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British Rally Championship takes 50th registration
As many people are aware, the British Rally Championship is celebrating its 50thanniversary in 2008.
With the mid point Rally Isle of Man approaching, the latest driver registration in this year’s Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship is nineteen year old Meilyr Evans, taking the total number of drivers to match the series age of fifty.
Not only does the young Welshman bolster the numbers to the highest this century, but his tender nineteen years helps bring the average age of drivers down to just 28.
The trend of increased numbers of younger drivers in the UK’s premier rally championship is testament to the quality of events as well as innovations such as tiered entry fees, prize money, affordable one-makes series’ and of course the BRC’s Pirelli Star Driver Scheme.
With just six drivers over forty, it could be argued that The BRC is only for the youngsters. But between these six “veterans”, there is the winner of the 2007 C2R2 Cup and this years current leader, as well as the winners and leaders of both Rally 3 and Diesel Cups in 2007 and 2008.
With youth and experience equally welcome, entries for the 2008 Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship are expected to continue to rise, as registrations do not close until the start of the Ulster Rally in August. In the mean-time the action moves to Rally Isle of Man for round three which starts on the 17th July.
Full stories, championship points are available at www.rallybrc.co.uk as well as reports from the stages, photos and new audio interviews with the top drivers.
A big thank you.
Ian Evans and his team would like to extend a big thank you to all marshals and radio crews who helped on both The Rainworth Skoda Dukeries Rally and The Trinity Hyundai Rally of the Midlands. Both events went successfully with only a few minor incidents. These were delt with in a professional manner and caused little delay to the event.
Event results are available. Rainworth Skoda Dukeries Rally. Trinity Hyundai Rally of the Midlands.
MSA Championships
The MSA British and other championships are now well underway and thelatest positions, qualifying events and links to championship websites are on www.msauk.org
Rally GB to return to Mid-Wales
The Wales Rally GB will return to the classic Mid -Wales stages of Hafren and Myherin for the first time since 2000 as part of a wide ranging revamp o the event. The changes are aimed at increasing the spectacle for fans and to increase the number of spectators on the event.
The details of the event will not be released until June but it is understood that there will be a ceremonial start in Cardiff on Thursday 4th December, followed by the double use Mid-Wales stages of Myherin, Sweet Lamb and Hafren. Sweet Lamb is thought to be a major spectator stage with the possibility of many thousands of fans drawn to its excellent viewing areas. These stages will be followed by remote service in Llandrindod Wells. The last stages of the day will be two runs through Walters Arena.
Saturday the rally moves south utilizing Crychan, Halfway and Resolven finishing with a run through The Millennium Stadium.
Sunday will include two runs of Port Talbot and Rheola. The Rheola stage will include Walters Arena.
Stage rallies – parking of non-competing vehicles
The MSA continues to receive accident reports and insurance claims involving rally cars crashing into non-competing vehicles. Regulation H136.6. (j) on page 286 of the 2008 Competitors' and Officials' Yearbook states that non-competing vehicles should be at least 30 metres from the edge of the special stage. This is the minimum distance. In addition, at all venues issued with an MSA Track Licence, all non-competing vehicles must be parked behind the circuit safety barriers during the normal running of a special stage. The nature of the stage and weather conditions etc must be taken into consideration and the distance that non-competing vehicles are stationed from the edge of the stage should be increased accordingly. These points apply to all special stage rallies.