The Prestone MSA British Rally Championship will embark on Carlisle this weekend

The Cumberland Sporting Car Club has come up with a number of changes to the format of this weekend’s event – all aimed at bringing the rally to the people.

The competitive stage mileage has been increased to 100 miles over Saturday and Sunday, made up of four long special stages totalling 50 miles on each day.

With only a Tyre Fitting Zone allowed between the cars leaving the service park in Carlisle and returning later in the evening, it will be a stern test of reliability and mechanical sympathy.

Today, the cars will visit the village of Bellingham for a Time Control that will allow the locals to meet the rally stars and to get some autographs while they wait in the village centre.

Then, tomorrow, there will be a Rally Celebration in Brampton from 11.30am as the crowds wait to welcome the winners to the podium and the champagne celebrations. With car exhibitions, cafés, cakes and a large TV screen to show event highlights, there is plenty going on to appeal to fans and locals alike.

Prestone will also be in attendance in Brampton with their BRC simulator and the person who sets the fastest stage time on the simulator over the course of the weekend will win a Rally School Experience.

If their time turns out to be the fastest of the year, they’ll also win a unique visit to Wales Rally GB in October.

No fewer than 17 R5 cars will take to the start of the rally and the form book could well be turned on its head with many unknowns in the mix. Leading entries include CA1 Sport’s Fredrik Åhlin, but the Skoda Fabia R5 driver will face stiff competition.

Fellow Scandinavian Eyvind Brynildsen will be making a welcome return to the county with his Ford Fiesta R5 and Tom Cave will be behind the wheel of a Hyundai i20 R5.

Further afield, this weekend also hosts the second round of the FIA World Rally Championship at Rally Argentina. The South American event is famed for its water splashes, but the Cumbrian delegation will be hoping to make a splash of a different kind when the FIA World Rally Championship reconvenes.

Malcolm Wilson’s M-Sport operation will be looking to continue an untarnished record of finishing on the podium at every event so far this season, and the Team Principal is definitely keen to see that continue.

“We’ve racked up a fairly impressive record so far this year,” said the Cumbrian. “I’m extremely proud to think that we are the only manufacturer to have secured a podium finish at every event so far this season, and we certainly want to see that continue."

Despite a troublesome event last time out in Corsica, the team persevered to secure a strong second place and their Cockermouth-based headquarters have been a hive of activity with just four days to prepare the fleet of Ford Fiesta WRCs.

If that weren’t enough, the test team were also hard at work over the Easter break – conducting a comprehensive research and development test in the Arganil region of Portugal so as to be in the best possible position to challenge for another top result.

“The Tour de Corse wasn’t the easiest of events for the team,” admitted Wilson, “but we dug deep and secured a strong result all the same.

"Since then, work has been on-going and I must thank all of the M- Sport staff who worked through their Easter holidays to ensure we are as prepared as possible for Rally Argentina.”

Head of Engineering Chris Williams wasn’t going to give away the team’s secrets when asked about how the test had gone, but hinted at a positive outcome.

“All I can say at the moment,” said Williams, “is that everything seems to be going in the right direction – we’re evolving the car and making it more competitive.”

M-Sport’s ambitions are certainly high ahead of the Argentinian fixture, but a good result won’t come without some serious hard work and determination.

Based in the lakeside resort of Carlos Villa Paz, Rally Argentina provides one of the most demanding routes of the year with a vast variation of challenging terrain.

From the sandy roads and river crossings of the Santa Rosa de Calamuchita Valley, to the rocky tracks of the Traslasierra mountains, Rally Argentina has it all – and every variation offers its own unique challenges.

The landscapes’ contrasting characteristics demand quick thinking from the crews and an ability to adapt their driving styles as they venture from pampas plains to rugged mountains and moonlike vistas. The early autumn weather in the southern hemisphere can also bring a risk of fog and those with the most confidence in their pacenotes can often reap the rewards.

Somewhat surprisingly, M-Sport’s lead drivers haven’t had the best of fortunes at the Argentinian fixture, but Wilson is keen to see his team rectify that this year.

“This is an event that Sébastien [Ogier] has never won. Understandably, he wants to put that right this year and it’s up to us to give him the best possible means of doing that," he said.

“Ott [Tänak] hasn’t had the best of luck in Argentina either, but I don’t think he’ll let that stand in his way and the return to gravel should see his confidence back to full force. Elfyn [Evans] too will be looking forward to a return to the loose stuff, and he’s always performed well in Argentina.

“We have all of the ingredients to secure another strong result next week – we just have to pull it all together and leave no stone unturned in our preparation.”

Elsewhere in the service park, Carlisle co-driver Scott Martin will be reunited with the Citroen C3 WRC as he calls the notes for Irishman Craig Breen.

The pairing have never been out of the top-five at every event they have contested so far this season and, despite the challenges ahead, they’ll be keen to see that trend continue.

“When you see Craig’s skill behind the wheel, it’s surprising to think that this will be his first ever event outside of Europe! But this is the place to make your long-haul debut. Argentina is an amazing country and every year we are greeted by thousands of fans – all with a real passion for motorsport.

“We know we’re going to have a lot to learn this weekend – especially when you consider that this will be our first competitive outing with the C3 on gravel – but we’ll certainly be aiming to make the most of every kilometre.

“We plan to build up our experience without thinking too much about the final outcome, but of course another top-five result would be fantastic! We had a good feeling with the car at last week’s test in Portugal, so let’s just watch this space and see what we can do.”