NICK Y GRIST STAGES COULD BE FIRST EVENT FOR SPLIT SEE DING
Welsh event is targeting two-wheel-drive cars at the front of the field
The Nicky Grist Stages could be the first event to run with split-field seeding under the new Motor Sports Association rules, according to clerk of the course Neil Cross.
The NG Stages on July 14 is a round of the BTRDA and Welsh Rally Championships this year and Cross, chairman of the BTRDA rallies committee, has already signalled intent.
“I’m hopeful we’ll be running a split field, our event lends to it perfectly,” said Cross. “I received the email last Friday and on Friday evening I applied to the MSA to run a split field.
“I think there’s a few events that may try and bring it in before July 1, they might ask for special dispensation.
“The problem there is their regulations are already out, so the competitors who have entered have to agree to it. Split fields will suit some and not everybody.”
The BTRDA is one of the championships that could be boosted most by the new rules change. In 2014, before the fastest-first seeding came into force, the 1400 and Rally First championships had 86 points scorers. In 2017 the combined number was down to 31, and while that should be set against general entry numbers falling, it’s still a drop of more than half.
Cross is hoping new safety regulations brought in since don’t put the clubmen competitors off.
“A lot of competitors have been lost,” added Cross. “It’s the livelihood of the events that’s at stake and we need them [the competitors] back.
“I think it could be difficult as you’ve got life for belts, life for fire extinguishers, HANS devices have all come in since they’ve drifted away.
“For some of them it will be a fairly hefty expense to get out into the forests. If they’re prepared to make that investment, they’ll be back for the long term.
“They’re going to have prime roads to start the rallies on, and the roads aren’t cutting up as badly as they used to.”
Cross confirmed that while the BTRDA hasn’t made any final decisions on how it will seed, its initial plan is to have 1400 and Rally First entries at the front along with certain historic classes only.