Edwards: Stop “BRC bashing” and support the UK’S national rally championship
Matt Edwards has called on the rallying community to support the British Rally Championship, after its crews came in for criticism after the Rally Isle of Man.
On multiple stages at the event drivers were asked to start stages cold after long delays. Some competitors outside of the BRC called out the crews for attempting to stop the start of SS15, after it was delayed by 50 minutes and no safety car drove in from the start of the stage, although one did start from post two.
“We need to stop the BRC bashing,” said Edwards. “It needs everyone’s support. It is doing a great job in listening to competitors and raising the spirit, profile and competition of British rallying.
“With all competitors having cold tyres, brakes and ’diffs the chances of an accident were increased. There was a lot of frustration at over two hours of start-line delays to that point already. It was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
“Five stages ran on time. That’s 16 stages starting with transmissions not to operating temperature. I don’t want to incur unnecessary cost to the team I am very fortunate to have behind me.”
Edwards backed the event to return to the BRC calendar amid its uncertainty.
“Rally Isle of Man desperately needs to be in the championship [BRC] but clearly needs more hands on deck and a tweak in its approach,” he added. “The BRC would be a much poorer place without it.”