MSA Asphalt Rally Championship returns in 2018 — with major title sponsor Protyre and exciting new TV package
The MSA Asphalt Rally Championship will return in 2018, with Protyre as the title sponsor, an exciting TV package and a challenging calendar of events.
The revitalised 2018 Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Championship is designed to return the much-loved sealed-surface series to its former glory days, when the top British Tarmac rally drivers battled for the prestigious title over some of the best asphalt rallies in the UK. It will be open to a wide variety of cars and classes, and offer a stepping stone for young drivers and a highly competitive arena for the more experienced competitors aiming for overall rally wins and outright title success.
Protyre, the largest suppler of Pirelli, Michelin and Hoosier Motorsport tyres in the UK, won’t just lend its name to the MSA Asphalt Rally Championship — the motorsport side of Protyre, which is based in Stoke-on-Trent, will also provide an on-event service and supply all brands of competition tyres at very competitive rates to all registered contenders, offer an attractive tyre prize fund and work closely to help develop the series on both a sporting and commercial basis.
The partnership has already been successful in securing an exciting TV package. In addition to fans being able to watch highlights of each round on television, they’ll be able to watch the action unfold as it happens, via state-of-the-art live streaming.
All the sporting aspects of the 2018 Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Championship are currently being finalised with the UK motorsports governing body, and will be unveiled at the championship launch in September. Further details on the launch will be announced in due course.
Mike Broad, President of the BTRDA, said: “Whilst we were disappointed not to run the Asphalt Rally Championship in 2017, we’re grateful to the MSA for allowing the series to take a sabbatical this year and to give it an opportunity to return in 2018 stronger than it has ever been before. We have been able to make good use of the break, appointing a new co-ordinator and organising an exciting calendar of events that we hope all competitors will really look forward to — from the experienced crews aiming for outright rally wins and the overall title to the younger drivers and aspiring talent competing in the classes.”
Jane Evans, Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Championship Co-ordinator, said: “We’re delighted to be able to bring the MSA Asphalt Rally Championship back and we’re very excited to be able to announce Protyre as our title sponsor. I’m looking forward to working with them to develop a championship to suit all competitors. There is a huge amount of enthusiasm and energy behind the 2018 series, and it was important for us to announce that the MSA Asphalt Rally Championship will return next year as early as possible, to give competitors the maximum amount of time to plan their assault. In making this announcement now, they have eight months to prepare for the opening round! The calendar of events, classes, points structure and prize fund will all be unveiled at our official championship launch, the date and location of which will be announced shortly. I’m confident that the combination of exciting new events and some classic asphalt stages will provide a real challenge that drivers and co-drivers will relish, and that the new-look Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Championship will be a huge success.”
Shaun Chetwyn, Protyre Motorsport Manager, said: “Following the decision for the MSA Asphalt Rally Championship to take a sabbatical in 2017, we’ve seen a lot of competitors go abroad to compete this year instead. With such a demand and desire for a proper high-profile asphalt championship here in the UK, I approached the MSA to offer our support to the championship — with the objective of restoring a much stronger and healthier championship for competitors. I am therefore delighted to announce the 2018 Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Championship and look forward to working with the championship co-ordinator to develop the series for the future.”
