Milton Keynes driver S D Roy will get his first full season in the British Rally Championship (BRC) underway next weekend when he contests the opening round, the two-day Pirelli International Rally (18 – 19 April).

Roy will be joined by new co-driver Bob Stokoe as he makes the step up to the main BRC series in a more powerful 1.8 litre CMC-prepared MG ZR after spending two years competing in the supporting lower-powered BRC Stars 1400 Championship in a 1400cc MG.

Calcutta-born Roy has done the Carlisle-based Pirelli Rally twice previously but failed to finish the Kielder Forest event last year after damaging his car. This time out he aims to get some championship points on the board from the outset but will not only have to contend with the step-up to international level, a new car and new co-driver but it will be his first time competing in a left-hand drive car.

“I can’t wait to do a full season in the BRC, hopefully it will be good,” Roy said. “A lot of things will be completely new to me, I’ve never done a rally in a left-hand drive car and the new car has more power so we will just have to see how we go on the Pirelli. I have spent time testing with my new co-driver Bob so we’ve got to know each other a little better.

“It will be interesting to see how we come up against the more powerful Citroen C2s in our class, the car is still not fully developed so there’s more work to be done and hopefully more to come from it.

“I’ve always enjoyed the Pirelli and it will be good to do two-days this year as opposed to just the one I’ve done in the past. I’m looking forward to doing the four night stages on the Friday, which I’ve never done before, and the plan is to take it lightly and get to the finish.”

Last season Roy finished fifth overall in the BRC Stars 1400 drivers’ championship and third in the FIA class standings after completing six of the seven rounds.