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The Alpine A290 has claimed overall victory in the National Classification at Eco Rally Scotland, delivering a winning performance across two demanding days of competition in Fife and Glen Clova.
Driving the AtkinsRéalis-supported Alpine A290 GTS, driver Matt Baylis and co-driver Craig Parry covered 417km and 11 regularity stages. Across 215km of timed competitive driving, the pair maintained an extraordinary average deviation of just 0.58 seconds from perfect time.
Hot-Hatch Performance Meets Championship Precision
The victory was particularly impressive given it marked Matt Baylis’ debut in regularity rallying. Competing across narrow technical lanes, fast rural roads, and rough back-road surfaces, the crew quickly harnessed the A290’s responsive chassis and compact footprint.
On one of the weekend’s fastest, most technical stages, Baylis and Parry placed third overall against a global FIA field, averaging just 0.14 seconds from ideal time and finishing ahead of the reigning FIA Eco Rally Cup champions.
Reflecting on the win, driver Matt Baylis said:
"The A290 was fantastic throughout the event and genuinely rekindled my love of the hot hatch. The roads ranged from tight and technical sections to some very demanding back-road stages, yet the car always felt precise, confidence-inspiring and huge fun to drive... To come away with victory in the National Classification made the weekend even more memorable."
Co-driver Craig Parry added:
"The A290 is simply a great fun car to spend time in. Even after two full days of competition and over 400 kilometres of navigation, you still find yourself looking forward to the next stage... The A290 is incredibly composed and well-balanced, allowing you to focus on the job in hand while still enjoying every mile."
A True Electric Hot Hatch
Nicola Burnside, Managing Director of Alpine UK, praised the result:
"Winning the National Classification on Matt’s regularity rally debut is a superb achievement, and one that captures exactly what makes the A290 so compelling: it’s approachable, rewarding and full of character, yet capable of delivering exceptional accuracy when the competition demands it."
The Alpine A290 lineup features a 52kWh battery paired with either a 180hp or 220hp electric powertrain across three distinct versions: GT+, GT Performance+, and GTS+.
Priced from £30,245 on the road (including the £3,750 Government Electric Car Grant), the Alpine A290 brings genuine motorsport heritage and sharp dynamic feel into the electric era.
