The RAC Motor Sports Association believes that this will become the first national rally championship in the world run entirely for two-litre, two-wheel drive.
RACMSA Chief Executive John Quenby explained: "It was always our intention to achieve a situation where British Championship rallies were run exclusively for two-litre cars, so that the outright winner also scores top points. This will make the championship much easier to understand and even more attractive to manufacturers, drivers, sponsors and the media."
"If anyone doubts the popularity of two-litre, two-wheel drive rallying, they need only look at the entry list for next month's Network Q RAC Rally, with almost two dozen factory cars from seven different manufacturers."
Peter White, Sponsorship Manager of Mobil Oil, commented: "I am so pleased that the British Rally Championship is becoming so popular and I believe that the new format will encourage more and more entries."
The Ulster Rally, because of prior commitments to the Tarmac Rally Championship, may - for 1997 only - admit four-wheel drive turbocharged cars, but this waiver will apply only to drivers registered in the Tarmac Rally Championship
The Manx Rally will remain part of the FIA European Rally Championship, but a distinct, separate event will be run for participants in the FIA series, and for those in any other championship which admits cars not eligible for the British series
The 1997 Mobil 1 RAC British Rally Championship calendar is
Friday-Saturday 14-15 March Vauxhall Rally of Wales Saturday-Sunday 26-27 April Pirelli International Rally Friday-Saturday 6-7 June Scottish International Rally Friday-Saturday 1-2 August Stena Line Ulster Rally Thursday-Friday-Saturday 11-12-13 September Manx International RallyTo provide seven scoring opportunities from the existing five rounds, each leg of the two-day Pirelli and Stena Line Ulster rallies will qualify separately for championship points.
Points will be allocated to drivers, co-drivers and manufacturers, based on their classification at the end of each day.
A sixth event is expected to join the Mobil 1 RAC British Rally Championship in 1998. Candidate events will be observed during 1997.
Competitors wanting details of the 1997 Mobil 1 RAC British Rally
Championship should contact
John Horton Motorsport Management, PO Box 200,
Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands B75 7TR. Telephone +44 121-378-2828. Fax
+44 121-378-0500.
Issued 15 October 1996
Text courtesy of
Simon M Warner (motorsport@warnerrs.demon.co.uk)
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Last Modified: 18 November 1996