2012 MSA BRITISH RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

The NEW MSA British Rally Championship is for drivers and co-drivers in two wheel drive BRC class categories to achieve the highest accolade of the sport in Britain. The final scores will be based on the best five results from the six qualifying rounds.

The NEW MSA British Manufacturers Rally Championship provides a high profile sporting arena for registered manufacturers. Manufacturers will score points based on the two highest placed cars on each event, regardless of driver or team. All six rounds count towards the final Championship classification.

The NEW MSA British Junior Rally Championship is the platform for future rally talent and will be open to drivers who were born on or after 1st January 1989, driving Class 10 (Rally 1) cars only.

The NEW BRC Teams Cup is aimed at professional motorsport teams running two cars. Drivers to will be pre-nominated, but can change from event-to-event. All six rounds count towards the final Championship classification.

The NEW BRC Classes incorporate two-wheel-drive cars only, covering FIA homologated Group N vehicles up to 1600cc and 2000cc, Super 1600s, Rally 1, 2 and 3. Four-wheel-drive, Group N4 and A7 Kit variant cars are not permitted.

The BRC Privateers Cup is open to registered competitors who are not selected to score drivers points in the Teams Championship.

The BRC Ladies Cup is open to registered female drivers.

 

PRESS RELEASE: 22 November 2011

Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship & BRC Challenge

Annual awards dinner 2011

This Saturday night (19th November) saw the Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship award its winners at the annual end-of-season prizegiving gala dinner, which took place the Hallmark Hotel in Manchester.

The event, which welcomed a full-to-capacity room of guests, was sponsored by Greenlight Television, who have been responsible for filming and producing TV programmes for the Championship over the past 10 years. Handing over the awards was Sue Brownson OBE, a Director on the MSA Board, who congratulated each of the winners on their achievements. The British Champions honoured on the night were:

David Bogie: Champion Driver
Kevin Rae: Champion Co-driver
Martin McCormack: Formula Two Champion Driver
David Moynihan: Formula Two Champion Co-driver
Autosport Technology: Teams’ Champions

David Bogie & Kevin Rae with the Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship trophy

After being presented with the impressive silver trophy that bears the names of all the British Champions over the past 53 years, an extremely proud David Bogie said:

“It’s still difficult to come to terms with what we have achieved this year. It’s been a perfect season. Initially we were going to enter the first two rounds of the British and the Scottish Championships and then see how things were from there. But, as everything was going so well, we decided to continue and I’m just delighted – and amazed – we won both! I have to thank my family, the team at Pro-Tec, Kevin (Rae) and everyone who has supported me this season.”

The evening also witnessed the announcement of the Pirelli Star Driver Award, when the prize of a fully-funded campaign in the 2012 British Rally Championship, driving a Skoda Fabia R2 run by TEG Sport, was awarded to Jukka Korhonen. Having taken part in a shoot-out last Wednesday and Thursday against five other drivers, Korhonen was unaware of his success until his name appeared on the big screen above the stage.

On receiving the award, the understandably surprised 27-year old from Finland said:

“I can’t believe it! I had no idea I was going to win. I just did my best in the shoot-out and hoped it was enough, but the competition was very strong so I really didn't know what the result was going to be. I must thank Pirelli and the British Championship for giving me this opportunity and I am really looking forward to next year. It’s a fantastic prize.”

Adding to his Formula Two title, Martin McCormack was also presented with the Emlyn Wynne Memorial Trophy, which rewards the season’s leading Junior (under 26-year old) driver. His performance during 2011 also saw him presented with the coveted Driver of the Year Award.

The six events that made up the 2011 calendar were also acknowledged, with the accolade for the ‘Rally of the Year’ going to Rallye Sunseeker International. Clerk of the Course for the event Rob Pike collected the award - which is voted for by competitors, teams and championship officials - and was understandably pleased as the rally joined the BRC for the first time this season.

The evening also provided a celebration and presentation of awards to winners in the BRC Challenge, Citroën Racing Trophy, Fiesta SportChallenge and Fiesta SportTrophy series’.

Plans for the 2012 MSA British Rally Championship are now well underway, with regulations scheduled to be available by the end of November.

For more information on the Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship visit www.rallybrc.co.uk

 

PRESS RELEASE: 5 October 2011

Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship

PBRC: New national four-wheel-drive series to run alongside British Rally Championship

Organisers of the MSA British Rally Championship are delighted to announce the introduction of brand new series for 2012: the Production BRC (PBRC), which has been created exclusively for four-wheel-drive production cars

With the announcement made at the start of 2011 that the BRC will only feature R1, R2 and R3 class two-wheel-drive cars next year, an opportunity has arisen to create a high-profile, professionally organised, UK-wide series that caters solely for four-wheel-drive cars.

The new series will follow all six rounds of the British Championship – four gravel and two asphalt- with the rallies running under a National B permit, which will allow recce to take place on asphalt events, but not gravel.

The rallies will be approximately 25% shorter than the International events which make up the British Championship, with distances estimated at 65-70 competitive miles for forest rallies and 100-110 for asphalt. Although the 2WD cars will run at the front of the field, it is planned that the final loop of stages on the international event will be omitted from that of the national rally and therefore, PBRC competitors will cross the finish line first.

In addition to All homologated R4, N4 and Super 2000 cars, organisers are proposing to allow cars vehicles that were previously homologated in N4 during the past 10 years and are currently looking at ways in which the older machinery can be fairly and economically upgraded in order to compete on a level playing field with the newer and faster variants. World Rally Cars will not be permitted to enter however.

Organisers anticipate that, by virtue of the series following the BRC, many of the advantages and promotional benefits will carry over to the PBRC, such as: offering classic and , well-managed events featuring some of the best special stages in the British Isles, spectator friendly town centre starts; PR and publicity campaigns; well organised service areas and a dedicated series website. Television coverage is also being planned.

“We made the decision to go to a two-wheel-drive only British Championship in 2012 for a number of very good reasons. However, we are aware that some competitors using four-wheel-drive machinery want to compete in a high-profile, well-managed national series that offers more stage mileage than is currently available elsewhere, but without the commitment of doing full international rallies”, said BRC Manager Mark Taylor. “After carrying out extensive market research, we believe that the PBRC ticks all of the boxes and will provide competitors with eligible four-wheel-drive cars with exactly what they are looking for, at a cost that represents excellent value for money.”

Regulations will be available in November, subject to approval by the MSA. For further information, contact the British Rally Championship Office: +44 (0) 1244 303150, info@rallybrc.co.uk

2012 PBRC Calendar (subject to MSA approval)
25 February: Rallye Sunseeker – Bournemouth/Poole, Dorest (Gravel)
31 March: Bulldog Rally North Wales – Welshpool, Wales (Gravel)
28 April: Pirelli Rally - Carlisle, Cumbria (Gravel)
1/2 June: Jim Clark Rally - Duns, Scottish Borders (Asphalt)
17/18 August: Todds Leap Ulster Rally – Antrim, Northern Ireland (Asphalt)
29 September: Rally Yorkshire – Scarborough, Yorkshire (Gravel)

Eligible vehicles
Homologated Group N4, Group R4 and Super 2000 cars
or
Subaru Impreza N9 and Mitsubishi Evolution VII onwards, featuring restrictions that will include a weight limit of 1320kgs, the use of standard transmission/differential casings and a 34 mm turbo restrictor. Full details will be defined by technical regulations due for publication in November 2011.

For more information on the Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship visit www.rallybrc.co.uk