Edwards sad at Manx loss despite benefit to him
Despite its cancellation helping him to edge closer to a dream first British Rally Championship title, Matt Edwards is ‘disappointed’ at the loss of the Rally Isle of Man.
Organisers and government have blamed each other for the loss of the event as politics has intervened and, despite confirming a date for next year’s event, it won’t be a round of the British Rally Championship.
“I’m really disappointed the Manx has fallen,” said Edwards. “It’s an event I really like. There’s reasons and politics behind it, but for me it’s a key characteristic of the BRC. It’s the one I really wanted to win all year, if someone would have asked me to choose to win one event it would be that one.”
The M-sport-run Ford Fiesta R5 driver now only needs a fourth place on one leg of Wales Rally GB to take a first BRC title in his second year in R5 machinery.
“It’s in our favour that it isn’t running in terms of points and the title, but that’s not something I’m thinking about,” he added.
Wales Rally GB returns to the BRC calendar for the first time since 2008 this year, and has attracted 18 entries.
Edwards, title rival David Bogie and Rhys Yates lead the way, with six R5s on the list. Lawrence Whyte returns in his Ford Fiesta R5 after missing the Ulster.
Steve Rokland, James Williams and William Creighton will fight it out for the Motorsport News Junior British Rally Championship.