Malcolm Wilson Rally - (Sat) 11 Mar 23

Route update due to snow - Malcolm Wilson Rally Statement 17.45 on 10th March 2023

Posted: March 10, 2023 2:23 PM

"Following an extensive recce of the stages the event will now start at 08.00 and will use the following stages

Greystoke 1
Grizedale South
Grizedale North
Greystoke 2
Greystoke 3

The total mileage will be approximately 40 miles.

This is for all competitors. The event will be classified as a winter rally : Tyre list 6 does not apply.
The event will run conventional seeding in one group.

Updated road book pages , time cards will be published as soon as possible.

A start list will be issued 19.00."

Signed

Kevin Savage
Clerk Of the Course

CRONIN RETURNS IN DRIVE FOR FIVE

Posted: March 6, 2023 12:51 PM

Saturday’s Malcolm Wilson Rally in Cumbria’s Lake District marks the start of the 2023 British Rally Championship season, the first of seven rounds in the series which will take place across England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Belgium between now and October. The field on Saturday will include West Cork driver, Keith Cronin, who returns to the BRC this year with the ambition of securing a record-equalling fifth title. Cronin will once again partner with his long-time co-driver, Killarney’s Mikie Galvin, and they will be in the same Volkswagen Polo GTi which took them to second place in the standings in 2002.

The Malcolm Wilson Rally is named after, and backed by, the supremo of M-Sport Ltd., which operates the Ford World Rally Team, and the rally Start will be at the company’s base at Dovenby Hall, near Cockermouth. Indeed, M-Sport drivers are the top two seeds for the event, with Frenchman, Adrien Fourmaux, carrying No. 1 and leading the field away in a Ford Fiesta Rally 2. Fourmaux has registered for the BRC, and will be the first works pilot to challenge for championship points in many years. The Malcolm Wilson Rally will also feature Greek-Belgian driver, Jourdan Serderidis, in the Rally 1 Ford Puma he campaigns on various round of the World Rally Championship, running at number 2. It is likely to be the only competitive outing of a Rally 1 car on UK soil this year, and its presence is likely to significantly boost spectator numbers. The Puma is not eligible for the British Championship, so Serderidis will be driving for event overall honours only.

Cronin’s entry for the Malcolm Wilson Rally was submitted at the eleventh hour, and as a result he has been seeded at 38, but can be expected to be allowed run in the top ten on the road. “It’s all been a bit last minute really, up to a few days ago I wasn’t sure if I’d be doing the rally”, Cronin noted. “Those of us who aren’t professional competitors have commitments and responsibilities outside of rallying, these have to be looked after as well. It’s been fairly hectic work-wise in recent months, I haven't sat in a rally car since the Trackrod last September, but I’m glad now that everything is in place for Saturday”, he added. The four-time BRC champion also recognises the challenge that will be posed by Fourmaux: “He’s holding all the aces really, he’s a World Championship driver, he’s in a works car, and he actually won this event before, in 2020. Three of the stages are in Greystoke forest, where M-Sport does a lot of its testing, so while Adrien may be French, he really has ‘home advantage’. We’re not really sure yet how many BRC rounds he will be able to fit in around his World Championship schedule, if he does most of them then it will be hard to see beyond him for the title. Other young drivers like James Williams and Elliott Payne have an extra year’s experience now as well. It won’t be easy, but we’ll take it event by event and we'll see how things progress.”

Reflecting on his 2022 season, where he finished second in the overall standings to Osian Pryce, Cronin accepts that the outcome fell short of his ambitions: “The latter half of the year didn’t go to plan, we had the crash on Rali Ceredigion and then an overshoot on the Trackrod Rally cost us any hope of the win and the chance to bring the championship battle to final round on the Cambrian. There’s definitely some unfinished business there for me,” he concluded.

The Malcolm Wilson Rally crews have an early start on Saturday morning, with the first car due to leave M-Sport at 7am. Four stages, Hobcarton, Comb, Wythop and Greystoke will be completed before the first Service. Two stages follow mid-morning in Griezedale Forest, often part of Britain’s World Championship round in the past, before the second Service, with two further runs through Greystoke rounding out the rally in the afternoon. The Finish Ramp celebrations will take place in Penrith just after 4.30pm.

The BRC facebook page will feature live updates from stage ends throughout the day (facebook.com/BRCrally), while the championship’s new YouTube channel will carry highlights later in the week (youtube.com/@brcrally).

Keith Cronin and Mikie Galvin are supported by M O’Brien Group of Companies, Molson Group, Keohane Seafoods, Inver Energy, Cremin Coaches, Cronin’s Homevalue Hardware, Cronin’s Centra (Ballylickey, Leap and Union Hall), Westlink Inver Service Station and Michelin Tyres. Their Volkswagen Polo GTi R5 is prepared and run by Tom Gahan Motorsport.

