended from its original date of Sunday 7 September (for those contesting Rali Ceredigion), final entries close on Sunday 21 September (at 18:00) and event Regulations can be found on the Port Talbot Motor Club website and on the Sportity app (Password: TOUROFEPYNT2025).
Protyre Asphalt – Class C standings after Round 5:
1. Huw James….42pts
= Gordon Montana Morrison….42pts
3. Max Murray….39pts*
4. Jake Smith….28pts
5. Lee Edwards….25pts
6. Chris Thompson….25pts
* includes a dropped score
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