North Wales: Series preview

Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship support series, The BRC Challenge

Wales beckons for BRC Challenge round 1

The successful National B status Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship support series continues to offer great value rallying on the same events as the main MSA British Rally Championship, beginning with this Saturday's Bulldog Challenge Rally in North Wales.

With 23 registered drivers ahead of the season opener, it should be a cracking battle not only for the overall honours, but each of the four classes and the Fiesta SportChallenge one make series.

The Fiesta SportChallenge allows competitors with the older R3 class Fiesta STs to have a taste of the BRC events alongside other similar cars, while still competing for outright honours in the BRCC.

The mainstay of the BRCC is, however, the clubmen, either those who intend moving up to the BRC in the future, or those who are content to compete in a friendly championship and on some of the best stages in the British Isles.

The regulations remain mainly unchanged from 2009, although the best five scores will count from six this year and all competitors must use the BRCC control fuel. The overall prize remains a helping hand into the 2011 Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship in the form of free entries in the R1 class, with a value over £5000, it is certainly worth fighting for.

As in 2009 competitors will be able to choose to either compete in the Isle of Man or Northern Ireland for their "overseas" event, both of which counting as double header events.

The Fiesta SportChallenge is already underway with the Malcolm Wilson Rally in early March offering up Jonny Cunningham/Richard Millener as the first victors in what is certain to be a great fight to the end.

The BRC Challenge gets underway on the Bulldog Rally on 27th March, then follows the best rallies in the British Isles, including a choice of Isle of Man or Ulster (both double headers), making six rounds which represent excellent value for money and benefit from TV coverage on Sky Sports.

-source: brc