In recent years, The BRC has featured events such as Ypres . Whilst quality events, it always struck me as a strange choice. We have in this country some quality roads and forests on which top draw events are held throughout the year by very experienced clubs. There are of course many boring reasons why these don't make it into the calendar, and perhaps sometimes it was easier. Nevertheless, Motorsport UK have announced a calendar of 6 events for 2024, all British based in order to support and grow the competitor base and reduce costs. So what are we looking at?

I like the fact its split evenly between tarmac and gravel. Seeing those R5's on tarmac is something else. Alas however, after many, many years the Trackrod, Malcolm Wilson and Ulster rallies are no longer part of the championship. Recce Tarren, BRC Championship Manager said on the official BRC website, “Our focus has been on larger, longer, and more challenging events, each with its own characteristics to keep everyone on their toes." He also stated,
“Fitting in events has always been a challenge and we are sad to lose some staples from the championship this year. Ensuring we don’t have two high-cost rounds in close proximity has been a stringent consideration and we have listened to feedback from both existing and prospective competitors about the dynamics of the BRC calendar. I truly believe this is an exciting new chapter of rallies which offers our competitors an unrivalled challenge in 2024.
Hopefully we'll see these back in future years, though it's a shame there's only one English round given all the available rally options. Along with a new look calendar is a familiar name and former rally sponsor Probite, who will now become the main title sponsor.
The structure of the BRC will still see BRC1 top-flight Rally2 cars and Rally3 cars fight it out for the main title, with all other homologated classes catered for, including the Junior BRC in Rally4 and Rally5 form. The National Rally Title category also returns, keeping the much loved loved Escorts, 911's and all the other much loved classics on the scene.
Look out for a new media package which hopefully will make greater use of the official YouTube channel. The calendar dates are subject to change and will be officially unveiled at the Autosport Show next January.
2024 Probite British Rally Championship calendar
Round 1 – Legend Fires North West Stages – Garstang – 22/23 March
Round 2 – Rallynuts Severn Valley Stages – Builth Wells – 13 April
Round 3 – Beatson’s Building Supplies Jim Clark Rally – Duns – 24/25 May
Round 4 – Voyonic Grampian Forest Rally – Banchory – 9/10 August
Round 5 – JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion – Aberystwyth – 31 August/1 September
Round 6 – Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally – Llandudno – 26 October
This years championship was always going to end one way unfortunately. Hopefully the new changes will lead to a greater interest and perhaps some more drivers like Adrien to come to our shores. Its easy to hark back to the good old days, but the truth is you have to start somewhere and I truly hope the series grows and makes genuine moves forwards next year.
See you on the stages!
Probite BRC calendar announcement - https://www.britishrallychampionship.co.uk
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