The 2024 Fuchs Lubricants British Historic Rally Championship gets underway this weekend in Yorkshire, as the Riponian Stages Rally [11 February] lifts the curtain on an exciting new season.
The UK’s premiere Historic Rally Championship will see a return to a mixed surface format in 2024 and is expanded to a nine-round calendar with 11-point scoring opportunities and seven rounds to count towards the final score.
Lining up to do battle this weekend is a wide mixture of cars and crews, all eager to get their season off to the perfect start. Inspired by the interest at last year’s Roger Albert Clark Rally, no less than three Historic Four four-wheel drive machines will head for Thirsk in a first for the BHRC.
Kevin Proctor and Jamie Edwards will wheel out their Autoglass-style liveried Sierra Sapphire Cosworth for the first time in the BHRC, whilst Baz Jordan and Arwel Jenkins swap their Ford Escort MKII for an all-new Mitsubishi Galant.
World Rally Championship ace Chris Ingram throws his hat into the BHRC ring, piloting the stunning TR7 V8 from the David Appleby Engineering stable.
After an impressive debut on the Roger Albert Clark Rally in the car, the WRC2 front-runner will step back into the Triumph in Yorkshire and has enlisted the services of Micheal Gilby in the co-driver seat.
The hunt for the BHRC title lays firmly at the door of Nick Elliott and Dave Price who return for another attempt in their FIAT 131 Abarth. Second place last year to champions Roger Chilman and Patrick Walsh shows their potential and if the stars align this season, the pairing are well placed to take the coveted crown.
Yorkshire’s masters Matt Robinson and Sam Collis sign up for 2024 and as former winners of the Riponian will be ones to watch in their Escort MKII, but will have plenty of opposition from fellow Ford pilots from across the Irish Sea.
Owen McMackin made several appearances last season and returns for a full assault with Paul McCann alongside, whilst Adrian Hetherington and Ronan O’Neill will be looking for some luck this season after a troublesome 2023.
Barry McKenna set an impressive pace on the RAC Rally last year and heads for Thirsk with Galway International Rally-winning co-driver Andy Hayes.
The 2021 BHRC champions Ben Friend and Cliffy Simmons make a welcome return to the series after a season away, bringing their familiar Escort MKII in a bid for a second title.
He will have Richard Hill and Patrick Cooper to contend with and don’t underestimate young James Lepley and Simon Jones as they get to grips with their MKII. Daniel Mennell and Richard Wise will be on home turf and could go just as well in their example.
Six stages in forests such as Cropton and Gale Rigg will test crews throughout Sunday, with just over 42 competitive miles on offer.
