2010 British Rally Championship

Championship Points after Round 4 - Isle of Man

Posted: July 13, 2010 4:59 PM

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British Rally Championship

FX Rally School offers BRC training prize

Posted: June 16, 2010 2:06 PM

Official supplier to the Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship, Higgins’ Forest Experience Rally School, is offering a fantastic prize to competitors in the 2010 Championship comprising driver and co-driver training for two registered crews.

The three day training programme is valued in excess of £8000 and the winners will be selected at the end of the 2010 season from a shortlist drawn up throughout the six events. The three days will be spread throughout the winter months and based at the Higgins’ rally school near Carno in mid Wales.

The Higgins brothers have amassed four British Rally Championship titles since Mark’s first win in 1997, so are ideally placed to identify future talent to nurture;

“Most other sports accept that coaching is the way to improve your game and it is no different in rallying.” said David Higgins. “This offer is our way of giving something back to the sport, but most importantly it should help the winners to improve both driving and co-driving skills ahead of the 2011 season.”

As part of the Forest Experience Rally School’s commitment as an official supplier, a further buy-two-get-one-free deal is available on testing and one-to-one tuition to competitors registered in the Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship. To take advantage of the special offer please call +44 (0)1686 420201 or visit www.higginsrallyschool.com

Team Ramsport to join BRC with Dave Weston (Jr) & Darren Gass

Posted: March 25, 2010 1:31 PM

After years of successfully running individual drivers in various championships, this year expert preparation company Ramsport are launching their own team in the British Rally Championship.

The two-car Team Ramsport line-up will be headed by 19-year-old Dave Weston Junior who finished fourth overall in last year’s championship, while the second car will be driven by former Pirelli Star Driver 21-year-old Darren Gass who makes a welcome return to the series.

“We have been thinking about entering a team in the BRC since last year so this is a great achievement for Ramsport,” said team boss, and owner of Ramsport, Rob Atkinson. “But the aim of putting a team forward is to achieve a bigger profile for the drivers we run, because if we enter as a team they can fight for both overall driver honours and for the teams championship. We’re proud to be able to help Darren back into the championship and it will be great for us and the two drivers to share all of our experience. We look forward to an exciting year ahead.”

While Ramsport recently tasted success with Weston Junior on Rallye Sunseeker where he won the Production Cup ahead of his attack on the BRC, Gass has recently taken a step back from the BRC, but as his co-driver Neil Shanks explains, they are eager to get back into the championship this year.

“Our last year in the BRC was quite difficult in 2008,” said Shanks. “We did not always have luck on our side, but we did set good stage times. Then sadly we were unable to contest the final round on Rally of Great Britain after Darren broke a bone in his hand so there is definitely unfinished business for us in the championship. We can’t wait to get back, hopefully with luck on our side this time. I’ve worked on and off with Ramsport for almost 10 years now in various cars so I know they are a good team and we’ll have a good car, hopefully we’ll get the results in for them.”

Junior added,
“It will be great to have a team mate to compare times with and talk about the stages and car set-up while we are in service. Darren and I have always got on well and we have similar ambitions in the sport, so we will definitely drive each other on during events and push each other hard.”

For now, the aim for Team Ramsport is to concentrate on the BRC, but they have not ruled out the possibility of sending the two-car team to world level events in Europe later this season. The opening round of the BRC is the Bulldog Rally, which takes place in Wales on Saturday 27th March.

Sports Journalism student to work with Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship

Posted: March 21, 2010 9:03 PM

With the start of the 2010 Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship just days away, there has been a new addition to the team for this season.

Stuart Coady, a BA Hons Sports Journalism student at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in Preston, has been appointed to help out the championship as an assistant to the Media and Communications Manager Simon Moss.

The championship contacted UCLan this year looking for a student to join the team, and after a selection process Stuart was awarded the opportunity. His role will include such duties as interviewing drivers, writing up reports / results and updating information on the website.

The Dulux Trade British Rally Championship has now joined an illustrious line up of professional organisations and publications to have joined forces with UCLan’s Sports Journalism Department in awarding work based placements to students.

Course leader and well known sports journalist Charlie Lambert had this to say,
“Stuart made a big decision to give up a well-paid job and change direction of his career by enrolling on the Sports Journalism course. His commitment has been evident since he arrived at the University and it is good to see this being rewarded. This involvement with the British Rally Championship will give him a unique opportunity to gain experience and build contacts for the future”.

