MH REVEALS FIVE DRIVERS FOR BRC

Italian and female drivers among entries Photos: Chris Huish – Rallysport Media, Jucy Rally Photography, Jakob Ebrey

MH Motorsport has named the five drivers who will tackle the DMACK Junior British Rally Championship and BRC 4 categories in 2016.

The outfit – run by Mike Harris – will field cars for Italian Umberto Accornero, female competitor Nabila Tejpar, Irish Tarmac historic champion co-driver Will Graham, six-time Rally GB entrant Roger Platt and 17-year-old Josh Cornwell.

All drivers will drive a variant of the Ford Fiesta R2, with Accornero in an R2T.

“There will be a point on events were we have five cars,” explained Harris. “The BRC looks very exciting, the team has exploded quickly but we’ve made sure we have extra manpower. We have a good set of drivers and as long as they keep it on the road, our jobs will be easier.”

Harris has just purchased an R2T from M-sport Poland, which Accornero will use for five events. He will be co-driven by Andrew Edwards.

Cornwell competed in Latvian rallies in 2014 before making selected BTRDA appearances last year. He is expected to run at the front of the 1600cc R2s with experienced co-driver Dai Roberts.

“It’s something different for me,” said Cornwell. “We’ll struggle to match the turbo R2s in the 1600, but it’s a good opportunity to show myself. This will be new for me because we didn’t do the whole Latvian series so I’ve never done a year in the same class.”

Tejpar’s experience in rallying lies with circuit rallies but she has been under the tutelage of Bill Gwynne at his rally school.

“It’s my first year of doing a championship,” she said. “I’m really looking forward to it. I did Phoenix Stages, Twyford, Snetterton: just single-venue events last year. I thought if we’re going to do this, we may as well throw ourselves in at the deep end.”

She’ll be joined by Nigel Mummery’s navigator Fiona Scarrett for the season ahead.

Graham is hoping that 2016 is his year to show what he can do in the drivers seat, having co-driven for father Ernie last year.

“It’s my first season as a driver. I’ve been co-driving for my dad Ernie in a Ford Escort Mk2, last year we won the Irish Tarmac Historic Championship, so now it’s my turn.”

Graham will be joined by Tim Sayer, while Platt and Ian Davies will enter the BRC 4 category.