Aside from the tussle for the coveted Probite British Rally Championship crown, the 2024 BRC season was awash with sensational battles and top-class rivalry, which helped produce one of the “classic” editions of the prestigious series.
With the BRC1 contingent fighting it out for the chance to lift the BRC trophy, there was plenty of action through the remaining categories. From the BRC3, BRC4 and Junior BRC honours, to the Motorsport UK National Rally Title and Motorsport UK Open Title, it was all to play for.
BRC3
The BRC3 category housed the impressive Rally3 machinery which has taken off across Europe but is yet to gain traction in the UK at present. Dominated by the Fiesta Rally3, Steve Waugh and William Hill would initially go toe-to-toe on the opening round, the Legend Fires North West Stages with first blood going to the asphalt expert Hill.
As Waugh bedded into his new steed, after progressing from a Fiesta R2, it wasn’t long before victory came at round two, the Rallynuts Severn Valley Stages. That was catalyst for a stellar season for the progressive driver, who would go on to win each round he entered, sealing the championship in just four rounds with co-driver Carl Williamson.
Junior BRC champion Eamonn Kelly made a welcome return to the series at Rali Ceredigion in his Fiesta Rally3, claiming maximum opening leg points before sadly crashing out on the final day.
BRC4
James Lightfoot and Ula Budzynska produced a masterclass in how to win titles, with an almost dominant display in the BRC4 category behind the wheel of their Fiesta R2T.
A newcomer to the series, Lightfoot won every round contested to hand him the title in fine style at the first time of asking. Electing to concentrate on the asphalt rounds, a double win at Rali Ceredigion sealed the deal.
Opposition came from across the Irish Sea, in the form of Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup contenders Michael Fitzgibbon [Peugeot 208 Rally4] and John O’Rourke [Opel Corsa Rally4]. It was Fitzgibbon who took the Rallynuts Severn Vally Stages win but couldn’t quite repeat that feat on at the Grampian or Cambrian, meaning he was never a threat to Lightfoot’s title tilt. O’Rourke took second spot at the Jim Clark Rally, but that would be the only round he contested.
Junior BRC
The Junior crown has always been a hard-fought affair, with free entries to the following season up for grabs. Many JBRC title holders have gone onto the world stage too, as youngsters build their confidence and skills on both surfaces in a highly competitive environment.
It was a history-making start to the 2024 season for Kalum Graffin, taking his maiden Junior win and becoming the youngest driver to claim glory, at just 17 years old; an impressive feat for the Peugeot 208 Rally4 driver.
With just five stages counting towards the results due to stage cancellations, it would be fine margins for the contenders, and it was Casey Jay Coleman who was chasing down Graffin before a stage maximum halted his charge. That left Robert Proudlock to maximise and take second overall, making it a Peugeot podium lockout.
Onto the gravel and Proudlock showed his hand. Drawing on his past successes, including Junior titles in the Scottish Rally Championship and the BTRDA Junior/R2 Class, Proudlock felt right at home in the forests, and it showed as he put together a strong campaign in his Peugeot 208 Rally4 on the loose.
The Scot, with Steven Brown alongside took his maiden JBRC victory in the forests of the Severn Valley Stages in front of a bumper entry to take an early advantage in the series. Kyle McBride secured second with Keelan Grogan rounding out the podium.
Back on the tar of the Jim Clark, it was McBride who was uncatchable in his Peugeot but the arrival of Ryan MacHugh and Arthur Kierans in their Fiesta Rally4 raised eyebrows. The young gun driver had made waves in his native Ireland and would now stamp his mark on UK soil with some impressive times on his maiden outing in the series.
Graffin continued to impress on a sealed surface to take the final podium spot.
After the summer break, the gravel stages of Scotland were responsible for reawakening the series and once again Proudlock shone, dominating on a surface he revels in. With retirements for MacHugh and McBride, Grogan was able to capitalise and keep his title hopes alive in second, whilst Welshman Ioan Lloyd took the final podium spot.
The FIA ERC came to town at Rali Ceredigion and Lloyd produced a masterclass over the opening two legs to take round six victory on home soil. Sunday provided another chance to score and it was MacHugh who took full advantage to beat the Welshman and with the benefit of his Joker score to boot.
Like its older BRC1 counterpart, the Junior BRC champion would be crowned on Llandudno seafront at the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally and any one of five progressive youngsters could still claim the honour.
Lloyd, Proudlock, McBride, MacHugh and Grogan were all in with a shout, but Proudlock was in the pound seat. With his Joker still to play, he would only need a solid result to take the spoils and despite a tense day filled with lead changes, he finished fourth, which was enough to clinch the coveted championship and free entries to the 2025 BRC rounds.
Motorsport UK Open Title
A home for R5/Rally2 machinery outside of homologation plus WRC cars up to 2016, the Open Title saw several high-calibre protagonists throw their hat into the ring for the 2024 crown.
After a buoyant start to the season, the race would come down to a two-way tussle between Callum Black and John Rintoul with Black switching from BRC1 after the opening round. The season kicked off with Skoda Fabia Rally2 pilot Hugh Brunton taking the spoils, but Rintoul’s first top score followed on the gravel of the Severn Valley Stages.
Rintoul would swap between his Fiesta R5 and Citroen C3 Rally2 during the season but he could not live with Black’s asphalt pace and Black took wins at the Jim Clark and both Rali Ceredigion points scores.
A second win for Brunton at the Grampian, but with Rintoul the sole entrant at the final round, he and Ross Hynd were able to seal the tile in north Wales.
Motorsport UK National Rally Title
It was a hugely popular win for Welshmen William Mains and Tomos Whittle, with Mains having returned to the series after narrowly missing out previously. The series provides a home for any competition car complying with Motorsport UK regulations, with Mains putting his Vauxhall Nova and Opel Corsa to good use.
Asphalt wins for Darren Atkinson saw Mains mid-way down the leaderboard, but his consistency proved to be key. Tom Llewellin grabbed the Severn Valley Stages victory and Jimmy McRae celebrated his 50th anniversary in the sport with a fine win on the Grampian.
But Mains persevered and took a sensational final-round top score to cement the title in fine style in his second season of trying.
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