Five former champions, who between them have won 13 driver titles, launch into the 2025 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship battle against an unprecedentedly strong contingent of first-time title aspirants on the East Riding Stages (23 February) – in what promises to be the most open and competitive fight for the BTRDA sealed-surface crown ever.
Callum Black (champion in 2023 and ’24) has entered the opening round of the 2025 series in his Pallas Connections Ford Fiesta Rally2. Together with defending co-drivers’ champion Jack Morton alongside, the 586 Sport driver finished third on the East Riding Stages last year and will be one of the favourites to take home maximum points – although he faces extraordinarily tough competition.
Three-time champion Jason Pritchard (2018, ’19 and ’21) will make his Protyre Asphalt debut in his new North Road Garage Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.
He hasn’t rallied a four-wheel drive car since the 2022 Rali Ceredigion (which he contested in a Volkswagen Polo GTI R5) and only started one rally last year (his local North Road Garage Toyota Showground Stages in an Escort RS1800 Mk2), so he and co-driver Phil Clarke are aiming for a trouble-free run to get some valuable Yaris miles under their belts.
Six-time champion Damian Cole (2010, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14 and ’16) returns in his Get Connected Citroën C3 Rally2. His experience and speed make a powerful combination, as he tackles the opening round co-driven by Rhodri Evans.
The 2022 Protyre Asphalt champion Steve Wood returns in his Sligo Pallets Citroën C3 Rally2. The Aberystwyth driver ended the 2023 East Riding Stages in a ditch, so he and co-driver Kenny Hull will be hoping for a much better start to the series this time.
Few have more experience than the 2007 champion Stephen Simpson, who is back for another crack at the title in his Tudor Glass Fiesta Rally2. He’ll be co-driven by Mark Glennerster.
Last year’s East Riding Stages winners Mark Kelly/Will Atkins will make their event debut in a newly-acquired ex-Meirion Evans Kelmore Volkswagen Polo GTI R5.
The Manchester-based driver has rallied a Ford Fiesta R5 and a Škoda Fabia R5 in the series before – winning the Tour of Epynt and Hills Ford rallies, scoring multiple podiums, leading many other events and finishing runner-up in the drivers’ standings in 2021.
Three-time Protyre Asphalt runner-up Neil Roskell contests the opening round in his ND Civils/Burdens/Witham Motorsport Fiesta Rally2, which has had a recent engine upgrade and a complete refurb. The hugely experienced Rob Fagg will co-drive.
