THE winners of the UK’s premier national rally championships will all receive free entries into this year’s Wales Rally GB (October 29- November 1) via the on-going and highly-acclaimed ‘Road to Wales’ initiative.

Now entering its eighth year, the innovative and far-reaching scheme rewards the winners of the country’s premier national championships with free entries into the UK’s end-of-season round of the FIA World Rally Championship.

Previous prize recipients include Elfyn Evans, the current leader of the FIA World Rally Championship following his historic WRC victory in Sweden.

The winner of the British Rally Championship’s exciting new BRC Road to Wales will win a free entry into the full four-day International WRC rally, while champions from the country’s four premier national championships – BTRDA Gold Star, McGrady Insurance Northern Ireland Stage Rally Championship, KNC Groundworks Scottish Rally Championship and Pirelli MSA Welsh Rally Championship – will receive free entries into the WRGB National Rally.

These can be upgraded to the international event by paying the difference in entry fees.

The prizes for the Welsh and Scottish championships will go to those crowned as 2020 champions, while the BTRDA and Northern Ireland championships will be awarding the prize to their respective R2 Cup and junior champions.

Run in association with Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing, the BRC Road to Wales is open to all those registered for the 2020 British Rally Championship.

Four finalists will be nominated: the outright BRC champion will be joined by three other selected drivers who have impressed a panel of judges with their driving ability and general aptitude throughout the season.

In early October, the chosen four will then contest a meticulous finale at Motorsport UK’s new headquarters in Bicester Motion.

There, they will undergo fitness, media and aptitude tests, as well as onboard video analysis of their driving skills.

The overall BRC Road to Wales winner will then secure a fantastic Wales Rally GB prize drive behind the wheel of a super-competitive Hyundai i20 R5, and the chance go toe-to-toe with some of the best drivers in the world on the classic Welsh stages.

“Wales Rally GB is the pinnacle of rallying in the UK and we are determined to maximise its presence to the full benefit of all those involved in the sport,” said Iain Campbell, Wales Rally GB clerk of the course.

“Whether it’s encouraging and rewarding those competing in our top national championships, or providing those aspiring to be future world champions with vital WRC experience, the provision of these prize entries is always extremely well received.”

This year’s Wales Rally GB will be based in Deeside and fans will be able to buy tickets when full details of the 2020 competitive route are announced in the spring.