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FUCHS LUBRICANTS to partner 2018 British Historic Rally Championship

Posted: January 15, 2018 5:23 AM

FUCHS LUBRICANTS will be the title sponsor of the 2018 MSA British Historic Rally Championship in a partnership that further strengthens the links between FUCHS and the Roger Albert Clark Rally Motor Club.

FUCHS LUBRICANTS will now be the headline sponsor for both the MSA British Historic Rally Championship and the established FUCHS LUBRICANTS RACRMC Historic Asphalt Rally Championship.

The popularity of both championships, aimed at historic two-wheel drive cars primarily from the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s, will give FUCHS a strong platform to showcase its range of high performance lubricants, including the soon to be launched improved CLASSIC range of four-wheel engine and gear oils. All competing cars will feature FUCHS branding, which will carry across into the TV, social media and print media footprint of the twin championships. The RACRMC now has a total Facebook following of more than 20,000.

The new BHRC partnership comes at a time when gravel rallying for historic cars is poised for a strong season as events move towards formats that offer greater appeal for the historic crews. Meanwhile, the Historic Asphalt Rally Championship is continually building support from those who prefer to compete on sealed surfaces.

Colin Heppenstall from the Roger Albert Clark Rally Motor Club said:
“We’re delighted to build on our already strong links with FUCHS LUBRICANTS. I think the BHRC is set for a very strong season in 2018 and the Historic Asphalt Championship continues to attract new competitors. We would like to thank the team at FUCHS for its extended support.”

Sally Travis from FUCHS LUBRICANTS said:
“We have been lucky enough to work with Colin and the team at the RACRMC for a few years now, and so I am excited about the chance to have the FUCHS name in partnership with both the UK’s top two historic championships. We have a long history in motor sport and our proven products are demanded by track day enthusiast to professional racer.”

Forest Rally Challenge for 2018 British Historic Rally Championship

Posted: January 15, 2018 4:14 AM

A five-round Forest Rally Challenge will be run within the 2018 FUCHS LUBRICANTS MSA British Historic Rally Championship.

The Challenge will be for those who concentrate on gravel rallies, and will allow them to compete for points and end of season awards across the five gravel rallies that feature on the calendar.

The Forest Rally Challenge will take in two events in Wales, two in the vast Kielder complex and one in the famous Yorkshire forests. On three of the five events, the historic cars will run first on the road within the two-wheel drive element of the rally. Both Rally North Wales and the Red Kite Stages will run to the new Rally 2WD format while the Pirelli Rally will continue to run the two-wheel drive event first on single-use stages. On both the Carlisle Stages and Trackrod Rally, the historic crews will complete up to half their competitive mileage ahead of the four-wheel drive field.

Championship manager Colin Heppenstall from the Roger Albert Clark Rally Motor Club said:
“We recognise that some crews prefer not to compete on asphalt and so the Forest Rally Challenge is designed for them. With the major changes that have been made to running order on some events, we think demand for gravel rallying will bounce back in 2018.”

Points scored on all five rounds will count and those crews winning major overall BHRC awards will not be eligible for Forest Rally Challenge awards.

The BHRC Forest Rally Challenge schedule is:

Dates subject to MSA approval.

BHRC2 announced for Category 1 and 1600cc cars

Posted: December 13, 2017 4:14 PM

A new division within the MSA British Historic Rally Championship, called BHRC2, will turn the spotlight on the Category 1 (pre-1968) and 1600cc cars in the championship.

BHRC2 has been developed in response to the upsurge in interest from those looking to compete in Category 1 cars and 1600cc cars from across the historic age groups, which now run up to 1990. The new Rally 2WD event format, and revised running order on gravel events, has rebuilt interest in gravel rallying for these cars.

“We have created BHRC2 to give these competitors their own identity within the overall championship,” said Colin Heppenstall from the Roger Albert Clark Rally Motor Club. “The overall BHRC is, of course, topped by the pace-setting cars and BHRC2 will be the ideal championship for clubmen, younger drivers and those moving to historic rallying for the first time.”

The scoring within BHRC2 will be based on category and class points only, unlike the main BHRC which factors in overall points as well. BHRC2 will mirror the full BHRC schedule but the best five scores from eight rounds will count, thus allowing crews to select the events they most want to contest.

As well as a separate points’ table and end of season awards, BHRC2 will have dedicated media coverage and its own champagne sprays at the end of each rally.

“The very encouraging response to the new Rally 2WD initiative includes a significant number of drivers from Category 1 and those with 1600cc cars,” said Heppenstall. “We believe that the launch of BHRC2 will help to encourage these cars back out onto the stages.”

2018 BHRC dates announced

Posted: October 12, 2017 6:44 AM

The provisional calendar for the 2018 MSA British Historic Rally Championship has been announced as the series organisers move to ensure that the historic crews get the best possible road conditions on the five gravel rallies.

The 2018 calendar will feature a number of significant changes, most notable being a commitment that the historic crews will run ahead of the four-wheel-drive cars on all five gravel events.

When announcing the dates, championship manager Colin Heppenstall re-affirmed that the BHRC would remain a two-wheel drive only championship until at least the end of the current contract for the Roger Albert Clark Rally Motor Club. Four-wheel drive cars form the new historic Category 4b will not be admitted.

The schedule has been reduced by one event to take in seven rallies and eight rounds, with five gravel rounds and three asphalt rounds. Rally Isle of Man will again be a double-header round.

The provisional schedule, subject to MSA approval is:

“We’ve given a lot of thought to what our competitors want and we believe that the best possible stage conditions on the gravel events is the top priority,” said Heppenstall. “Being able to run the historics ahead of 4x4s on all the gravel stages is a major development for the BHRC.”

Championship Rounds

Posted: October 12, 2017 6:27 AM

Red Kite Stages - 24 Jun 18

British Historic Rally Championship (BHRC)

2018 MSA British Historic Rally Championship

FUCHS LUBRICANTS to partner 2018 British Historic Rally Championship

Forest Rally Challenge for 2018 British Historic Rally Championship

BHRC2 announced for Category 1 and 1600cc cars

2018 BHRC dates announced

Championship Rounds

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