1998 British Rally Championship


The 1998 Mobil 1 British Rally Championship was won by Manxman Martin Rowe in the Renault Megane Maxi Kit Car ahead of veteran Welsh driver Gwyndaf Evans in the SEAT Ibiza Kit Car and Alister McRae in The Volkswagen Golf Kit Car. Reigning champion Mark Higgins had a very disappointing season in the new Nissan Almera Kit Car. The ladies' cup was won by SEAT driver Barbara Armstrong ahead of Ford's Stephanie Simmonite. The manufacturers' championship was won by Renault.
Driver Changes
1996 Champion Gwyndaf Evans moved from Ford to SEAT
Robbie Head was replaced at Renault by Tapio Laukkanen who had moved from Volkswagen
Head in turn joined SEAT
Vauxhall returned to the series with the Astra Kit Car with Jarmo Kytolehto at the wheel
Harri Rovanpera did not compete in The British Championship this season to concentrate on his WRC Commitments with SEAT
Calendar
RoundEventDate
Round 1Vauxhall Rally of Wales19–21 March
Round 2/3Pirelli International Rally24–26 April
Round 4/5RSAC Scottish Rally4–6 June
Round 6Stena Line Ulster Rally30 July – 1 August
Round 7Manx International Rally10–12 September

Teams and Drivers

'Drivers Championship'
PosDriverR1R2R3R4R5R6R7Pts
1Martin Rowe1st1st4th3rd1st2nd1st164
2Gwyndaf Evans3rd2nd1st1st4th1stDNF153
3Alister McRaeDNF6th2nd2nd3rd3rd5th133
4Tapio LaukkanenDNF4th3rd9th2nd6th2nd127
5Neil Wearden2nd8th5th5th6th8thDNF102
6Jarmo KytolehtoDNF3rdDNF4th5thDNF3rd96
7Barbara Armstrong5th11th8thDNF12th14th6th74
8Stephanie Simmonite4th14th7thDNF11thDNF7th73

Manufacturers Championship
PosEntrantR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8Pts
1Renault26.532322525323236190.5
2SEAT322828323225360188.0
3Volkswagen26.50222828282926165.5
4Ford2225182220202629144.0
5Vauxhall1820252022222032141.0
6Peugeot20222001816230119.0
7Proton1600180180052.0

There was an earlier round before the Vauxhall Rally of Wales, the Silverstone RallySprint which only counted for manufacturers points