Carmichael signs up first right-hand drive R5 for British Rally Championship
Alan Carmichael has become the first person to take advantage of the British Rally Championship’s new rule that permits right-hand-drive R5 cars to score overall points.
Carmichael will kick-off his campaign on February’s Cambrian Rally in a Hyundai i20 R5 that has been converted to RHD by its owner Philip Case Rally Sport. No R5 manufacturer has a RHD drive R5 homologated.
The i20 has already been driven by Carmichael; he ended the Grizedale Stages in ninth after suffering visibility issues on the final test before taking second on the Turkey Run Rally.
“The car is excellent,” said Carmichael. “We’re going to do the whole championship this year and I’m looking forward to getting started. For the first few events we need to focus on finishing and banking as many miles as we can.
“I think we are going to struggle against the top R5 drivers on gravel but I’m confident we can work with them when we move to Tarmac.”
Carmichael insists having looked at both left- and right-hand-drive R5 cars there is no difference in performance. “The only thing that has been changed on this particular car is the steering,” he said.
“All of the parts that have been used on the car are 100 per cent genuine. Hyundai Motorsport has said if they can get five customers wanting a right-hand-drive i20 then they will homologate them.”