The 2017 Prestone MSA British Rally Championship is just days away with the season kicking off in the Scottish Borders on the Brick & Steel Border Counties Rally. Last season was a re-development year for the BRC, so this season the onus is on continuing to establish the series' credentials as one of the best national rally championships. In theory, 2017 promises to be even better than last year with a much closer title fight expected with Elfyn Evans returning to the WRC. Below I have placed the top drivers under playful tags with all the information you need to know heading into the season opener this weekend. The one to beat: David BogieDavid Bogie and Kevin Rae start the Border Counties as car 1 being the only previous winner of the event among the top entrants, and based on pre-season form they have to be considered the ones to beat. The Skoda Fabia R5 is one of the most competitive packages out there, expertly run by CA1 Sport to boot. Last year the Dumfries driver pushed for wins rather than bagging championship points, but don't expect that approach this time around. With Evans gone 2017 is a real chance for the 2017 Snowman and Malcolm Wilson Rally winner to claim his second British Rally Championship title. The intriguing one: Tom CaveTom Cave and co-driver James Morgan finished second in the 2016 BRC behind compatriots Elfyn Evans and Craig Parry, so in theory are the ones in the best position to take the mantle from Evans and Parry in 2017. There's no reason to suggest that Cave is not capable of that, but the big question mark is whether he will complete the whole season. He has entered the Border Counties in a Dom Buckley Ford Fiesta R5, but excitingly will contest round two, the Pirelli International, in a Hyundai i20 R5, thus making the car's debut in the BRC. It is understood the Hyundai package is Tom's preferred option so let's all hope he can find the sponsors and the money to run that deal until the end of the season because it would be a fantastic ingredient for the 2017 title race. The one with a vengeance: Fredrik AhlinPerhaps surprisingly, the Swedish sensation is back with CA1 Sport in the BRC for a second year, but there are three important changes that could see him become the first non British or Irish driver to win the series since Marko Ipatti in 2000. Firstly, he has switched co-drivers to the highly rated Torstein Eriksen. Secondly, he will campaign a Skoda Fabia instead of the R5 Fiesta he drove in 2016, but most importantly he now has knowledge of all of the rounds bar the opener in Jedburgh, but only Bogie, Cave and Euan Thorburn can claim to have experience there. The Swede was incredibly quick last year but mistakes and mechanical issues blighted the second half of his season. Make no mistake Fredrik is back in Britain for one reason only: to become British Rally Champion. The one with a point to prove: Keith CroninKeith Cronin and co-driver Mikie Galvin are a fascinating addition to the Border Counties and 2017 Prestone MSA British Rally Championship entry list. The Irish driver dovetailed last year's BRC with an assault on the Irish Tarmac Championship, which he duly won. But his BRC campaign was cut incredibly short after a difficult start at the wheel of a Citroen DS3 R5, perhaps not best suited to the gravel UK forests, but Cronin is back this year and excitingly back in an M-Sport prepared Fiesta R5. Keith's speed is undeniable as a triple British champion, and he will be going for his own little piece of history in 2017, vying to become the first man to win the British Rally Championship with four different manufactures (Mitsubishi, Subaru, Citroen, Ford). The one to watch: Osian PryceThere was a lot of speculation regarding #5 on the Border Counties entry list, but today it was revealed that Osian Pryce and Dale Furniss will be completing the full British Rally Championship season in a Spencer Sport Ford Fiesta R5. The young Welsh driver has won BRC events in an R3 Citroen DS3, finishing second in the championship in 2013 and 2014, so there is unfinished business here for Pryce. He has the added bonus of two rounds in a DMACK Fiesta R5 in WRC2 to keep his hand in, so expect him to be very quick in 2017 and among the title fight. The dark horse: Desi HenryDesi Henry provided the quote of the season on the RSAC Scottish Rally last year where declaring his delight at finish on the podium along with Elfyn Evans: "He's a World Championship driver, I'm just a builder!" From then on though the Irish builder's season really kicked on as he acclimatised to the R5 Fabia he had acquired to replace his S2000 Skoda, claiming another podium on the mixed surface Nicky Grist Stages and improving his stage times. Henry didn't have the best of warm-ups on the Malcolm Wilson Rally last weekend, but he is heading into the season with confidence feeling comfortable in his weapon of choice. All I'll say is watch this space. And don't forget: Thorburn, Greer, McCormack, Anderson, Yates , Edwards & LaffeyThe quality of the BRC1 field is once again top quality in 2017, with 13 R5 cars from Ford, Skoda and Citroen taking the start in Jedburgh on 18th March. It is unclear whether Thorburn will commit to the full championship, but as a BTRDA and Scottish Rally Champion he is a proven threat, while Jonny Greer is one of the most consistent and experienced drivers out there. Marty McCormack steps up to an R5 after using an S2000 Fabia last year, while Jamie Anderson has joined the CA1 Sport team in an upgraded Fiesta R5. Rhys Yates will begin his second year of rallying in a four wheel drive machine having made fantastic progress throughout 2016, with Matt Edwards throwing his hat into the ring in a Fiesta R5 after having done last year in a Mitsubishi Evo, winning BRC2. Alex Laffey looks to continue his transition to gravel rallying as Keith Cronin's team mate in the M-Sport fold.