British Rally Championship heads for Cumbria curtain raiser

Posted: March 6, 2023 12:48 PM

The Motorsport UK British Rally Championship will kick start its 65th anniversary season this weekend as the Malcolm Wilson Rally [11 March] plays host to the opening round of the 2023 term.

Classic Cumbrian forest stages such as Grizedale have been etched on the memories of many rally fans over the years thanks to their influential role in the RAC Rally’s of old, and now the region's forests will host the championship for the first time in decades, offering an uncharted start to Britain’s premier rally series.

A newcomer to the seven-round BRC bill, the Malcolm Wilson Rally is based at the home of the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team in Cockermouth and an impressive array of top-flight BRC1 crews in Rally2 machinery will assemble at the facility, aiming for a maximum score to get their season off to the perfect start.

They will be joined by the ultra-rapid Junior and Academy drivers in Rally4 and R2 examples, as well as the National Rally Champion contenders.

And for the series opener, M-Sport has decided to bring out the big guns, entering World Rally Championship ace and WRC2 factory driver Adrien Fourmaux. With Alex Coria alongside, Fourmaux will pilot a Fiesta Rally2 in the hunt for seat time ahead of the incoming Rally Mexico.

The squad have also nominated the event as his “Joker”, offering up to five additional bonus points for a maximum score and although that could come across as confident, he is not predicting an easy fight.

“Honestly, I don’t really know [what to expect]” he says.

“I think we will have a very high level of competition, it’s always interesting to fight in a national championship. I’m expecting a nice rally on the Malcolm Wilson. It’s a good opportunity to support the WRC2 fight this year.”

If ever the chasing pack needed a benchmark, this will be it and there will be a familiar name hunting down the Frenchman for opening round glory.

Placing a late entry, four-time British Champion Keith Cronin embarks on a last-minute campaign for that elusive record-equalling title. Finishing second to Osian Pryce in 2022, he and Mike Galvin will be hunting down Jimmy McRae’s five BRC crowns and return in their Volkswagen Polo GTi.

"We’re not really sure yet how many BRC rounds he [Fourmaux] will be able to fit in around his World Championship schedule, if he does most of them then it will be hard to see beyond him for the title" says Cronin.

"There’s definitely some unfinished business there for me.”

Behind Cronin's Polo, a fascinating mix of returning contenders and eager newcomers are eager for their shot at glory. James Williams heads up the charge, aptly switching allegiances from last year’s Hyundai to Ford and the Fiesta Rally2. He does retain the services of co-driver Dai Roberts.

Multi-event winner and BTRDA champion Elliot Payne throws his hat into the ring with a full title tilt in 2023 after a partial programme last season. Joined by Tom Woodburn, the pairing will once again bring their brightly liveried Fiesta Rally2.

Having been away from the series for eight years, rapid national driver Callum Black makes a welcome return in his Fiesta Rally2 and Jack Morton is on the notes. The last time Black was in the BRC, it was in the two-wheel-drive era but having proved himself in four-wheel drive over the last few years, steps back into the top flight.

Skoda Fabia driver Garry Pearson returns to the mix after a progressive 2022, hoping to improve on a single podium spot last season. The Scotsman will be joined by Hannah McKillop in the co-drivers seat.

Reigning Junior BRC champions Eamonn Kelly and Conor Mohan step up to BRC1 in 2023 where their Junior WRC commitments allow. The pairing will bring the Volkswagen Polo GTi that took them to a podium at last year’s Cambrian Rally, after season the Junior title with a round to spare.

National Rally Champion Alan Carmichael also joins the BRC fray in his Hyundai i20 after an impressive 2022. He and Arthur Kierans set some spectacular times and will now enter their right-hand-drive example into BRC1 for a chance at overall honours.

Newcomers to the series include American Allen Dobasu [Fiesta], Hugh Brunton [Fabia], and Gavin Edwards [Fiesta].

The Fiesta Rally3 will make its BRC debut courtesy of Johnnie Mulholland and Eoin Treacy who step up from the Junior BRC category. The four-wheel-drive category is used in the Junior WRC and eyes will be on its performance over the tricky gravel tests.

The Junior BRC is set to be as unpredictable as ever and its 2022 frontrunners Kyle White and Sean Topping that bring the noise with their Peugeot 208 Rally4. A win at the Nicky Grist last season shows their raw speed, but they will have Fiesta Rally4 rivals to contend with, comprising of the returning Casey Jay Coleman and Adam Coffey and Academy Trophy champ, Kyle McBride and Liam McIntyre.

