Having proved in 2008 that they can match the best in Europe, Keith and the team thought long and hard about the best course of action for 2009. It was decided that the best route would be to contest the British Rally Championship(BRC). This championship is second only to the World Rally Championship(WRC) in terms of television and general media coverage. Like the WRC, the BRC is run over both gravel and tarmac surfaces. Success in this championship would be almost certain to ensure progression to the WRC.

The last Irishman to win the BRC was the legendary Billy Coleman who won it in 1974.

This year the championship consists of 6 rounds. The first round, the loose surface Bulldog Rally has been moved from October to March and was the last round of the 2008 ‘EVO’ Challenge. Last Year Keith/Greg led the ‘EVO’ section and were 2nd overall when they had an accident that led to retirement. Next up is the Pirelli International Rally, which is run on the legendary Kielder Forest stages that have often been graced by the WRC contenders when used during Rally GB.

The championship then moves to tarmac for the next three rounds, the first of which is the Jim Clarke International Rally in Scotland. This is virgin territory for Keith however, navigator, Greg Shinnors has tasted success here in the past. The Isle of Man hosts the next round in the guise of the International Rally Isle of Man. This is not to be confused with the Manx National rally in which Keith and Greg finished 5th overall last year, also winning Group N and their first ‘EVO’ Challenge victory.

The third tarmac rally on the menu is the Toddsleap.com Ulster International Rally. It was here in Ulster last year that Keith/Greg really excelled, setting fastest ‘EVO’ times on all of the competitive stages, a feat never before achieved. They finished 3.5minutes ahead of their nearest rival, also a record winning margin in ‘EVO’ terms.

The final round of the championship sees a return to loose surface for the ‘Trackrod’ International Rally Yorkshire. It was on this event last year that Keith/Greg really opened peoples eyes when they finished third overall ahead of many of the ‘Works’ teams in their superior cars. This achievement was all the more remarkable when one considers that it was the first time that Keith had rallied on these stages, whereas many of the other championship competitors would have been rallying on these stages for a number of years.

A number of Irish events will also be contested although exactly which ones has not yet been decided. Definitely on the cards are the Mitchelstown Forestry Rally and the West Cork Rally. These rallies are being tackled to ensure that both the car and the crew are ready to be on the pace once they cross the Irish Sea!