Lee Edwards heads into Round 3 of the Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship, the Borders Competitions Jim Clark Rally (22/23 May), as BTRDA series leader – an extraordinary top-of-the-table position for the Escort G3 driver, and one that is richly deserved. And despite far superior four-wheel drive Rally2 opposition, the Oswestry driver has no intention of giving up the top spot without a fight.
Lee has been the star of the first two rounds of the UK’s premier sealed-surface series – and he’ll be keen to record a hat-trick of spectacular 2WD performances when he launches his Jaguar V6-engined Blakemore’s Autos/Evans Construction/P&B Tyres/Bailey Performance Escort G3 down the Scottish Border lanes, where he’ll be co-driven by Will Atkins on this occasion.
Lee will be hoping conditions stay dry, for there is a small army of top-notch 4WD machinery preparing to chase him down.
Top of that list are the defending Protyre Asphalt champions Sam Touzel/Max Freeman. They missed the Manx, although that will simply count as one of their two mandatory dropped scores, and they’ll be back out hunting for maximum points – but not in their familiar Michelin-shod Smart Scaffolding/Trade Centre UK Ford Fiesta Rally2, as they make a surprise switch to a Škoda Fabia Rally2.
Ian Forgan is tied on points at the top of the leaderboard with Lee Edwards, but is in second place thanks to his rival’s better result on Round 1. The Lundin Links driver will want to continue his sensational form on home soil and will be co-driven this time by Ewan Lees in his Mercury Motorsport Fiesta Rally2.
Aled Wyn Morgans is fourth in the Protyre Asphalt points standings, which is another remarkable position considering his relative lack of experience in his Aberystwyth Motorsport Fiesta Rally2. The former Escort Challenge frontrunner has recorded a ninth and a fourth place points finish on the opening two rounds, and, together with Jack Bowen, will be aiming for his first podium finish this time.
Brad Cole is fully up to speed in his Hydroline Solutions Fiesta Rally2, and, having taken home fourth place points on the East Riding Stages Rally, was unlucky to have his Manx run curtailed by steering issues. The Somerton driver will be keen to bounce back strongly and will be partnered this time by Dan Petrie in his smart Trick Motorsport-prepared, East Budleigh Garage-run Ford.
Hugh Brunton/Drew Sturrock have rallied a Ford Fiesta R5, Škoda Fabia Rally2 and Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 in recent years and will make their Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 debut in Scotland.
John Stone/Rhys Stoneman had to nurse an engine issue with their Legend Performance Volkswagen Polo R5 GTI throughout the Manx, although they did set the second fastest stage time (by just 0.2 secs) on SS7. They’ll be hoping the car’s back on full song in Scotland.
Having retired from the Manx, Roger Duckworth/Alun Cook (Technia Fiesta R5) and Stephen Simpson/Mark Glennerster (Tudor Glass Fiesta Rally2) will also be aiming for a better run this time out.
Ryan Burns had James Morgan co-driving for him on the Manx, which helped the Liverpool driver score an excellent Protyre Asphalt top 10 overall points finish. He’ll have the equally experienced Ross Whittock beside him this time, as he aims for another top result in his Bat-Sport Performance/Burnley Motors/Seacon UK Fiesta Rally2.
Former Scottish Ladies’ champion Aileen Forrest returns to the series, having enjoyed an excellent performance on the opening round. The Inverurie driver will team up with her husband John in their Fiesta R5.
After retiring on the Manx, James Hall/Laura Marshall will be aiming to reclaim the Class 2 lead in their Halls Bros/Lakeland Pipes Subaru Impreza N11. They’ll have stiff competition from the likes of Manx class winners Barry Groundwater/Ashleigh Will (Mitsubishi Evo 6), Ian Taylor/Louise Lewis (Macwhirter Motorsport/ABX Roofing Supplies/Derwydd Garage/CMJ Motors Mitsubishi Evo 9), David and Adam Mclachlan (Subaru Impreza) and Adrian Spencer/Mark Hewitt (RED Industries/Adgespeed Subaru Impreza S11 WRC replica).
Lee Edwards leads Class 3 – but challenging for class honours will be Huw James/Lewis Sim in their new Fiat 131 Mirafiori. They were ahead of Lee on an unofficial split time on the opening stage of the Manx before a broken rear diff cradle put the A&D Tyres/Maxxis supported car out of the event. Seeded line astern, it will be a fast, frantic and fascinating battle between them.
Also aiming for the Class 3 top spot will be East Riding podium finishers Ross Brusby/Sam Collis (Chesterfield Transporters Escort Mk2), Russell Addyman/Kev Wilson (Escort Mk2), Gareth Humphreys/Aaron Mallin (Mini Cooper S R53), Gareth Price/Liam Evans (CR M-Tech Motorsport/EDJ Agri/E&M Motor Factors BMW Compact) and the 2023 class champion Michael Harbour, who will be co-driven by Cameron Dunn in his two-litre Vauxhall engined Escort Mk2.
Luke Constantine is the leading Protyre Asphalt Junior and Class 5 driver, after he gave his new Opel Corsa Rally4 its series debut on the Manx. He’ll be doing more development work and aiming for a good result this time too, as he and co-driver Ifan Devine hit the Scottish lanes.
Ben Hardy/David Radcliffe arrive in Duns leading Class 6 in their Northern Autocare/RMD Electrical Escort. It’s one of the most hotly contested classes in the championship, and they’ll be up against defending class champions Alyn Welsby/Dan Parsons (Cobra Hydraulics/CSA Recruitment Escort Mk2), Ben Lyon/Jack Corlett (Renault Clio RS), Jack Ives/Louis Baines (Causeway Garage Escort), James Lightfoot/Chris Pattison (RallyTravel Peugeot 208 Rally4), Kev Dunn/Sean Douglas and Neil Jones/Alan Thomas (#TeamPitStop Escort Mk2).
Jack and Helen Hall will have their sights set on taking over the Class 7 lead in their Proton Compact. They’ll be up against two very hard charging Fiesta R2Ts – one crewed by the rapid Anthony Jevons/Margaret Kelly and the other Harper Adams University car driven by Charlie Wright/Marc Morgan.
Matthew Baddeley won Class H1 on the East Riding Stages, which was his first asphalt rally as a driver and his first in a RWD car. Together with Graeme Wood, he’ll be back to try to repeat that result in his Self Storage Company/Stratos PDI Escort Mk2.
Also aiming for the top BTRDA Historic Asphalt Cup spot will be Mark Holmes/Graham Wild in their ND Civils/Mark Holmes Auto Engineering Escort RS1600 Mk1.
Action from the Jim Clark Rally will be streamed live and free to view on the Special Stage TV Facebook and YouTube channels.
The two-day Jim Clark Rally will feature 10 closed road special stages totalling approximately 100 miles. Leg 1 starts from Duns at 18:00 on Friday 22 May, with two stages (Bothwell, 8.24 miles and Abbey, 10.5 miles) done twice, before the overnight halt. Leg 2 starts at 10:00 the next day, with a further six stages (a loop of Polwarth, 9.77 miles, Blackadder, 9.51 miles and Manderston, 10.36 miles, repeated) before the first car reaches the ceremonial finish in Duns Square at around 15:00.
The first time the Jim Clark Rally hosted a round of the Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship was in 2022, when James Williams and Dai Roberts scored maximum points in their Hyundai i20 R5. Dai went on to become co-driver champion that year. Both will be very much in our thoughts as we return to the event.
The full Jim Clark Rally seeded entry list can be found here.
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