Simon Moss added,
“This role should give Stuart a good understanding of how this industry works, and provide him with a great addition to his CV”. He added “The standard of applicant that UCLan put forward was very high indeed, but it was Stuart’s enthusiasm and knowledge of the sport that swung it, we look forward to working with him this year”.

Stuart will take up his role starting on the season opener, Bulldog International Rally North Wales, which takes place on Saturday 27th March and will be with the championship throughout the year visiting, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and the Isle of Man.

When asked about his new role Stuart said:-
“Firstly I have to thank Charlie and Simon for giving me this chance, rallying is a sport I have grown up with and love dearly, it’s a dream come true”.

Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship officially launched

Posted: March 12, 2010 8:51 AM

The official launch of the Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship took place at the headquarters of Dulux Trade in Slough on Tuesday.  

The event was attended by both British Rally Champion and 2009 Pirelli Star Driver Keith Cronin and British Teams Rally Champions Pirelli TEG Sport. Keith was joined by new co-driver Barry McNulty, while the co-driver of a second TEG Sport run car, Julian Wilkinson accompanied the 2008 Pirelli Star Driver Adam Gould, as its driver Alan Cookson was forced to miss the event owing to business commitments.  

Dulux Trade Marketing Director Steve Snaith was joined by several members of his team along with staff from other departments, who all braved chilly weather conditions to cheer in the new partnership  

Between posing for photos with the assembled staff and drivers he said, “We are delighted to be sponsoring the UK’s leading rally championship as Dulux Trade is a leading brand all about high quality, high performance products, exactly the qualities of the British Rally Championship."  

The staff had been encouraged to attend in red, white and blue, with the most appropriately patriotically attired person winning a ride with the reigning British Rally Champion. Winner Jenny Perks from the Purchasing department said, “I've never been in a rally car before so even though we only drove round the block it was quite an experience.  

Greenlight Television was on hand to record the moment for the Sky Sports Championship preview programme which will be broadcast on Sunday 28th March at 18.30, followed on Monday 29th at 18.00 by coverage from the opening round of the Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship, International Bulldog Rally North Wales.

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British Rally Championship

British Rally Championship announces Dulux Trade as title sponsor
Championship Launch - 9th of March

Posted: February 27, 2010 5:18 PM

The British Rally Championship is proud to announce the industry-leading manufacturer of paints and high performance coatings, Dulux Trade, as its title sponsor for the 2010 season.  

The British Isles’ only international rally series will be called the Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship from today (26/02/2010), and its association with such an esteemed brand reinforces the championship’s status as one of the most respected in the world.  

British Rally Championship Managing Director, Mark Taylor, said:
“We are extremely proud to have been chosen by this established, professional brand and look forward to working with Dulux Trade in its association with the MSA British Rally Championship. The Championship brings a great deal of excitement and entertainment to its supporters, and the sponsorship provides a fun and dynamic platform for Dulux Trade to provide incentives and competitions for its existing and potential customers, as well as its staff. Using the Championship to build on the emotional side of the brand will help promote its pioneering products and services to a new, wider audience base.”  

Commenting on the sponsorship deal, Dulux Trade Communications Manager, James Green, said:
“Dulux Trade is renowned as a high performance brand among the world’s finest decorating professionals, and we have recently been looking for an innovative way to bring the Dulux Trade brand name and associated messaging to an even broader audience. The British Rally Championship fits the bill perfectly, as like Dulux Trade, the championship revolves around performance under pressure, and has a long history of success.”  

The official launch of the 2010 Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship will be on the 9th of March at the Dulux Trade headquarters in Slough, ahead of the first round at the end of the month. The sponsorship deal will run for two years and the British Rally Championship reserves an option to continue beyond that period.

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British Rally Championship

2010 Swift Sport Cup is GO!

Posted: February 13, 2010 8:48 AM

Final details have been confirmed for the 2010 Swift Sport Cup which offers on-event prize money, an end-of season prize and of course a place in the Pirelli Star Driver shootout for the highest placed Junior driver.  

The one-make Championship package will include on-event support from Monster Sport Europe (MSE), which will attend each of the events with a parts truck and technical assistance for Swift Sport competitors. The series also enjoys TV coverage on Sky Sports’ BRC Rallyzone programme and has its own dedicated website www.swiftsportcup.com  

The competition has been fierce in the last two years, any one of three drivers in with a chance of taking the title on the final rally of 2009 in Yorkshire. This is an ideal way of taking the step up from a national Championship and with reduced entry fees for R1 class cars, is the best value per mile rallying in the UK.  

