Sam Touzel aims to complete his 2025 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship drivers’ title-winning season in style by targeting a straight hat-trick of maximum points finishes on the final round of the series, this weekend’s Ynyscynon MOT Centre Tour of Epynt (27/28 September).
The Jerseyman has enjoyed a sensational season – taking home fifth-place points on the opening East Riding Stages, fourth-place points on the Manx National, second-place points on the Borders Competitions Jim Clark Rally, before scoring his career first maximum on the Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally. Then, armed with a new Michelin-shod Smart Scaffolding/Trade Centre UK Fiesta Rally2, Sam not only scored maximum points on the R Kings Down Rally, but challenged the local drivers for overall victory.
His stunning year-long performance has clinched Sam the UK’s premier sealed-surface series title for the first time, plus, as top Ford finisher, a private test in a Puma Rally1 car at the M-Sport Evaluation Centre test track.
And with Jason Pritchard/Phil Clarke (North Road Garage/Guttercrest Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) unable to contest the event, Sam’s navigator Max Freeman will be confirmed as the 2025 Protyre Asphalt Rally co-drivers’ champion.
Brad Cole has wasted no time in getting up to speed in his Trick Motorsport-prepared and East Budleigh Garage-run Hydroline Solutions Fiesta Rally2, and having scored fourth-place points on the last two events he’ll be aiming for his first overall Protyre Asphalt podium. The Somerset driver finished third in the recent non-championship Mewla Rally on Epynt and will be reunited this time with co-driver Jamie Vaughan.
Damian Cole recently achieved another magnificent Epynt milestone by winning a record-breaking seventh Mewla Rally – his 26th outright victory on the ranges – and equalling the great John Price on 71 Epynt stage wins. Co-driven by Paul Spooner, the Abergavenny ace will be a frontrunner in his Get Connected Citroën C3 Rally2.
By contrast, last year’s Tour of Epynt was Roger Duckworth’s first time on the ranges. His decades of rallying experience elsewhere kept him out of trouble and helped him to a top 10 Protyre Asphalt points finish, and now he’s back for another go over the rollercoaster roads with co-driver Alun Cook in his Technia Fiesta R5.
John Stone’s not an Epynt expert either and hasn’t rallied there since coming home fifth overall on the 2022 Tour of Epynt. He’s put in some strong performances of late and will be after another big haul of points as he and co-driver Rhys Stoneman contest the event in their gorgeous Legend Performance Engineering Volkswagen Polo GTI R5.
Stephen Simpson knows his way around Epynt pretty well. Co-driven by Mark Glennerster, the 2007 Protyre Asphalt champion will be looking for another good result in his Tudor Glass Fiesta Rally2.
David Wright enjoyed a great start to the season, but has only scored one point in the last three rounds. Co-driven by Jane Nicol, he’ll be looking forward to getting back to how 2025 started with a top six finish in his GPM/DamperTek/Grove Hill Garage Fiesta R5.
Adrian Spencer arrives with one hand on the Protyre Asphalt Class B trophy. He contested the recent Mewla Rally as a test but was forced to miss the opening two stages thanks to a driveshaft problem – but once that problem was fixed, he showed great pace on the ranges. Co-driven by Mark Hewitt, the Manchester driver will be aiming for a fast and trouble-free run in his smart RED Industries Adgespeed Subaru Impreza S11 WRC replica.
There is an exciting three-way battle for the Protyre Asphalt Class C title. With his experience on Epynt, Huw James is in pole position as he and Lewis Sim contest the event in their A&D Tyres Escort Mk2. The Welsh driver arrives at the event tied on points with Scotland’s Gordon Montana Morrison (Lochwinnoch Motors Heavy Haulage Escort Mk2), while third-placed Max Murray can still steal the title in his Manxman’s BVS Vehicles Citroën DS3 R3T.
Also aiming for Class C points will be Andy Brinkley/Helena Mayall in their BMW M3 E36 – or Herman, as the car’s known to its friends! Also aiming for a strong 2WD result will be Sean Crowley/Sam Weller in their Darrian T90.
Alyn Welsby has already won the Class E title, and another good result will give Dan Parsons the co-drivers’ trophy. The Carmarthen driver also leads the Escort Challenge and will be out to secure that title too in his road rally spec Cymru Camper Furniture/Davies & Davies Furnishers Escort Mk2.
Bryn and Brian Jones have been fast all season and will be keen to end the year with a first Class E win in their W Jones & Son Escort Mk2.
Neil Jones has twice finished second in Class E this year and, together with Alan Thomas, will be looking for his first win in his Team Pit Stop Escort Mk2. John Morgan/Llinos Jones Edwards also start in their Fairfield Motor Escort RS1800, as do Roger Holder/Ian Meakin in their Honda Civic, while Tim Phelps/Elwyn Manuel return in their Britpart Escort Mk2.
There is a close battle for the Class F runners-up spot, with Tommy Graham (co-driven by Mark Pickering in his R/S Motors Leyburn Escort Mk1) and Anthony Jevons (partnered by Margaret Kelly, who leads the Protyre Asphalt Ladies’ Challenge for Co-drivers’ standings, in his Fiesta R2) separated by just one point and everything to play for.
Charlie Wright’s Fiesta R2T won the Dynamic Fluids Best Presented Car Award last time out. The Harper Adams University-run car will be challenging for Class F honours again when he and co-driver Adam Westerby contest the event.
Jonathan Jones will be aiming to repeat his Class F victory on the East Riding Stages when the Cardigan carpenter contests the event in his Jones Carpentry & Tiling/Ffostrasol Garage Vauxhall Corsa S1600. He’ll be co-driven by Ryan Sheep Jones.
With two Class G wins apiece, there is a winner-takes-all battle of the Welsh Novas between William Mains and Jack Edwards. William’s giant-killing performances on Epynt are legendary, so on paper he and co-driver Vincent Mosley have the advantage – although Jack and co-driver Adam Burkill won’t be worried about stats as they tackle the event in their Porthmadog Holiday Let Vauxhall.
Battling for historic class honours, and the BTRDA Historic Asphalt Cup, will be the likes of Andrew O’Hanlon/Kevin Hogan and Shane Gamble/Julie Perry – both in Minis – and Phil Rogers/TBC in his Escort RS1800.
Action from the Tour of Epynt will be streamed live and free-to-view on the Special Stage TV Facebook and YouTube channels.
Organised by Port Talbot Motor Club, this year’s Tour of Epynt event celebrates its 60th anniversary and takes place over two days on the famous Mynydd Epynt military range roads. Leg 1 starts at 15:00 on Saturday 27 September, while Leg 2 (Sunday 28 September) runs from 09:00-15:00, with the prizegiving ceremony at 16:00.
Ynyscynon MOT Centre Tour of Epynt – top 10 seeded entries
1. Sam Touzel/Max Freeman (Ford Fiesta Rally2)
2. Damian Cole/Paul Spooner (Citroën C3 Rally2)
3. Hugh Hunter/Andy Marchbank (Ford Fiesta Rally2)
4. David Wright/Jane Nicol (Ford Fiesta Rally 2)
5. Stephen Simpson/Mark Glennerster (Ford Fiesta Rally2)
6. Brad Cole/Jamie Vaughan (Ford Fiesta Rally2)
7. John Stone/Rhys Stoneman (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5)
8. Huw James/Lewis Sim (Ford Escort Mk2)
9. Roger Duckworth/Alun Cook (Ford Fiesta R5
10. Rob Tout/Terry Martin (Ford Fiesta R5)
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