2024 British Rally Championship

ITV4 set to screen Probite British Rally Championship in 2024

Posted: February 1, 2024 1:39 AM

The Probite British Rally Championship [BRC] will return to free-to-air terrestrial television in 2024, after signing a multi-year deal with ITV4 and ITVX to broadcast the six-round series across the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

An enhanced media package for the UK’s premier rally championship will include a dedicated one-hour highlights show on ITV4 after each round of the series to be broadcast at prime time with further repeat broadcasts and an end of season round-up programme.

In addition to the groundbreaking prospect, the programme will also enjoy availability on the accompanying online catch-up service ITVX, ensuring the championship action can be enjoyed long after each round ends.

The all-action show will enjoy breathtaking stage-side footage, on-board camera shots and heat-of-the-moment interviews. It will be interwoven with features and specials to encapsulate the full story of the British Rally Championship title fight as each driver bids to add their name to a prestigious roll of honour that includes legendary names, including Ari Vatanen, Roger Clark, Hannu Mikkola, Colin McRae and Richard Burns.

Each category of the series will feature in the highlights, giving every registered contender a chance to appear in the broadcast with an unrivalled offering for UK rally competitors, sponsors and each of the six regions visited by the BRC.

Further information on the broadcast schedule will be announced in the coming weeks and the programme will be a Motorsport UK production with facilities provided by industry-leading broadcast partner Globecast. The worldwide operator has provided coverage for sports events such as Wales Rally GB, Tour de France and the British Rallycross Championship, and will use its unrivalled knowledge to propel the BRC onto the TV screens to an all-new audience, returning to terrestrial TV for the first time since 2018.

The ITV4 terrestrial free to air TV coverage will have universal reach in the UK and Republic of Ireland and provides a significant step up in profile for the UK’s premier rally championship as it heads for an all-new look and feel in 2024.

“We are delighted to announce this groundbreaking return to mainstream television for the British Rally Championship” enthused Reece Tarren, Probite British Rally Championship Manager.

“Our dedication to promoting the championship has ensured top-tier visibility for both competitors and sponsors. This sensational partnership with ITV4 and ITVX opens up a whole new audience for the series, allowing almost every home in the country to watch the championship drama unfold from the comfort of their sofa, captivating rally fans old and new. It’s a very exciting time for the BRC and we can’t wait to get the championship underway in March”.

Hugh Chambers, CEO of Motorsport UK commented,
“Like many fans of rally I recall when all the drama and excitement from the heroes of the BRC was beamed to our homes week in week out. Motorsport UK, as custodians of the BRC and rally in the UK, take seriously our obligation to promote rally as a discipline and inspire the next generation of talent into the sport. Working in partnership with ITV and securing prime time playout is a key part of our strategy to maximise the visibility of the BRC and create a halo for the sport in the UK.”

Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport commented,
“Fans of motorsport across the UK will be able to see the very best of the British Rally Championship in our highlights shows with all the big moments and stories from this standout event brought together from each round and available to viewers on both ITV4 and ITVX.”

The six-round series will have events across England, Scotland and Wales in 2024 with a reinvigorated calendar of events as the BRC1 top-flight, Junior BRC young guns, National and Open categories battle for the prestigious crown.

PHOTOS: Junior BRC champion Kyle White makes Rally2 switch

Posted: January 14, 2024 6:42 AM

Revealed at the Autosport International Show, [11 January] reigning Junior British Rally champion Kyle White officially unveiled his 2024 campaign, piloting a Hyundai i20 for the re-vamped Probite British Rally Championship.

The 27-year-old from Dunmurry in Northern Ireland secured the coveted Junior title on his third and final attempt at the series, as thanks to surpassing the age limit, it would be his final season in the hotly contested category.

Having spent two years behind the wheel of a Peugeot 208 Rally4, White would have to look elsewhere for the forthcoming campaign and after working tirelessly in the off-season to find the budget to step up into the BRC1 top-flight category, White has acquired a Hyundai i20 from Europe for his BRC title tilt in the Rally2 category.

The covers came off his brand-new charger at the popular Autosport Show and he became the first driver to register for the upcoming British Rally Championship season as registrations opened at the NEC on Thursday [11 January].

"It's surreal to say that I own a Hyundai i20, and to have the opportunity to step up into the BRC1 category is mind blowing" said White.

"From watching the series as a young boy with the likes of Gwyndaf [Evans] winning at the time, to now competing against some of the elite drivers in the world is very humbling, given that our small team is punching way above our weight is testament to the hard work we have put in over the years".

