Border Counties to open BRC 2017posted in BRC09 | 01 | 2017

SCOTLAND WILL, UNEXPECTEDLY, host the first round of this year’s MSA British Rally Championship. The seven-round championship will now start on March 17-18 with the Jedburgh-based Brick & Steel Border Counties Rally.

Organisers of the BRC have been forced to amend their plans after the Newtown & District Motor Club decided to cancel the Mid Wales Rally.

Based in Newtown, the two-day Welsh rally had been scheduled to be the opening round on March 5-6.

Now the Borders-based one-day shoot-out will offer BRC competitors a full day’s action over demanding gravel stages in the Scottish lowlands with the route passing through the Tweed Valley and Kielder.

Jedburgh Town Hall will play host to Rally HQ, providing a central location for scrutineering, documentation and the Ceremonial Start and Finish while the Service Park will be based at the Newtown St Boswells Mart.

“After the disappointment of losing the Mid Wales Stages, we were delighted that the Border Counties came forward to host the opening round,” BRC championship manager Iain Campbell said.

“Putting the best of the BRC against the Scottish Championship competitors will offer a great challenge on stages once used in the World Rally Championship.

“The event organisers have been brilliant so far and we are already working hard with them to ensure that everything is in place for the opening round and there will be more announcements to come about the Border Counties in the next few days.”

Related: Scotland gets 2017 BRC date

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Jim McGill