ALED Wyn Morgans will look to strengthen his lead in the Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship when he tackles the R Kings Down Rally in Northern Ireland on 22 August.

The Aberystwyth driver, co-driven by Jack Bowen in the Aberystwyth Motorsport/OW’s Cabs Ford Fiesta Rally2, arrives in Northern Ireland in excellent form after an impressive run of five strong results from five starts this season. His campaign has included a podium finish on the Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally and fourth place on the recent Tour of Epynt.

Morgans’ performances are all the more impressive given that this is his first full season in a Rally2 car. A strong finish on the Down Rally would help him maintain his lead on sealed surfaces and keep him on course for the coveted end-of-season prize of a private test in an M-Sport Puma Rally1 car.

The Down Rally will present a fresh challenge for the Welshman as he makes his debut on the Northern Ireland event, facing several experienced championship rivals on roads they know well.

Among them is Brad Cole, who closed the gap in the standings after securing his first championship podium on Epynt. The Somerset driver finished fourth on last year’s Down Rally and will hope that experience pays dividends aboard his Fiesta Rally2.

Multiple champion Jason Pritchard also remains a major threat. The Builth Wells ace dominated the Tour of Epynt to claim his first outright victory in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 and remains firmly in contention for a fourth Asphalt title.

Ian Forgan, currently among the championship frontrunners, will also be looking to boost his title hopes in his Mercury Motorsport Fiesta Rally2, while John Stone arrives in Northern Ireland after an excellent season and with previous Down Rally success to his name.