The build-up and fever pitch expectation is almost over as this week’s Rallye Monte-Carlo 19 - 22 January heralds the start of one of the most keenly-anticipated FIA World Rally Championship seasons in memory. Dynamic new-look World Rally Cars will echo through the mountains of the French Alps as four of the world’s biggest automotive manufacturers begin the fight for supremacy in motorsport’s … [Read more...]
Rallying
Welsh clubmen’s rally voted best in British calendar
The Nicky Grist Stages has won the prestigious Bill Turner Trophy for the Best Event in the 2016 Ravenol BTRDA Rally Series. It’s the fourth time that the Quinton Motor Club-organised rally has won the award, having lifted the trophy in 2005, 2010 and 2012. It has also been nominated as one of the top three best organised BTRDA Rally Series events for the last six years in succession. Luke … [Read more...]
Rallylines 19 January
Specialist providers Dayinsure will continue to back Wales Rally GB for this year and next. The British round of the FIA World Rally Championship will be based in North Wales 26-29 October. The British Rally Championship 2017 has secured backing from Prestone. It supplies high performance coolant and anti-freeze as well as screenwash. … [Read more...]
Pirelli roll-on with Welsh stage championship
Pirelli will continue as title sponsors of the MSA Welsh Forest Rally Championship in 2017, writes Peter Hughes. Welcoming the news, Championship co-ordinator Dave Evison said, “We are delighted to continue our relationship with Pirelli. “We view it as a tribute to everyone involved with the championship, including event organisers and competitors, that one of the world’s leading tyre … [Read more...]
Junior British Champion can scoop £30,000
The 2017 Junior British Rally Champion will take home a massive cash prize of £30,000 after a closed-season shake-up in the series’ tyre regulations. The organisers of the MSA British Rally Championship said the Junior BRC will adopt an open tyre format this year and offers the champion a cash prize of £30,000 to put towards their 2018 career development. … [Read more...]
Elfyn Evans gets M-Sport WRC drive in Monte
Welshman Elfyn Evans is back in top flight WRC series. He will return to M-Sport's main squad for Rally Monte Carlo starting two weeks today. Evans spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons with M-Sport, and stayed with the team last year as he stepped down to the WRC2 class. The Welshman will return to the main class for the first round of the 2017 season with the Cumbria-based team, alongside … [Read more...]
Fowden’s fourth title is his finest – so far!
There is no stopping Llanelli rally driver Bob Fowden. He became the JD Tyres Welsh Tarmacadam Rally Champion again in 2016, his win a remarkable fourth title, that had not looked in doubt for some time but finally sealed with a dominant victory on the Peter Lloyd Stages Rally at the Pembrey Motorsports Centre. The Comline Auto Parts - Kumho Tyres - NGK backed Subaru Impreza WRC machine was … [Read more...]
Ogier ‘chilled’ over WRC prospects
When Volkswagen Motorsport announced its decision to withdraw from the World Rally Championship in November, an understandable scramble began to sign up reigning king Seb Ogier. The Frenchman had dominated the championship winning 22 rallies out of 54 over the course of four years - a remarkable return of 40% of every event at which he turned up despite the combative, … [Read more...]
Channel 4 will screen 2017 British rally series
The MSA British Rally Championship will continue its partnership with mainstream terrestrial broadcaster Channel 4 for the 2017 season, writes Gary Jones. Building upon the successful relaunch of Britain’s premier rallying series in 2016, Channel 4 will show a 30-minute highlights programme on the Saturday morning after each round next season, with a repeat broadcast the following week. The … [Read more...]
M-Sport secure WRC champ for 2017
World Rally Champion Sébastien Ogier has signed with M-Sport to drive Ford Fiesta RS WRCs next season, writes Gary Jones. After testing in Wales last month, the French driver who has won the last four championships but was without a drive in 2017 after VW pulled out, said he was confident of a fifth title next season with the Cumbrian team. He and co-driver Julien Ingrassia will drive one … [Read more...]