Sam Touzel and Max Freeman scored maximum Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship points on the Borders Competitions Jim Clark Rally, on their first event in their new Michelin-shod Smart Scaffolding/Trade Centre UK Škoda Fabia RS Rally2.
The defending Protyre Asphalt champions were in a class of their own – rapidly getting to grips with the new car and taking the BTRDA series win by over three and a half minutes.
“I’m over the moon – we’ve had a great craic,” said Sam.
“To jump straight in and trust another car has been a tough learning curve, but we’ve been fast-tracked in the new Škoda this weekend. It’s been an awesome event.”
Also driving a brand-new car were Hugh Brunton/Drew Sturrock, who claimed second place Protyre Asphalt points in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. They were faster through the second pass of every stage (8.9 secs quicker through the 9.77 mile Polwarth test and 13.7 secs quicker in the case of the 9.51 mile Blackadder stage) as they scored a dream Toyota debut result.
A fifth gear spin, which saw their Wildwaters Ford Fiesta Rally2 fly backwards down SS6 at high-speed, couldn’t prevent Alexander Vassallo/Chris Lees from claiming the final Protyre Asphalt podium finishing position. They had been second at the overnight halt, albeit by just 2.9 seconds, but an early spin on Saturday, which saw them temporarily stuck up against a fence, also dropped them time.
Brad Cole was annoyed with himself for making a slow start and shot from seventh after SS2 to go into the overnight halt (after SS4) fourth in the Protyre Asphalt standings. Co-driven by Dan Petrie, the Somerton driver flew in his Hydroline Solutions Fiesta Rally2 on Saturday, with a minor altercation with a hay bale being his only misdemeanour in the Trick Motorsport-prepared, East Budleigh Garage-run Ford.
Ryan Burns recorded another excellent performance in his Bat-Sport Performance/Burnley Motors/Seacon UK Fiesta Rally2. Co-driven this time by Ross Whittock, a consistently fast and trouble-free run ended with fifth place Protyre Asphalt points.
John Stone was eighth overnight and was looking forward to Saturday’s daytime stages, which included the Blackadder test which he last drove in a Metro 6R4. Together with Rhys Stoneman, the Legend Performance Volkswagen Polo R5 GTI driver once again put in some excellent stage times to be rewarded with sixth place Protyre Asphalt points.
Aled Wyn Morgans struggled with new brake discs and pads on Friday evening, which took time to bed in and made his Aberystwyth Motorsport Fiesta Rally2 very twitchy. Saturday started with a half spin and an overshoot, but things finally clicked on the last loop as the former Escort Challenge frontrunner netted eighth place Protyre Asphalt points. The result moves Aled from fourth to second in the overall drivers’ standings – while Jack Bowen takes the lead of the overall co-drivers’ category.
Roger Duckworth/Alun Cook had an overshoot and a spin on SS5, which led to a few set up changes on their Technia Fiesta R5 for the final afternoon loop of stages. They worked too, as a less dramatic end to the event saw them take home ninth place Protyre Asphalt points.
Stephen Simpson/Mark Glennerster lost time with a pop-off value issue with their Tudor Glass Fiesta Rally2 on Leg 1. They fought back well on Leg 2, and just missed out on a top 10 Protyre Asphalt finish.
Aileen Forrest got faster as the event progressed. Co-driven by her husband John, the former Scottish Ladies’ champion impressed on home ground to score more valuable points in her Fiesta R5.
Ian Forgan arrived at the Jim Clark tied on points at the top of the leaderboard, but unfortunately the head gasket blew on his Mercury Motorsport Fiesta Rally2, putting him and co-driver Ewan Lees out of the event on SS3.
Mark Holmes/Graham Wild retired their ND Civils/Mark Holmes Auto Engineering Fiesta R5 when the power steering packed in on SS5.
Adrian Spencer/Mark Hewitt scored a magnificent Class 2 victory in their RED Industries/Adgespeed Subaru Impreza S11 WRC replica, finishing ahead of David and Adam Mclachlan in their J-Techvans Subaru Impreza STI N14.
Ian Taylor/Louise Lewis had started strongly and were going extremely well – until their Macwhirter Motorsport/ABX Roofing Supplies/Derwydd Garage/CMJ Motors Mitsubishi Evo 9 got out of shape on a 100mph bump and crest on SS7 and hit a tree. The car was badly damaged, but thankfully the Welsh crew were unharmed.
Having led Class 2 after victory on the opening round, James Hall/Laura Marshall suffered their second retirement in a row when they stopped their Halls Bros/Lakeland Pipes Subaru Impreza N11 on SS8.
Barry Groundwater/Ashleigh Will retired from Leg 1 when the oil pressure light came on in their ex-works Fiesta S2000, only to discover later that it was an electrical problem. They returned the following day under super-rally rules.
Lee Edwards was once again the top 2WD finisher in his Jaguar V6-engined Blakemore’s Autos/Evans Construction/P&B Tyres/Bailey Performance Escort G3. Co-driven this time by Will Atkins, he said that he was “dragging a tired car around” – although that didn’t stop him from picking up seventh place overall driver points and extending his overall drivers’ and Class 3 lead.
