A new all-asphalt historic rally championship is being launched for 2026 when the team behind the British Historic Rally Championship adds the Roger Albert Clark Historic Asphalt Rally Championship to its roster.

The new championship will include five high-profile UK closed-road rallies and will give competitors in all categories of historic car the chance to compete in a dedicated asphalt championship.

The BHRC will continue to be a mixed surface championship with more gravel rounds than asphalt, while the concept behind new series recognises that a growing number of historic rally cars are being prepared purely for asphalt rallies and that some competitors with historic cars are choosing to only compete on sealed surfaces.

The championship will cover all four historic categories, running from the oldest pre-68 cars through to the Category 4 cars of the 1990s and will also accommodate, on an invitation basis, cars that fall into the new Category 5, for cars built up to 1999.

The season will open with the East Riding Stages in February and take in the Manx Rally, Jim Clark Reivers Rally, Argyll Rally and the Hills Ford Stages. Subject to competitor response, the schedule may be increased and extended in 2027. By limiting the 2026 schedule to five events, competitors have been given the option to sample the new series while contesting other events.

Championship Manager Colin Heppenstall said: “We recognise that there are a lot of historic cars now that are being used only on asphalt rallies. We are committed to the BHRC remaining a mixed surface championship so we felt this was the ideal time to launch a parallel series, purely for asphalt rallies. We’re keen to talk to everyone who has a car from across the full range of historic categories and will welcome entries from Ireland and mainland Europe.”

Historic Asphalt Rally Championship calendar:

22 February:           East Riding Stages Rally

8-9 May:                Manx Rally

24 May:                  Jim Clark Reivers Rally

19-20 June:            Argyll Rally

19-20-September:   Hills Ford Stages