Beverley & District Motor Club

Next year's British Rally Championship will be open to all cars homologated by the international governing body (FIA), including World Rally Cars.

The announcement by the Motor Sports Association signals the end of a

six-year commitment to two-litre, two-wheel drive cars and promises a return to the UK championship of the spectacular four-wheel drive, turbocharged cars seen on the FIA World Rally Championship. MSA Director of Major Events & Marketing Jonathan Ashman, said: "The two-litre era has been tremendously successful, attracting nine manufacturers to the series at one time or another. However, there now seems to be a very limited future for the formula. The proposed replacement 'junior' formula looks attractive, but requires more development before we can properly evaluate it. "World Rally Cars, on the other hand, are appearing in increasing numbers on the international scene: no fewer than eight manufacturers have homologated cars and several others are in the pipeline. We naturally expect to attract a representative selection of these supercars to what is, after all, the world's leading national rally championship. The British series will offer an excellent opportunity for World Championship manufacturers to try out young drivers or new cars, with the added bonus of top-class television coverage." The following major titles will be contested on the 2001 British Rally Championship:

* British Rally Champion Driver (best overall in any car)

* British Rally Champion Co-driver (best overall in any car)

* British Rally Champion Manufacturer (best overall positions)

* British Junior Rally Champion (any driver aged 26 or under on 1 January 2001, driving a Super 1600 car)

* Super 1600 Cup (for manufacturers only)

* National Group N Cup (for drivers and co-drivers of all Group N cars)

* Capacity class awards for cars in Group A and Group N.