The Probite Motorsport UK British Rally Championship roars back into life this weekend with a bumper entry list for the Legend Fires North West Stages, marking a thrilling return for the reinvigorated series.
The opening round of the season has attracted a sensational lineup of top-flight crews, with former British champions, battling European and World title holders for glory at the first of seven action-packed rounds in 2024. Each bidding to add their name to a prestigious roll of honour that includes legends of the sport such as Ari Vatanen, Roger Clark, Hannu Mikkola, Colin McRae and Richard Burns.
The revitalised championship has seen an unprecedented level of registrations for the season ahead with the series top category featuring a host of BRC1 rivals in Rally2 four-wheel-drive machinery set to do battle at the front of the field.
They are joined by the Junior BRC category which will showcase the talents of progressive youngsters in Rally4 specification two-wheel-drive cars. Support classes are also bolstered this year, with BRC4 and BRC3 well supported, each vying for a British title marker.
The Legend Fires North West Stages is a new event on the BRC roster and offers a largely unknown prospect for contenders to bag a confidence-boosting start to the season.
2019 FIA European Rally Champion Chris Ingram and co-driver Alex Kihurani who will lead the teams over the start ramp in their Volkswagen Polo GTi. The Manchester-born contender won the event last year and returns to defend his number one seed. Having spent a number of years in the ultra-competitive World Rally Championship, he will likely be the marker for many to follow.
But there is an impressive field of top-line crews eager to stand on the top step of the round one podium, and four-time BRC champion Keith Cronin [Ford Fiesta Rally2] makes a bid to equal Jimmy McRae’s five titles and has Mikie Galvin on the notes, whilst 2022 champion Osian Pryce also returns to the fold, this time in a Fiesta Rally2 and Rhodri Evans in the co-driver’s seat.
Welshman Meirion Evans makes a comeback to the series after concentrating on the Irish Championship and has Jonathan Jackson alongside.
Rounding out the breathtaking top five, are 2021 Junior British Champions and reigning FIA Junior World Rally Champions William Creighton and Liam Regan, leading the M-Sport charge in the process. The pairing will use the BRC as additional seat time for their WRC2 campaign and head up a three-car M-Sport squad.
The McRae name returns to the series in more ways than one this season, as Max – son of 1995 BRC champion Alister pilots an M-Sport Fiesta Rally2 with co-driver Cameron Fair.
James Williams aims for a full assault on the series this season after taking his first BRC win at Rali Ceredigion last year, this time with new co-driver Ross Whittock. Callum Black signs up for BRC1 in his Fiesta Rally2 with Jack Morton, whilst Ollie Mellors and Ian Windress bring further variety to the class with their Proton Iriz.