Stephen Waugh and Mark Broadbent make their BRC4 debut in a Fiesta R2T after campaigning a Honda Civic on national gravel events last season. A class victory at the non-championship Riponian in February shows their potential pace for the year ahead.

The Malcolm Wilson Rally starts from the M-Sport facility outside of Cockermouth early on Saturday morning, with seven stages and around 51 stage miles on offer during the day. The winner will spray the champagne at the Penrith finish later that afternoon after an undoubtedly scintillating day of action in the forests.

Keep tabs on all the latest BRC developments by visiting www.britishrallychampionship.co.uk or by following us on social media: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Twitter using #BRC.

Seeded Entry List

Posted: March 2, 2023 8:51 AM

1 Adrien Fourmaux/Alexandre Coria (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [BRC 1]
2 Jourdan Serderidis/Grégoire Munster (Ford Puma Rally1) [Motorsport UK]
3 James Williams/Dai Roberts (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [BRC 1]
4 Elliot Payne/Tom Woodburn (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [BRC 1]
5 Callum Black/Jack Morton (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [BRC 1]
6 Garry Pearson/Hannah McKillop (Skoda Fabia R5) [BRC 1]
7 Eamonn Kelly/Conor Mohan (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5) [BRC 1]
8 Matthew Hirst/Declan Dear (Ford Fiesta R5) [B14]
9 Rory Young/Allan Cathers (Ford Fiesta Rally 2) [B14]
10 Alan Carmichael/Arthur Kierans (Hyundai i20 R5) [BRC 1]
11 Hugh Brunton/Drew Sturrock (Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo) [BRC 1]
12 Stephen Petch/Michael Wilkinson (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [BRC 1]
14 Mark Donnelly/Stephen O'Hanlon (Fiesta Fiesta R5) [B14]
15 Allen Dobasu/Max Freeman (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [BRC 1]
16 Gavin Edwards/Caron Tomlinson (Ford Fiesta R5) [BRC 1]
17 Ian Bainbridge/Will Atkins (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [B14]
18 Hugh Hunter/Rob Fagg (Ford Fiesta R5) [B14]
19 Arron Newby/Jamie Edwards (Skoda Fabia R5) [B14]
20 Niall Devine/Liam Mcintyre (Ford Fiesta R5) [B14]
21 Niall McCullagh/Ryan McCloskey (Ford Fiesta Rally 2) [B14]
22 Russ Thompson/Stephen Link (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [B13]
23 Johnnie Mulholland/Eoin Treacy (Ford Fiesta Rally 3) [BRC 3]
24 Daniel Sigurðarson/Ásta Sigurðardóttir (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [B13]
25 Ian Joel/Graeme Wood (Ford Escort RS Cosworth) [B13]
26 Alexander Vassallo/TBC (TBA ) [R2*]
27 Charles Payne/Carl Williamson (Ford Fiesta Rally 2) [B14]
28 Trevor Gamble/Phil Kenny (Ford Fiesta Rally 2) [B14]
29 Eddie Lewis/Sion Cunniff (Ford Fiesta R5) [B14]
30 Alistair Ginley/Craig Thorley (Ford Fiesta Rally 2) [B14]
31 Conor McCourt/Caolan McKenna (Citroen C3 Rally2) [B14]
32 Gary Cooper/Jon Riley (Subaru Impreza) [B13]
33 Daniel Moss/Samuel Davies (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) [B13]
34 Steve Pawson/Dylan Thomas (Subaru Impreza) [B13]
35 Darren Martin/Daniel Hurst (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [B13]
36 Colin Minton/Bonnie Papper (Ford Fiesta R5) [B14]
37 Aileen Forrest/John Forrest (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [B13]
40 Stuart Egglestone/Brian Hodgson (Ford Escort Mk2 RS1800) [H1/H2]
41 Steve Bannister/Callum Atkinson ( ) [R2*]
42 Ben Friend/Cliff Simmons (Ford Escort Mk2 RS1800) [H3/H4]
