CAMBRIAN IN CLOSED-ROAD PUSH FOR 2019 BR C INCLUSION
Welsh event has renewed hopes of joining british rally championship
Cambrian Rally bosses have confirmed their intent to use closed roads on the 2019 event as part of a push to become part of the British Rally Championship.
On Friday, February 2, a law was passed in Wales that makes gaining a closed-road permit for events easier. The old process required an Act of Parliament. The new system means the local authority and motorsport’s governing body in the United Kingdom, the MSA, have to approve.
With this change, along with Conway County Borough Council coming onboard as title sponsor for the event, has the Cambrian gearing up to gain a place in the BRC.
“The main objective for us is to become a BRC round next year, and they [Conway Council] see the benefits of the event being a round of the British Rally Championship,” said Alyn Edwards, Cambrian clerk of the course. “They see how that can boost the economy at a period of the year when it is fairly quiet. They’re going to be a huge benefit to have fighting our corner to get into the BRC.
“We hope that with their help and backing, we will be able to go ahead and get links [roads] and closed roads, and other things we want to do with the event.
“It should make life an awful lot easier with a proactive council that understand the benefits of what’s being done.”
MN exclusively reported that bosses of the Cambrian Rally and BRC chiefs were in communication over a spot on the 2018 calendar in June last year, but a failure to agree between the event, BRC and BTRDA – which also uses the Cambrian as a round – ended the discussions.
BRC championship manager Iain Campbell said: “Our focus at present is on the 2018 BRC that starts next month in Jedburgh. We haven’t discussed 2019 with anyone so far, but we remain committed to finding the best events to make up the championship.”