The battle for British Rally Championship glory reaches a critical juncture next week as the JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion (4-6 September) prepares to deliver one of the most eagerly anticipated weekends of the 2026 season.
For the fifth consecutive year, the spectacular Aberystwyth-based closed-road rally will form part of the BRC calendar, but 2026 brings an added dimension. The event once again welcomes the FIA European Rally Championship, putting Britain’s leading crews up against a host of international stars; whilst a revised scoring format could have a major bearing on the destination of the British crown.
The cancellation of the Carlisle Stages earlier in the season means Ceredigion effectively becomes a double-header for BRC competitors. Friday evening and Saturday will provide the first opportunity to score championship points, before, for the purposes of points only, the clocks are ‘reset’ and a second BRC points-paying contest takes place across Sunday’s four stages.
That gives the leading contenders two bites at the cherry and potentially leaves the championship looking very different by Sunday evening, or even decided.
BRC1
At the head of the standings is Osian Pryce, who arrives on home soil with a 10-point advantage over the chasing Max McRae. The two-time Ceredigion winner has enjoyed an impressive campaign in his Michelin-backed Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, claiming victories on both gravel rounds contested so far.
Pryce’s Castrol MEM teammate Meirion Evans sits third and remains within mathematical reach of the title, ensuring that all three leading crews have plenty to play for over what promises to be an exceptionally demanding weekend.
The championship leader has experience on his side. Pryce has twice conquered Ceredigion in the past and knows precisely how quickly the Welsh stages can bite. However, this year’s event presents a fresh challenge, with a substantially revised route and a three-day format that will test crews’ speed and resilience against some of the best drivers in Europe.
McRae arrives with momentum of his own. The Pirelli-supported Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 driver claimed his first BRC victory on asphalt at his home Scottish round at the Jim Clark and will be determined to carry that sealed-surface form into Wales.
Evans, meanwhile, has quietly built a consistent campaign and remains firmly in contention. Both he and McRae experienced the unforgiving nature of Ceredigion last year, making the ability to keep the car on the road just as important as outright pace.
Sam Touzel and Max Freeman make their FIA ERC debut on their BRC return in their Skoda Fabia and are still in the title hunt – albeit needing to win every round. An Open BRC win at this event in 2025 shows promise for the Jerseyman, however and could well be in the mix over the three days.
With so many points available, the long game could prove crucial.
BRC3
The championship battles further down the field are every bit as intriguing.
Aoife Raftery continues to lead the BRC3 standings in her Ford Fiesta Rally3 and has the opportunity to wrap up the title in Ceredigion. Maximum scores from both BRC scoring opportunities would be enough to secure the crown against Junzhe Tang, although the co-drivers’ championship is likely to remain unresolved until the season finale.
Junior BRC / BRC4
In Junior BRC and BRC4, Fiesta Rally4 driver Ben McFall is similarly within touching distance of championship success. The Irishman needs to maximise both opportunities in Wales to have a chance of sealing the title, but Ceredigion will be an entirely new challenge for him.
Luke Constantine [Opel Corsa Rally4], Sam Mason and Oran England [Peugeot 208 Rally4] will all be ready to capitalise on any opportunity, with England also targeting valuable points in the Stellantis Rally Trophy UK. Riley Chester [Peugeot 208 Rally4] gets his first experience of international competition and could well scoop some impressive points in his bid to hunt down Mason.
National Rally Title
The National Rally Title provides another fascinating subplot, with Owen Paterson holding the advantage despite missing the opening round of the season.
The Scot could potentially secure the championship in Ceredigion, but his route to the title requires a perfect weekend, winning both scoring rounds while also relying on Alfie Hammond either failing to finish one of them or being beaten by Paterson’s required points margin. Catrin Price could also wrap up the co-drivers crown.
Adding local interest to the National field will be Chris Richmond Hand, who makes a welcome return to the series in his charismatic Toyota Starlet. The 2026 championship runner-up has enjoyed a varied season competing in several one-off outings but will be eager to impress on home roads.
The rally begins on Thursday evening with the traditional Ceremonial Start on Aberystwyth Promenade, before the International field gets down to business on Friday morning with Free Practice and Qualifying.
Friday evening will see crews tackle the iconic Aberystwyth Street Stage, before two further tests take place under the cover of darkness, a new addition to the 2026 event.
Saturday provides the bulk of the competitive mileage, with eight stages and more than 132 kilometres of flat-out action awaiting the crews.
Sunday then brings four final tests and another opportunity for BRC contenders to bank championship points, before the surviving crews return to Aberystwyth seafront for the ceremonial finish.
-Ends
