Alex Vassallo leads the Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship pack at the end of the opening day of the Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally.
Co-driven by Chris Lees, the Wildwaters Seafood Ford Fiesta Rally2 driver goes into the overnight halt just 0.06 seconds ahead of three-time Protyre Asphalt champions Jason Pritchard/Phil Clarke, who have started well in their North Road Garage/Guttercrest Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.
Just 0.01 seconds further behind are Ian Forgan/Ewan Lees in their Mercury Motorsport Fiesta Rally2.
A nasty cough hasn’t slowed Brad Cole down, as he and co-driver Jamie Vaughan are fourth at the end of Leg 1 in their Trick Motorsport-prepared Hydroline Solutions Fiesta Rally2.
Aled Wyn Morgans/Jack Bowen are also challenging hard for a chance to lead the Protyre Asphalt standings and are fifth in their Aberystwyth Motorsport Ford Fiesta Rally2.
Huw James/Lewis Sim are the leading two-wheel-drive crew in sixth place as they continue to unlock the potential of their new A&D Tyres/Maxxis Fiat 131 Mirafiori. Their performance is particularly impressive given the challenging conditions, with recent rain leaving damp patches and standing water on many of the evening’s seven stages.
Hugh Brunton/Drew Sturrock were fighting for the lead of the event when a tyre came off the rim, resulting in their Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 spinning at high speed into a ditch.
John Stone/Rhys Stoneman retired their Legend Performance Engineering/Legend Fires Volkswagen Polo R5 GTI with engine problems on SS3.
Other crews to encounter problems on Leg 1 included Ross Brusby/Sam Collis (Chesterfield Transporters Escort Mk2), Will Rowlands/Emyr Hall (Escort RS1800) and Ben Lyon/Jack Corlett, who parked their Renault Clio RS when the engine cut out on the Dunoon street stage.
Graham Muter’s gorgeous Historic-spec Escort Mk2 was awarded the Dynamic Fluids Best Presented Car Award, as selected and presented by the Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship scrutineer Geoff Doe.
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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