… Knockhill To Host Motorsport News Circuit Rally Championship In 2017 …
The Motorsport News Circuit Rally Championship, in association with MSVR, has unveiled an exciting eight round provisional calendar for its third season which will include a visit to Knockhill in Scotland for the first time.
Organised by Dunfermline Car Club and planned for Sunday 3rd December 2017, the all-tarmac event at Scotland’s National Motorsport Centre near Dunfermline in Fife will host the third round of the series with roads around the perimeter as well as the track forming the basis for the 40-stage mile event.
Knockhill’s addition means the championship will feature at seven of the country’s finest racing circuits across the UK including all four of MotorSport Vision’s venues, with the addition of three other fantastic UK circuits including Knockhill.
The deal was announced on the MSVR stand at this weekend’s Autosport International Show held at the NEC in Birmingham and saw triple and reigning British Touring Car champion Gordon ‘Flash’ Shedden endorse the event alongside Championship Coordinator Darren Spann, Knockhill Director of Events, Stuart Gray and MSV Race Operations Manager David Scott.
Circuit rallying features up to 100 cars competing against the clock, across a variety of bespoke rally stages incorporating different parts of the race circuit, including paddocks and perimeter roads. Sections of track are run in both directions and include challenges such as water splashes and jumps. The third season will kick off at Oulton Park in November before continuing to a spring 2018 finale.
Stuart Gray, Knockhill Director of Events: “We are delighted to be hosting round three of the Motorsport News Circuit Rally Championship. Knockhill have a very long pedigree of hosting rally events and stages of major rallies and we know the combination of stage miles here will be different and exciting for the crews and spectators alike. As recently as 2015, legends such as Stig Blomqvist, Hannu Mikkola, Alister McRae and BTCC stars Gordon Shedden and Aiden Moffat all took part in the McRae Rally Challenge and this event will mirror the stage miles used on that event.”
Darren Spann, Championship Coordinator: “We are delighted to have put together such a fantastic provisional calendar, the addition of the fantastic Knockhill circuit which is so steeped in rallying history is significant. This addition gives our championship at least one round in Scotland, Wales and England and makes it truly a national championship, I can’t wait to sample what Scotland has to offer us.”
MSVR Race Operations Manager David Scott, said: “With another great calendar for the 2017/18 season it looks like another bumper year for the Motorsport News Circuit Rally Championship. The inclusion of Knockhill adds variety and should provide some great action. Is there a prospect of a ‘wildcard’ entry from ‘Flash’?”