2008 MSA BRITISH CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP
For immediate release
Wednesday, January 9th, 2008
MARCHES 4X4 ANNOUNCE EXCITING NEW
BRITISH CROSS-COUNTRY EVENT CALENDAR
Six events from April to November for off-road competitors
Control tyre options introduced for 2008 cross-country teams
NEWTOWN (Wales): An additional date has been added to the provisional calendar for the renamed 2008 MSA British Cross-Country Championship and teams will now tackle six rounds in the competitive series, with round one getting underway at Baden Hall in Staffordshire for the second year on April 12/13th.
Last year the season got underway at this new and warmly-received venue, near Eccleshall, and championship officials are delighted to be able to return again in 2008, although they are still finalising a venue for the second round on a new date of June 7th/8th.
The traditional summer event in the Scottish forest of Castle O’er is retained at the end of June, although a venue is still to be finalised for round four on August 16th-17th, a date vacated by the Baja GB’s switch to the end of September.
The traditional Radnor forest event switches to a September 13th-14th date and the season will be rounded off with a motorsporting bonanza at the Seven Sisters facility, near Glyn-neath, in South Wales. Competition on this final round will be on the Friday and Saturday, enabling teams to enjoy post-event celebrations on the Saturday night, before leaving on the Sunday morning.
Entry fees for the season have been set at £800. These can be paid in full on entry or by an initial payment of £300 and three post-dated cheques, two of £200 dated June 1st and August 1st and the third for £100, dated September 1st.
The championship regulations specify that there will be three control tyres this year under Article 13 1 D2 of the series regulations. Competitors will be permitted to use the Matador Izzarda AT, the General Tire Grabber AT2 and the BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A.
“This year we feel we have strengthened the championship and this should appeal to competitors,” said clerk of the course Selwyn Kendrick. “There is a better geographical spread of events. We have noticed that the success of Baja GB and the Dakar have attracted more people to the sport. We are still working on details of the venue for rounds two and four, but everyone at Marches 4×4 is looking forward to what we hope will be an exciting new season for British off-road motorsport.”
Championship regulations will be available in the coming days and will be posted on www.marches4x4.com. Further details are available from Wendy Tomley (wt@Tomleys.co.uk) or Andy Flynn (af@Tomleys.co.uk) on Tel: + 44 (0) 1686 626641.
Last year’s championship was won by Huddersfield’s Richard Kershaw after a thrilling final round battle in Radnor forest. The Peugeot 206 GSR driver is sure to return this season, although he can expect even tougher competition in 2008 as the MSA British Cross-Country Championship continues to attract burgeoning entries.
The awards presentation for the 2007 Matador Tyres MSA British Off-Road Championship (BORC) will take place this Friday (January 11th) at the Windmill Village Hotel near the NEC.
2008 MSA British Cross-Country Championship calendar
Date Venue
April 12/13 Baden Hall, Staffordshire
June 7/8 TBA
June 28/29 Castle O’er, Scotland
August 16/17 TBA
Sept 13/14 Radnor, Mid-Wales
November 7/8/9 Seven Sisters, Glyn-neath, South Wales
Ends
For further information:
Neil Perkins, NDP Publicity Services, Mobile: + 44 7831 123153, E-mail: ndppublicity@compuserve.com. www.ndp-publicity.com (press releases).
www.marches4x4.com
www.BritishOffRoadChampionship.co.uk