This weekend will see a host of local crews tackling events in the Lake District and at Weston Park near Telford, as round two of the MRF Tyres BTRDA series takes crews to the very popular Malcolm Wilson Rally.
The Cockermouth-based event offers some of the most breathtaking stages in the UK, with classic Lakeland tests mixed with the notoriously difficult Grizedale Forest, where the bulk of the 45 miles will take place.
Ben Friend, together with regular co-driver Cliff Simmons in the Allglass-backed Escort RS1800, will be hoping to put the misery of round one behind them this weekend, and fight for historic honours.
Graham Waite and Gill Cotton will make the long trip north for the event in the Opel Ascona. This will be the first time Waite has tackled these stages since his outings in a factory backed Skoda 130 on the old RAC rallies.
In the 1400cc category, husband and wife duo Nigel and Karen Jenkins will make their long-awaited return to the championship in the NJ Auto Repairs 1400 Nova, looking to get their campaign off to a good start.
The weekend will also see a double header at Weston Park, Telford, the fast roads having hosted the RAC rallies for many years.
Owen Motor Club’s Jasper Bakeries and David Owen Agbo Historic Stages takes place on the Saturday with the Jasper Bakeries Agbo Stages for modern cars on the Sunday.
Saturday’s event will be the opening rounds of both HRCR Stage Masters and HRCR Mini Cup, and will see four local Mini mounted crews racing.
Veterans Eric Davis and Russell Joseph will be bringing their Dennis Motorsport Mini GT.
Joining them will be Eric’s son Matthew: back after a long lay off, alongside new co-driver Shaun Layland in a 1340 Mini.
Mini Cup frontrunners Ryan Taylor and Hollie Churchill will again be hoping to be in the mix for honours as the duo look forward to the new season.
The final Mini crew are father and daughter Paul and Jemma Taylor in the Mini Mail-backed 1340 car, again the pair are looking forward to the new season.
In Sunday’s modern event, former junior 1000 contender Harry Pinchen will debut his new Peugeot 106, with the experienced Colin Jenkins
alongside.