A Blast From Rallying’s Past Returns!

by Paul Evans

Mike Jones, who won the 1987 MSA Asphalt Rally Championship co-driving for Steve King in an Opel Manta GTE, will contest the opening round of this year’s series, Sunday’s Melvyn Evans Motorsport Tour of Epynt, with Chris Ransley in a BMW M3.

The young-at-heart Tumble-based navigator started rallying in 1973, with his very first event being the wonderfully named Doodle Doodle Rally, which started from Swansea University.

Since Jones has rallied all over Europe and in the USA – most notably finishing fifth overall on the Laughlin Rally, which went up and down Grand Canyon! He has also guided drivers to podium results on some of Ireland’s biggest rallies, including Galway, Sligo and Wexford.

“After the Tour of Epynt, I’m unsure what events I’ll be doing – but I’m only a ‘phone call away,” says Jones. “It might be forty-five years since I made my co-driving debut, but I’m looking forward to this weekend’s Tour of Epynt more than ever!”

In addition to being a highly experienced co-driver, Jones is also an MSA Steward.