White launched himself onto the BRC scene in 2021 after returning a giant-killing performance in an older specification Peugeot 208 R2. He and co-driver Sean Topping kept the more powerful Rally4 machinery at bay for much of the season, even leading the championship early on, before falling away as the season progressed.

Back stronger in 2022, White had the benefit of the newer Rally4 Peugeot at his disposal and the young charger was rarely out of the podium positions all season long. A nip-and-tuck battle between him and eventual champ Eamonn Kelly underlined his progress in the category and last year saw White clinch the crown on his third attempt.

As a prize for winning the title, White would be eligible for free entries into each round of the 2024 championship, a prize fund estimated at over £5,500 and that would be instrumental in his decision to try and make the switch to four-wheel drive machinery and ultimately, the BRC1 class.

"It made sense to enter the BRC this year, as I am now familiar with the rallies and that can play a vital part in adapting to the new car.

"We have very limited expectations for this year, I haven't driven the car yet and apart from a small test before the first round, we will have no seat time and we will treat this year as a learning year, with hope that we can compete for victory in the latter stages of the year."

The Probite British Rally Championship will enjoy a fresh new look to the calendar in 2024 with two new events joining the six-round roster. But White is confident that won’t hamper his assault throughout the season.

"The British Rally Championship has taken a huge step forward with the calendar this year, but the most important part for myself was the new media package the series is working towards, to bring the maximum exposure for our sponsors."

Reece Tarren, British Rally Championship Manager is delighted to welcome White back to the BRC.

“The Junior British Rally Championship has always been a highly regarded series for young drivers to hone their skills across both surfaces, on top events in an ultra-competitive playing field” he says.

“The likes of Elfyn Evans, William Creighton, Josh McErlean and many others have all cut their teeth in the Junior BRC and gone on to progress their careers at world level. But it also provides the perfect proving ground to progress as a driver and Kyle has proved that over the last three years.

“Seeing him step into BRC1 makes us feel like proud parents in a way and it's fantastic to see him achieve a lifelong ambition to step into Rally2 machinery. He’s a real character to have in the series and we look forward to seeing how he progresses over the course of the season.”

The British Rally Championship gets underway at the Legend Fires North West Stages in March, with a six-round calendar covering the country.

Revitalised British Rally Championship reveals Probite as title partner for 2024

Posted: January 1, 2024 12:03 PM

The Motorsport UK British Rally Championship has unveiled [10 October] a revamped calendar of events for 2024 along with an exciting new headline partnership with performance braking manufacturer, Probite.

As one of the fastest emerging performance brake manufacturers in the UK, the British brand blasted into the market in 2023 and became an Official Partner of the BRC in March.

Now, the exciting Probite brand, which offers motorsport competitors, car enthusiasts and performance car owners a brand-new line of OEM upgrades for their vehicle, will become title sponsor of the UK’s premier rally series, known as the Probite British Rally Championship. And their elevation to title sponsors of the series for 2024, coincides with the announcement of a brand-new calendar for the season ahead, as well as several show-stopping initiatives which will be rolled out for the forthcoming term.

In a bid to reduce costs at all levels of the championship, Britain’s top-tier rallying series is set to feature six rounds, with seven points scoring opportunities and will remain on the UK mainland.

In its 66th season, the BRC will focus on high-profile, longer, and more challenging rallies and will also feature two brand new events, as well as welcoming back many fan and driver favourites.

The new-look calendar will once again offer crews a challenging, action-packed campaign with an equal split of asphalt and gravel rallies, encompassing some of the best stages in the UK each with its own unique challenges.

The Legend Fires North West Stages is an exciting all-new addition to the series providing the perfect curtain raiser for the new look BRC season. After its move to a closed road event in 2019, it remains one of the most popular asphalt events in the country and offers flat-out action in the Lancashire countryside. Its spectacular presence in the local community is also the perfect start, drawing huge crowds to the now traditional ceremonial events in Garstang High Street.

Another newcomer to the BRC is the Rallynuts Severn Valley Stages which marks the first of two gravel trips to Wales. Using classic stages from the Wales Rally GB archives, the Builth Wells-based event has been re-named for its 50th anniversary and will offer a dynamic twist on its traditional format next year, offering up a longer and more challenging route which uses some of the best forest stages in the world.

In May, the series sees a return to the Scottish Borders and the highly regarded Beatson’s Building Supplies Jim Clark Rally. The legendary closed-road event will offer increased mileage for 2024, including a longer opening leg on Friday night before the daylight blast the following day; the perfect opportunity for a BRC duel.

