The 2016 calendar for the returning MSA British Rally Championship has been announced and includes seven events across the British Isles on a test of asphalt and gravel skills.

The series will make its return in March as it heads to the Mid-Wales Stages rally in Newtown and be open to FIA homologated classes with the R5 class leading the way, battling with S2000 and RRC cars. There is support from the Junior BRC with R2 specification cars.

The National Rally Cup will see non-homologated cars given the chance to compete the same stages as long as they have an MSA log book.

Joining the new-look series is the Builth Wells-based Nicky Grist Stages which will see BRC host its first mixed-surface rally since 1987.

The Manx International makes its return in September for the season finale giving competitors the ultimate challenge on the winding roads of the Isle of Man; This event will carry double points with organisers hoping the title battle will go down to the wire.

“We are delighted to welcome the Nicky Grist Stages and Rally Isle of Man onto the calendar for next year,” said BRC Championship Manager Iain Campbell.

“To have a mixed surface event in the Championship in the form of the Nicky Grist Stages is a real coup and something the BRC hasn’t done since the ‘80s, while the Manx and the BRC go hand in hand and will provide a fitting double points finale.

“These two events are replacements for the Granite City Rally, which has a new organising team for 2016, and the Jim Clark Rally which is back on gravel again for next year as it cannot be certain of gaining the road closures required next summer.

“It has been a real jigsaw puzzle to put it all together, but the events we have are among the best in the British Isles and we cannot wait to see the best drivers in the best cars fight for supremacy!”

2016 MSA British Rally Championship Calendar

5/6 March Mid-Wales Stages, Newtown, Gravel

8/9 April Circuit of Ireland, Belfast, Asphalt

30 April/1 May Pirelli Carlisle Rally, Carlisle, Gravel

25 June RSAC Scottish Rally, Dumfries, Gravel

9/10 July Nicky Grist Stages, Builth Wells, Gravel/Asphalt

19/20 August Ulster Rally, Asphalt

15/17 September Rally Isle of Man, Douglas, Asphalt