The Probite Motorsport UK British Rally Championship roars back into life next weekend [22/23 March] with a bumper entry list for the Legend Fires North West Stages, marking a thrilling return for the reinvigorated series. 

The opening round of the season has attracted a sensational lineup of top-flight crews, with former British champions, battling European and World title holders for glory at the first of seven action-packed rounds in 2024. Each bidding to add their name to a prestigious roll of honour that includes legends of the sport such as Ari Vatanen, Roger Clark, Hannu Mikkola, Colin McRae and Richard Burns. 

A recently announced enhanced media package for the UK’s premier rally championship will include a dedicated one-hour highlights show on ITV4 and availability on the accompanying online catch-up service ITVX, during the season, giving unrivalled visibility across the UK and Republic of Ireland to drivers, events, and partners. 

The revitalised championship has seen an unprecedented level of registrations for the season ahead with the series top category featuring a host of BRC1 rivals in Rally2 four-wheel-drive machinery set to do battle at the front of the field. They are joined by the Junior BRC category which will showcase the talents of progressive youngsters in Rally4 specification two-wheel-drive cars. Support classes are also bolstered this year, with BRC4 and BRC3 well supported, each vying for a British title marker. 

Meanwhile, the Open Title and National Rally Title offer the challenge of longer top-drawer rallies, plus recce for non-homologated vehicles, each battling it out for a title of their own. 

The Legend Fires North West Stages is a new event on the BRC roster and offers a largely unknown prospect for contenders to bag a confidence-boosting start to the season. Its ten stages on the closed roads surrounding its Garstang rally base offer a dynamic mix of tight country lanes and fast and flowing moorland roads. Bravery and commitment will need to be deployed to eke out an early advantage as crews lock horns for almost sixty competitive miles across the Lancashire roads. 

BRC Championship Manager Reece Tarren is counting the days until the first round: “This sensational BRC entry list is the culmination of a lot of hard work to give a shot in the arm to the championship and rallying as a whole over the last few months. Our calendar offering and reinvigorated media package have attracted global attention and really looks to put the BRC back where it belongs. Just glance at the top twenty and I think it’s safe to say it’s one of the best entry lists I`ve ever seen on a national event, and that can only be a good thing for the series and motorsport in general. I’m extremely eager to watch the opening round unfold and watch the season play out across six top-drawer rallies. The BRC really is back.”