Sam Touzel ended a perfect Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship title-winning season by scoring his first outright victory on one of the most demanding venues in the calendar, clinching victory by over a minute on the Ynyscynon MOT Centre Tour of Epynt (27/28 September).
Proudly carrying number one on the side of his Smart Scaffolding/Trade Centre UK Ford Fiesta Rally2 for the first time, the top-seeded Jersey driver had only rallied on the famous rollercoaster Mynydd Epynt military range roads once before – but he and his title-winning co-driver Max Freeman romped home to a memorable win like Epynt experts.
David Wright/Jane Nicol had only been 10 seconds behind at the overnight halt but concentrated on bringing their GPM/DamperTek/Grove Hill Garage Fiesta Rally2 home without any drama, on what was the Lancaster driver’s first visit to Epynt for two decades.
Damian Cole had been hitting the rev-limiter too often on leg one, but with that sorted out he was much happier on leg two. Co-driven by Paul Spooner, the pair – who’d won their first rally on Epynt together in 2008 – launched a big push on the final stage to secure the final podium position in their flying Get Connected Citroën C3 Rally2.
John Stone/Rhys Stoneman finished just nine seconds behind in their Legend Performance Engineering Volkswagen Polo GTI R5. They’d had to overcome an engine issue on Friday but were back to full speed on Saturday and narrowly missed out on a podium finish.
Roger Duckworth/Alun Cook were embroiled in the three-way battle for third but had to settle for fifth in their Technia Fiesta R5, just 15 seconds off the podium after over an hour of flat-out competition.
Brad Cole thought he had an issue with his Trick Motorsport-prepared and East Budleigh Garage-run Hydroline Solutions Fiesta Rally2 on Friday, but a detailed inspection found nothing untoward. Maybe he gave himself a good talking to overnight, for come Saturday he and co-driver Jamie Vaughan were flying and faught back from 11th after leg one to finish sixth.
Huw James was once again the top 2WD driver home, finishing ninth overall and taking home seventh-place Protyre Asphalt points in his A&D Tyres Escort Mk2. The Welshman did have to nurse the car through the final two stages without a working clutch pedal, but that didn’t slow him as he and co-drover Lewis Sim clinched the Class C and Escort Challenge titles.
Andy Brinkley/Helena Mayall had a good run to second in Class C in their BMW M3 E36, while Sean Crowley/Sam Weller retired their Darrian T90.
Neil Jones/Alan Thomas won Class E for the first time this year in their Team Pit Stop Escort Mk2.
Alyn Welsby/Dan Parsons had already won the class title, as they finished second on the day in their road rally spec Cymru Camper Furniture/Davies & Davies Furnishers Escort Mk2 – just missing out on the Escort Challenge title by three points.
Bryn and Brian Jones had to reverse at a chicane on SS6, but still finished third in Class E and scored a fantastic Protyre Asphalt top 10 overall finish in their W Jones & Son Escort Mk2 to secure the class runners-up position.
A wrong tyre choice on Saturday morning slowed Roger Holder/Ian Meakin as their wet tyres went off in the dry conditions, but they survived to finish fourth in Class E in their Honda Civic.
John Morgan/Llinos Jones Edwards were hoping to end the season on a high in their new Fairfield Motor Suzuki Swift but retired with engine problems on leg one, while Tim Phelps/Elwyn Manuel retired their Britpart Escort Mk2 on the penultimate stage.
Adrian Spencer (co-driven by Mark Hewitt) retired his RED Industries Adgespeed Subaru Impreza S11 WRC replica with gearbox issues, although the Manchester driver still clinches the Class B title, thanks to two class victories earlier in the year.
Charlie Wright won Class F for the first time this year in his Harper Adams University-run Fiesta R2T. Co-driven by Adam Westerby, the Newport driver found the car better to drive on a harder suspension setting and put in another impressive performance in the M-Sport built car.
Anthony Jevons finished second in Class F in his Fiesta R2 – the fine result securing Margaret Kelly the Protyre Asphalt Ladies’ Challenge Co-drivers’ title.
William Mains secured the Class G title after the Llandysul driver (co-driven by Vincent Mosley) won the class for the third time this year in his Vauxhall Nova.
