Jason Pritchard delivered a Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship masterclass by setting the fastest time on all eight stages to win the Ynyscynon MOT Centre Tour of Epynt (25-26 July) in his Pirelli-shod North Road Garage/Guttercrest Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.
His first outright rally victory in the Toyota sees Jason move from sixth to fourth in the Protyre Asphalt drivers’ standings, as he strengthens his challenge for a fourth BTRDA sealed surface title.
This year’s event featured a challenging new format over the famous Mynydd Epynt rollercoaster roads, featuring the iconic Centre Road and three variations of the long and not-for-the-faint-hearted New Road.
A new set-up on Jason’s Toyota suited the car, driver and conditions to perfection – even during the first rain mid-Wales had seen for the best part of a month, which made some sections extremely slippery on Sunday morning.
A masterclass performance saw Jason and co-driver Phil Clarke set the fastest time on all of Saturday’s four stages to lead the event by 15 seconds overnight. Four stages, each over 13 miles in length, followed on the Sunday, where another clean sweep of fastest stage times saw the Builth Wells ace win by 28 seconds after all eight stages and 80 stage miles had been completed.
Lee Edwards set a sensational joint fastest time on SS1 and continued at that blistering pace in his rear-wheel drive Blakemore’s Autos/ Evans Construction Ford Escort G3, even in Sunday morning’s damp conditions. Co-driven by Sam Spencer, the Oswestry driver finished third overall and took home second-place Protyre Asphalt overall driver points, as well as the top 2WD spot.
Brad Cole completed the Protyre Asphalt podium after an excellent run in his Trick Motorsport-prepared and East Budleigh Garage-run Hydroline Solutions Fiesta Rally2. After a great Saturday, he was furious with himself for making a slow start on Sunday’s opening stage, and after giving himself a stern talking to, he was 25 seconds faster when the stage was repeated. Co-driven by Dan Petrie, a very impressive run saw Brad score his first Protyre Asphalt overall podium finish of his career.
On only his third visit to Epynt, and his first in a modern four-wheel drive car, Aled Wyn Morgans knew that this wasn’t the time for caution-to-the-wind heroics. Instead, he started well and got faster as the event unfolded – to the point where he was pushing hard enough to survive a massive moment on SS6. A very accomplished drive in his Aberystwyth Motorsport/OW’s Cabs Fiesta Rally2 saw Aled collect fourth-place points and maintain his Protyre Asphalt lead, while his navigator Jack Bowen leads the overall co-drivers’ standings. Aled also remains in pole position to win a test at M-Sport in a Ford Puma Rally1, which is the prize for the best-placed Fiesta Rally2 driver at the end of the season.
John Stone/Rhys Stoneman scored an excellent result in their Legend Performance Engineering/Legend Fires Volkswagen Polo GTI R5, finishing just six seconds behind Aled and taking home fifth-place points.
Former Scottish Tarmack Rally Champion Ian Forgan made his Epynt debut and despite a sensibly cautious start was an impressive fifth Protyre Asphalt driver at the overnight halt. Co-driven by Chris Lees, the Fife driver continued to impress in his Mercury Motorsport Fiesta Rally2 and scored sixth-place Protyre Asphalt points.
Jack Morton took home top Protyre Asphalt co-driver points. He was navigating for the double champion Callum Black, who isn’t registered this year but who finished second overall in his 586 Sports-prepared Pallas Connections Fiesta Rally2, in what was his first rally for 10 months.
Roger Duckworth/Alun Cook retired on SS2 with power steering problems in their Technia Fiesta R5.
Adrian Spencer was forced to stop on SS4 to fix a problem with his RED Industries/Adgespeed Subaru Impreza S11 WRC replica, costing him nine minutes. That wasn’t going to deter his enjoyment of the event, and a great run on Sunday saw him and co-driver Graham Wild win the Protyre Asphalt Class 2 award – with the Manchester driver taking over the class lead.
Alistair Crawford/Ian Beamond were considerably quicker the drier the roads became. They finished second in Class 3 (behind Lee Edwards/Sam Spencer) and scored a wonderful top 10 Protyre Asphalt overall result too in their rapid 2.5-litre H&R Contracts Escort Mk2.
Russell Addyman’s first event on Epynt was a huge success. Co-driven by Kev Wilson, the Harrogate driver finished a very stylish third in class.
Andy Brinkley/Helena Mayall were a little cautious in the damp conditions on Sunday morning but soon got back up to speed in Herman – their M-Tech Motorsport/AB Bodyworks BMW E38 M3. A good run was rewarded with fourth in class.
Gareth Humphreys took full wet tyres for the start of Sunday, which worked well on his Mini Cooper S R53. Co-driven by Aaron Mallin, the St Asaph driver enjoyed a good run to fifth in class.
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 and go into the overnight halt in 88th place. The problem turned out to be a pressure release valve that kept working loose, and it was something that the Welsh pair would have to keep a close eye on throughout the event. The rally therefore turned into a bit of a test, as they finished 71st overall and sixth in class.
