The battle for the Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship is finely poised as the UK’s premier sealed-surface series reaches the halfway stage of the season. With championship leader Lee Edwards sitting out Round 4, several leading contenders have a golden opportunity to close the gap – or even take over at the top of the standings – on the Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally (19-20 June).
Aled Wyn Morgans is in pole position to both seize the championship lead and the race to win the magnificent end-of-season prize of a test in an M-Sport Puma Rally1. The Welshman has a 100% top 10 finishing record this year and, together with Jack Bowen, will be aiming to equal or better his season-best points finish (fifth on the Manx National Rally) in his Aberystwyth Motorsport Ford Fiesta Rally2.
John Stone has also been on great form and returns to Scotland fourth in the overall drivers’ standings. He and co-driver Rhys Stoneman took home sixth place points last time out on the Borders Competitions Jim Clark Rally and will be aiming to better that in their Legend Performance Engineering/Legend Fires Volkswagen Polo R5 GTI.
Brad Cole is another driver who could leave Argyll on top of the points standings. Although still adapting to his Trick Motorsport-prepared Hydroline Solutions Fiesta Rally2, the former Escort driver is more than capable of challenging for maximum points – which will be the aim for him and co-driver Dan Petrie.
Ian Forgan was joint leader of the series after the Manx National Rally but dropped down to sixth after head gasket issues on the Jim Clark. Co-driven by Ewan Lees, maximum points on home soil could see the Mercury Motorsport Fiesta Rally2 driver return to the top of the leaderboard.
Hugh Brunton made a sensational Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 debut last time out, taking home second place points on the Jim Clark Rally in the new car. Co-driven by Drew Sturrock, maximum points in Argyll may not be enough to put the Arbroath driver at the top of the standings, but it would propel him from 13th into serious title contention – especially when dropped scores come into play.
Jason Pritchard is in a similar situation. Down in 17th, but with two scores already dropped and a second place finish on the Manx in the bag, the three-time Protyre Asphalt champion can count every point he acquires from now until the end of the season. And with confidence and pace high in his North Road Garage/Guttercrest Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, that puts him and co-driver Phil Clarke in a very strong position.
Likewise, Alex Vassallo can count every point scored too. He joined the series on the Jim Clark Rally and immediately made his mark by taking home third place points. Co-driven by Chris Lees, the Newcastle upon Tyne driver is currently just one point behind Jason in 18th, and another podium finish in his Wildwaters Seafood Fiesta Rally2 would establish him as a genuine title contender and a serious challenger for the M-Sport prize.
There remains every possibility that the absent Lee Edwards will retain the championship lead, as those behind him must score heavily to overhaul the Blakemore’s Autos/Evans Construction/P&B Tyres/Bailey Performance Escort G3 driver.
David Mclachlan has a great chance to take the Class 2 lead, as he and son Adam contest the event in their J-Techvans Subaru Impreza STI N14. They’ll have stiff competition from another father and son pairing, John and Ciaran Tear, in their CamperMann/OrmCoAccounts Mitsubishi Evo 9.
Ross Brusby will be aiming to close in on Class 3 leader Lee Edwards. Co-driven by Sam Collis, a first win of the season in his Chesterfield Transporters Escort Mk2 would close the gap to just eight points.
Class 3 has several strong contenders for the top 2WD spot, and challenging for that award will be Chris Simmons in his SRT Motorsport-run Darrian T90 GTR. The third generation Gloucestershire dairy farmer will be co-driven by Frazer Moss.
Engineering supremos Huw James/Lewis Sim have had a little bit more time to sort out some teething problems with their new Fiat 131 Mirafiori. They’ll be keen to get some significant competitive miles under their belt and demonstrate the true potential of the A&D Tyres/Maxxis supported car, which is powered by a 360bhp, 2.5-litre naturally aspirated Cosworth KGP Engineering engine.
Former class champion Michael Harbour scored a podium finish on the Jim Clark, in what was his first appearance in the series this year. The Ayr driver is always super quick and, together with Cameron Dunn, will be aiming for class victory in his two-litre Vauxhall engined VS Pro Escort Mk2.
A class podium will be the aim for Gareth Price in his CR M-Tech Motorsport/EDJ Agri/E&M Motor Factors BMW Compact. The Welshman will be partnered this time by Jamie Mills.
Gareth Humphreys/Aaron Mallin will be aiming for another strong run in their Mini Cooper S R53, while Russell Addyman/Kev Wilson (Escort Mk2) will be hoping for a less dramatic event, after hitting a fence last time out in their Escort Mk2.
Alyn Welsby will be aiming to extend his Class 6 lead in his Cobra Hydraulics/CSA Recruitment Escort Mk2. The defending class champion from Carmarthen will be co-driven on this occasion by James Braithwaite.
Neil Jones/Alan Thomas won the class last time out and will be looking to achieve the double in their #TeamPitStop/ West Wales Rally Spares Escort Mk2.
Kev Dunn finished a magnificent second in Class 6 last time out in his Pirelli-shod Autocare Honda Civic. Co-driven by Sean Douglas, the Kelso driver will be after a similar result in the Team 1030 car.
Isle of Man duo Ben Lyon/Jack Corlett will be aiming for another class podium in their racy Renault Clio RS.
Anthony Jevons is in a tight fight for the Class 7 title, and the West Wales driver has a great chance to climb to the top of the table in his AMJ Coatings Fiesta R2. Defending Protyre Asphalt Ladies Challenge champion Margaret Kelly already leads the co-drivers’ section and could extend that advantage.
Charlie Wright won Class 7 last time out in his Fiesta R2T. Reunited with his usual co-driver Adam Westerby, the Harper Adams University team driver will be aiming for back-to-back class victories this time.
Stef Davies will be aiming to increase his lead in the BTRDA Historic Asphalt Cup and Class H6, as well as challenging for the top 2WD and Escort Challenge positions in his Shell Oils Escort Mk2. Co-driven by Michael Gilbey, the Welshman has been flying this year and has twice taken home top 10 Protyre Asphalt points.
Will Rowlands/Emyr Hall aren’t far behind and will be keen to keep the press on in their Escort RS1800.
A Manx class podium finish was well deserved by David Iwan Jones and he, together with co-driver Nigel Roberts, will be challenging for the top spot in their Wales Motorsport-run HIJ Electrical/Mill Farm Eggs/JD Tyres/GNJ Construction Escort Mk2.
Graham Muter will be looking to get his first finish of the season, as the Nantwich driver is partnered by Mark Mason in his Escort Mk2.
Shane Gamble/Julie Perry lead Class H1 in their South Staffordshire R3 Race & Rally Repairs Mini Cooper S and will be up against the reigning BTRDA Historic Asphalt Cup and Mini Challenge champions Andrew O’Hanlon/Kevin Hogan in their Mini Cooper S.
The Argyll Rally is the last opportunity to register for 2026 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship points, as registrations will close at the conclusion of event signing-on (Friday 19 June).
Action from the Argyll Rally will be streamed live and free to view on the Special Stage TV Facebook and YouTube channels.
Based at Dunoon Stadium, the Mull Car Club-organised event features 16 closed-road special stages covering almost 70 competitive miles across the stunning Cowal Peninsula.
Action begins at 19:00 on Friday 19 June, with Leg 1 comprising seven stages, including two runs over the popular Dunoon town stage and the 7.86-mile Colin’s Stage, the longest test of the rally, which will be run in complete darkness.
Leg 2 starts at 08:00 on Saturday and features a further nine stages before the finish ceremony shortly after 17:00.
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