Edwards is first champion of the new era as he takes BRC 2 title in Mitsubishi

After finishing 12th in the Nicky Grist Stages last weekend, Matt Edwards has done enough to be the first champion of the BRC’S new era as he sealed the BRC 2 title.

The North Wales driver – co-driven by Will Rogers – put in one of the performances of the season on the championship’s opener in Mid Wales, finishing ahead of many R5 cars in his production-spec Mitsubishi Lancer E9 after building the car in a matter of weeks before the start of the season.

The championship has suffered a disappointing uptake with only four points scorers in the series, but Edwards’ giant-killing performances toppling many faster R5s has garnered universal praise from the BRC service park.

“It’s been the hardest mentally having been at the front from the start,” said Edwards of his season. “The biggest thing for me is to have built that car on my own in five weeks. The only thing I’ve had a problem with was the fuel pump in Ireland. That’s the only time I’ve put a spanner on it. That, to me, is one of the biggest things, to have done that [built the car], that’s my work. I’ve done all the prep on my own as well and it’s been really hard work.”

Edwards has won four of the five rounds he’s entered this year including a win while playing his double-points joker card on the Pirelli Carlisle Rally in April. His only loss came at the circuit of Ireland where a puncture and the aforementioned fuel pump problem ruled him out of realistic contention. Patrick O’brien won the event in his similar Lancer E9.

Edwards has competed outside the British championship this year including a one-off deal to drive a Ford Fiesta R5+ on the DMACK Carlisle Stages in the BTRDA. M-sport, DMACK and Peter Smith (Swift Caravans) came together to give Edwards the opportunity after his strong performances in the BRC.

Edwards has not confirmed his plans for 2017 with more details expected in the next two weeks.