in, we have no further eyes on the stage from that point other than the good work of the marshals and radio operators. These cameras now allow us to have eyes on a stage for a much longer period and already we have seen the impact of having imagery back to rally control, allowing us to request marshals to move spectators if they were deemed to be in an unsafe place. It is going to be exciting to see how this develops throughout the year. |
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VISION 2030 |
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First seen on Rali Ceredigion, AI cameras are being trialled on BRC events in 2026 |
SPACESUIT MEDIA |
Vision 2030 has a positive impact on what we do in every single area. Each year we have a turnover of competitors and volunteers, so we need to get into a position where we’ re retaining people within the sport and that they’ re enjoying their experience. We also need to recruit new people; we put quite a lot of focus on attracting younger people into the sport, but we also understand how time-challenged people are now, so it’ s about exploring technology and other initiatives to try and help them enjoy the experience.
We also need to get more rally cars out of the garage and back into the sport as best as we can. Initiatives such as guidance for organisers and the pathways project, easing the path for people coming into the sport, will help us to fulfil the ambitions of Vision 2030.
BRITISH RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
It’ s important that we have a healthy BRC and the top five is going to be very close for 2026. It’ s nice to see M Sport and the Castrol MEM Rally Team returning this year, plus having the McRae name back on the entry list is naturally going to elevate the championship. It’ s always interesting to see how drivers in the Junior BRC develop, there’ s a whole bunch of fresh names this year, which is great.
Getting to Rali Ceredigion is always a highlight for the championship, seeing how the British pace correlates with the European Championship. Expectations
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are high when it comes to the BRC, and it must continue to demonstrate that it is the pinnacle of rallying in the UK.
RALLY SCOTLAND
It is fantastic to have secured a slot on the WRC calendar with Rally Scotland – the sport has missed Rally GB since it left the calendar in 2019. It’ s the aspirational event the sport so badly needs; in years gone by, when the British Rally Championship season finished, the drivers entered Rally GB, and I would really like that to be the case again.
Don’ t get me wrong, having the international field and all the other championships that come with it is amazing and it’ s going to be absolutely phenomenal to see them in Aberdeen next year, but it is also exciting that it gives the opportunity for our national-level club drivers to have a bucket list item that they could go and do, and I really hope that we see lots of them competing in the event.
In terms of the trickle-down effect, it’ s going to be massive for the sport in this country over the next three years. The legacy effect of having a WRC round will influence the sport for a long time to come.
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WRC Scotland will offer a wide range of opportunities to the UK rally fraternity. |