HAVE YOUR SAY WE NEED YOU! GET INVOLVED WITH MN MN SAYS... A big day for British rallying

WRITE TO US Motorsport News Haymarket Consumer Media, Bridge House, 69 London Road, Twickenham TW1 3SP The return of the BRC is important for the sport in the UK

This is a big weekend for British rallying. After falling into the doldrums to the point where it was canned altogether last year, the British Rally Championship is finally going to return. And if it is to be great again – and play it’s part in the sport’s future – it could do with a top-quality rebirth.

Fortunately, things are looking positive ahead of the season-opening Mid Wales Stages this weekend. The return of powerful cars, with several manufacturers represented, is to be welcomed, as is the Dmack-supported Junior initiative. Competitors seem to have responded well to the BRC’S new direction and we should see a good mix of established aces and up-and-coming drivers battling it out over the coming season.

Beyond the general health of the series, the centre of attention will almost certainly be Elfyn Evans. Having been forced to step down after two years in the World Rally Championship, he is the obvious benchmark for all the other R5 drivers, many of whom have been quick to point out that fact. Evans’ presence is great for the BRC, though it could be something of a double-edged sword for the man himself.

A dominant campaign – allied to continued pace in WRC2 – would give him a strong case for a WRC return in 2017. Get beaten (or even strongly challenged), however, and the future may not look so bright. Either way, Evans will play his part in the start of a new era for the BRC. ● On the subject of new eras, the World Rallycross Championship continues to gather momentum. The news that Sebastien Loeb will rejoin his rivalry with Petter Solberg – something we’ve been hoping for since the rally legend was ditched by Citroen – provides yet another reason to take a trip to Lydden Hill in May. Kevin Turner, Editor