Jason Pritchard scored maximum Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship points after a stunning performance on the Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally (19-20 June) in his North Road Garage/Guttercrest Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.
Co-driven by Phil Clarke, the three-time BTRDA sealed surface champion lost time and confidence on the opening Dunoon town stage after breaking a wheel, which put him in second position going into Friday night’s overnight halt.
Jason then took the lead on Saturday’s opening stage and, while remaining cautious on the wettest and most slippery sections, drove superbly to score his first Protyre Asphalt victory since last year’s Manx National Rally.
The result sees the Builth Wells pilot rocket from 17th to 6th in the drivers’ standings and establish himself as a firm title contender.
“It was a difficult start to the event, breaking a wheel in the first half a mile of the spectator stage which knocked my confidence,” said Jason.
“The first proper stage was a case of reset and go, but on the first braking point the car locked up on the greasy asphalt – so our new target immediately became getting through Friday and see what it’s like Saturday!
“I had a better feeling in the car on Saturday, but I was still very cautious on the damp sections.
“The Toyota is a dream to drive on the bumpy roads. I just need more miles to really trust what it’s capable of.”
Alex Vassallo led the Protyre Asphalt field by six seconds into the overnight halt, despite starting the event on a full wet set-up (on what turned out to be mainly dry roads) and going off on SS6 when blinded by the low sun.
Saturday saw Alex and co-driver Chris Lees in a close battle with Jason, but the gap gradually grew to 25 seconds as he settled for second in the Wildwaters Seafood Ford Fiesta Rally2.
The result sees the Newcastle upon Tyne driver jump from 18th to 8th in the points table, and like Jason (who has also dropped two scores) can count every point he collects from now until the end of the season, giving him a great shot of the title.
For the first time in his career, Aled Wyn Morgans leads the Protyre Asphalt Championship after four rounds.
In his first season in the Aberystwyth Motorsport Fiesta Rally2, and on only his sixth event in the car, the former Escort Mk2 driver scored his first Protyre Asphalt overall podium result after a brilliant performance. Thanks to a 100% finishing record and a string of high scoring results this season, Aled leads the drivers’ standings, while Jack Bowen heads the co-drivers’ category.
Brad Cole only made his Hydroline Solutions Fiesta Rally2 debut at the end of 2024 and has also quickly become a Protyre Asphalt frontrunner in the M-Sport built car. Co-driven by Jamie Vaughan, the Somerton driver was feeling a little under the weather but was on brilliant form. He was denied his maiden Protyre Asphalt podium finish by just two seconds thanks to a front puncture on SS12. The Trick Motorsport driver can celebrate one of his best runs in the car and moving up to second in the points table, 16 points behind Aled but with one score already dropped.
Ian Forgan was aiming to return to the top of the overall Protyre Asphalt drivers’ standings and was third (by just one second) at the overnight halt. Unfortunately, he crashed after the flying finish of SS8 and despite his Mercury Motorsport Fiesta Rally2 only sustaining light damage, it did break the windscreen – meaning he and co-driver Ewan Lees could not continue.
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 on Friday night.
After a “racy” start, John Stone/Rhys Stoneman stopped on SS3, with the raised bonnet indicating all was not well in the engine bay of their Legend Performance Engineering/Legend Fires Volkswagen Polo GTI R5.
Huw James unleashed the full potential of his new A&D Tyres/Maxxis Fiat 131 Mirafiori with a sensational run on both days. Despite the often wet and slippery Cowal Peninsula stages, he and co-driver Lewis Sim not only finished as the top 2WD crew but also scored a truly stunning fifth place overall Protyre Asphalt points finish. The Llanon driver jumps to third in Class 3, and with two scores dropped is a serious title challenger to class leader Lee Edwards.
Gareth Price finished a very impressive second in Class 3. Co-driven by Jamie Mills, the Welshman judged the power to grip ratio magnificently well to score his best result of the season in his mighty CR M-Tech Motorsport/EDJ Agri/E&M Motor Factors BMW Compact.
Former class champion Michael Harbour secured another podium class finish, courtesy of a great run with co-driver Cameron Dunn in his two-litre Vauxhall engined VS Pro Escort Mk2. The Ayr driver also netted an impressive top 10 Protyre Asphalt overall finish.
Chris Simmons/Frazer Moss finished fourth in class in their SRT Motorsport-run Darrian T90 GTR, finishing ahead of Russell Addyman/Kev Wilson (Escort Mk2) and Gareth Humphreys/Aaron Mallin (Mini Cooper S R53). Russell also takes the lead of the new Protyre Asphalt Seniors’ category.
