2006 British Rally Championship

Posted: October 13, 2006 12:00 PM

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13/10/06
Drivers
1 Mark Higgins 135
2 Jonny Milner 89
3 Ryan Champion 86
4 Gwyndaf Evans 77
5 Conrad Rautenbach 70
6 Robert Swann 67
7 Guy Wilks 66
8 Julian Reynolds 65
9 Phillip Morrow 63
10 Gordon Cunningham 58

Teams
1 Dealer Team Suzuki 145
2 Stobart VK Subaru 135
3 Stobart VK M-Sport Ford 114
4 Mitsubishi Motors UK 107
5 SJR Hankook 103
6 Geoff Jones Motorsport 90
7 Jardine Lloyd Thompson 47
8 S G Petch Scalextric 41

British Rally Championship

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27/09/06

Pirelli control tyre for 2007 Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship
Tyre deal offers reward and progression for future BRC talent

Pirelli Tyres has been selected as the control tyre manufacturer for the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship.

The 3 year agreement with Pirelli sees the BRC introducing a prize fund to be spread across all classes in the Championship with every finisher receiving prize money on every round.

In addition to the substantial prize fund, Pirelli have introduced a driver development scheme unique to the BRC which, under their direct support, will see the winner being progressed in their careers.

The move to a single tyre supplier for the championship is the latest step made by the BRC to ensure a level playing field to best showcase talent and ability in the six-round championship. It comes after the successful introduction at the start of the 2006 season of a control fuel and Group N regulations.

“A ground breaking package” is how BRC Manager Mark Taylor described Pirelli’s announcement to support the BRC. “This initiative will see significant benefits and a huge prize fund being ploughed back to the competitors further highlighting future talent and provide even closer competition on the stages.”

The key benefits are:
• Fixed cost tyres supplied on each of the events.
• Equal tyre availability and performance for every competitor.
• Pirelli Star Driver scheme which encompasses every class in the BRC will select a “star” winner from each of the first five events. Going head to head in a final shootout competition, the eventual winner will receive a fully funded drive in a potential championship winning, top spec car in the 2008 Championship
• Cash prize fund for BRC registered competitors in every class. BRC class winners on every rally can win up to £500, runner-up places reducing down to £100 for every finisher in each class in each rally
• Incentives for foreign drivers to enter and compete in the Championship
• Pirelli marketing enhancements and increased media profile

Pirelli won the tender process to supply Britain’s most exciting and dynamic motor sport championship after bids were submitted by five tyre manufacturers.

BRC Manager, Mark Taylor says:
“Never before in the British Rally Championship have competitors been provided with a chance to win cash prizes of this magnitude, importantly these will be structured to support all classes and registered finishers.

“The Pirelli Star driver scheme will be selected by a majority objective set of criteria that will be known by everyone and published by the end of the year. A project to identify true future talent, the principal and importantly the winner could come from any class in the BRC field. The inaugural winner will receive a fully funded drive in the 2008 BRC, but in future years we have not ruled out prizes that could see Star Drivers progress to the World stage.

“The joint Pirelli and BRC package for the 2007 season sees the benefits of a control single make tyre, providing reward for competitors, investment in Championship promotion and an undertaking from Pirelli to provide incentives to foreign drivers from Europe to come and enter the BRC.“

Paul Hembrey, Pirelli Motorsport Director, says:
“Pirelli has over 30 years of rally heritage, and is delighted to be chosen as the tyre partner for the reinvigorated BRC. The focus on group N machinery has created a substantial interest in the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship, and working together with BRC, Pirelli wishes to promote not only the championship, but also the development of future International Rally Stars. This is an exciting time for British rallying, and one that will evolve the BRC to once again be the premium national rally championship in the world. “

In keeping with Pirelli’s most distinctive hallmarks, innovation and research, the deal sees the very latest tyre technology being used in what is Britain’s most exciting and dynamic motor sport championship.

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21/09/06
Tesco 99 Octane backs MSA British Rally Championship until 2009.
Biofuel in driving seat as the cleanest fuel in motorsport makes its mark.

Tesco has confirmed its title sponsorship of the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship for a further two seasons. The agreement builds on the successful introduction of biofuel blend Tesco 99 Octane as the control fuel for the 2006 Championship - making it the first motorsport championship in the world to adopt a control fuel with bio-ethanol content.

