BTRDA WORKING TOWARDS SECURING A FIVE-ROUND CALENDAR
Leading national series bosses looking at options to form a reworked 2020 schedule
Organisers of the BTRDA Rally Series are still working on delivering a five-round championship this season despite Covid-19 cancelling the majority of forest-based championships this year.
Following the Welsh championship’s cancellation last week, the British Historic Championship is the only other still standing but with just two rounds on its schedule, its future looks shaky too.
Chairman of the BTRDA rallies committee Neil Cross told Motorsport News that the situation is continually being monitored.
He added: “We’re almost fortunate as with the Woodpecker going, our next event now isn’t until the end of September so we’ve got a bit of leeway in trying to work out what’s happening.”
Surveys have been sent out to competitors to determine interest in completing the season and, if not, whether silverware be handed out after just two rounds. The Cambrian and Malcolm Wilson rallies have both run with the Trackrod, Wyedean and the rescheduled Nicky Grist Stages on November 28 potentially remaining.
“The Gold Star, Silver Star and Bronze Star are coveted awards and have been around in motorsport and rallying for 40 to 50 years now,” Cross said.
“We don’t want to detract from what competitors have put into it but we wouldn’t necessarily want to award a Gold Star to a competitor on a championship that’s only two rounds for argument’s sake [either]. There’s all sorts of checks and balances to be done.”
Championship leader Stephen Petch would like to see the championship continue but said people’s health is more important.
“It’s one of those ‘rock and a hard place’ situations,” he told MN. “Having had such a great start it would be a shame [for it to be cancelled] but people must stay safe. There willl always be another rally to do.”