By Paul Evans

Having won a record-breaking three consecutive MSA British Historic Rally Championships (2015, ’16 and ‘17), Jason Pritchard can now add 2018 Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Champion to his impressive collection, after winning the series on a thrilling final round in Northumberland.

The talented Builth Wells driver had never rallied over the infamous Otterburn Military Ranges before, yet in atrocious conditions – which saw snow, sleet and torrential rain fall on the narrow and unforgiving stages – he produced another driving masterclass on the Ford Parts Cheviot Stages Rally to record his third maximum points score of the season.

Co-driven by Phil Clarke, Pritchard’s only mistake was an overshoot on SS10, as he confidently drove to title success in his powerful North Road Garage Ford Focus WRC05.

Winning the title is extra special for Jason, as it is 30 years since his father Eian narrowly missed out on clinching the Asphalt title on Otterburn.

Pritchard’s main title rival was Daniel Harper, and whoever finished ahead of the other would become drivers’ champion. When Harper crashed his Mini WRC out of the event on SS4, there was still three-quarters of the rally remaining and keeping a car on the road in such wet conditions was not guaranteed – indeed, 34 out of the 88 starters failed to finish. But Pritchard held his nerve, drove brilliantly, and came away a very worthy Asphalt champion.

“We’ve had everything thrown at us today, even snow, so it was a case of keeping it clean and getting the car to the finish without a problem,” said Pritchard. “We almost managed to do that without making any mistakes, but we had a bit of an overshoot on one stage, but apart from that everything was steady away and spot on. It was a hard day’s rallying and anyone who reached the finish deserves a medal. Winning the Asphalt Championship means a lot, because Dad tried so many times and came so close. Thirty years ago, I’d only just been born and he was fighting for the title up here on Otterburn, and now I’ve got it. It’s going to take a while to sink it.”

Welsh co-driver Max Freeman, who navigates for Wayne Sisson, finished runner-up in the overall co-drivers’ standings, while Harper dropped to third.

Welsh brothers Paul and Julian Doroszczuk are celebrating becoming Class B11 Asphalt champions after another excellent performance in their normally-aspirated Cosworth-engined Drockspeed Motorsport Escort Mk2.

Likewise, west Wales duo Rhidian Daniels/Tomos Whittle enjoyed a fantastic Otterburn debut in their Citroen C1 Max, despite losing a minute with a broken driveshaft on SS6.

Great sportsman Mike Pugsley had already become Class B12 champion, but because so many northern-based drivers had come to his local region to contest the two Epynt rallies, he thought it only fair to go and support their local event. The Bedlinog driver was stopped behind several accidents which had blocked the road and didn’t complete all the stages, but enjoyed another great event in his 1974 Escort Mk1 RS2000.

Abergavenny’s Damian Cole spent the opening loop of three stages getting reacquainted with his Get Connected Ford Focus WRC05, which he hadn’t rallied for three years. Co-driven by Jane Nicol, everything was going well until the rear end broke loose on a fifth gear uphill left hander after a crest, which sent the car spinning off the road. There was virtually no damage, but he had to wait for a tow truck to come and rescue him.