MSA Asphalt championship canned for 2017 as long-time co-ordinator retires

The MSA Asphalt Rally Championship will not run in 2017 after the retirement of long time co-ordinator Andrew Haill.

The championship had been set to receive a new co-ordinator in Jane Evans, but she has had to step back from the role due to personal reasons. Therefore the organisers – the BTRDA – have elected not to run the series this year.

A statement read: “The MSA and BTRDA have agreed to rest the MSA Asphalt Rally Championship in 2017 following the retirement of long-time championship coordinator Andrew Haill.

“Both parties recognise that this news will disappoint competitors but they can rest assured that the championship will be relaunched and reinvigorated in 2018.”

Rob Jones, MSA Chief Executive, said: “With the pace of the latest cars posing challenges for organisers, and with the future opportunities of closed roads legislation for this particular championship and discipline, the MSA and BTRDA have agreed that now is the time to regroup, refocus and ultimately relaunch the MSA Asphalt Rally Championship.”

Mike Broad, president of the BTRDA, added: “The BTRDA has not taken this decision lightly and has made considerable efforts to organise a worthy series for 2017, but it has become clear that a sabbatical is needed to give us the opportunity to achieve this goal for 2018.”

as the event launched the rebirth of the championship after a year’s hiatus.

“It was a compromise as to what IMS wanted and what’s practical to run and what stands up to the usage rates,” explained clerk of the course Chris Tomley. “It’s still Hafren and Sweet Lamb but there’s some new mileage in Hafren, a Hafren North stage starting in the north east corner. We’ll give them a bit in the south of the woods too.”

The organisers confirmed that details about the start, finish and service park will be announced in due course.