REPORT / SNETTERTON STAGES RALLY 2025
14/02/2025WORDS BY DAN MORRIS | PHOTOGRAPY BY ASA DIAPER & CRAYFORD MEDIA
The 2025 Protyre Circuit Rally Championship headed east for its annual visit to Snetterton. While the last round at Brands Hatch was largely confined to the circuit, Snetterton offered a more varied challenge, with over 50 miles of multi-surface stages. The event makes full use of the East Anglian venue, using side roads, gravel paths, and a mixture of circuit and pit lane to create a popular yet demanding layout for the crews.
2024/25 Circuit Championship
As the championship rolls into round five, John Stone holds a narrow lead at the top of the standings, his consistency rewarded with yet another podium last time out. With only the best seven of nine rounds counting towards the final standings, Stone will need an outright win or two to keep his title hopes alive.
Last year’s winners, Michael Igoe and Will Atkins (Citroën C3 Rally2), arrive at Snetterton as firm favourites, fresh from a dominant display at Brands Hatch and looking to continue their strong start to 2025 on an event they won last year. Igoe’s main rival, former British GT racer John Griffiths, and co-driver Emma Morrison in their Fabia R5, would be eager to challenge at Brands but struggled with a poor start, leaving them playing catch-up.
Outside of the ‘big three’ in the championship, Barry Morris returned in his Darrian GTR+ after an impressive second place finish last time out. His biggest challenger for overall 2WD honours will be Chris West in his rapid 306 Maxi. Other drivers expected to be near the front include Hugh Brunton (Fabia Rally2 Evo), who will head straight to the Riponian after this event, Sam Touzel in his Fiesta, and regular single venue front runners Sean Quigley and Darrell Taylor, both also in Fiestas.
STAGES 1 – 3
Michael Igoe and Will Atkins stamped their authority early on, taking wins on all three morning stages in their Citroën C3 Rally2. Their dominance wasn’t entirely unchallenged, as John Griffiths and Emma Morrison matched their time on SS3, despite struggling with setup issues earlier in the morning.
Photo: Michael Igoe & Will Atkins | By Crayford Media
Sam Touzel held second place at the halfway point but was left frustrated after constantly running into traffic on stage. “We keep catching cars, we overtook two on the gravel there” he said, clearly annoyed at the time lost.
Photos: Sam & Francis Touzel – By Asa Diaper | John Griffiths & Emma Morrison – By Crayford Media
Griffiths’ event got off to a tough start, his Skoda Fabia R5 hampered by the wrong tyre choice and a suspension setup that was far too stiff for the opening stage. “We got it completely wrong,” he admitted. The lost time left him once again playing catch up, but by SS3, he had begun to find his rhythm, tying Igoe for the stage win and moving into third overall.
As expected, the 2WD battle was close, with Barry Morris and Tom Hutchings locked in a fight with Chris West and Keith Hounslow. Both crews hit trouble early on. Morris had to push his Darrian GTR+ back to service at the end of both SS1 and SS2, needing a clutch change, while West’s 306 Maxi suffered a broken driveshaft. “Broken driveshaft, did nearly half of the stage with one shaft!” said West as he pushed the 306 through the service park. Despite their setbacks, both drivers were locked together, and after three stages, were level on time in an overall fifth place.
Photos: Barry Morris & Tom Hutchings – By Asa Diaper | Chris West & Keith Hounslow – By Crayford Media | John & Alex Stone – By Asa Diaper
Championship leaders John & Alex Stone would pull off the circuit in SS2, retiring with rear suspension damage. The long time points leader was forced to stop, ending his rally early and dealing a severe blow to his title challenge.
AFTER STAGE 3
| POS | LEADERBOARD | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | #1 M.IGOE / W.ATKINS | 27:44 |
| 2 | #10 S.TOUZEL / F.TOUZEL | +14 |
| 3 | #2 J.GRIFFITHS / E.MORRISON | +16 |
| 4 | #11 S.FINCH / S.FORDHAM | +45 |
| 5 | #4 B.MORRIS / T.HUTCHINGS | +56 |
STAGES 4 – 6
Michael Igoe and Will Atkins continued their perfect start to 2025 with another dominant and well-managed drive, securing a second consecutive Snetterton Stages win. Despite only winning one of the afternoon stages, Igoe never dropped below second on any test, controlling the pace to take overall victory by 23 seconds.
Photo: Michael Igoe & Will Atkins | By Crayford Media
John Griffiths and Emma Morrison had to settle for second place, their early struggles proving too costly to mount a serious challenge for the win. While they were the only crew to finish within a minute of Igoe, the gap in front was simply too much to overcome.
Photo: John Griffiths & Emma Morrison – By Asa Diaper
Barry Morris and Tom Hutchings completed the podium, as the drier afternoon conditions finally suited the Darrian GTR+. Morris ended a challenging day full of issues in style, going three seconds quicker than anyone else on the final stage.
Photos: Barry Morris & Tom Hutchings – By Crayford Media | Chris West & Keith Hounslow – By Asa Diaper
Chris West’s challenge for 2WD honours faded in the afternoon, but he still secured a solid fourth overall, despite dropping 22 seconds to Morris ahead. Even though he missed out on a class victory, West was in high spirits. “I’m having much more fun than the 4WD boys!” he joked at the finish.
Barbadian champion Stuart Maloney made an early charge in the afternoon loop, climbing up to third in his Melvyn Evans prepared Polo R5. However, an overshoot cost him valuable time, and a 30-second penalty for hitting stage furniture ultimately dropped him back down to fifth.
Photos: Stuart Maloney & Steve McNulty – By Asa Diaper | Sam & Francis Touzel – By Crayford Media
Sam and Francis Touzel’s strong run came to a frustrating end on SS4. A wrong split saw them finish the stage a lap early resulting in a stage maximum. With their podium chances gone, they opted to retire from what had been a strong second position.
“Real good day actually, had good fun. This morning the conditions were tricky, but we got through it!”
Michael Igoe
“The rally was won and lost on the first stage, unfortunately, we were close after that. But fair play to Michael, he’s pushing on and I’m enjoying the competition!”
John Griffiths
“It’s been one of those days, all the hard work pays off and the team did a great job. We don’t know if it was determination or ignorance, but we weren’t going to let it beat us!”
Barry Morris
FINAL RESULTS
| POS | LEADERBOARD | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | #1 M.IGOE / W.ATKINS | 57:06 |
| 2 | #2 J.GRIFFITHS / E.MORRISON | +23 |
| 3 | #4 B.MORRIS / T.HUTCHINGS | +1:12 |
| 4 | #9 C.WEST / K.HOUNSLOW | +1:34 |
| 5 | #8 S.MALONEY / S.MCNULTY | +1:58 |
NEXT TIME
The Protyres Circuit Rally Championships heads to Anglesey in North Wales on Sunday 2nd March for the Lee Holland Stages Rally, and Round 6 of the Championship.
