HYUNDAI WRC PRIZE DRIVE FOR JUNIOR BRC CHAMPION
British class title winner to be offered the chance of WRC2 outing in the top flight
The winner of the 2021 Junior British Rally Championship will be offered the opportunity to drive a Hyundai i20 N Rally2 on a European round of the 2022 World Rally Championship.
This year’s JBRC – open to drivers under 26 years old – reverts to an open Rally4/R2 format for 2021 after becoming a one-make series for Ford Fiestas in 2020. The Hyundai prize, offered through its customer racing division, replaces the €60,000 subsidised prize fund for Junior WRC from M-Sport and Pirelli.
It cements a growing relationship between Hyundai and the BRC, with 2019
JBRC champion Josh
McErlean contesting that year’s Wales Rally GB in an i20 R5 as a reward. He has since become a Hyundai Junior driver for 2021.
“We are always very eager to ensure young and talented drivers in the British championship are recognised and have a platform to be able to showcase their skills and have an opportunity to receive career-defining opportunities,” said BRC championship manager Iain Campbell.
“Thanks to the backing of the championship, Hyundai Motorsport and our supporters, we can offer yet another fantastic prize for our Junior winners.”
Hyundai Motorsport customer racing operations leader Andrew Johns added: “Continuing our cooperation with the British Rally Championship for 2021 is very exciting. In the past few seasons we’ve been able to welcome some very talented drivers into an i20 R5, including Josh McErlean who is now part of our Customer Racing Junior Driver programme this year.
“Joining a WRC event with the i20 N Rally2 is a great opportunity for the successful driver to show their pace against the best drivers in the World, and act as a first step in the next stage of their rallying career.
“The series’ organisers have done a great job putting together a calendar of events under difficult conditions, and I look forward to following a very competitive season.”