Staying in what looked like a haunted house inspired Ross Brusby/Sam Collis to finish quickly and check out as soon as possible – finishing second in Class 2 in their Chesterfield Transporters Escort Mk2.
The 2023 class champion Michael Harbour had an overshoot on SS5. He felt a lot more comfortable in his two-litre Vauxhall engined Escort Mk2 in the afternoon and with Cameron Dunn alongside set some impressive stage times to take the final Class 2 podium spot.
On only his third closed road stage rally, Gareth Price was fast and precise in his CR M-Tech Motorsport/EDJ Agri/E&M Motor Factors BMW Compact. Co-driven by Liam Evans, he came home fourth in class.
Alistair Crawford lost time when he beached his Escort Mk2 on SS5. Partnered by the reigning Protyre Asphalt Junior Co-driver Tommi Henderson, the Scotsman enjoyed a great run after that and now leads the Protyre Asphalt Seniors’ category and moved up to second (behind Lee) in the Escort Challenge.
Too much rear brake bias contributed to Russell Addyman/Kev Wilson locking up and hitting a grass bank and fence on SS5. Having lost a chunk of time, they reached the end of the stage with water leaking from their Escort Mk2’s radiator. They were nevertheless able to continue and finished sixth in class, ahead of Gareth Humphreys/Aaron Mallin (Mini Cooper S R53).
Huw James/Lewis Sim only had two weeks to fix their new A&D Tyres/Maxxis Fiat 131 Mirafiori since a broken rear diff cradle put them out of the Manx – and driving the car at speed for the first time since then unearthed buckled drive flanges on the diff. Having nursed the car through SS2, they decided to retire the car before something more severe let go.
Luke Constantine was on the rev limiter for much of Leg 1 in his Opel Corsa Rally4, and continued to set a flat-out pace the following day. Co-driven by Ifan Devine, an overshoot on SS5 didn’t slow him either, as he scored a magnificent top 10 Protyre Asphalt overall finish, second 2WD home, and won both the Protyre Asphalt Junior and Class 5 categories.
James Lightfoot/Chris Pattison finished second in Class 5 in their RallyTravel Peugeot 208 Rally4.
Neil Jones/Alan Thomas won Class 6 after a stunning run in their #TeamPitStop Escort Mk2.
Kev Dunn/Sean Douglas had a magnificent run in their Pirelli-shod Autocare Honda Civic, overcoming the car’s weight (1.3 tonnes) to power (240bhp) disadvantage to finish second in class.
Defending class champions Alyn Welsby/Dan Parsons finished third in their Cobra Hydraulics/CSA Recruitment Escort Mk2, a result which gives the west Wales crew the Class 6 lead.
Charlie Wright/Marc Morgan won Class 7 in their Harper Adams University prepared and run Fiesta R2T, finishing comfortably ahead of Anthony Jevons/Margaret Kelly in their Fiesta R2.
Matthew Baddeley’s gorgeous Self Storage Company/Stratos PDI Escort Mk2 won the Dynamic Fluids Best Presented Car Award before the start of the event. He was on course for maximum BTRDA Historic Asphalt Cup and Class H1, before he and co-driver Graeme Wood retired on the final stage.
Action from the Jim Clark Rally, which was broadcast live, is available to view for free on the Special Stage TV Facebook and YouTube channels, plus specialstage.tv.
The 2026 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship remains in Scotland for Round 4, the Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally (19/20 June).
Jim Clark Rally – top 10 registered 2026 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship finishers:
1. Sam Touzel/Max Freeman (Škoda Fabia Rally2)….1hr 14mins 59.0secs
2. Hugh Brunton/Drew Sturrock (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)….1hr 18mins 33.0secs
3. Alexander Vassallo/Chris Lees (Ford Fiesta Rally2)….1hr 18mins 56.9secs
4. Brad Cole/Dan Petrie (Ford Fiesta Rally2)….1hr 20mins 02.3secs
5. Ryan Burns/Ross Whittock (Ford Fiesta Rally2)….1hr 20mins 27.4secs
6. John Stone/Rhys Stoneman (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5)….1hr 20mins 47.6secs
7. Lee Edwards/Will Atkins (Ford Escort G3)….1hr 21mins 06.83secs
8. Aled Wyn Morgans/Jack Bowen (Ford Fiesta Rally2)….1hr 21mins 19.1secs
9. Roger Duckworth/Alun Cook (Ford Fiesta R5)….1hr 21mins 47.7secs
10. Luke Constantine/Ifan Devine (Opel Corsa Rally4)….1hr 22mins 57.6secs
2026 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship – top 6 Drivers’ overall after Round 3:
1. Lee Edwards….74pts
2. Aled Wyn Morgans….68pts
3. Sam Touzel….60pts
4. John Stone….57pts
5. Brad Cole….53pts
6. Ian Forgan….52pts
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