After the summer break, the start of August sees the return of another Scottish favourite, the Voyonic Grampian Forest Rally. Hailed as some of the most exciting forest stages in the country, the Grampian is based just outside of Aberdeen and will shift to a longer, two-day format with some exciting plans from rally organisers due to be revealed in the coming months.

Arguably the flagship event in the UK, JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion has won over the hearts and souls of rally fans, competitors, and locals during last year's event and returns to the BRC roster once again. The Aberystwyth-based closed-road encounter provides the toughest encounter of them across the two days in West Wales with contenders set to go toe-to-toe with some of the best local and national drivers in the business. The rally will also count as two-point scoring opportunities with the opening day counting as one score and the final day as the second.

Another excursion into Wales for the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally sees the popular Llandudno event once again host the championship finale in October. With stages steeped in history, the region provides the perfect venue to bring the curtain down on the season, with breathtaking forests likely to hold the key to the eager BRC contenders fighting it out for title honours.

Coupled with the fresh look roster and Probite sponsorship, the championship will also introduce a raft of new measures to assist in competitive costs, including the reduction of championship registration fees. Costs will be reduced by up to 66% to enter the British Rally Championship, with the National categories being slashed by a staggering 86%.

The structure of the BRC will still see BRC1 top-flight Rally2 cars and Rally3 cars fight it out for overall supremacy, with all other homologated classes catered for, including the Junior BRC in Rally4 and Rally5 machinery. The National Rally Title category also returns, offering the opportunity for non-homologated machinery to compete toe-to-toe with the BRC contenders, enjoy recce and a host of benefits associated with a top-line championship.

A revised media package will also be put into place in 2024, and the championship is delighted to be returning to the Autosport International Show in January with a large-scale display and official launch weekend.

Further initiatives regarding next season will be announced in due course, but in the meantime, the 2023 championship continues with the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally (28 October), the final encounter of the year.

BRC Championship Manager, Reece Tarren:
“The calendar is the hardest part of the role as BRC Championship Manager, but I am very excited by the prospect of the 2024 series and the measures we have put in place to elevate the competition for drivers, fans and events alike.

“Fitting in events has always been a challenge and we are sad to lose some staples from the championship this year. Ensuring we don’t have two high-cost rounds in close proximity has been a stringent consideration and we have listened to feedback from both existing and prospective competitors about the dynamics of the BRC calendar. I truly believe this is an exciting new chapter of rallies which offers our competitors an unrivalled challenge in 2024.

“I'd like to thank the Malcolm Wilson Rally, Modern Tyres Ulster Rally and Trackrod Rally Yorkshire for their support in 2023 and we are sad not to be returning this time around.

“Our focus has been on larger, longer, and more challenging events, each with its own characteristics to keep everyone on their toes. At the same time of course, we have been rigorously looking at budgets to ensure the BRC is attainable for all, and introducing several new measures ensures it is one of the most cost-effective calendars in recent times. We are also working hard on a new media offering for next year which will also elevate the championship once again.

“I'm also delighted to welcome Probite as title sponsor to the series in 2024. Having collaborated with them as Partners this season, their passion and enthusiasm for motorsport and the BRC is unrivalled and it’s a fantastic addition to the championship. I really can't wait to start our new chapter at the Autosport Show in January.”

Marketing Manager for Probite, Tom Taylor:
“The Probite brand was born from our love of motorsport and over 60 years of experience in braking and friction components. Proud to be a British manufacturer, we are run by a team of car enthusiasts who want to help UK drivers improve their cars for less.

"As official partners and title sponsors of the Probite British Rally Championship, we will be working alongside Motorsport UK and BRC crews in the continued development of our braking products, ensuring we offer the best enhancements and innovations from professional motorsport to the thousands of fans and enthusiasts driving on Britain's roads. Plus, there will be discounts and giveaways throughout the season to reward the thousands of fans who dedicate their time to supporting this great event.

"We are immensely proud to be part of the BRC legacy and hope that the 2024 Probite British Rally Championship will be the best yet.”

Championship Rounds

Posted: January 1, 2024 12:00 PM

1. North West Stages - 22-23 Mar 24
2. Rallynuts (Severn Valley) Stages Rally - (Sat) 13 Apr 24
3. Jim Clark Rally - 24-25 May 24
4. Grampian Forest Rally - 9-10 Aug 24
5. Rali Bae Ceredigion/Cardigan Bay Rally - 30 Aug-1 Sep 24
6. Cambrian Rally - (Sat) 26 Oct 24

British Rally Championship