British Rally Championship

Summary

The British Rally Championship (BRC) is a rallying series based in the United Kingdom. The first championship was run in 1958[1] and it has been licensed by the Motor Sports Association (MSA) since 1999. MSA has opted not to run the series in 2015, instead giving its promotion to its own subsidiary, International Motor Sport (IMS) for 2016. Motorsport UK have promoted the BRC and have done since IMS was absorbed into Motorsport UK in 2019.

British Rally Championship
Logo of the British Rally Championship used from 2024
CountryUnited Kingdom
Inaugural season1958
DriversVaries from event to event
Tyre suppliersRegistered Manufacturers
Drivers' championFrance Adrien Fourmaux
Official websitebritishrallychampionship.co.uk/
Current season
Michèle Mouton drives an Audi Quattro A2 at the 1985 Welsh Rally.

2024 edit

For 2024 the series sees the BRC return to free-to-air terrestrial television in 2024, after signing a multi-year deal with ITV4 and ITVX to broadcast the six-round series across the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

An enhanced media package for the UK’s premier rally championship will include a dedicated one-hour highlights show on ITV4 after each round of the series to be broadcast at prime time with further repeat broadcasts and an end of season round-up programme.[2]

Calendar edit

Round Rally Location Date
Round 1 Legend Fires North West Stages Lancashire, England 22-23 March
Round 2 Rallynuts Severn Valley Stages Builth Wells, Wales 13 April
Round 3 Beatson’s Building Supplies Jim Clark Rally Duns, Scotland 14-25 May
Round 4 Voyonic Grampian Forest Rally Banchory, Scotland 9-10 August
Round 5* JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion Aberystwyth, Wales 30 August - 1 September
Round 6 Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally Llandudno, Wales 26 October

*Two points scoring opportunities on Round 5

Champions edit

British Rally Championship edit

Season Champion Co-Driver Car
2023   Adrien Fourmaux   Alexandre Coria Ford Fiesta Rally2
2022   Osian Pryce   Noel O’Sullivan Volkswagen Polo GTI R5
2021   Matt Edwards   Darren Garrod Volkswagen Polo GTI R5
2020 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2019   Matt Edwards   Patrick Walsh Ford Fiesta R5
2018   Matt Edwards   Darren Garrod Ford Fiesta R5
2017   Keith Cronin   Mikie Galvin Ford Fiesta R5
2016   Elfyn Evans   Craig Parry Ford Fiesta R5
2015 Cancelled due to organisational issues
2014   Daniel McKenna   Arthur Kierans Citroen DS3 R3T
2013   Jukka Korhonen   Marko Salminen Citroen DS3 R3T
2012   Keith Cronin   Marshall Clarke Citroen DS3 R3T
2011   David Bogie   Kevin Rae Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX R4
2010   Keith Cronin   Barry McNulty Subaru Impreza STi N15
2009   Keith Cronin   Greg Shinnors Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX R4
2008   Guy Wilks   Rory Kennedy* Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX R4
2007   Guy Wilks   Phil Pugh Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX R4
2006   Mark Higgins   Rory Kennedy Subaru Impreza STI N12 R4
2005   Mark Higgins   Bryan Thomas Ford Focus RS WRC 02
2004   David Higgins   Brian Murphy* Hyundai Accent WRC Evo 3
2003   Jonny Milner   Nicky Beech Toyota Corolla WRC
2002   Jonny Milner   Nicky Beech Toyota Corolla WRC
2001 Cancelled due to foot-and-mouth crisis
2000   Marko Ipatti   Bryan Thomas* Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI N4
1999   Tapio Laukkanen   Kaj Lindström Renault Maxi Mégane

*In 2000, Ipatti used both Kari Kajala and Teppo Leino as co-drivers during the season. Hence, runner-up Mark Higgins' co-driver Bryan Thomas was awarded the co-drivers title. Two similar situations occurred in 2004 & 2008. In 2004 David Higgins used Chris Wood, Craig Thorley & Daniel Barritt as co-drivers during the season. Hence, runner-up Austin MacHale' co-driver Brian Murphy was awarded the co-drivers title. In 2008,Wilks used both Phil Pugh and David Moynihan as co-drivers during the season. Again, runner-up Mark Higgins' co-driver Rory Kennedy was awarded the co-drivers title.

