James Wilson steps up to Junior BRC

County Armagh driver James Wilson will step up to the Junior British Rally Championship this season.

Wilson says the move is a logical step after clinching the R2 title on the Cork ‘20’ International in last year’s Irish Tarmac Championship. In readiness for the opening round in Scotland, Wilson will tackle next month’s Carrick Forest Rally.

To date, the 23-year-old has limited experience of gravel events. “I have done only two forest events so far,” he told

Motorsport News. “The plan is to learn about the Peugeot 208, and how it handles. When I won the Junior Section of the Northern Ireland Championship in 2016 I did two gravel rallies in a 106 and we were quick. Hopefully it won’t take me long to get comfortable in the 208.

“The Carrick Forest Rally is all about getting some miles in the car – the result isn’t important to me.”

As the first two events of the British Championship are gravel-based, Wilson says he doesn’t have any expectations.

“It will be a big learning curve for me,” said the engineer. “In the second half of the season when there are more Tarmac rallies we can maybe think about pushing for podiums.”