Tesco 99 Octane, developed by leading independent fuel producer Greenergy Fuels, has been chosen by the MSA British Rally Championship not only because it delivers great power but also because it is one of the cleanest motorsport fuels on the market with low levels of aromatics and enhanced environmental credentials.

The performance of the fuel on the forest stages has been matched by its performance on Tesco forecourts with 99 Octane now available at over 200 stores. As well as being on sale to Tesco customers, Tesco 99 Octane retail fuel is also available to competitors of championships that run alongside the BRC.

Mark Taylor, Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship manager commented: “The announcement that Tesco, Britain’s biggest retailer, is continuing its association with Britain’s most exciting and dynamic motorsport championship is further evidence of the growth and success of the six round championship which encompasses the best rallies of the British Isles.”

The introduction of the new fuel also saw a drive to improve safety standards with the introduction of new ‘Refuel Zones’. The zones offer a secure environment for refuelling and cut out the need for competitors to transport fuel for their own cars.

Peter Cattell, Category Manager, Petrol at Tesco added: “It’s fantastic to see the UK’s top rally drivers racing on Tesco 99 Octane. We’re sure they are enjoying the fuel as much as the many thousands of customers who fill up with it at our stores every week.”

Further announcements about the future of the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship are expected over the next few weeks.

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05/05/06 Super 1600 champions prepare for title defence in British Rally Championship
Carrigaline driver Brian O’Mahony and Mayo co-driver John Higgins will return to defend their British Super 1600 Rally Championship title when they contest a full season in the 2006 Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship (BRC).

The crew will once again be campaigning a Team Birkbeck Rallysport-run Ford Puma, backed by OM Concrete Products and Kumho, in the Super 1600 category of the six round series and will have a brand-new car when they compete in the opening event of the championship, the Pirelli International Rally, next weekend (13-14 May).

They will be up against the likes of former Ford world rally driver Roman Kresta and reigning British Production champion Barry Clark in the Super 1600 championship this season, but O’Mahony and Higgins are ready to put up a fight in a bid to retain their honours.

O’Mahony, 21, said: “Our aim this season in the BRC is to defend our title. We know it’s not going to be easy with drivers like Roman Kresta and Barry Clark out there in the Fiestas, but we’re going to give it our best shot and are feeling upbeat heading into the opening round of the series.”

Higgins, 23, said: “There is going to be some stiff competition out there but we are going to give it our all to retain our title, which is our ultimate aim this year.”

Last season O’Mahony and Higgins finished 17th overall in the Pirelli International Rally, coming home second in the Super 1600 class in the process. It will be a change of surface for the pair when they venture out onto the 115 miles of gravel stages in Kielder Forest next weekend as so far this year they have only competed across tarmac at home in Ireland.

O’Mahony added: “I’m looking forward to getting back into action in the BRC. We haven’t done a gravel rally yet this season but we will soon get back into it. We had a good result on the Pirelli last year and hopefully we can get another one this time out.”

Higgins said: “It will be good to get back to the BRC, I enjoyed the Pirelli last year. We are looking for a good result to get our championship campaign off to the best possible start. I’m looking forward to getting back out onto the gravel again as well.”

As well as taking part in the full BRC, the duo are also competing in selected rounds of the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Championship this season, in which they were crowned class A6 champions last year. The Irish Tarmac Championship shares several rounds with the British series, including the Manx International Rally and the Ulster Rally.

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26/02/06

• 2006 Subaru Cup

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11/02/06
Tesco sponsors MSA British Rally Championship
BRC to be powered by bio-ethanol blended fuel

Supermarket chain Tesco will join the MSA British Rally Championship in 2006 as title sponsor with their new high octane petrol containing bio-ethanol, Tesco 99 Octane, produced by Greenergy.

The move sees the MSA British Rally Championship taken to a whole new audience with its association with Britain's biggest retailer, and the series increase its environmental credentials by running on a more environmentally friendly control fuel - a first for any British motor sport championship.

"The MSA British Rally Championship is the ideal showcase for our performance fuel. Tesco 99 Octane has been an overwhelming success in the 120 forecourts where it has been introduced, and we're confident that its 99 octane rating will appeal to rally drivers as much as to road drivers," explains Peter Cattell, Category Manager, Petrol at Tesco.

