HENRY LANDS A SKODA FABIA FOR 2016 SEASON

Choice of championship will depend on the year’s early results

Ulsterman Desi Henry has said that early results will determine whether he challenges for honours in either the Irish Tarmac or MSA British Rally Championship in his new R5-spec Skoda Fabia this year.

Henry has confirmed his place on the startline for the first rounds of both competitions – next month’s closed-roads Galway International Rally followed by the Mid Wales Stages in March.

Henry took delivery of the Skoda Motorsport-developed car last week after finding a new home for the Super 2000 Fabia he drove last year.

“I’ll start both championships and, depending on how we do, a decision will have to be made about which one we follow after that,” said Henry. “I would like to take the car to the Donegal Mini Stages and get some seat time in it before we head off to Galway. It should be a good shakedown for us.

“With the new Skoda Fabia being turbocharged we should be that bit faster than last year. I’m really looking forward to getting a drive in it. It hasn’t been seen, or used, on Irish roads before. It will be interesting to see how the it performs.”

Both the MSA British Rally and Irish Tarmac Championships have gone down the R5/S2000 route and the response from competitors has been favourable – proof, Henry says, that it was the correct move. He believes competition at the head of the field will be the toughest it has been for a very long time.

“The new regulations are going to make for two very exciting championships,” he said. “For Galway we want to be on the pace right from the off so the team is going to have to work hard on the set-up beforehand. This year represents our best possible chance to be competitive.”

April’s Circuit of Ireland rally forms part of both championships.