McRae Stages - (Sat) 27 Sep 08

VIDEO CLIPS

Posted: October 18, 2008 5:43 PM

Fiesta SportingTrophy UK - Finns win, but Evans takes the title

Posted: September 30, 2008 9:36 PM

Round 5 of the Vodka Kick supported Fiesta SportingTrophy UK series took place on Saturday 27 September and registered crews headed to Perth for their annual trip north of the border to Scotland for the Colin McRae Forest Stages. Rally stars past and present made the trip to beautiful host town from all over the world to compete on the event in memory of the iconic rally driver, Colin McRae.

It was Finnish driver Jarkko Nikara (22) and his co-driver Jarkko Kalliolepo who took victory on the event, finishing an incredible eleventh overall and fifth 2WD car after the final stage was cancelled and the crew of Jimmy McRae / Campbell Roy were re-instated into the results. Nikara, who hails from Saarijärvi in Finland, travelled to the UK after competing in Neste Oil Rally Finland in August as part of the Fiesta SportingTrophy International series; aiming to use the format of the FST series to increase his international experience ahead of the upcoming European Pirelli Star Driver assessment in Austria. His stage times and his flamboyant driving style won him many new Scottish fans and he certainly made a good impact in front of some of the most experienced drivers in the world – including his fellow countrymen and former world rally champions, Ari Vatanen and Hannu Mikkola.

SS1, the 3.8 miles of Fonab, saw the FST drivers encounter predominantly dry conditions but with patches of damp under the trees to catch out the unwary – no problem for the series partner, Pirelli, who once again provided the K6 compound tyre to all the competitors, ensuring an equal playing field. Fastest on the stage was Nikara, with Kris Hall (19) from Appleby and new co-driver for this event, the experienced John Bennie, just 3 seconds behind. Third on the stage was Meilyr Evans (18) from Machynlleth with regular co-driver Andrew Edwards. The affable Welshman, however, was in trouble; with his regular GEMsport car required in Ireland for the Cork 20 Rally – taking place just 24 hours later – Meilyr was in a hired car which had developed a gearbox problem on fifth gear. Also in trouble was Scotsman Stevie Brown (20) from Peterhead, with new co-driver Stan Quirk, after regular partner Ian Morrison was forced to miss the event on medical grounds. Brown made a strong start but struggled through the stage with a slipping clutch and the car jumping out of gear. SS2, Errochty at 12.4 miles, was the longest stage of the day and crews were finding that the damp patches under the trees made conditions inconsistent and it was hard to find grip. In addition, with this being the only time in the year that the FST crews joined up with the Scottish Rally Championship, there was a change in the supplier of the pacenotes and some of the crews where finding it more difficult than others to adjust to the subtle changes in pacenote style. Fastest again was Nikara, with Hall again second and Meilyr Evans third; however, Meilyr’s gearbox was deteriorating and his time was gained without the help of fifth gear!

SS3, the classic Drummond Hill at 8.2 miles, once again saw Nikara fastest and Kris Hall second, but this time it was championship leader, Elfyn Evans (19) from Machynlleth and co-driver Gareth Roberts who took third fastest on the stage. Prior to the event, Elfyn had been keen that he would be driving this event with the championship in mind rather than overall results and so was especially keen to keep an eye on his key title rivals Max Utting (22) and James Everard (22).

As crews entered service at the riverside in the picturesque town of Aberfeldy, it was Nikara that lead with Kris Hall in second and Elfyn Evans in third. Teams had a chance to regroup and Meilyr Evans’ team worked hard to make a temporary repair to the gearbox, which had by now lost first, third and fifth gears. With just 30 minutes to effect repairs, the team managed to fix the car to be able to get first to fourth gear, but at the expense of the clutch, which was now not working correctly. All the crews were in agreement that the atmosphere on the stages was fantastic and many likened the crowds lining the route to scenes reminiscent of RAC Rallies of old, with tens of thousands of spectators making the trip to Perth to see the heroes of the sport over the past 30 years compete in memory of Colin McRae.