Not only does Tesco 99 Octane have superior environmental credentials than conventional fuel, its Tesco's value for money ethos is retained too, with the forecourt price costing approximately 4 pence per litre more than conventional fuel, around half the premium that competitor higher octane fuels cost.

Greenergy will provide a controlled fuel and supply service to registered competitors of the BRC. The on-event service will be a turn-key operation, precluding the need for competitors to store or transport fuel to and from events. Control fuel will be available from Greenergy for ongoing testing and tuning.

"We are absolutely delighted to join forces with Tesco to support the British Rally Championship," comments Andrew Owens, Managing Director of Greenergy. "Tesco 99 Octane provides the motorsport community with the ultimate combination of performance, affordability and environmental benefit."

Championship manager, Mark Taylor, welcomes the announcement. "We are absolutely delighted to welcome Tesco as title sponsors of the new Championship. The BRC is also extremely proud to be addressing the need for increased control around the storage, distribution and handling of fuels" he said. "This move involving Tesco and Greenergy is a very positive step in the right direction. It's great news for the Championship and for the sport as a whole."

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12/01/06
MITSUBISHI CONFIRMS 2006 UK RALLY TEAM LINE-UP

Rory Galligan/Greg Shinnors have contract renewed for 2006.
Ryan Champion gets set for Mitsubishi works drive.
Team looks forward to introduction of new Lancer Evolution IX.

Mitsubishi Motors UK has today confirmed that Rory Galligan will continue to drive for its Group N rally team in 2006, the talented Irishman set to compete in one of the two works Lancer Evolution IXs contesting next year's British Rally Championship.

Joining Galligan will be 2005 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge Champion, Ryan Champion, who takes the other works seat as his prize for winning last year's series.

Having won the Evo Challenge in 2004, Galligan certainly made the most of his prize drive in the 2005 British Rally Championship by winning the Production Category on five of the eight rounds.

I'm delighted to be selected to drive for Mitsubishi for a second season, said Galligan. It's great to be offered a works seat based on merit rather than winning it as a prize. I'm really looking forward to this season and putting to good use the experience I gained from last year.

Although he and then team mate David Higgins, regularly proved they were the fastest drivers in the Class, Galligan was denied the PBRC title and ended the season a close second. However, their efforts were rewarded by securing the coveted British Team's title.

The team is confident that the introduction of the Lancer Evolution IX will see the issues which punctuated its 2005 campaign now rectified and reports so far suggest that the new car is even faster.

With the British Championship excluding World Rally Cars this year Class N4 machinery is destined to be running at the front and the field, a factor which will give both Galligan and Champion the chance to challenge for the overall British title.

Champion will drive an identical car to that of Galligan, Mitsubishi confirming that both drivers will run on equal status.

It's a great opportunity to drive for the only confirmed works team in the British Championship, said Champion. Winning a series as competitive as the Evolution Challenge isn't easy, so I intend to make the most of my season with Mitsubishi. Having competed alongside Rory in the past, I'm looking forward to working with him this year.

General Manager for Mitsubishi Motors UK Ralliart, Paul Brigden, is optimistic about 2006 and said:
With Mitsubishi UK's commitment to run two cars in the British Rally Championship continuing into 2006, I am pleased to be able to extend Rory's contract. I also welcome Ryan to the team and with the introduction of the new Lancer Evolution IX, coupled with the changes taking place within the BRC, 2006 is shaping up to be an exciting year.

Galligan - from Oldcastle, will be partnered by his 2005 co-driver, Greg Shinnors from Limerick.
Champion - from Whitby, will be joined by his regular and long-standing co-driver, Craig Thorley from York.

Built by ADR Motorsport of Chesterfield, who are also responsible for running the cars on events, the UK works Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX makes its first public appearance at the Autosport show.

Galligan and Champion will commence testing in January in readiness for the team's first event in 2006, BRC Live on 19th March.

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19/12/05
Championship Rounds

1. Pirelli International Rally - 13-14 May 06
2. Jim Clark Memorial Rally - 7-8 Jul 06
3. Manx International Rally - 3-5 Aug 06
4. Ulster International Rally - 1-2 Sep 06
5. International Rally of Yorkshire - 7 Oct 06
6. Wales Rally GB - 1-3 Dec 06

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• NEW LOOK BRITISH RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP FOR 2006
  BRC bans WRCs for 2006

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British Rally Championship