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...
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
BRITISH RALLYINGArticles covering rally in Britain, looking at the MSA BRC Archives
September 2017
Categories |