2013 MSA British Historic Rally Championship

New loyalty rewards will help Mintex MSA BHRC and ‘old Stager’ Clubman’s Challenge regulars

Posted: March 1, 2013 11:27 AM

This year’s Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship and HRCR ‘old Stager’ Clubman’s Challenge just became even better value for money for regular competitors, following the introduction of a new loyalty scheme designed to reduce costs for contenders entering the season’s later rounds.

The innovative scheme gives each registered driver in either series a credit to the value of £25 for every rally they enter, starting with the season opener at the Mid Wales Stages on March 3rd. The accumulated credits are then used to help pay the entry fees for either the Ulster Rally in August or the championship finale, the Rallye Sunseeker, in October. The more rounds a driver enters, the bigger the saving as, with the potential to accumulate four credits, competitors can offset the entry fee by up to £100.

“Championship regulars – the crews who turn up event after event to support both the individual rallies and the series as a whole – are the lifeblood of both the BHRC and ‘old Stager’ Clubmans series. As organisers, we wanted to repay their loyalty and this is a fantastic way to do it,” says BHRC Secretary, John Hunt. “Rally entry fees are one of those essential but often overlooked expenses. The loyalty scheme is a real incentive to stay the course for the whole season, and is another way we are lowering competitors’ costs and providing the best possible value for money.”

2013 British Historic Rally Championship on TV

Posted: February 18, 2013 10:10 PM

2013 British Historic Rally Championship on TV

Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship confirms its commercial partners for 2013

Posted: January 28, 2013 7:56 PM

The Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship has received a real boost ahead of its opening round at the Mid Wales Stages on March 3rd with the confirmation that a number of important sponsors have pledged their much-valued help to the championship and its competing crews for 2013.

Just weeks after the announcement that brake friction material manufacturer Mintex will be the BHRC’s headline sponsor for 2013 and beyond, competition preparation experts Sherwood Engines and nationwide motor parts distributor CES UK have both readily agreed to help registered contenders. These two major players will combine with Minilite Wheels, Martin Jones Transmissions, insurance specialist REIS, West Wales Rally Spares and Brian James Trailers to create a formidable lineup that will provide BHRC registered crews with season-long assistance in the form of top quality products and services, together with a range of discounts and special low prices.

“Having top quality commercial partners is invaluable as we strive to provide a top quality championship to our paying customers, the registered competitors,” says BHRC Chairman, David Lucas. “We value the support of all our sponsors immensely as, between them, they give our crews a wide variety of essential help. The fact that so many established and well-respected companies have returned this year shows that they trust us to run a high profile championship that will, in turn, raise their own business profiles.”

Further details plus full regulations and championship registration forms for the 2013 Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship are available from the Historic Rally Car Register’s website,

The opening round of the Mintex MSA British Historic series will be the Rally Marketing Mid Wales Stages, based in Newtown, Powys, on Sunday March 3rd. As always, BHRC crews will run ahead of the modern cars, ensuring they have the added advantage of competing while the stage surface is in the best possible condition.

Historic Rally Car Register (BHRC)

New tyre partners for the new look Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship

Posted: January 22, 2013 9:46 AM

The Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship continues its fire-up for the start of the new season with the news that Kumho and Pirelli will join the eight round series as official tyre partners, complementing the service already provided by long- standing BHRC supporter, Mr.Tyre.

From the first round of the 2013 championship at the Mid-Wales Stages on March 3rd, drivers will have a choice of four tyre makes; Kumho and Pirelli will be available direct from the manufacturers, while Hankook and Dunlop will come from Mr.Tyre.

“We are bringing in a lot of new initiatives this year, so we feel the time is right to freshen up this important aspect of historic rallying,” says BHRC Chairman, David Lucas. “ The competitors themselves have been asking for a more varied tyre choice, and now that we have these three major suppliers on board, we are sure it will more than cater for their needs.”

Kumho, Mr.Tyre and Pirelli will all have tyres available in a wide range of sizes to suit the many different types of car currently registering ahead of this year’s Mintex MSA BHRC. Each of the tyre partners is offering a range of discounts and special low prices to championship-registered crews, which will help keep costs down and make the series even more competitive. Importantly, all the tyres will comply fully with the MSA Historic regulations, ensuring a level playing field for everyone.

Further details, plus full regulations and championship registration forms for the 2013 Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship are available from the Historic Rally Car Register’s website, at

Historic Rally Car Register (BHRC)

Historic Rally Car Register’s open day proves to be one of the best ever!

