BRC CONTENDERS PREPARE FOR SOLBERG’S CHALLENGE
British-based runners keen to go toe-to-toe with WRC star
British Rally Championship contender James Williams says that having Oliver Solberg contesting this weekend’s final round, the Cambrian Rally, will bring a significant benchmark to the North Wales event.
Williams cannot improve upon his third place in the standings but would dearly like to finish his season with a victory in his Hyundai i20 R5. New champion Osian Pryce and runner-up Keith Cronin have won all six rounds to date between them and with the title settled in Pryce’s favour, neither is competing on the Cambrian.
Williams said: “We have ticked off every step of the podium bar one, so that will be the target: to go for the win and to fight for our first BRC victory on home soil will be pretty special.
“It’s a little disappointing that some of the guys aren’t showing up for the
Cambrian, but with the championship wrapped up and the expense to run these cars and enter these events getting higher, I completely get it. We are very lucky to have incredible support from all our sponsors, enabling Dai Roberts and I to finish the year off.”
Williams and his rivals, including Ruairi Bell and Garry Pearson, will go head to head with Solberg in his family’s VW Polo R5 as he tackles the rally after his WRC deal with Hyundai came to an early end.
“The competition will still be pretty hot and everyone will be looking at Oliver Solberg as the benchmark,” said Williams. “But there are some quick guys in the
BRC who could take it to him. I really want to be fighting at the sharp end on the final event. There are a few new stages this year, so that will be a good leveller for everyone. If I can relax and get into a good rhythm we can be there or thereabouts.”