The new-look 2018 Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Championship will contain six events, with a good geographical spread of high-quality and challenging rallies making it a true national championship – with a round in Belgium adding an international flavour.
The BTRDA organised championship will begin on 10/11 March with the Tour of Epynt, before heading to the Isle of Man for the Manx National Rally on 11/12 May.
Round 3 will be the Rally van Wervik (9 June) – an event in West Flanders that has always been very popular with British competitors, and is often used as a test ahead of the Ypres Rally (a round of the Prestone MSA British Rally Championship).
Another new event follows – the Down Rally on 21 July, which will have around 100 miles of closed road stages in Northern Ireland.
The penultimate round will be the Mewla Rally on 25/26 August, while the sixth and final round will be the Cheviot Stages Rally, held over the Otterburn ranges in Northumberland on 20/21 October.
The main focus of the Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Championship is to encourage active competitor participation throughout the classes, from drivers emerging from the junior and single-venue championships to experienced competitors wanting to enjoy motorsport at a high level.
Details of the class structure, which has been designed to attract the greatest variety of cars and drivers and will include historic as well as modern cars, will be confirmed in the 2018 Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Championship Sporting and Technical Regulations, which will be published later in the year.
To be eligible to score Championship points, a competitor must have purchased their tyres from either Protyre Motorsport or from one of its official suppliers. Protyre is the largest suppler of Pirelli, Michelin and Hoosier motorsport tyres in the UK, and it can supply any brand of tyre.
The advantages to registered competitors is that not only will they receive a very competitive special rate, Protyre will operate a comprehensive on-event service at each round, offering tyre delivery, tyre fitting, emergency supply of tyres and advice, and there will be individual prize funds for users of brands.