Interested 2010 drivers include:  

Mikko Pajunen (Junior)
Nick Everard (Junior)
Matt Barker
Kari Hytönen
Raimo Mattsson
Pierre Perrin
Jamie Brown
Lewis Roper

More Details:

Swift Sport Cup

David Harrison to compete on BRC

Posted: February 11, 2010 2:35 PM

Manxman David Harrison has announced that he will contest the full British Rally Championship in 2010 as well as the Citroen Racing Trophy UK at the wheel of a brand new Citroen C2R2 Max.

“The plans are all in place to do both championships with the new car but we are still desperately seeking sponsors, we managed to scrape together enough budget to secure the car so now it’s just a case of running it for the year, so there is still quite a gap to bridge.”

“The Citroen Racing Trophy is obviously the main goal for the season but as it shares the same rounds as the British Rally Championship it would be stupid not to take in both series’ with one hit.”

The Championship’s will see crews tackle the Bulldog International, The Pirelli International Rally, Jim Clark, Rally Isle of Man and new for 2010 International Rally of Northern Ireland, Before the Championship finale in the famous North Yorkshire forests of the Trackrod Rally in September.

David has recruited the services of John Connor for the season ahead and has every confidence that the pace should be there from the first round if the planned pre-season testing goes well.

"It will be nice to get back in a Group A car again as it'll be a little more bombproof than the Group N Suzuki. We are also planning as much testing as our budget allows during the year so im confident that the pace will be there very early on." Said the 23-year-old.

David will remain part of the very experienced JAM Motorsport team for the third consecutive season, the team with whom he secured the BRC Challenge Title in 2008. The 2010 championship begins with the Bulldog International Rally on March 27.

BRC Challenge – a truly National series

Posted: February 10, 2010 9:27 PM

The British Rally Championship’s support series, the BRC Challenge, has already attracted competitors from all over the UK and will go ahead as planned following the six BRC events.  

The deadline for cheaper registrations coincided with the cut-off for a decision on the continuation of the championship. With thirteen drivers’ forms received and a potential of another dozen or so before the first round, the series is looking like being even more successful than in 2009.  

Of those M-Sport expects around half to be Fiesta SportChallenge competitors, registrations for which are being processed by new FSC coordinator Callum Craw.  

Eight of the current driver registrations are new to the BRCC and they come from as far afield as Fife, County Tyrone in Northern Ireland and Kent.  

Callum Black – Northamptonshire
Andrew Chalmers – North Yorkshire
Louise Cook – Kent
Mark Donnelly – County Tyrone
Conor Flynn – Derbyshire
Andy Gwynne – Gloucestershire
Julian Wilkes - Somerset
Simon Moore – Tyne & Wear
George Morrison – Fife
Chris Peart – East Yorkshire
Gavin Spencer – Tyne & Wear
Russ Thompson – Lancashire
James Watts – Hertfordshire
 
The first round, the Bulldog Challenge Rally, is just over six weeks away on Saturday 27th March and will be based at Welshpool's new livestock market.

COOKSON UNVEILS TWO-YEAR PLAN TO WIN BRITISH RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

Posted: February 6, 2010 12:28 AM

Saltash IT Director Alan Cookson and co driver Julian Wilkinson from Tunbridge Wells are planning to contest the MSA British Rally Championship for the first time in 2010 in their newly acquired ex-Nasser Al-Attiyah Subaru N15.

Cookson and Wilkinson have a two-year plan to contest the BRC series, after securing extra backing from long-term sponsors Wiseman Dairies, Kick Energy and SPAR, who all felt the BRC offered the perfect stage and increased exposure for their brands. The pair has also secured other extra help from long-term backers Cuisine de France, Olverelectrical.com, Uno Retail Solutions, and they have also secured help from TEG Sport team backers, Speedline Wheels, Schroth and Cobra Seats to ensure the budget is in place to contest the complete series.

They will run as a satellite team for TEG Sport, the current British Rally Team Champions, in their now familiar 'cow liveried' car, alongside the other two TEG Sport run and Pirelli-backed Subaru N15s, which will be piloted by current British Rally Champion and Pirelli Star driver winner, Keith Cronin, and Euan Thorburn, who had a fantastic first year on the BRC in 2009.

