Fuchs Lubricants R.A.C. Historic Asphalt Championship
Matthews confirmed as Fuchs R.A.C. historic champion
Posted: September 26, 2016 6:54 AM
Roger Matthews and Tom Marrott have been confirmed as overall champions in the inaugural Fuchs Lubricants R.A.C. Historic Asphalt Rally Championship.
Following two more maximum scores in the double header round on the Historic Rally Isle of Man (15-17 September), Matthews and Marrott (Ford Escort Mk1) now have a perfect season score and cannot be beaten on the sixth and final round, the Cheviot Stages on Otterburn on 9 October.
The Fuchs Lubricants R.A.C. Historic Asphalt Rally Championship was new for 2016 and is organised by the Roger Albert Clark Rally Motor Club as a dedicated asphalt championship for all categories of historic stage rally cars. As well as catering for crews who prefer to compete on sealed surfaces, the championship also offers a place for the Category 1 (pre-1968) cars that are moving away from gravel rallying as a result of the changes to event running orders.
Matthews and Marrott have enjoyed an exemplary season in their freshly-built Escort Mk1, taking five maximum scores across the first five rounds to make them overall champions. Belgians Christophe Jacob and Isabelle Regnier currently hold second overall but could be edged back to third in the battle of Escort Mk2s if Roger Moran and Ashley Trimble contest the final round.
“It was a pity that Roger Moran couldn’t get to the Isle of Man due to family commitments, as that would have made it harder for us,” said Matthews after his first experience of competing on the Isle of Man. “They were really good roads and a good event.
“It’s been a very good season with the brand new car and I’ll definitely be back to defend the title,” said the Herefordshire driver. “It is certainly more asphalt rallying for me for the future.”
Championship manager Colin Heppenstall said:
“We’d like to congratulate Roger Matthews and Tom Marrott for becoming the first champions in the Fuchs Lubricants R.A.C. Historic Asphalt Rally Championship. They have had a perfect season to date and are worthy champions.”
Points after Round 4/5 - Isle of Man
Posted: September 26, 2016 6:54 AM
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TV coverage confirmed for Fuchs R.A.C. Historic Asphalt Championship
Posted: February 18, 2016 10:39 AM
A TV package has been announced for the Fuchs Lubricants R.A.C. Historic Asphalt Rally Championship, which starts with the Bovington Stages (5/6 March).
Filming and TV production for the championship will be handled by the team at Special Stage and two of the five events will have dedicated half-hour programmes on Motors TV. In addition, two more events will be reported in the company's acclaimed magazine programme, Special Stage Extra.
As with TV coverage of the Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship, all programmes will be available on YouTube and the four Fuchs R.A.C. events will benefit from brief preview and swift post-event summaries for YouTube.
The Bovington Stages and Salamandre Rally will both feature in Special Stage Extra, while the Harry Flatters and Isle of Man Classic will enjoy half-hour stand-alone programmes.
Support for coverage of the 2016 Fuchs Lubricants R.A.C. Historic Asphalt Rally Championship comes from TV partners Chris Browne Builders, Harris & Co Motorsport Accountants, Jordan Road Surfacing, Keighley Transit Centre, Rally and Competition Equipment, Sherwood Engines, Simpson Race Products, Swift Leisure and Walker Motorsport Castings.
Championship manager Colin Heppenstall said:
"I'm very pleased to confirm TV coverage for the Historic Asphalt Championship in its first season. We plan to build on this and hope to offer our competitors an extended package of coverage in 2017."
The Fuchs Lubricants R.A.C. Historic Asphalt Rally Championship will be organised by the Roger Albert Clark Rally Motor Club and will be a dedicated asphalt championship for all categories of historic stage rally cars in 2016.
Later cars admitted to Historic Asphalt Rally Championship
Posted: December 8, 2015 9:08 AM
Two-wheel drive rally cars from up to the end of 1990 will be eligible to compete in the new Fuchs Lubricants R.A.C. Historic Asphalt Rally Championship.
Cars qualifying for FIA period J1 and J2 (to 31 December 1990) will be introduced, which will allow cars like the BMW M3, Ford Sierra Cosworth and later model Peugeot 205 GTis to contest the championship, although four-wheel drive cars will not be permitted. In order to compete, cars from this age group will need to comply fully with FIA regulations and have FIA Historic Technical Passports.
The revised championship will replace the current R.A.C Championship and has been partly devised to offer Category 1 cars a place to continue rallying. The move also takes account of the growing demand for asphalt rallies for all categories of historic cars as well as the level of interest in cars from up to 1990. The championship scoring system will give cars from each of the historic categories an equal chance of winning the overall title.
The Fuchs Lubricants R.A.C. Historic Asphalt Rally Championship will be organised by the Roger Albert Clark Rally Motor Club and will run in parallel to the Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship. The cut-off dates for the MSA BHRC will remain unchanged in 2016.
"There is clearly a lot of interest in the Period J1 and J2 cars for asphalt rallying," said championship manager Colin Heppenstall. "We've already had contact from a number of drivers who have suitable cars and from drivers looking to run one of these cars next season. I think it is an exciting time for historic rallying and we look forward to being at the forefront of a new era for the sport."
R.A.C. Historic Asphalt Championship dates announced
Posted: December 8, 2015 9:03 AM
The calendar for the Fuchs Lubricants R.A.C. Historic Asphalt Rally Championship has been announced and will comprise six rounds at five events in 2016.
The new championship, which will accommodate two-wheel drive historic cars from up to the end of 1990, will be organised by the Roger Albert Clark Rally Motor Club alongside the Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship.
Highlights of the schedule include a double-header round on the Isle of Man Rally Classicagh (15-17 September) and a trip to Belgium for the Salamandre Rally (23/24 April). The familiar UK asphalt venues of Epynt and Otterburn are represented by the Harry Flatters Rally (31 July) and the Cheviot Keith Knox Stages (9 October) and the programme will start with the Bovington Stages in Dorset on 5/6 March.
In addition, though it will not be a championship round, contenders will be encouraged to contest the Killarney Historic Rally (3 December) as an end-of-season party event.
Championship manager Colin Heppenstall explained that the calendar includes a range of events in order to test the market in the first year of the new championship.
"We've deliberately chosen a good spread of events, both in terms of geography and scale of rally. This will give us the opportunity to see which events enjoy the best support and that information will help shape the 2017 calendar."
The best four scores from six rounds will count towards the championship, thus giving competitors a good choice over which events they contest.
Championship Rounds
Posted: December 8, 2015 9:01 AM
1 Bovington Stages - (Sat) 5 Mar 15
2 Salamandre Rally (Belgium) - 23-24 Apr 16
3 Harry Flatters Rally - 24 Jul 16
4 & 5 Isle of Man - 15-17 Sep 16
6 Cheviot Keith Knox Stages - 9 Oct 16
Killarney Historic Stages Rally - (Sat) 3 Dec 16 (Non-Championship Event)
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