The Motorsport UK British Rally Championship (BRC) will kick start its 65th anniversary season this weekend as the Malcolm Wilson Rally plays host to the opening round tomorrow (March 11).
Whinlatter and Grizedale forests will host the championship for the first time in decades, offering an uncharted start to Britain’s premier rally series.
A newcomer to the seven-round BRC bill, the Malcolm Wilson Rally is based at the home of the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team in Cockermouth and an impressive array of top-flight BRC1 crews in Rally2 machinery will assemble at the facility, aiming for a maximum score to get their season off to the perfect start.
They will be joined by the ultra-rapid junior and academy drivers in Rally4 and R2 examples, as well as the National Rally Champion contenders.
And for the series opener, M-Sport has decided to bring out the big guns, entering World Rally Championship ace and WRC2 factory driver Adrien Fourmaux. With Alex Coria alongside, Fourmaux will pilot a Fiesta Rally2 in the hunt for seat time ahead of the upcoming Rally Mexico.
There are seven stages and around 51 stage miles on offer during the day. The winner will spray the champagne at the Penrith finish later that afternoon after a scintillating day of action in the forests.
- Due to the rally, access to Whinlatter Forest will be limited tomorrow morning (March 11). The visitor centre, Cafe Ambio, Forest Shop and Go Ape will be open as normal. Spectators are welcome, see https://www.malcolmwilson.co.uk/spectators/ for details.
