The dates for the 2017 Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship have been confirmed, with an eight-event, nine-round, schedule covering five gravel and three asphalt rallies.The Roger Albert Clark Rally Motor Club is promoting the MSA BHRC under a five-year contract and 2017 will be the third year of that agreement.The 2017 calendar takes in some of the very best gravel and asphalt rallies in the UK and adds a brand new event, the ALMC Stages in Ireland on Sunday 2 July. Based just outside Dublin, this first-class closed-road rally offers a time and cost-effective Irish event and marks the first time that the championship has visited Southern Ireland. With easy access from the ferry ports and Dublin airport, it should be a popular addition to the schedule.Once again, Rally Isle of Man will run to a double-header format and the three asphalt events have been grouped together to make things easier for crews changing cars from gravel to asphalt specification.“We have responded to our competitors by adjusting the balance slightly between asphalt and gravel rallies,” said championship manager Colin Heppenstall. “There is a growing move towards asphalt events in historic rallying and we have reflected this is our calendar.”The championship will be officially launched at Autosport International at the Birmingham NEC (12-15 January) when championship registrations will be open.The full 2017 BHRC calendar is:Sunday 19 February: Red Kite Stages Saturday 1 April: North Wales StagesSaturday 29 April: Pirelli Carlisle RallySaturday 3 June: Severn Valley StagesSunday 2 July: ALMC StagesSunday 30 July: Harry Flatters RallyThurs-Sat 14-16 Sep: Isle of Man ClassicFri/Sat 29/30 Sep: Trackrod Historic CupReserve event: Fri/Sat 9/10 June, Carlisle StagesNote: dates are subject to MSA approval