The famous forests of Yorkshire will play host to the penultimate round of the Fuchs Lubricants British Historic Rally Championship this weekend, as the Trackrod Historic Cup [27-28 September] continues the scintillating battle for the coveted title.
All season long it’s been a tit-for-tat fight for the lead of the Britian’s premier historic rally series and with just two rounds, and three-point scoring opportunities remaining, it is set to be a thrilling culmination of the title fight.
The now traditional blast through Dalby under the cover of darkness always provides a fascinating glimpse into what’s to come the following day, with five more stages over some of Yorkshire’s finest gravel roads offering the perfect proving ground.
Its super fast stages often favour the higher-powered cars but in-roads can still be made through the tricky corners for all others, and the event is all set to provide one of the best entries of the season.
Heading the championship, Seb Perez enjoys the marker of taking the win last time out at the Woodpecker Rally and has racked up two wins so far in his Porsche 911.
Along with Gary McElhinney, their performance this season has seen them already clinch the Category Two [Cars registered between 1968 and 1975] title and a strong run here will put them in prime position heading into the Anglo Caledonian Rally’s final event double header in November.
But it’s nip and tuck between Perez and British Champion Mark Higgins, who has threaded his TR7 V8 to multiple wins this season and is the Porsche drivers’s nearest contender. Higgins and co-driver Carl Williamson have been continuously developing the Triumph all season long with gains made on both surfaces throughout the year.
The super-experienced Higgins has reaped rewards and like Perez, a win in Yorkshire will make it much easier in November in terms of points required and assuming rival David Pedley doesn’t start in Yorkshire, he will seal the FIA Category title in the process.
Also in the mix and looking for a decent points haul to remain in the title fight will be a trio of Ford Escort MKII crews, in Richard Hill/Patrick Cooper, Adrian Hetherington/Ronan O’Neill and Rudi Lancaster/Guy Weaver. Each one has enjoyed a super consistent season to keep them well in the hunt and just 11 points separate the three.
But potentially stealing points from the leaders will be a fascinating list of BHRC returnees and regulars to head to Yorkshire. Round one winner Matthew Robinson hasn’t been seen since Rally North Wales but returns on home soil with Hannah McKillop on the notes.
