As the 2010 British Rally Championship passes the half way mark, there are many potential contenders for this year’s crown.

This year, as last year, the man in pole position at the halfway mark is an Irishman. Last time around Keith Cronin led the championship, upholding the honours for the southern side of the Island but, this year, that honour goes north of the border as Jonny Greer is in the driving seat of the championship at the halfway point.

 The story is somewhat different, however, when one allows for the dropped scores and when these are taken into account, Keith Cronin and Gwyndaf Evans are very much back in the picture and each are definitely still in with the chance of taking their second championship title.

It is very much a case of then and now, as Gwyndaf’s championship was in 1996, and Keith is the current British Champion, taking the title last year at his first attempt. Gwyndaf, however, was also runner up in the championship on no less than 3 occasions, which re-enforces his rallying pedigree. This yea,r he has been enjoying BRC successes that he has not savoured for a number of years.

Keith, who had an almost flawless first season on the BRC won the championship on his first attempt, despite the fact that the championship goal was actually part of a three year plan. To make his achievement seem even more spectacular is the fact that in achieving his championship he beat the triple BRC champion Mark Higgins who was for so many years, the nemesis of Gwyndaf Evans.

Keith, this week, commented that he was disappointed that he was not renewing his rivalry with Mark Higgins, as Mark had withdrawn his entry, however, he expressed his confidence that the JRM team would be very competitive on IOM as he had recently experienced their strategies on the Donegal International Rally, where he was unfortunate enough to encounter some difficulties which resulted in a non finish!!

Last year after this event, the BRC was reduced to a 2 horse race!. Lets see what this years result brings!