Jack Edwards’ chances of winning the title disappeared when he retired his Porthmadog Holiday Let Nova, although Adam Burkill had already clinched the class co-drivers’ title.
Andrew O’Hanlon’s Tour of Epynt started well when his Mini Cooper S was awarded the Dynamic Fluids Best Presented Car Award, selected and presented by Protyre Asphalt Championship scrutineer Geoff Doe. Second in class was enough for him and co-driver Kevin Hogan to clinch the historic Class H-A and BTRDA Historic Asphalt Cup titles – although it was Shane Gamble/Julie Perry in another Mini who won the class on the day.
Action from the Tour of Epynt, which was broadcast live, is available to view for free on the Special Stage TV Facebook and YouTube channels, plus specialstage.tv.
Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship Gala Prizegiving
Tickets for the 2025 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship Gala Prizegiving and Awards Ceremony are available to order now!
The evening of celebration takes place at the Drayton Manor Hotel (where there is a special deduced accommodation room rate) on Saturday 8 November.
The format will consist of a welcome drinks’ reception, followed by a three-course meal, the awards presentation ceremony (hosted by Paul Woodford) and entertainment into the small hours.
Order your tickets here.
Ynyscynon MOT Centre Tour of Epynt – top 10 registered 2025 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship finishers:
1. Sam Touzel/Max Freeman (Ford Fiesta Rally2)….1hr 02mins 23secs
2. David Wright/Jane Nicol (Ford Fiesta Rally 2)….1hr 03mins 27secs
3. Damian Cole/Paul Spooner (Citroën C3 Rally2)….1hr 04mins 13secs
4. John Stone/Rhys Stoneman (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5)….1hr 04mins 22secs
5. Roger Duckworth/Alun Cook (Ford Fiesta R5)….1hr 04mins 28secs
6. Brad Cole/Jamie Vaughan (Ford Fiesta Rally2)….1hr 04mins 47secs
7. Huw James/Lewis Sim (Ford Escort Mk2)….1hr 05mins 10secs
8. Neil Jones/Alan Thomas (Ford Escort Mk2)….1hr 08mins 15secs
9. Alyn Welsby/Dan Parsons (Ford Escort Mk2)….1hr 08mins 48.0secs
10. Bryn Jones/Brian Jones (Ford Escort Mk2)….1hr 11mins 30secs
2025 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship
Final overall driver points (after Round 6) – all provisional:
1. Sam Touzel….118pts*
2. Jason Pritchard….110pts
3. Neil Roskell….107pts
4. Brad Cole….97pts*
5. John Stone….96pts
6. Huw James….82pts
Final overall co-driver points:
1. Max Freeman….118pts*
2. Phil Clarke….112pts
3. Rob Fagg…108pts*
4. Jamie Vaughan….97pts*
5. Lewis Sim…93pts*
6. Jane Nicol….69pts
* includes dropped scores
Final class winning positions:
Class A
Driver: Sam Touzel
Co-driver: Max Freeman
Class B
Driver: Adrian Spencer
Co-driver: Ian Taylor
Class C
Driver: Huw James
Co-driver: Lewis Sim
Class D
Driver: James Lightfoot
Co-driver: Ula Budzynska
Class E
Driver: Alyn Welsby
Co-driver: Dan Parsons
Class F
Driver: Luke Constantine
Co-driver: Ifan Devine
Class G
Driver: William Mains
Co-driver: Adam Burkill
Class H-A
Driver: Andrew O’Hanlon
Co-driver: Kevin Hogan
Class H-C
Driver: Mark Holmes
Co-driver: Jonathan Cragg
BTRDA Historic Asphalt Cup
Driver: Andrew O’Hanlon
Co-driver: Kevin Hogan
Escort Challenge
Driver: Huw James
Co-driver: Lewis Sim
Mini Challenge
Driver: Andrew O’Hanlon
Co-driver: Kevin Hogan
Juniors
Driver: Luke Constantine
Co-driver: Tommi Henderson
Ladies Challenge
Driver: Meghan O’Kane
Co-driver: Margaret Kelly
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