Ross Brusby was hoping to close in on Class 3 leader Lee Edwards, but he and co-driven Sam Collis retired their Chesterfield Transporters Escort Mk2 with engine problems.
John and Ciaran Tear had a magnificent run in their CamperMann/OrmCoAccounts Mitsubishi Evo 9 – the Scottish father and son team winning Class 2 and collecting sixth place overall Protyre Asphalt points.
David Mclachlan takes the Class 2 lead, thanks to his second-place finish in his J-Techvans Subaru Impreza STI N14. The Sheffield driver is co-driven by his son Adam.
Neil Jones/Alan Thomas scored back-to-back wins to increase their lead in Class 6 after a great drive in their #TeamPitStop/West Wales Rally Spares Escort Mk2.
The Blackwood driver takes over the class lead from Alyn Welsby who, with James Braithwaite alongside, retired his Cobra Hydraulics/CSA Recruitment Escort Mk2.
Kev Dunn/Sean Douglas were going well but were incredibly unlucky to retire their Autocare Honda Civic on the final stage with gearbox problems.
Ben Lyon/Jack Corlett parked their Renault Clio RS when the engine cut out on the Dunoon street stage. The Isle of Man duo restarted Leg 2 but went off at one of the rally’s most notorious corners on SS8.
Charlie Wright won Class 7 for a second time in a row in his Fiesta R2T, after he and co-driver Adam Westerby enjoyed a good run in the Harper Adams University prepared and run Ford.
Anthony Jevons, co-driven by the defending Protyre Asphalt Ladies Challenge champion Margaret Kelly, still leads the class, after finishing second in his AMJ Coatings Fiesta R2.
Stef Davies scored an incredible seventh place overall Protyre Asphalt points finish, and was the second championship 2WD driver home, in his Shell Oils Escort Mk2. Co-driven by Michael Gilbey, the Carmarthen ace increases his lead in the BTRDA Historic Asphalt Cup and Class H6 and moves to just one point off the lead of the Escort Challenge.
David Iwan Jones/Nigel Roberts finished second in Class H6 in their Wales Motorsport-run HIJ Electrical/Mill Farm Eggs/JD Tyres/GNJ Construction Escort Mk2.
Graham Muter’s gorgeous Historic-spec Escort Mk2 won the Dynamic Fluids Best Presented Car Award, as selected and presented by the Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship scrutineer Geoff Doe. Co-driven by Mark Mason, the Nantwich driver went on to score a well-deserved Class H6 podium.
Will Rowlands/Emyr Hall were going well, until they crashed their Escort RS1800 on a tightening corner on SS8.
Shane Gamble/Julie Perry won Class H1 to extend their lead in their South Staffordshire R3 Race & Rally Repairs Mini Cooper S. Defending BTRDA Historic Asphalt Cup and Mini Challenge champions Andrew O’Hanlon/Kevin Hogan came home second in their Mini Cooper S.
Action from the Argyll Rally, which was broadcast live, is available to view for free on the Special Stage TV Facebook and YouTube channels, plus specialstage.tv.
Round 5 of the 2026 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship is the Ynyscynon MOT Centre Tour of Epynt (25/26 July).
Argyll Rally – top 10 registered 2026 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship finishers:
1. Jason Pritchard/Phil Clarke (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)….57mins 15secs
2. Alex Vassallo/Chris Lees (Ford Fiesta Rally2)….57mins 40secs
3. Aled Wyn Morgans/Jack Bowen (Ford Fiesta Rally2)….59mins 10secs
4. Brad Cole/Jamie Vaughan (Ford Fiesta Rally2)….59mins 12secs
5. Huw James/Lewis Sim (Fiat 131 Mirafiori)….1hr 02mins 33secs
6. John Tear/Ciaran Tear (Mitsubishi Evo 9)….1hr 03mins 05secs
7. Stef Davies/Michael Gilbey (Ford Escort Mk2)….1hr 03mins 09secs
8. Gareth Price/Jamie Mills (BMW Compact)….1hr 03mins 35secs
9. David Iwan Jones/Nigel Roberts (Ford Escort Mk2)….1hr 04mins 58secs
10. Michael Harbour/Cameron Dunn (Ford Escort Mk2)….1hr 05mins 15secs
2026 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship – top 6 Drivers’ overall after Round 4:
1. Aled Wyn Morgans….95pts
2. Brad Cole….79pts
3. Lee Edwards….74pts
4. Stef Davies….63pts
5. Sam Touzel….60pts
6. Jason Pritchard….58pts
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