The battle for the Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship title could not be closer, as Brad Cole and Jason Pritchard are tied for the lead of the Hills Ford Stages and Lee Edwards and Aled Wyn Morgans are still very much in contention – with just five more stages in the 2026 BTRDA sealed surface series remaining.
Co-driven by Jamie Vaughan, Brad led for most of the morning after a great run in his Trick Motorsport-prepared and East Budleigh Garage-run Hydroline Solutions Ford Fiesta Rally2.
But fastest time on SS6 saw Jason close the gap to just 2 seconds – and when he and co-driver Phil Clarke set another fastest stage time on SS9 in their North Road Garage/Guttercrest Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, they joined Brad at the top of the leaderboard.
The cars are now in mid-day service, with just a repeat of the loop of five stages around the challenging Shropshire lanes remaining.
Lee Edwards/Sam Spencer are a sensational third in the Protyre Asphalt standings (and fourth overall behind Callum Black/James Aldridge, Fiesta Rally2) in their rear-wheel-drive Blakemore’s Autos/Evans Construction Ford Escort G3 – and are just 4 seconds ahead of Aled Wyn Morgans/Jack Bowen in their Aberystwyth Motorsport/OW’s Cabs Fiesta Rally2.
This means that all four drivers in contention for the 2026 Protyre Asphalt title are still in the running, with everything still to play for over the closing 29 stage miles.
But anything could happen – as the watersplash on the day’s opening Cressage stage proves. The water hazard caused major problems for many crews – with the first retirement there being the overnight rally leaders Mark Kelly/Will Atkins. As their Kelmore Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 stopped on the uphill section out of the ford, this inadvertently delayed Brad Cole, Lee Edwards and Aled Wyn Morgans, all of whom had to slow to pass the stricken car.
Shortly after Ian Forgan/Chris Lees retired their Mercury Motorsport Fiesta Rally2 there, delaying Roger Duckworth/Alun Cook (Technia Fiesta R5).
Next to stop were Mike English/Simon Hunter (Lumina Fiesta Rally2) – quickly followed by several more crews, who were pushed off the stage on into an increasingly growing rally car park.
The 2026 Protyre Asphalt champion will be crowned at the finish in Shrewsbury – at the end of what will surely be an exciting and nail-biting final five stages.
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