Posted: January 19, 2013 3:33 PM

As the dust – or, rather, sleet - settles on the 10th annual Historic Rally Car Register Open Day at Gaydon, organisers are reflecting on what proved to be an extremely successful day. The main theme of the show at the Heritage Motor Centre – celebrating 50 years since the Hillman Imp first saw light of day - was only part of the story, as interested show goers packed the exhibition to the gunwales from the minute the doors opened.

A splash of colour created by the outdoors display of competition cars, including an ex-World Cup Rally Peugeot 504, an Austin 1800 ‘Land Crab’ and a Hillman Hunter, far outshone the dull weather and welcomed visitors to the venue. With the wide variety of successful championships, plus the Clayton Classics Scenic Tours series that the HRCR have to offer in 2013, the show had enough exhibitors to fill two halls long before the day itself, with many others waiting in the wings.

The entrance led directly into the main exhibition hall, where the new HRCR ‘old Stager’ Clubmans Stage Rally Championship rubbed shoulders with the Autosessive Clubmans road rally series. Such is the enduring interest in navigational events that the Tour of Cheshire, the opening round of the Autosessive series, reports being oversubscribed already, with over 60 entries.

Along with guest of honour, 1960s rally star Rosemary Smith, who flew over especially for the show, the welcome presence of numerous personalities from the world of motor sport added hugely to the wonderful atmosphere. Former Ford rally boss Stuart Turner, Mini Cooper driver Paddy Hopkirk and leading navigators from the great days of Motoring News rallies including David Kirkham, John Brown and Rob Lyall chatted happily with exhibitors and show goers. Three-time Motoring News champion driver Mick Briant was on hand to promote his new book: “Do You Have To Drive Like That?”  

The second hall was devoted exclusively to the Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship. With the opening round of the eight round series at the Mid-Wales Stages on March 3rd, the organisers were keen to promote the changes to the new look, more compact championship. The main BHRC stand was flanked by further stands from each of the counting rounds, allowing organisers of the individual rallies to answer questions while series scrutineers, Paul Loveridge and Neil Procter were on hand to give advice on all aspects of car preparation. Julian Reynolds’s 2012 championship winning Ford Escort Mk1 formed the centrepiece of the display, attracting huge interest and many admiring glances.

“The new compact format clearly appealed to a lot of competitors,” says BHRC Chairman David Lucas. “We fully intend to repay the trust they put in us by delivering a top quality, value for money series that will offer close competition in a good spirit of sportsmanship.”

With something to capture the imagination or catch the interest of everyone – whether competitor, spectator or simply historic car enthusiast – this 10th anniversary HRCR Open Day was one to savour for the moment, and build on for the future.

More information about all the Historic Rally Car Register’s competitions and activities, including the Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship, can be found on the website

Historic Rally Car Register (BHRC)

Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship sets up for success in 2013

Posted: January 17, 2013 9:38 PM

The 2013 Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship is shaping up to be as successful and challenging as ever in the coming season, with the first competitor registrations rolling in just two days after the championship regulations were published. The eight round series officially launched at the Historic Rally Car Register’s Open Day on Saturday January 12th, and the BHRC stand at the Heritage Motor Centre attracted a high volume of visitors throughout the day, with many potential competitors taking away registration forms to fill in. In keeping with the day’s theme celebrating 50 years of the Hillman Imp, the very first crew to register are Nigel and Henry Webster in their Category One (pre-1968) Imp!

Reflecting the enduring popularity and status of the BHRC, one complete hall at the Heritage Motor Centre was devoted to the championship, with the main BHRC stand flanked by further stands from each of the counting rounds. Organisers of the individual rallies happily answered the many questions fired at them, while series scrutineers, Paul Loveridge and Neil Procter were on hand to give advice on preparing cars for competition so that they comply with the MSA Historic Regulations. Julian Reynolds’s 2012 championship winning Ford Escort Mk1 formed the centrepiece of the display, attracting huge interest and many admiring glances.

“The new look, more compact format clearly appeals to a lot of competitors,” says BHRC Chairman David Lucas. “We fully intend to repay the trust they put in us by delivering a top quality, value for money series that will offer close competition in a good spirit of sportsmanship.”

Further details plus full regulations and championship registration forms for the 2013 Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship are available from the Historic Rally Car Register’s website.

The opening round of the Mintex MSA British Historic series will be the Mid Wales Stages Rally, based in Newtown, Powys, on Sunday March 3rd.