Alan said: "This is the biggest opportunity we have ever had in rallying and to be able to get involved with such a great team that is run so professionally as a third car, is just fantastic for both Julian and I, and we really can't wait for the season to get underway in March in Wales on the Bulldog International. Our first event will be the Malcolm Wilson Rally in early March where we will run alongside the other two Pirelli-backed cars to ensure everyone is happy with how the team will work. We don't have any illusions that we can go out and match the pace of our team-mates, firstly we have a left hand drive rally car now to get used to, and secondly, they are very experienced at this level, and it's certainly very different to what we have been used to for the last two years rallying a WRC Subaru on the ANCRO series."

Alan continued: "We are confident that we can learn from drivers like Keith and Euan this year, in terms of both set up and pace noting etc, as they clearly have the pace and experience at this level and I'm sure with TEG Sport running the car it will be a reliable package so hopefully we can be consistent and repay the team's faith in asking us to join them. We also hope to net them some top ten results along the way in what is shaping up to be a very competitive year on the BRC, before a maximum attack next year when we have familiarised ourselves to the events in the series."

The pair are also hoping to contest an IRC event in Europe if the budget can be raised over the next few months as negotiations are ongoing with potential sponsors.

Sunoco to be BRC control fuel until 2011

Posted: February 5, 2010 11:52 PM

The MSA British Rally Championship has announced that Sunoco will be the official controlled fuel supplier to the Championship for at least the next two years.  

Two options of fuel will continue to be available, a specially blended super unleaded “pump” specification and an FIA specification 102 octane, with the former being the control fuel for this year’s BRC Challenge.  

In keeping with the MSA championships commitment to improvements in rallying’s environmental impact, the fuel will be supplied on events in a safe, controlled location by a Sunoco appointed agent. The agreement will mean that competitors continue to enjoy the excellent service, a safer environment, a level playing field and a quality product at a competitive price. Sunoco will also provide testing of fuel samples after each event and supply a chemist to carry out spot checks. Competitors will get unique access to the Sunoco website to pre-order their fuel for each event.  

BRC Manager Mark Taylor said,
“We made a commitment four years ago to improve the safety and tighten the sporting regulation on the use of racing fuels. We are delighted to have agreed a new two year deal with Sunoco which will provide first class products and service to our customers.”  

Anglo American Oil Company Anders Hildebrand commented,
“We are thrilled to have secured the fuel contract for BRC and very excited to be involved in the top UK rally championship. We will continue to provide our renowned level of service combined with excellent products from Sunoco race fuels to ensure that we provide BRC with a stable platform on which to grow.”  

For more information, up to date news and images from all the events on the MSA British Rally Championship, visit

British Rally Championship

Fisher and McNulty Partnership Comes to an End

Posted: January 30, 2010 6:58 PM

After a successful partnership to date in both 2wd and 4wd machinery, Alastair and Barry will not be competing together this season as Barry has taken the opportunity to sit alongside reigning British Rally Champion Keith Cronin for the 2010 season.

With late notice, Rory Kennedy who was in the hot seat with Alastair last season for the BRC will come on board for both championships as Alastair enters his second season in a Group N car. Their first outing will be the Irish Tarmac Championship opener in Galway as they mount an attack on both the ITC and BRC.

Alastair commented, “Barry and I and have always got on well both in and out of the car. We enjoyed many successful events and results together and I have no doubt that he will do a super job for Keith, I wish them both all the best in the future, having said that Rory and I worked really well together from the outset and its great to have him on board for another season”

New Co-Driver for Keith Cronin?

Posted: January 28, 2010 12:27 PM

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Keith Cronin Rallying

2010 British Rally Championship entries now open

Posted: January 11, 2010 5:43 PM

Registrations for the MSA British Rally Championship are now officially open.  

The regulations for the 2010 season have been online for a while now, but competitors and teams can now fill in their forms electronically then post or email them direct to championship office.  

Download the regulations and entry forms at the championship by following the “competitor sign up” link from the home page.

British Rally Championship

2010 CITROEN RACING TROPHY UK

Posted: December 23, 2009 10:47 PM

Ahead of the festive break, details have emerged surrounding next year’s Citroën Racing Trophy UK and ahead of an official announcement, Charles Hurst, the official appointed UK agent has published outline details of the level of prize funding that will be available.  

