The new HRCR Historic Stage Rally Challenge, supported by TR Enterprises, will start on the Red Kite Stages in January, rather than the Wyedean Stages in February as initially planned.

The Challenge has been created to encourage owners of Category 1 (registered before 31.12.67) historic cars to compete in a lower cost, less damaging series of events and will compliment the Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally Championship.

Initially, it was planned to start the season on the Wyedean Stages, but with entries for that event traditionally at a premium, it was mutually agreed to change the opening round to the Red Kite Stages on 20 January.

The Red Kite, which takes in some of the classic Mid-Wales stages, already has an historic event and the new series is a perfect fit for the Llandovery-based rally, organised by Amman and District Motor Club.

The Red Kite Historic Stages is also an ideal pre-season shakedown event for crews planning to contest the BHRC.

The revised calendar for 2008 is as follows:

Jan 20 Red Kite Stages, Mid Wales (gravel)
May 3 Welsh Rally, Epynt (asphalt)
May 26 Millbrook Stages, Bedfordshire (asphalt)
Jun 21 Rally of the Midlands, Nuneaton (asphalt)
Aug 16 Neath Valley Stages, South Wales (gravel)
Sep 27 Trackrod Historic Cup, Yorkshire (gravel)