With just under one month to go until the first event of the season, the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally, excitement is already building ahead of the popular one-day rally.
The 65-mile event for BRC crews will begin at 8am with a challenging route through the legendary Welsh forests. After a mid-afternoon service halt, the rally continues into the darkness – with the eventual winner being crowned in Llandudno. Adding the appeal for rally fans will be treated to a day full of entertainment laid on by Conwy County Borough Council’s events team. This will run alongside the Service Park – located right in the heart of the town centre providing spectators the chance to see teams and cars up close.
Registrations and entries for the first round are now open with further championship news and driver announcements coming next week.
The rest of the season…
The new-look calendar will once again will offer crews a challenging, action-packed campaign with an equal split of asphalt and gravel rallies. Comprehensively promoted events encompassing some of the best stages in the UK and its neighbouring locales, will offer six unique challenges, varying in length, surface and format.
The Cambrian Rally is an exciting addition to the series, with iconic Wales Rally GB stages, as used in the World Championship, the scene for the first battle of the season. With unprecedented support from Conwy County Council, this British rallying favourite will form the curtain raiser in February next year.
The Welsh season opener will be backed up by fast and furious action on the iconic Cork roads. The Quality Hotel West Cork Rally will feature classic Irish stages for the best in the British Championship to go head-to-head with the Irish Tarmac Championship for an early season clash. This new geographical territory for the BRC will be a demanding test with 150 miles providing the second-round gauntlet.
A return to England will be in store for the drivers and co-drivers in April with a day-long sprint though the Kielder forest. A compact route, with 85 miles packed into a five-hour period, was universally praised in 2018 and will create a heart-pumping mid-season challenge.
After a short break, action resumes on the legendary Renties Ypres Rally in June as the BRC goes toe-to-toe with some of the best drivers in Europe at another rallying heartland. Coupled with the Belgian razzmatazz, it’s sure to provide an exciting second overseas excursion for the intrepid BRC crews.
The bumpy, challenging Irish roads make a return with the classic Ulster Rally playing host to the final Tarmac event of the year and the second encounter with the Irish series. Phenomenal stages including Tor Head, coupled with the unpredictable weather conditions, could play a decisive part in the fight for one of rallying’s most coveted crowns next season.
The series will then run to the hills with the forests of southern Scotland playing out the championship finale. The Galloway Hills Rally will utilise one of the largest forest estates in the UK and the forest tracks are a real favourite. Its location provides a short journey for the Irish competitors.
The range of events, surfaces and high rallying mileage further underlines the BRC’s standing as the world’s premier domestic rally championship.
2019 British Rally Championship calendar*
16 February – Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally, Llandudno, Wales
16/17 March – Quality Hotel West Cork Rally, Clonakilty, Republic of Ireland
27 April – Pirelli International Rally, Carlisle, England
28/29 June – Renties Ypres Rally, Ypres, Belgium
17 August – Ulster Rally, Antrim, Northern Ireland
14 September – The Armstrong Galloway Hills Rally, Castle Douglas, Scotland
BRC Championship Manager Iain Campbell
“The announcement of the calendar shows our commitment in listening to what our competitors want – furious competition from the start but not overly demanding in the amount of time away from work or home life. It also brings us into head-to-head competition with the Irish Tarmac Championship on two occasions and also with the Belgium Rally Championship in June. This lifts the pace of everyone, as we all want the bragging rights as winners on these rallies.
“Like many, I cannot wait for the new season and what an event to open the series. Hold onto your hats. It’s going to be an exciting season.”
