by Rob Wilkins
Britain's Barry Clark has revealed that he is planning to take in some events in the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship this year.
Clark, who confirmed at the end of February that he will do three rounds in the
FIA World Rally Championship in a latest spec Ford Focus RS WRC car [see separate story], told
Crash.net Radio that he wants to try and build up his experience in a four-wheel drive car.
"The guys here are building me a new Evo 9 at the moment. We are going to do some [BRC] rallies in it and possibly some rallies in a Fiesta," he stated. "But the main idea of the Evo is just to get out and do some four-wheel drive miles and get the experience.
"I haven't got an awful lot. I did one year in the British championship in '05 in a Group N Subaru, but really that is the limit of my four-wheel drive experience."
Pressed on how many BRC events he could do, he added that while he looks certain to do the Pirelli International Rally in April, the opening round in the BRC, his main focus will remain on the WRC and ensuring he makes the most of his outings in the Focus RS WRC in Turkey, Corsica and GB.
"We will be starting on the Pirelli. I don't know if that will be in a Fiesta or in the Evo – it is still to be decided. We will try and do as much of the British championship as we can," he continued.
"But the WRC rallies come first. If there is a chance to get out on them with tyre engineers or car engineers and maybe have a look through some of the stages, then that has to be the main priority. There could be quite a lot of clashes and so I won't be able to do the whole British championship.
"Also with GB I am doing that in the Focus and that counts for two rounds in the BRC and so we will 'miss' them as well. I can't be in contention for the overall British championship but it will still be great to get out there and do the miles."
