REPORT / NEIL HOWARD STAGES 2025

WORDS BY DAN MORRIS | PHOTOGRAPY ANDREW SCOTT & DAN MORRIS

The 2025 Salford Van Hire Neil Howard Stages at Oulton Park once again provided the curtain raiser for the 2025/26 Protyre Circuit Rally Championship. Traditionally, the Neil Howard Stages not only opens the Protyre season but also brings Oulton Park’s busy motorsport calendar to a close for winter. Organised, as ever, by the Bolton-le-Moors Car Club, this year’s event featured 53 miles of technical stages that made full use of the Cheshire circuit’s perimeter roads and infield sections. The rally also included the much photographed water splash on two stages, as well as a gravel section running parallel to the start finish straight, making it one of the most varied challenges competitors will face this season.

Leading the entry list were double and reigning Protyre Champions Michael Igoe and Will Atkins in their Citroen C3 Rally2, back again in pursuit of a record third title. Behind them, fellow British GT convert John Griffiths and co-driver Emma Morrison lined up second in their Skoda Fabia R5, the two crews having been the benchmark pairing over the past few seasons in several fiercely competitive battles. Former BTRDA Asphalt Champions Steve Simpson and Chris Williams followed in their Ford Fiesta, ahead of long time Circuit Championship supporters and front runners John and Alex Stone in their VW Polo R5.

It would be Joe Cunningham and Josh Beer, a relatively late entry in Kevin Proctor’s ex-Mads Østberg Fiesta WRC, who shocked the series regulars on the opening stage. A torrential downpour just before the start left the early tests treacherously slick and in pitch darkness, but Cunningham, fresh from a gravel podium on the Trackrod, found grip where others couldn’t, producing a blistering time on SS1 to seize an immediate 11-second advantage, extending it to 16 seconds by the end of Stage 2. However, the rally’s third test would prove a turning point for the Yorkshire crew; a puncture and driveshaft issue, compounded by two spins and a 10-second penalty for clipping a barrel, saw the Fiesta tumble from first to fourth. Back to full health just a stage later, they were immediately back on the pace, winning SS4 to climb to second overall, seven seconds off the leaders at halfway.

That misfortune handed the lead to Steve Simpson and Chris Williams, whose consistency over the opening stages paid off handsomely. Simpson headed into service with a seven-second advantage and was happy with their pace at the halfway point. In third, Igoe and Atkins were struggling to find their usual fluency, sitting equal third with BAT Motorsport’s Ryan Burns and Shaun Hughes in their Fiesta after a subdued morning, both crews hampered by traffic around the tight confines of the circuit. Just a second further back in fifth were John Griffiths and Emma Morrison, battling intermittent power issues in their Skoda while also getting caught in traffic.

With the World Rally Car back on song, Cunningham once again set the pace, winning SS5 and SS6 to make it three consecutive stage victories and move back into the overall lead by eight seconds. Simpson was unable to match Cunningham’s pace over the loop, relinquishing the lead and instead looking over his shoulder as Igoe, now finding his rhythm, closed to within a single second. We’d unfortunately lose Ryan Burns on this leg, the BAT Motorsport Fiesta forced out with head gasket failure after a strong run into podium contention. Burns’ retirement promoted the still frustrated Griffiths into fourth, with John and Alex Stone moving up to fifth despite John describing his performance as “lackluster.”

As the light began to fade and the final two stages ran into darkness, Igoe and Atkins finally found their rhythm on a circuit they’ve driven hundreds of times. The Citroen C3 Rally2 duo posted fastest times on both remaining tests, closing the gap rapidly, eclipsing Simpson ahead and setting their sights on the leaders. Despite the late charge, Cunningham and Beer managed the gap perfectly to win by just five seconds at the finish, a remarkable comeback after their Stage 3 nightmare.

John Griffiths and Emma Morrison would be fourth, improving on the night stages, but the gap to the podium places was too much for last year’s championship runner-up to close. Jack Derbyshire and Ben Butterworth moved into fifth, a strong run in a new car the crew are still very much getting used to.

“Chuffed to bits,” Cunningham admitted afterwards. “We did it the hard way with various issues and penalties, but we’re here –  and the car’s in one piece!”

For Igoe and Atkins, second place was a strong start to their title defence after a tricky morning left them on the back foot. The reigning champions recovered well, taking three stage wins across the day to bank vital early points in their bid for another championship crown. “Fair play to Joe, he’s had a good run. Towards the latter stages we found our rhythm.”

Simpson and Williams rounded out the podium after a solid, mistake free run that briefly saw them lead mid event. They were shuffled back by the charging front two but were happy with the result. Simpson said: “Drove well all day, Chris was good all day, we’ve had a good craic and no problems!”

FINAL RESULTS

NEXT TIME

With the opening round complete, attention now turns to Cadwell Park for Round 2, where John Griffiths will look to defend his win from last year and the championship contenders will aim to build on their early momentum. For Cunningham and Beer, however, Oulton Park was the perfect start and proof that there is life in the older World Rally Cars yet.