Revealed at Autosport International, [9-12 January] reigning Probite Junior British Rally champion Robert Proudlock officially unveiled his plans for the new season, marking a step up into the BRC3 category in a Ford Fiesta Rally3.
The 24-year-old Dumfries driver secured the hotly contested Junior BRC title after a frantic season in his Peugeot 208 Rally4, only clinching the crown after a feverish battle with four other contenders on the final round of the year in Wales.
With the title going down to the wire for the progressive youngster and co-driver Steven Brown, Proudlock emerged victorious and, along with the prestigious title, also secured free entries to each round of the 2025 BRC season.
Aiming to continue his progression in the sport, Proudlock was searching for the next logical step in his career, and the M-Sport Fiesta Rally3 in the BRC3 category fitted the bill perfectly. Having spent his entire career behind the wheel of R2 and Rally4 machinery, the step-up seems like the logical choice.
“After winning the JBRC title last season, we knew it was important to keep the momentum up and keep climbing the ladder of our sport” says the reigning champion.
“Following the likes of William Creighton, a step up into the Rally3 car seemed like the obvious way for us to go. Currently, I don’t think there’s a better introduction into 4WD than the Rally3 car, since it was released back in 2021 young drivers all over the world have continued to make a name for themselves. Jon Armstrong probably being the most notable, I think his development in the Rally3 car has played a vital role in some of the results he achieved last season in the Rally2 car”.
The covers came off his new steed at Autosport International and with the opening round a month earlier than the traditional calendar, he is eager to sample the four-wheel-drive, turbo-charged machine for the first time.
“Where do I start with this” he enthuses about his new Fiesta.
“The addition of the extra diff on the rear has to be the biggest difference between the cars but there’s so much more than that. The Rally3 Fiesta is essentially a mini-Rally2 car, the engineering behind it is phenomenal. Every time you look you spot another brilliant idea worthy of a world rally car. I’ve only ever heard good things about M-sport Poland led by Maciej Woda and now that their car is in our garage and we’ve had time to look over the details, I can see why”.
Junior titles in the Scottish Rally Championship and the BTRDA Junior/R2 Class showed his prowess on the gravel and launched a maiden Junior BRC assault in 2024.
Second place at the season-opening North West Stages was a good start, but he would shine brightly on a surface he felt much more at home on, taking his maiden JBRC victory in the forests of the Severn Valley Stages in front of a bumper JBRC entry.
Back on the tar, he and co-driver Steven Brown couldn’t quite match the pace of those around them but equally returned measured drives on the Jim Clark, and Rali Ceredigion.
Another JBRC win came on home soil at the Grampian and with his Joker still to play, the final round would see Proudlock only need a solid result to take the spoils. Despite a tense day filled with lead changes, he stayed focused and finished fourth, which was enough to clinch the championship.
As a prize for winning the title, Proudlock would be eligible for free entries into each round of the 2025 championship, a prize fund estimated at over £6,000 which would assist in his decision to try and make the switch to four-wheel drive machinery and ultimately, the BRC3 class.
An altogether different proposition from the Junior BRC, Proudlock is ready to take on the next challenge of his career and along with a new co-driver for the season ahead in Dan James, feels ready to make the move up the rallying pyramid.
“ East Riding will be all about learning the new car as well as a different voice calling the notes. We’ve got Welsh man Dan James in the car this year, and I’m confident it’s going to be a good pairing. There won’t be many expectations from round one, the Rally3 class in the UK is yet to really pick up traction in the UK so there won’t be many times to compare to, but we’ll be chasing down the tail end of Rally2 times, which is very exciting. What I’m especially looking forward to is getting the car into the woods, I feel it’s going to suit my driving style extremely well!”
The Probite British Rally Championship gets underway at the East Riding Stages Rally in February, making up a six-round calendar covering the country.
Keep tabs on all the latest BRC developments by visiting www.britishrallychampionship.co.uk or by following us on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube using #BRCRally.