Historic Rally Car Register (BHRC)

Championship Rounds

Posted: January 13, 2013 1:02 PM

1. Mid Wales Stages - 3 Mar 2013
2. Rally North Wales (Bulldog) - 6-7 Apr 13
3. Pirelli Rally - 4-5 May 13
4. Jim Clark Rally 30 May-2 Jun 13
5. Severn Valley - (Sat) 15 Jun 13
6. Harry Flatters Rally - 28 Jul 13
7. Ulster Rally / Rally NI - 23 - 24 Aug 13
   Reserve Colin McRae Stages Rally - (Sat) 05 Oct 13
8. Rallye Sunseeker - 18-19 Oct 13

Historic Rally Car Register (BHRC)

KUMHO SELECTED AS TYRE SUPPLIER TO THE 2013 BRITISH HISTORIC RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

Posted: May 17, 2012 9:30 AM

For the last four years, competitors in the MSA British Historic Rally Championship have run on control tyres. However, following requests for change, they will next year be able to choose from the products of four different manufacturers, not least Kumho Tyres.

Welcoming the news, the company’s European Motorsport Manager Steve Thompson said:
“We developed a range of gravel and asphalt products especially for this series, which proved very popular prior to the advent of single-make control tyres, so we are delighted at the change of regulation and confident of a positive response from the teams.”

Kumho has enjoyed ever-increasing success in the rally world and, for example, has been the tyre supplier for all five of Eugene Donnelly’s Irish Tarmac Rally Championship victories and last year’s win in the French Gravel Rally Championship by two-times European Rally Champion Simon Jean-Joseph.

Added Steve Thompson:
“Much as we enjoy modern rallying, the older cars bring their own set of challenges; ones we are equally adept at meeting. We very much look forward to being an integral part of next year’s historic scene.”

DMACK To Supply British Historic Rally Crews

Posted: May 12, 2012 7:59 AM

DMACK will supply competitors in the 2013 MSA British Historic Rally Championship after series organisers agreed to give competitors freedom to choose from four approved suppliers.

The move comes after a four-year exclusive control tyre period and follows extensive consultation with competitors who were keen to benefit from the extra choice and alternative options.

Historic crews will gain from DMACK’s WRC technology and well-known mix of performance and durability – the same high standards which helped the manufacturer seal fourth in last month’s Rally Argentina.

However, in addition to the company’s success at world and international level, DMACK is also firmly focused on producing affordable rally tyres for clubmen competitors. It has already established a range of 13 inch tyres, including a wide gravel tyre with enhanced durability aimed at competitors with high-powered rear-wheel-drive cars.

DMACK will offer an extensive range of gravel and asphalt options in sizes from 13 to 15 inch to cover the majority of British historic competitors and will have tyres available for crews to test during this season.

Dick Cormack, DMACK motorsport director, said:
“We welcome the decision from the BHRC organisers to move away from a control tyre and feel this move will ultimately offer greater value-for-money for competitors and more competition within the championship. Our focus has always been to develop affordable products which deliver high performance and our experience in the world rally championship will help ensure our range is favourable to historic competitors.”

DMACK, Dunlop, Kumho and Pirelli confirmed for 2013 BHRC

Posted: May 12, 2012 7:54 AM

Four tyre suppliers will support the 2013 MSA British Historic Rally Championship after the BHRC management committee concluded negotiations with DMACK, Dunlop, Kumho and Pirelli. Each of the four will be an approved supplier for the 2013 season.

Crews will have the choice of using tyres from any of the four nominated suppliers next year and will have freedom to switch between suppliers if they wish.

The move comes after a four-year exclusive period with Dunlop and follows extensive consultation with competitors. Dunlop is expected to continue to be a significant tyre supplier for the championship in 2013 and there are no changes to Dunlop’s exclusive arrangements for the balance of the 2012 season.

“We firmly believe this is the right time to open up the tyre supply situation,” said championship manager Simon Marks.
“More tyre manufacturers are now in a position to supply the historic market and our competitors will now be able to choose between four excellent suppliers.”

BHRC tyre supply to be opened up in 2013

Posted: March 23, 2012 10:38 AM

There will be a significant change in the tyre supply arrangements for the Kololi Beach Club MSA British Historic Rally Championship in 2013 when competitors will be able to use tyres from a number of suppliers.

The BHRC management committee is currently in advanced negotiations with a number of tyre suppliers and expects to confirm the 2013 tyre partners within the next few weeks.

The move comes after a four-year exclusive period with Dunlop and follows extensive consultation with competitors. Dunlop is expected to continue to be a significant tyre supplier for the championship in 2013 and there are no changes to Dunlop’s exclusive arrangements for the balance of the 2012 season.

“We have listened to our competitors and believe that opening up the tyre supply is the right move for the championship at this time,” said championship manager Simon Marks. “I would like to record our sincere gratitude to Dunlop and the team at Mr Tyre for the superb support they have given to the BHRC over the last four seasons and I look forward to Dunlop continuing to be an important partner for the championship in 2013.”

More details, including the identity of the confirmed tyre suppliers for 2013 will be announced as soon as possible.