43 Boyd Kershaw/Keegan Rees (Ford Escort) [B11]
44 Andy Davison/Tom Murphy (Sunbeam VXR) [B12]
45 Rob Wright/Mark Fisher (Ford Escort Mk 2) [B12]
46 Kyle White/Sean Topping (Peugeot 208 Rally4) [Junior BRC]
47 Kyle McBride/Liam McIntyre (Ford Fiesta Rally4) [Junior BRC]
48 Casey Jay Coleman/Adam Coffey (Ford Fiesta Rally4) [Junior BRC]
49 Stephen Waugh/Mark Broadbent (Ford Fiesta) [BRC 4]
50 Neil Andrew/Dominic Adams (Ford Escort Mk 2) [B11]
52 Damian Pratts/Colin Blunt (Ford Escort) [B12]
53 Barry Lindsay/Caroline Lodge (Peugeot 206 Cup Car) [B10]
54 Mark Shaw/James Coxon (Talbot Sunbeam Ti) [B10]
55 Robert Proudlock/Steven Brown (Opel Adam) [R2*]
56 Phil Jobson/Ken Bowman (Ford Escort Mk1) [H1/H2]
57 Richard Millener/Claire Williams (Ford Fiesta R2) [R2*]
58 Geoff Phelps/Colin Jenkins (Ford Escort) [B11]
59 Steve Hopewell/Clive Jones (Ford Escort) [B11]
60 Daniel Thompson/Matthew Thompson (Vauxhall Corsa) [B10]
61 David Dobson/tba (Ford Escort Mk2) [H1/H2]
62 Steve Black/Sophie Black (Suzuki Swift S1400) [1400S]
63 Derek Belbin/Mark Mason (Ford Escort Mk2 RS1800) [R2*]
64 Nigel Jenkins/Kaz Jenkins (Vauxhall Nova) [1400S]
65 Kris Farrell/TBC (Proton Satria) [1400S]
66 David Pedley/Grace Pedley (Ford Escort Mk2 RS1800) [H3/H4]
67 Nathan Wearden/Ethan Thompson (Ford Fiesta) [B10]
68 Liam Clark/Ben Wild (Ford Fiesta) [R2*]
69 Robin Shuttleworth/Malcolm Smithson (Ford Escort Mexico) [H1/H2]
70 Dale Glover/Sean Ward (Alfa Romeo Alfasud TI) [1400S]
71 Lewis Hooper/Rhys Edwards (Nissan Micra) [RF 1.4]
72 Tim Phelps/Elwyn Manuel (Ford Escort) [B12]
73 Ashley Francis-Adams/Lucy Wilding (Nissan Micra) [1400C]
74 Steve Korky Ward/Phil Sandham (Ford Escort Mk2 RS1800) [H3/H4]
75 Philip Rowland/Philip Woodcock (BMW M3) [B12]
76 Roger Nevitt/Mike Smith (Ford Fiesta) [R2*]
77 Edward James/Charlie Mason (Nissan Micra Kit Car) [1400S]
78 Ian Hildreth/Sarah Wetton (Ford Escort) [H3/H4]
79 Ernie Lee/Patricia Lee (BMW 325i) [H3/H4]
80 Paul Rawson/Mike Curry (Ford Escort Mk1) [H1/H2]
81 Carl Stuttard/Harry Walshaw (Ford Escort Mk2) [H3/H4]
82 Rob Bradley/Kevin Booth (Ford Escort Mk2) [B11]
83 Dylan Fowler-Bishop/Dan Evans (Nissan Micra) [1400C]
84 Alfie Hammond/Phil Boyle (Ford Fiesta) [R2*]
85 Michael Jenkins/Sophie Buckland (Ford Fiesta) [B10]
86 Lucy Wigley/Emma Cooper (Citroen C2 R2 Max) [B10]
87 Aaron Rix/Abi Haycock (Ford Escort Mk2) [1400S]
88 James Lightfoot/Ula Budzynska (Ford Fiesta R2T) [R2*]
89 Niall Cowan/Helen Brown (MG 3) [1400C]
90 Andrew Wheatley/Oliver Wheatley (Ford Puma) [1400C]
91 Luke Watts/Mark Ammonds (MG ZR) [1400C]
92 Max Crowther/Adrian Wilford (Volkswagen Lupo) [1400C]
93 Rob Graham/Helen Harkness (Ford Escort Mk1) [H1/H2]
94 Wil Armitage/Jeremy Pole (Peugeot 306 S16) [B11]
95 Nick Taylor/Paul Gribben (Ford Escort) [B11]
96 Tom Constantine/Tony Walker (MG 3) [1400C]
97 Kevin Downes/Paul Hudson (Ford Escort Mk 2) [B11]
98 Jonny Pickup/Peter King (VW Polo) [RF 1.4]
99 Tom Harrison/Marcus Pomfret (Ford Escort) [B10]
100 Will Banks/Sam Kelter (Vauxhall Nova) [1400C]
101 Mark Johnson/Steven Butler (Nissan Micra) [1400C]
102 Giles Armitage/Josh Rhodes (Peugeot 205 GTi) [RF 2.0]
103 David Thorpe/Megan McCarron (Citroen C2 GT) [B10]
104 David Head/Steve Perry (Mini Cooper) [B10]
105 Christopher Butterworth/Kimberley Butterworth (Ford Escort Mk1 RS1600) [H3/H4]

Entries Received / On Line Entry / Details

Posted: January 27, 2023 5:01 AM

https://www.rallies.info/webentry/2023/malcolmwilson/

Malcolm Wilson Rally