Following cancellation of the Trackrod Rally Yorkshire (see
below), with only two rounds remaining, the Motor Sports
Association has cancelled this year’s British Rally
Championship.

The MSA stated that the championship would continue if at
least three of the original seven rounds could run. With five events now lost to Foot & Mouth Disease, only the Kumho Tyres Scottish Rally (15/16 September) and the Jim Clark Memorial Rally (7-9 December) are currently planning to go ahead.

Commenting on the loss of the 2001 championship, MSA Chief
Executive Colin Hilton said: ‘By our own rules, once the
number of remaining events went below three, we had no
alternative but to cancel the entire championship. Our energy and attention will now be devoted to delivering a fresh and vibrant Championship in 2002.’

This is the first time the British Rally Championship has been cancelled since its inception in 1958.

For news of the Kumho Tyres Scottish Rally, please contact
Jonathan Lord (tel 0141 204 4999; email rsac_motorsport@compuserve.com).

For news of the Jim Clark Memorial Rally, please contact
Grahame MacGregor (tel 0187 582 0302; email grahame.macgregor@jcmr.u-net.com).

For more details contact:
John Horton, Media contact for the British Rally
Championship
Tel 0121 378 2828.
Fax 0121 378 0500.
e-mail john@jhmm.co.uk.