Motorsport News

ASPHALT CHAMPIONSH­IP IS GO WITH BACKING FROM MOTORSPORT NEWS

Classic challenges to feature in revamped calendar for 2023 sealed-surface contest

- By Paul Lawrence

A fresh calendar taking in some of the UK’s very best asphalt events will make up the schedule for the Protyre BTRDAAspha­lt Rally Championsh­ip in associatio­n with Motorsport News.

The calendar covers seven rallies and eight scoring rounds, starting with the East Riding Stages in late February. The

Isle of Man date reverts to the Manx National Rally in May, which will be a double-header round with two full sets of points on offer. With 130 stage miles planned on classic Manx roads, points will be awarded after leg one on Friday as well as after leg two on Saturday.

The Jim Clark and Argyll rallies in Scotland and the Down Rally in Northern Ireland are all retained while the Tour of Epynt moves to August and the season concludes with the Cheviot Stages on Otterburn in late October. Rali Ceredigion and the Three Shires Stages, championsh­ip rounds in 2022, are not on the ’23 calendar.

The refreshed 2023 calendar is part of the championsh­ip’s developmen­t plan led by co-ordinator Paul Morris. The best six scores from eight rounds will count, allowing crews to miss one or two events if they wish. Morris said: “As a new organising team we have one year behind us and, armed with a lot of experience and competitor feedback, we now look forward to a new championsh­ip year.”

Matt James, editor of Motorsport News, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with the Asphalt Rally Championsh­ip for 2023.

It is a superb championsh­ip with fabulous events and a great team at the helm. We look forward to giving it extensive coverage.”

 ?? Photos: Paul and Ben Lawrence ?? Asphalt runners will have fresh challenge
Photos: Paul and Ben Lawrence Asphalt runners will have fresh challenge

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