Motorsport, Rally, British Rally, Web-Zine, E-Zine, E-Mag, Magazine
The Motorsport UK British Rally Championship has taken a bit of a leap forward this year in what initially appears to be the most competitive season for several years. ProBite, a new upstart in the world of automotive performance braking has taken up the position as the headline sponsor and the championship has secured rally-by-rally highlights coverage on terrestrial TV for the first time in years.
The 2024 Pirelli Welsh Championship kicked off with the Get Jerky Rally North Wales, centered in Welshpool and featured 45 miles of iconic Welsh stages. The planned route comprised of Gartheiniog, Big Ray (Dyfi), and Dyfnant, divided into east and west sections, with each stage scheduled to run twice.
The 2024 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship commences this weekend, launching in Garstang with the North West Stages (March 22/23). One of the most anticipated rallies in the UK, the event is set to return to its Myerscough College base and kicks off with the well-received ceremonial start in Garstang town on Friday evening. The action takes place over 10 stages, covering 58 competitive stage miles on the Saturday. This also marks the first initial crossover event of three with the British Rally Championship.
After several years of two-wheel/front-wheel drive “hot hatches” being the focus of our top-flight National Championship, competitors were voting with their feet. Numbers had declined to the point where the series, which should possibly be considered as “the pinnacle” of the sport in our country had lost credibility amongst rallying folk and had effectively become a turn-off for the fans.
“THE BRC IS BACK!” was the tagline for the British Rally Championship in 2016.
The BTRDA Rally Series would return in to action at its opening round The Malcolm Wilson Rally (9th/10th March) with a new title sponsor on the sun strip for its 2024 season. The UK’s premier gravel rally championship joins its sister Asphalt Championship with welcomed backing from ProTyres this year.
Entering its 71st year, the 2024 Protyre BTRDA Gravel Rally series springs into life this coming weekend (8th/9th March) at its traditional season-opening round amongst the stunning “lakes and mountains” scenery of Keswick and Coniston in Cumbria.
A new championship season also brings a new sponsor, with Protyre extending their BTRDA Tarmac championship sponsorship of over 5 years to cover the Gravel series. With a 2-year agreement and the potential to add a further year the future of the series is secure.
The wider championship consists of 8 rounds, a choice of 6 of which are scoring in each of the main 3 categories, Gold, Silver, and Bronze Star along with Historic and Rally First awards.
The 2024 East Riding Stages, organised by the hard-working team at the Beverley & District Motor Club would kick off closed road stage rallying for the year. Conveniently hosted a little under a month before the start of both the British Rally Championship and the Protyre Asphalt series. The fast and flowing ‘Ypres-like’ stages of North East Yorkshire would offer crews a perfect opportunity to gain valuable seat time after the winter break, aiding in their preparation for the season ahead.
