2020 MRF TYRES BTRDA RALLY SERIES CANCELLED  

At a recent ‘virtual’ meeting of the BTRDA Rallies Committee – organisers of the MRF Tyres BTRDA Rally Series, the Motorsport UK 2020 English Rally Championship in association with Seacon and the MRF Tyres Mixed-Surface Challenge – the remainder of the 2020 season was the main topic of discussion. With all the uncertainty currently surrounding the viability of forest rallying in the immediate future due to the ongoing Covid 19 outbreak, it was unanimously decided that with great regret, in the best interests of everyone concerned, the 2020 season should be brought to a halt forthwith.  

BTRDA Rallies Committee Chair Neil Cross expressed his disappointment at the outcome. ‘We’d been leaving a decision on the rest of the season for as long as possible, but the odds were stacked against us and, in the end, we felt we were left with no other option than to cancel. I’m sorry for our registered competitors, sponsors and event organisers who, like us, had been hoping for some positive news but, rest assured, we’re already working on our plans for 2021, details of which will be announced in the coming weeks.’  

It has been confirmed that all the 2020 BTRDA Rally Series registered competitors will have their Championship registration fees carried forward into 2021, while BTRDA Membership fees are to be held at £30 for a further year.  

The photo above is Stephen Petch and Michael Wilkinson (Fiesta WRC) on their way to wining the 2020 Malcolm Wilson Rally which was the final forest rally in the UK before the Covid-19 lockdown.  They were leading the Gold Star Championship points table after the two rounds that were possible to run in 2020.