The MSA and BTRDA have agreed to rest the MSA Asphalt Rally Championship in 2017 following the retirement of long-time championship coordinator Andrew Haill.

Both parties recognise that this news will disappoint competitors but they can rest assured that the championship will be relaunched and reinvigorated in 2018.

Rob Jones, MSA Chief Executive, said: “With the pace of the latest cars posing challenges for organisers, and with the future opportunities of closed roads legislation for this particular championship and discipline, the MSA and BTRDA have agreed that now is the time to regroup, refocus and ultimately relaunch the MSA Asphalt Rally Championship.”

Mike Broad, President of the BTRDA, said: “The BTRDA has not taken this decision lightly and has made considerable efforts to organise a worthy series for 2017, but it has become clear that a sabbatical is needed to give us the opportunity to achieve this goal for 2018.”