EBRC INVITATIONAL PROVES A HIT WITH SERIES COMPETITORS
Virtual competition for British competitors provides a pressure-cooker environment
By Luke Barry
Leading British Rally Championship competitors have said the opening round of the EBRC Invitational in Wales was more nervewracking than competing in the BRC for real.
For registered BRC competitors, the EBRC Invitational runs alongside the Esports competition that is open to any Motorsport UK licence holder or trackside member.
A genuine British title and an EDSL Sport Fiesta R2 test are on offer to the champion. A prize will be awarded to the Invitational winner too, but it is primarily for entertainment.
Josh Mcerlean, who finished second behind Rhys Yates’ co-driver James Morgan, told MN: “It was a unique experience to do it on a Playstation with more people watching the rally than a proper rally.
“There’s the same sense of pressure at the startline, it’s not much different to be fair because you know you’ve only one shot at it and no restarts.”
JBRC driver Eddie Lewis agreed: “When you get into a bit of proper competition and you know you’re up against each other then it sort of changes the memo a bit. I know everyone was saying how strangely nerve-wracking it was playing, more so than it even is competing normally.”
An as-live programme was streamed on the BRC’S social media channels last week and proved extremely popular. Championship manager Iain Campbell is keen to see that momentum continue.
“Within 12 hours of the programme going out, we were at the same viewing figures as we had for our Channel 4 programme [that we had in 2016, ’17 and ’18],” he said. “We’ve just now got to do rounds two, three and four and ensure that we keep this standard and keep those numbers as well.”