The UK boss of MRF Tyres says Kyle White has earned the company’s help — and believes he can trouble the establishment over the course of the 2025 BTRDA Rally Championship.
Belfast-based White has penned a deal with Jerry Freeman — the man who launched the MRF Tyre brand in central Europe — to tackle all seven rounds of the loose surface-based competition, in addition to a title tilt in the 2025 Northern Ireland Forest Rally Challenge.
White is sticking with the Hyundai Motorsport i20 R5 he campaigned in last year’s British Rally Championship but has announced a change of co-driver in Irishman Anthony Nestor.
The pair are due to kick-off their pursuit of the BTRDA Rally Championship Gold Star title at this month’s Malcolm Wilson Rally.
This will be followed by the Border Counties Rally (May 10), Nicky Grist Stages (July 12), the Woodpecker Rally (August 30), Trackrod Forest Stages Rally (September 27), Cambrian Rally (October 25) and lastly December’s Grizedale Stages.
According to Freeman, an agreement between both sides was quickly reached, with the businessman particularly impressed by the 28-year-old’s recent performances in the Hyundai.
“Kyle has shown in recent seasons he has a lot of potential — he is an exciting young driver — and we feel he fully deserves this opportunity,” he said.
“From our point of view, it really wasn’t a difficult decision to make. Everything for this year’s BTRDA Rally Championship came together really quickly — I am really pleased to have him on board for a full season.
“MRF has a long association with the BTRDA Rally Championship — it stretches back many years.
“As a company, we like to support the clubman, and clubman-focused events and championships.
“For a good while now, the same people have been part of the BTRDA, so it is nice to introduce a fresh face, and someone in Kyle, we feel can do well.”
Competitors will count their five best scores, with White acknowledging he has to find his groove on unfamiliar rubber quickly if he hopes to begin on a strong footing in the Championship.
That will be vital if he is to keep pace with drivers such as Elliott Payne – a winner of the Gold Star crown for three years running.
“I want to start well but realise it will take a few rallies to understand what the tyre will do and how it performs, and how I adapt the set-up of our car so that it suits me,” said White.
“I am very excited to be joining Team MRF Tyres this season — they have proved in recent years their product is very competitive, taking wins in the European Rally Championship and beyond.
“I would like to thank Jerry for trusting me in taking the MRF brand forward in not only England, Scotland and Wales — but in Northern Ireland as well.”