Gareth ‘Gaz’ Price snapped the output flange in the diff on his CR M-Tech Motorsport/EDJ Agri/E&M Motor Factors BMW Compact as he left the start line of SS1, forcing him to miss the first two stages. Partnered by Liam Evans, he returned to set good times on SS3 and 4 and a more permanent fix allowed Gaz out for a bit of fun on day two, where he finished a points-scoring seventh in class on his first visit to the ranges.
Neil Jones/Alan Thomas have extended their Class 6 lead by scoring a hat-trick of class wins in their #TeamPitStop/West Wales Rally Spares Escort Mk2. Such was their pace over the Epynt ranges that they scored a magnificent seventh-place overall Protyre Asphalt points finish too. Neil has also taken over the lead of the new Protyre Asphalt Seniors’ category.
Phil Turner/Harvey Roberts finished just over a minute behind in their Escort Mk2, collecting the final 2WD podium position and picking up eighth-place Protyre Asphalt overall points.
Double Protyre Asphalt class champions Mike Pugsley/Marc Clatworthy enjoyed a great run in their fabulous 1974 Escort Mk1 RS2000 and were rewarded with a well-earned Class 6 podium finish.
Alyn Welsby/Dan Parsons started well, but a misfire in their Cobra Hydraulics/CSA Recruitment Escort Mk2 early on Sunday forced them out.
Manxman Peter Harrison completed his Epynt debut with a Class 7 win in his Peugeot 106 GTi. Co-driven by Nigel Morris, the Peel driver quickly settled into the fast-flowing rollercoaster roads and survived a few hairy moments to score a great result.
Anthony Jevons caught and passed a car on Sunday’s opening stage, illustrating his commitment over the New Road. Co-driven by the defending Protyre Asphalt Ladies Challenge champion Margaret Kelly, he finished second in Class 7 (for the fourth time running) and continues to lead the class points table.
Endaf Makepeace focused on a fast and trouble-free run in his DP Building Supplies Escort Mk2 and together with Robert Wheeler scored a solid Class 7 podium result.
Shane Gamble/Julie Perry extended their Class H1 lead with another excellent winning run in their South Staffordshire R3 Race & Rally Repairs Mini Cooper S. They have also taken the lead in the prestigious BTRDA Historic Asphalt Cup.
Ian Clare survived Saturday’s four stages despite brake problems in his J&S Handling/DT Training/Melia Accounting Wolseley Hornet. A lock up on SS5 almost sent him and co-driver Alex Crow off the road for good on Sunday’s opening stage, but they kept going to score an excellent second in Class H1 result.
Defending BTRDA Historic Asphalt Cup and Mini Challenge champions Andrew O’Hanlon/Kevin Hogan lost time on Sunday’s opening stage when damp got into the distributor cap, causing their Mini Cooper S’s engine to misfire. A lot of time was lost, but they came back fighting to finish third in class.
Gareth Thomas’ glorious Wales Motorsport-prepared Llond Plat Aberaeron/Pennar Isaf Holiday Let/Cwmtydu-backed Escort Mk2 won the Dynamic Fluids Best Presented Car Award, as selected and presented by the Protyre Asphalt Championship scrutineer Geoff Doe. He and co-driver Ryan Thomas-Hands spun on SS5 and enjoyed an otherwise excellent run to Class H6 victory.
Hywel Davies had to be careful not to stall his Escort Mk2 when the starter button stopped working. Co-driven by Dorian Evans, he enjoyed a good run to second in class.
Action from the Tour of Epynt, which was broadcast live, is available to view for free on the Special Stage TV Facebook and YouTube channels, plus specialstage.tv.
Round 6 of the 2026 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship is the Down Rally on 22 August.
Tour of Epynt– top 10 registered 2026 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship finishers:
1. Jason Pritchard/Phil Clarke (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)….1hr 04mins 36secs
2. Lee Edwards/Sam Spencer (Ford Escort G3)….1hr 05mins 52secs
3. Brad Cole/Dan Petrie (Ford Fiesta Rally2)….1hr 05mins 57secs
4. Aled Wyn Morgans/Jack Bowen (Ford Fiesta Rally2)….1hr 06mins 57secs
5. John Stone/Rhys Stoneman (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5)….1hr 07mins 03secs
6. Ian Forgan/Chris Lees (Ford Fiesta Rally2)….1hr 07mins 22secs
7. Neil Jones/Alan Thomas (Ford Escort Mk2)….1hr 10mins 25secs
8. Phil Turner/Harvey Roberts (Ford Escort Mk2)….1hr 11mins 31secs
9. Gareth Thomas/Ryan Thomas-Hands (Ford Escort Mk2)….1hr 12mins 44secs
10. Alistair Crawford/Ian Beamond (Ford Escort Mk2)….1hr 13mins 24secs
2026 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship – top 6 Drivers’ overall after Round 5:
1. Aled Wyn Morgans….121pts
2. Brad Cole….106pts
3. Lee Edwards….102pts
4. Jason Pritchard….88pts
5. John Stone….83pts
6. Ian Forgan….77pts
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