Contenders for the Richard Egger Insurance MSA Asphalt Rally Championship will head to the Isle of Man for the second round of this year's series, the RBS International Manx Rally next week, with three former event winners and two former champions amongst their number.
David Mann and Alun Cook were victorious in 2003 on their way to securing the National Gravel Rally Championship crown that same year. This time, they have set their sights on a similar goal within the MSA Asphalt Rally Championship and, having opened their account with a healthy points score on the Epynt Military Ranges in the Brecon Beacons, are hopeful of progressing still further next weekend.
Melvyn Evans, co-driven on this occasion by Sean Mullally, took the spoils in 2002 in a Ford Escort WRC but he, too, now drives an Impreza WRC S11. Having been absent from the opening round on Epynt, the pair will be looking to get their Asphalt Championship campaign under way.
The third former event winner also doubles as an Asphalt Championship winner – on no less than twelve occasions! John Price can rest easy in the knowledge that his tally of victories is never going to be equalled, let alone beaten and it is also unlikely that the five titles amassed by his co-driver wife Caroline will ever be eclipsed. Synonymous with the iconic MG Metro 6R4, these two have been an integral part of asphalt rallying in the UK for more years than either would care to admit! Their Manx win came a decade ago, in 1998, while their most recent Championship title was in 2005.
Just last year ‘JP' & Caroline were in contention for yet another Championship victory right up to the final round. However, it was not to be as an accident on the opening stage of the Cheviot National Rally, on the Otterburn Ranges, put them out of the event and allowed season-long leaders Steve Simpson and Mark Booth to add their names to the impressive list of Asphalt Championship winners since the series was first introduced 25 years ago.
