Alpine A290 GTS takes Manufacturer Trophy win at ecoRally Scotland
The all-electric Alpine A290 GTS hot hatch claimed the Category 2 Manufacturer Trophy win at last weekend’s inaugural ecoRally Scotland.
The top spot was claimed by ten-time French Rally Champion, Emmanuel ‘Manu’ Guigou and co-driver Emilien Le Borgne, who are long-term Alpine works drivers. Local rally driver, Ashleigh Morris, and co-driver, Craig Parry, finished third overall in their Alpine UK-backed A290 GTS, despite meeting just 24 hours before the event.
“It was a very different experience for me, and a cost-effective way to get involved in motorsport,” said Morris. “I had only driven an EV once or twice before this weekend.
“The A290 was the perfect car for Scottish roads – the roads were very twisty and narrow in places, so I was very grateful to have such a nimble vehicle. The turning circle was ideal for some of the tight hairpins, which meant that I could get round them without losing any time.”
Parry added: “The car suits this sort of rally well. As a 6ft5 navigator you want something comfortable to spend long hours in that’s also going to hold you in place when it gets twisty!”
Alpine’s third A290 driven by Kirkaldy-based freelance journalist, Steve Berry, and his wife, Kaye, also made it to the end of the event completing a successful Scottish debut for the French carmaker.
Nicola Burnside, Alpine UK managing director said: “This result proves how Alpine’s motorsport-honed attributes of lightness and agility are just as relevant in today’s electrified world as they’ve always been.
“The A290 showed its strengths on Scotland’s challenging roads, combining dynamic performance with real-world efficiency. To secure the Manufacturer trophy and two podiums on debut is a fantastic achievement and underlines the potential of Alpine in electric motorsport.”
EcoRally Scotland was also driven by DirtFish rally journalist, Luke Barry, who also participated with his wife behind the wheel of a 2025 Škoda Enyaq.
In a write-up on the DirtFish website, Barry explained he suffered from Monday “post-rally blues” after the event and the stages require “incredible concentration and discipline.”
EcoRally is an FIA-organised series for all-electric and hybrid vehicles. Unlike regular rallying or rallycross with their focus on getting from point-to-point in the quickest time possible, ecoRally competitors are instead scored on their speed and energy efficiency over ‘regularity’ stages.
Teams must also use their cars in standard, unmodified form. This stock form means the vehicles are no different to how they would be from when they were purchased from the showroom.