RACMSA British Rally Championship

Season Champion Co-Driver Car
1998   Martin Rowe   Derek Ringer Renault Mégane Maxi
1997   Mark Higgins   Phil Mills Nissan Sunny GTi
1996   Gwyndaf Evans   Howard Davies Ford Escort RS2000
1995   Alister McRae   David Senior Nissan Sunny GTi
1994   Malcolm Wilson   Bryan Thomas Ford Escort RS Cosworth
1993   Richard Burns   Robert Reid Subaru Legacy RS
1992   Colin McRae   Derek Ringer Subaru Legacy RS
1991   Colin McRae   Derek Ringer Subaru Legacy RS
1990   David Llewellin   Phil Short Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165

RACMSA British Open Rally Championship

Season Champion Co-Driver Car
1989   David Llewellin   Phil Short Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165
1988   Jimmy McRae   Rob Arthur Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
1987   Jimmy McRae   Ian Grindrod Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
1986   Mark Lovell   Roger Freeman Ford RS200
1985   Russell Brookes   Mike Broad Opel Manta 400
1984   Jimmy McRae   Mike Nicholson Opel Manta 400
1983   Stig Blomqvist   Björn Cederberg Audi Quattro A2
1982   Jimmy McRae   Ian Grindrod Opel Ascona 400
1981   Jimmy McRae   Ian Grindrod Opel Ascona 400
1980   Ari Vatanen   David Richards Ford Escort RS1800
1979   Pentti Airikkala   Risto Virtanen Vauxhall Chevette HSR
1978   Hannu Mikkola   Arne Hertz Ford Escort RS1800

RAC British Rally Championship

Season Champion Co-Driver Car
1977   Russell Brookes   John Brown Ford Escort RS1800
1976   Ari Vatanen   Peter Bryant Ford Escort RS1800
1975   Roger Clark   Jim Porter Ford Escort RS1800
1974   Billy Coleman   Dan O'Sullivan Ford Escort RS1600
1973   Roger Clark   Jim Porter Ford Escort RS1600
1972   Roger Clark   Jim Porter Ford Escort RS1600
1971   Chris Sclater   Martin Holmes Ford Escort RS1600
1970   Will Sparrow Nigel Raeburn Mini Cooper S 1275
1969   John Bloxham   Richard Harper Lancia Fulvia HF/Ford Escort TC
1968   Colin Malkin   John Brown Hillman Rallye Imp
1967   Jim Bullough   Don Barrow Ford Lotus Cortina
1966   Roy Fidler Alan Taylor Triumph 2000
1965   Roger Clark   Jim Porter Ford Cortina
1964   Eric Jackson   Ken Joseph Ford Cortina GT
1963   Tony Fisher Brian Melia Mini Cooper
1962   Tony Fisher Brian Melia Mini Cooper
1961   Bill Bengry David Skeffington Volkswagen 1500
1960   Bill Bengry David Skeffington Volkswagen 1200
1959   John Sprinzel Stuart Turner Austin-Healey Sprite
1958 Ron Gouldbourn Stuart Turner Triumph TR3A

Multiple wins by individual edit

Name Titles Winning Years
  Jimmy McRae 5 1981, 1982, 1984, 1987, 1988
  Roger Clark 4 1965, 1972, 1973, 1975
  Keith Cronin 2009, 2010, 2012, 2017
  Mark Higgins 3 1997, 2005, 2006
  Matt Edwards 2018, 2019, 2021
  Bill Bengry 2 1960, 1961
  Tony Fisher 1962, 1963
  Russell Brookes 1977, 1985
  Ari Vatanen 1976, 1980
  David Llewellin 1989, 1990
  Colin McRae 1991, 1992
  Johnny Milner 2002, 2003
  Guy Wilks 2007, 2008

Multiple wins by car manufacturer edit

Name Titles Winning Years
  Ford 21 1964, 1965, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1994, 1996, 2005, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
  Subaru 5 1991, 1992, 1993, 2006, 2010
  Mitsubishi Motors 5 2000, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
  British Motor Corporation 4 1959, 1962, 1963, 1970
  Opel 4 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985
  Toyota 5 1983,[3] [2] [4] 1989, 1990, 2002, 2003
  Citroën 3 2012, 2013, 2014
  Volkswagen 3 1960, 1961, 2021
  Nissan 2 1995, 1997
  Renault 2 1998, 1999

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "British Rally Championship canned for 2015 before '16 MSA relaunch". Kent Sports News. 25 June 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  2. ^ a b "1981, 1982 & 1983 Manx Rally". YouTube.
  3. ^ "- YouTube". YouTube.
  4. ^ "Rothmans Manx Rally".

External links edit

  • Official website