Citroën Racing in France is finalising details with the organisers of the MSA British Rally Championship surrounding a detailed support package for 2010 but it is confirmed that the UK series will be solely for the Citroen C2R2 Max and based wholly on the 2010 British Rally Championship regulations, featuring the six rounds, with the best five scores to count for the overall title.  

Incentivising performance within the Rally 2 Class, Citroën Racing is pledging €5,000 for 1st place in class reducing down to €600 for 8th position, making almost €20,000 available on each and every rally to be won. This is in addition to a Citroën Racing Trophy UK end of season prize fund and awards.  

Interest in the 2010 Citroën Racing Trophy UK series is particularly high and coupled with an increased interest from Citroën UK, this one make series seems set to grow.  

Charles Hurst from Belfast will continue to provide on event technical and parts support on each round of the Championship.  

An official announcement detailing the prize fund package will be released soon and registrations for the series will open in January.

British Rally Championship

UK Rally to run BRC until 2014

Posted: December 11, 2009 11:02 AM

UK Rally Ltd, the company that promotes and runs the MSA British Rally Championship (BRC), has extended its contract option with the Motor Sports Association to continue running Britain’s premier rally championship for the next five years.  

UK Rally Managing Director Mark Taylor said, “Taking our option to extend our contract with the MSA means that we will have an unbroken nine years in charge of the championship and importantly it brings the BRC contract in line with the MSA Country Championships.”  

“I'm sure we can repay the confidence that the MSA has shown in us and the influx of talented youngsters in the last couple of years has shown that the Championship is providing the right sporting arena for aspiring UK and International competitors.”  

The 2010 MSA British Rally Championship calendar is already set, with the opening round, Bulldog International Rally North Wales on March 27th having just released its event overview, Rally Guide One.  

Cronin wins Pirelli BRC Star Final Shootout.

Posted: December 1, 2009 5:04 PM

Cronin wins Pirelli BRC Star Final Shootout.

Third season for British Rally Championship’s Swift Sport Cup

Posted: October 28, 2009 3:20 PM

The British Rally Championship will continue to run the Swift Sport Cup in 2010, offering great on-event prize money, an end-of season prize and of course a place in the Pirelli Star Driver final at the end of the season.

The on-event prize money continues, with the top placed driver taking £500, £300 for second, £200 for third and £100 for the remainder of finishers down to fifth place.

The one-make Championship package will include on-event support from Monster Sport Europe (MSE), which will attend each of the events with a parts truck and technical assistance for Swift Sport competitors.

The series will also continue to enjoy TV coverage on Sky Sports’ BRC Rallyzone programme and have its own dedicated website. The highest placed Junior driver will receive an automatic nomination to the Pirelli Star Driver shootout, with all registered drivers eligible for nomination at any time during the six events.

Ian Robinson, formerly of Suzuki GB, will continue to be involved and provide co-ordination between competitors and the Championship on each of the six events that make up the 2010 Series.

Augmenting the presence of the Swift Sport Cup rally village, each registered competitor will be issued with a Swift Sport Cup awning and groundsheet for their use throughout the season.

The competition has been fierce in the last two years, any one of three drivers in with a chance of taking the title on the final rally of 2009 in Yorkshire. This is an ideal way of taking the step up from national Championship and with reduced entry fees for R1 class cars, is the best value per mile rallying in the UK.

Car options
Two new cars are still available to purchase direct from the Championship
Kits will be available from MSE, allowing competitors to build their own
MSE can hire a car for one event or the whole season
Second hand cars are available on the open market

Swift Sport Cup car specification
Engine: 1600cc Group N (FIA N2), Sports exhaust
Gearbox: 5 speed manual with closer ratios & LSD
Chassis: Weld in FIA roll cage, FIA seats & harnesses
Suspension: Adjustable front & rear
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British Rally Championship

2010 Championship Rounds

Posted: September 4, 2009 9:36 AM

1. 27th March International Rally North Wales Welshpool
2. 23rd / 24th April Pirelli International Rally Carlisle
3. 28th / 29th May Jim Clark International Rally Kelso
4. 9th / 10th July Isle of Man International Rally Douglas
5. 20th / 21st August International Rally Northern Ireland Antrim
6. 25th September International Rally Yorkshire Pickering
   
   30th October BRC Bash tba
   
   British Rally Championship