The MSA Asphalt Rally Championship will return in 2018 with new a title sponsor, an exciting TV package and a challenging calendar of events.

The revitalised sealed-surface championship is designed to return to its former glory days. It will be open to a wide variety of cars and classes, offering a stepping stone for young drivers and a highly competitive arena for the more experienced competitors.

Championship sponsor Protyre will also provide the on-event tyre service, supplying all brands of competition tyres at competitive rates to all registered contenders. The company will offer a tyre prize fund and work to help develop the championship on a sporting and commercial basis. Television highlights of each round will be complemented by state-of-the-art live streaming.

Jane Evans, championship co-ordinator, said: “We’re delighted to be able to bring the MSA Asphalt Rally Championship back and we’re very excited to be able to announce Protyre as our title sponsor. I’m looking forward to working with them to develop a championship to suit all competitors.

“There is a huge amount of enthusiasm and energy behind the 2018 series, and it was important for us to announce that the MSA Asphalt Rally Championship will return next year as early as possible, to give competitors the maximum amount of time to plan their assault. In making this announcement now, they have eight months to prepare for the opening round!”

All sporting aspects are currently being finalised and will be unveiled at the championship launch in September.