Predicting a champion is a tough call, but if they all do the full season for me your contenders are Bogie, Cave, Ahlin, Cronin and Pryce. Scotland vs Wales vs Ireland vs Sweden. Skoda vs Ford vs potentially Hyundai. Man vs man. Man vs machine. It's going to be brilliant!
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First and foremost, I want to apologise for a lack of activity on This Is Rally. I have been busy with university and press duties for the Scottish Rally Championship which incidentally is looking as competitive and exciting as ever in 2017, so I apologise to that one person who was missing my rallying drivel!
Back to the point though, I woke up this morning to the news that 21 year old Norwegian rally driver Oscar Solberg will contest the Junior BRC in 2017 at the wheel of a Ford Fiesta R2T for MH Motorsport. So what, you might be thinking? Another driver has thrown his hat into the Junior British Rally Championship ring. That's true. But, this news is the hardest evidence you will ever get that the British Rally Championship is back to its very best, and if you have read any of my posts in BRC you will be more than aware what a strong national championship means to me. You see, the rally fan within you will immediately have realised the significance in Oscar Solberg's involvement: Solberg. Solberg Jr. is the son of former WRC driver Henning Solberg and therefore nephew of 2003 World Rally Champion and 2014 & 15 World Rallycross Champion Petter Solberg. The potential then for this youngster is very high, and the name in itself is a positive boost for the BRC, like Max Vatanen was in 2016. The reason today's news is so significant though is that Solberg is an international rally driver who has chosen the BRC as the best option to ply his trade on his venture to hopefully becoming a World Rally Championship driver. The mere fact he is Norwegian and not British is a factor, but last year Solberg was competing in what is now the Junior WRC and has chosen the BRC for 2017. That speaks volumes. Many have previously described the British Rally Championship as a "mini world championship", and Oscar Solberg's involvement indicates the BRC is returning to that level. Speculation was rife in 2015 and early '16 about the new series' credentials, and I have long since banged on about it, but this for me cements the BRC's place back in the good books of international rallying after the disastrous spell between 2012 and 2015. Solberg has said that events such as the Isle of Man attracted him, as well as seeing footage of the old F2 days of the late '90s and early 2000's. This kid and I could rub along very nicely... All I can say finally is well done to IMS and everyone involved with the championship. Britain is well and truly back on the rallying map, and the battle for overall honours in the BRC is set to be explosive with Fredrik Ahlin returning in a Skoda, Keith Cronin gunning for a fourth title in an M-Sport supported campaign and last year's chargers David Bogie, Desi Henry and Marty McCormack sure to be in the mix. I will be at the first three rounds of the year (Border Counties, Pirelli and Scottish rallies) and to say I can't wait is something of an understatement. A Solberg is coming to my local area, the Scottish Borders. Don't wake me up... |
BRITISH RALLYINGArticles covering rally in Britain, looking at the MSA BRC Archives
September 2017
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