Jason Pritchard leads the Ynyscynon MOT Centre Tour of Epynt overnight after a thrilling opening leg in which the three-time Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Champion set the fastest time on all four of Saturday’s stages.
Co-driven by Phil Clarke, Jason set the equal fastest time on the opening 2.69-mile test over the iconic Centre Road, before attacking the New Road. The last time he drove that famous Mynydd Epynt rollercoaster road was in an Escort Mk2, and now armed with a North Road Garage/Guttercrest Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 he set a time seven seconds quicker than anyone else over the 10.64-mile stage.
The same two stages were then repeated (without service in between), where Jason was two and seven seconds quicker respectively to take a commanding 15 second overnight lead, after 26.66 miles of flat-out competition.
Callum Black finished his first day’s rallying for 10 months in second place in his 586 Sports-prepared Pallas Connections Ford Fiesta Rally2, and whilst the double Protyre Asphalt champion isn’t registered, his co-driver Jack Morton is.
Lee Edwards was a sensational joint-fastest on SS1 in his Blakemore’s Autos/ Evans Construction Ford Escort G3, and his stunning performance continued on the next three stages to lead the 2WD category overnight. Co-driven by Sam Spencer, he’s the second-placed Protyre Asphalt driver overall, 20 seconds behind the leader.
Brad Cole is next in his Trick Motorsport-prepared and East Budleigh Garage-run Hydroline Solutions Fiesta Rally2. Co-driven by Dan Petrie, the Somerton driver has made a good start and is in a very strong position overnight.
John Stone/Rhys Stoneman are the next Protyre Asphalt contenders, a mere 13 seconds behind in their Legend Performance Engineering/Legend Fires Volkswagen Polo GTI R5. They are nine seconds ahead of Ian Forgan/Chris Lees in their Mercury Motorsport Fiesta Rally2.
Protyre Asphalt Championship leader Aled Wyn Morgans is the sixth-placed Protyre Asphalt driver overnight. Despite it being only his third rally on Epynt, he and co-driver Jack Bowen he has made an excellent start in his Aberystwyth Motorsport/OW’s Cabs Fiesta Rally2.
Before the event started, Gareth Thomas’ magnificent Wales Motorsport-prepared Llond Plat Aberaeron-backed Escort Mk2 won the Dynamic Fluids Best Presented Car Award, as selected and presented by the Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship scrutineer Geoff Doe. He and co-driver Ryan Thomas-Hands were 25th overall in the historic-spec car overnight.
There have been very few retirements, although Roger Duckworth/Alun Cook stopped on SS2 with power steering problems in their Technia Fiesta R5.
Huw James/Lewis Sim started well in their A&D Tyres/Maxxis Fiat 131 Sport, but an oil pressure problem saw them skip SS3 and 4. They are down in 88th place overnight and hoping to get back out tomorrow.
The Port Talbot Motor Club-organised Tour of Epynt continues on Sunday (26 July), with a further four stages – all of which are over 13 miles long. The finish ceremony takes place at around 14:45, after all 80 stage miles have been completed.
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