- Alpine A290 GTS wins the Overall National Classification at Eco Rally Scotland
- Matt Baylis and Craig Parry average just 0.58 seconds from perfect time across 11 regularity stages
- Alpine A290 completes 417km over two days, including 215km of timed competitive stages
- Crew finishes third overall on a demanding stage against the international FIA field, with victory secured on Matt Baylis’ regularity rally debut
- A290 prices start from £30,245 on the road, including the £3,750 Government Electric Car Grant
The Alpine A290 has claimed victory in the Overall National Classification at Eco Rally Scotland, delivering a winning combination of pace, accuracy and hot-hatch excitement across two demanding days of competition.
Driving an AtkinsRéalis-supported Alpine A290 GTS, Matt Baylis and co-driver Craig Parry completed 11 regularity stages and 417km through Fife, Glen Clova and the surrounding area. Across 215km of timed competitive stages, the pair recorded an average deviation of just 0.58 seconds from perfect time to take first place in the event’s National Classification.
The result was an exceptional introduction to regularity rallying for Baylis, who had never previously competed in the discipline. Together, the crew quickly found a rhythm in the A290, exploiting its responsive chassis and compact dimensions across a route that moved constantly between narrow technical sections, fast rural roads and rougher back-road surfaces.
A highlight came on one of the weekend’s fastest and most challenging stages, which included several loose-surface sections. Baylis and Parry finished third overall against the international FIA field, averaging only 0.14 seconds from ideal time and placing ahead of several professional crews, including the reigning FIA Eco Rally Cup champions.
The variety of the Scottish route gave the A290 an opportunity to show the breadth of its character. Agile and eager through tighter sections, it remained settled and predictable as speeds rose, while its ride comfort helped the crew maintain concentration throughout more than 400km of intensive competition.
Driver Matt Baylis said: “This was my first regularity rally and I couldn't have asked for a better introduction to the discipline. 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. What impressed me most was how capable it remained on rougher sections, delivering both performance and comfort at the same time. To come away with victory in the National Classification made the weekend even more memorable.”
Baylis is a regular AutoSolo and hill climb competitor, while Parry brought previous eco-rally experience to the pairing, having finished third in the Category Two International Classification at Eco Rally Scotland in 2025 before competing in the 2025 E-Rallye Monte-Carlo.
Co-driver Craig Parry said: “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. For a co-driver, that matters. Regularity rallying demands complete concentration on route books, timing calculations and note taking, so the last thing you want is to be thrown around the cabin. The A290 is incredibly composed and well-balanced, allowing you to focus on the job in hand while still enjoying every mile.”
Nicola Burnside, Managing Director of Alpine UK, commented: “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.”
Available in three versions – GT+, GT Performance+ and GTS+ – the A290 combines a 52kWh battery with a choice of 180hp or 220hp electric powertrains. Prices start from £30,245 on the road, including the £3,750 Government Electric Car Grant.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
What did the Alpine A290 achieve at Eco Rally Scotland?
Matt Baylis and Craig Parry won the Overall National Classification in an AtkinsRéalis-supported Alpine A290 GTS.
What did the event involve?
The crew completed 11 regularity stages over two days, covering 417km through Fife, Glen Clova and the surrounding area. This included 215km of timed competitive stages.
How was the winning result determined?
Regularity rallying rewards crews for maintaining a prescribed average speed as accurately as possible. Baylis and Parry recorded an average deviation of just 0.58 seconds from perfect time across the timed stages.
How did the crew compare with the international FIA field?
On one of the event’s fastest and most demanding stages, Baylis and Parry averaged 0.14 seconds from ideal time and finished third overall against the FIA field, ahead of several professional crews, including the reigning FIA Eco Rally Cup champions.
Who were the Alpine A290 crew?
Driver Matt Baylis was competing in his first regularity rally, having previously taken part in AutoSolo and hill climb events. Co-driver Craig Parry finished third in the Category Two International Classification at Eco Rally Scotland in 2025 and later competed in the 2025 E-Rallye Monte-Carlo.
Which versions of the Alpine A290 are available in the UK?
The Alpine A290 is available in GT+, GT Performance+ and GTS+ versions. It combines a 52kWh battery with a choice of 180hp or 220hp electric powertrains, with prices starting from £30,245 on the road, including the £3,750 Government Electric Car Grant.
ABOUT ALPINE
Founded in 1955 by Jean Rédélé, Alpine has established itself with its French-style sports cars. The brand introduced the new A110 in 2018, faithful to Alpine's timeless principles of compactness, lightweight, agility and driving pleasure. The Alpine Business Unit was created in 2021, building on the heritage and savoir-faire of its historic Dieppe factory and the engineering expertise of the Alpine Racing and Alpine Cars teams. The dedicated brand innovates authentic and exclusive sports cars within Renault Group. This expertise enables the brand to compete in two FIA championships: Formula 1 and the World Endurance Championship. Alpine is also present in other racing disciplines through its customer racing programme in Rally, Cup and GT4. 2024 marks a turning point in Alpine's ambitions as it inaugurates Its 100% electric "Dream Garage" with the launch of its hot hatch, the A290, followed by its first sport fastback, the A390, in 2025.
For further information please visit: press.alpinesportscars.co.uk, www.alpinecars.com or @RenaultUKPR or contact:
JIM HOLDER
Director of Communications
jim.holder@renault.co.uk – 07779 227930
ARCHIE FINNIE
Public Relations and Communications Manager, Alpine UK
archie.finnie@alpinecars.com – 07887 468977
Photos (10)
Originally published by Alpine
View original article →
Tags
Spotted an issue with this article, or is this your material? Rights holders
