2009 BRC Challenge Pirelli Rally preview
After dominating on round one of the British Rally Championship’s support series, the 2009 BRC Challenge, Matt Edwards and Andy Murphy head the field of twenty crews on the Pirelli Challenge Rally this weekend.

The Welsh pairing also leads the Kick Energy Fiesta SportTrophy, Stevie Brown lying second and joining the BRCC fray for the Carlisle based event. He and co-driver Andrew Roughead make the switch from the main International, citing budgetary constraints for the move.

Julian Wilkes and Will Rutherford will hope they have overcome their fuel pump problems from Rally North Wales, wanting to push for overall victory in their ultra-powerful 1400cc Nova.

Richard Archer and Tom Ward are convinced the gearbox problem on their Corsa is resolved, after a loss of several gears dropped them down the order on round one. Despite this setback, they lead class RC4 from Andy Gwynne & Holly Robinson whose Saxo retired in Wales.

Next on the entry list are Callum Black and Paul Wakely who also lead the RC1 class in their MGZR. The 1400cc car is giving away masses of power to the expected class front-runners, but the youngster is tenacious and has so far managed to squeeze every ounce from the car.

The two way tussle for class RC2 will be between Brett Griffin/Sam Fordham and Eddie Meek/David Meek. Peugeot driver Griffin has a distinct advantage over his rival though, Meek having retired his Puma in Wales.

The Pirelli Challenge Rally runs alongside the Pirelli International Rally, based in Carlisle on Friday & Saturday 17th & 18th April. It starts at 7pm from the City’s racecourse, following the International for two stages over 17 stage miles into the darkness of Friday evening. Saturday sees four more classic stages in Kielder forest, making a shade over 50 miles before the finish just before 2pm at the racecourse headquarters.

Coverage from round one of the BRC Challenge and a Pirelli Preview are on Sky Sports now, repeated at 23.30 and again tomorrow (Thursday). Full TV listings are available HERE)

Unofficial entry list for BRCC round 2
201
Matt Edwards
Andy Murphy
Ford Fiesta ST

202
Stevie Brown
Andrew Roughead
Ford Fiesta ST

203
Julian Wilkes
Will Rutherford
Vauxhall Nova VXR

204
Richard Archer
Tom Ward
Vauxhall Corsa

205
Callum Black
Paul Wakely
MG ZR

206
Andy Gwynne
Holly Robinson
Citroen Saxo Kit

207
John Boyd
Fred Bell
Ford Fiesta ST

208
Harry Hunt
Steve McPhee
Ford Fiesta ST

209
Robert Barrable
Seamus O Grady
Ford Fiesta ST

210
Neil Coalter
Hannah Cessford
Ford Fiesta ST

211
Thomas Watson
TBC
Ford Fiesta ST

212
Jamie Brown
Craig Burgess
Ford Fiesta ST

214
James Alexander
Helen Alexander
Peugeot 106 Rallye

215
Brett Griffin
Sam Fordham
Peugeot 106 GTI

216
Eddie Meek
David Meek
Ford Puma

217
Callum Bendall
James Haugh
Ford KA

218
Neil Matthews
John Connor
Vauxhall Nova

219
James Watts
TBA
Volkswagen Polo

220
Amanda Cornforth
Derek Cornforth
Ford KA

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