After a breathtaking season, the battle for British Rally Championship glory reaches its dramatic conclusion next weekend as the Lewis & Hunter Cambrian Rally (24 October) prepares to crown the champions of 2026, with three drivers in with a chance of sealing the coveted title at the final round.
After five fiercely contested scoring rounds, the Motorsport UK British Rally Championship arrives in North Wales for a winner-takes-all showdown between Max McRae, Osian Pryce and Meirion Evans. All three have shown they can win, have experienced the highs and lows of an unpredictable season, and know that one final performance will decide who lifts one of rallying’s most coveted trophies.
The Cambrian’s return to gravel for the BRC adds to an already compelling contest, with iconic forest stages such as Clocaenog and Brenig set to test their ability to give their all. With no further opportunities to recover lost ground, a puncture, mechanical problem or momentary lapse in concentration could prove decisive.
And while three drivers fight for the overall crown, the event will also settle the Junior British Rally Championship, with Ben McFall and Luke Constantine preparing for their own final-round showdown. The Cambrian is set to bring the curtain down on a season worthy of the championship’s prestigious history.
BRC1
At the head of the field, Max McRae arrives in North Wales with a score advantage over his two rivals, but the 22-year-old has more on his mind than championship points.
Driving his Pirelli-supported Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 alongside Cameron Fair, McRae has enjoyed a superb campaign, taking victories on the Jim Clark Rally and the opening scoring round at Rali Ceredigion. Those results have put him firmly in contention for a championship that could deliver a particularly special moment for one of rallying’s most famous families.
Victory would make McRae the first member of the family to lift the British Rally Championship crown since his father, Alister, claimed the title in 1995. Thirty-one years after that success in the Nissan Sunny GTi, Max has the opportunity to add his name to a trophy that already bears the family name through generations of rallying achievement, including grandad Jimmy and uncle, Colin.
Osian Pryce, meanwhile, knows precisely what it takes to become British Rally Champion. The 33-year-old claimed his first title in 2022 during his previous spell with the Castrol MEM Rally Team and returned to the squad this season alongside James Morgan with a clear objective: win another.
The Welshman began the campaign in emphatic fashion, taking maximum points on the Severn Valley Stages before adding a second victory at the Grampian Forest Rally. Those results established Pryce as the early championship benchmark in his Michelin-backed Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, and he looked well placed to strengthen his advantage heading into the final stages of the season.
However, Rali Ceredigion saw retirement on the Sunday, transforming what had been a comfortable advantage into a three-way fight for the crown. Pryce now heads to the Cambrian with the experience of a previous title success, proven winning pace on Welsh gravel and the knowledge that he has already delivered two maximum scores this season.
Completing the trio is Meirion Evans, whose consistent campaign has developed into a genuine championship challenge; an almost carbon copy of his 2025 campaign.
With Dale Furniss alongside in the Castrol MEM Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, the Welshman has quietly accumulated the results needed to remain in contention, securing three podium finishes before his breakthrough victory on the second day of Rali Ceredigion.
That Sunday performance was particularly significant. With the title fight entering its most critical phase, Evans knew he needed to take maximum points, and he delivered. His pace challenged the visiting FIA European Rally Championship regulars, while the retirement of Pryce and McRae’s second-place finish ensured the championship remained finely balanced heading to North Wales.
Evans has also demonstrated that he can challenge on both asphalt and gravel. Once regarded primarily as a sealed-surface specialist, his development on forest stages has been a defining feature of recent seasons, and he returns to the Cambrian after coming close to victory there in 2025 and finishing as championship runner-up. Now, with the title still within reach, the Lampeter driver has another opportunity to go one better.
Elliot Payne/Patrick Walsh are set to return to BRC action and could well spoil the party for the title trio. As could Brendan Cumisky/Martin Connolly, who make the trip over from Ireland, both crews in Fiesta Rally2s. Ian Bainbridge/Ross Whittock make their second BRC appearance of the season in their Yaris GR Rally2.
By the time the crews emerge from the forests of North Wales, one will be crowned British Rally Champion.
Junior BRC / BRC4
The Junior British Rally Championship is heading for its own tense conclusion, with reigning champion Ben McFall and Luke Constantine set to battle for the title on the final round of the season.
McFall began his title defence in impressive fashion, taking maximum points from the opening two rounds in his Ford Fiesta Rally4 and establishing himself as the early favourite to retain his crown.
However, Constantine has steadily fought his way into contention, with the Opel Corsa Rally4 driver producing a strong second half of the campaign to put the championship leader under increasing pressure.
Like its BRC1 older brother, it’s a winner-takes-all between the two drivers. The co-driver’s crown is a little more complex, with Damian McCauley and Ifan Devine each in with a chance.
Sam Mason, Riley Chester and Robbie Wood could also spoil the party, returning to JBRC action in their 208 Rally4s.
BRC3
The BRC3 drivers’ championship was sealed by Ford Fiesta Rally3 driver Aoife Raftery in Ceredigion, but the co-driver’s title is still up for grabs. Concluding their debut BRC season Junzhe Tang and Tsungyu Hsieh will aim to make the trip over from China a worthwhile one in their Fiesta Rally3, with Tsungyu in line to scoop the co-driver’s crown.
Jack Brennan makes a welcome return to the series, this time in Rally3 machinery with Dylan Harrington alongside.
National Rally Title
The National Rally Title sees newly crowned champion Alfie Hammond return in his Subaru Impreza with Harry Walshaw, who will be looking to claim the co-driver’s title, but the return of the rapid James Giddings/Aled Davies in their Mitsubishi Evo IX could hamper that bid.
After the start on Llandudno seafront, nine stages lie in wait for the crews. The 2026 Motorsport UK British Rally Championship title will be decided in the forests of North Wales, which still echo with the memories of WRC contenders blasting through during Wales Rally GB. It all comes down to this.
-Ends
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