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.
