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WRITE TO US Motorsport News Haymarket Consumer Media, Bridge House, 69 London Road, Twickenham TW1 3SP Things look promising for the British Rally Championship
For the relaunch of the British Rally Championship, the Mid Wales Stages couldn’t have gone much better. Despite poor weather, a strong entry enjoyed a fine contest, and we even had a battle for the lead. OK, so Elfyn Evans might have had a tyre and running order disadvantage, but Fredrik Ahlin still put up encouraging resistance.
More drivers battling right at the sharp end would have made it even better, but there were quite a few who were learning new machines or (re)familiarising themselves with the conditions. And let’s not forget, Evans is a podium finisher in the World Rally Championship, so he is always going to take some beating.
The number of different marques represented – five in the top eight – is also to be welcomed, particularly when one remembers only two (Citroen and Ford) finished on the podium all season in 2014.
Over in Mexico, we finally saw the true nonsense of the running order rules. Sebastien Ogier has given up moaning about them, but I won’t just yet. To deliberately handicap the best car-driver combination for two days seems rather desperate to me, and I mean no disrespect to Jari-matti Latvala. I’ve heard it argued that drivers of previous eras didn’t complain and just got on with it, but – for the most part – margins at the front were bigger and events were longer, giving more scope for recovery.
Which brings me to another minor gripe. I think it’s a shame Rally Mexico won’t be running a repeat of the epic 50-mile stage next year. One of the appeals of world rallying has surely always been the variety, whether it be surface, nature of the event or mix of ‘sprint’-style contests and enduros. Mexico brought a little bit of that and the WRC was better for it. Even if the organisers don’t plan to repeat Guanajuato in 2017, I hope they came up with something similarly different and interesting. ● I think I write for all concerned when I say our thoughts are with Alan Henry’s friends and family. I never met Alan, but his impact on the sport – and indeed this very title – is clear. He will be sorely missed. Kevin Turner, Editor
It’s that time of year, the interest in Formula 1 is building and Sky Sports F1 has a few treats in store for you this week.
One of the areas that is notoriously difficult to keep up with is the rate of developments the teams are making year on year, but you can immerse yourself with the F1 Development Special (Wednesday, 2030-2130hrs, Sky Sports F1). It’s a must-watch for those of you wanting to gain an insight into the likely challengers in 2016, and indeed why they will be challengers thanks to the developments.
The same channel also has a cracker on offer; Family Dynasties (Saturday 22002300hrs, Sky Sports F1). The programme looks back through some of F1’s famous siblings in a typically entertaining fashion.
Keeping with circuit racing, there’s a chance to see the Sunoco Challenge winners competing at Daytona (Friday, 1135-1240hrs, Motors TV).
Onto the loose and for the first time in over 500 days, a fresh British Rally Championship review show. BT will be showing an hour-long review of the opening round twice (Sunday, 0330-0430hrs and Monday, 2230-2330hrs, BT Sport 1), while Channel 4’s coverage is yet to be confirmed.
Also on offer rally wise is the WM Loughman Rally, a staple of the Carrick on Suir Motor Club and a round of the Irish Forest Rally Championship (Friday, 2205-2235hrs, Motors TV). Brc-bound Sam Moffett headed the field in his Ford Fiesta R5.
The opening round of the Belgian Rally Championship is also on the schedule, and it proved a cracker, with EX-WRC driver Freddy Loix leading the order (Thursday, 1310-1340hrs, Motors TV).