Elliot Payne will return to the Probite British Rally Championship in 2024 ready to mount a full assault on the series with his new-look Ford Fiesta Rally2.
The 21-year-old has already secured a plethora of rally wins during his relatively short career and scooped two gravel titles in the process but has never committed to a full BRC season. A partial programme in 2021 and 2022 saw fourth place at Clacton, before a career-best podium at the Malcolm Wilson Rally last season; with WRC ace Adrien Fourmaux and four-time BRC champion Keith Cronin ahead.
An off at the Jim Clark Rally brought the curtain down on his BRC campaign but now with backing from Amigos and 2019 British Rally Champion co-driver Patrick Walsh alongside, Payne is ready for an all-out attack on the series.
“I’m up for this” says Payne.
“After 2 years concentrating on the BTRDA series we as a team felt it was time to give the British Rally Championship a full assault and the new calendar fits in better with my work commitments.
“Of all the rallies this year, the only one we haven’t done is the North West Stages but I`m hearing great reports of the event so really looking forward to it. For 2024 I also have Patrick Walsh back in the car so his knowledge and experience will help on all the events”.
Payne is excited by the newly announced terrestrial television deal which will see the BRC broadcast on ITV4 and ITX during the season.
“The TV deal is massive, especially in the current climate it’s extremely difficult to attract sponsors and the terrestrial Tv coverage is fantastic for all crews. We are grateful to Amigos for coming on board this year and we can hopefully repay their faith in us with some good results and some air time.”
With registrations still coming in for the bumper season, Payne will be up against some of the best national drivers in the business, but the title race is something he is eager to get his teeth into.
“I am under no illusion of how good the pace will be, that’s why we wanted to step up to this series, it’s the premier championship.
“We obviously would like to be close to the front guys but the aim is to learn as much as we can by completing every event and build on my limited experience. Top 5 would be great but we will just give it our best shot and see how we go.”