SS4, the 8.6 miles of Griffin, once again saw Jarkko Nikara take fastest stage time, with Kris Hall again second. Third equal were Max Utting with his co-driver Huw Mathias and John Lloyd from Penrith and his co-driver Steve Eggelstone. John was new to the FST series in March this year and has made improvements rally after rally to be fighting for a podium position – no mean feat in this first season of FST.

SS5 was unfortunately cancelled after an accident involving Jimmy McRae, former British Rally Champion and father of Colin McRae. Thankfully, both McRae and his co-driver Campbell Roy were unhurt, but the delay meant that the stage had to be cancelled and crews returned back to the Perth City Centre finish, where the fine conditions had given way to a deluge of rain to greet the crews.

With results declared after SS4, it was flying Finns Jarkko Nikara and co-driver Jarkko Kalliolepo that took the FST victory and with it the Castrol Hard Charger Award for taking all four fastest stage times – a truly fantastic achievement – with awards presented by Alister McRae and Travis Pastrana.

However, looking past this result, it was also great to see the performance of Kris Hall – second fastest on every stage – on a normal day, 19th overall and eighth 2WD would be considered a fantastic achievement in this exalted company of 2WD cars.

Third on the day was Elfyn Evans and, with this result, they put the VK Fiesta SportingTrophy title beyond the reach of their rivals and were declared 2008 champions. Celebrations however, where short-lived as they had to leave Perth immediately after crossing the finish line to catch a series of flights that would get them to Cork by midnight, ready to fight for the FST Ireland title on Sunday.

Fourth was John Lloyd and co-driver Steve Egglestone, taking their best result in the series to date and bringing the car back to Perth untouched, ready to compete another day. Fifth was Max Utting, who suffered a last-minute scare with a brush with a rock-face that resulted in a damaged radiator requiring emergency repairs and all their ‘bush mechanic’ experience to get the car to the finish and improve their chances of finishing second in the series overall.

Taking the MIS Rally Insurance Most Improved Driver award was Kris Hall.

The day had proven to be a fantastic example of the future talent that the VK Fiesta SportingTrophy has unearthed – Jarkko Nikara will be a name that we will see again in the future; Kris Hall proved that he is one of the future stars of the sport; and Elfyn Evans proved that he has all of his father Gwyndaf Evans’ skill and joins the ranks of the championship winners – all played out in front of tens of thousands of enthusiastic fans.

Round 5 winner, Jarkko Nikara from Finland, said:
“I am delighted to win my first UK event. This was my first time sitting with my co-driver Jarkko [Kalliolepo], as my brother Petri [Nikara] usually navigates for me. It was also my first rally where I have not been able to recce the stages and had to use the organiser’s pacenotes rather than my own. Because of this, I was driving at a safe pace and I’m just happy that it was enough to win the FST class. I really enjoyed the Scottish stages and would like to thank the organisers for the fantastic job they did.”

VK FST UK champion Elfyn Evans said:
“This event wasn’t easy and we didn’t really click from beginning. We were struggling with the pacenotes and just concentrated on the job we had to do – just drive safely and get to the finish. I’m overjoyed that I’ve clinched the championship on such a landmark rally. I’ve had a great year with some brilliant competition and it’s definately been nice to come out on top in such a competitive championship. I’m really looking forward to the Focus WRC test at the end of the year, that will really be a special experience.”

Wilson wins McRae memorial

Posted: September 30, 2008 9:09 PM

Stobart VK M-Sport Ford rally team crew Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin have won the 2008 Colin McRae Forest Stages Rally on Saturday against a star-studded field. Driving an 05-specification Ford Focus RS WRC the pair dominated the event to win by over one and a half minutes.

A raft of former World Rally Champions including Bjorn Waldegard, Hannu Mikkola and Ari Vatanen all joined Wilson in this momentous event to pay tribute to the late Colin McRae – 2005 World Rally Champion and one of the sport’s all time characters.

The pair had a faultless run in their Ramsport-prepared Focus RS as they won all four spectacular forest stages around the Perthshire region in central Scotland. A fifth stage was due to run but an accident to fellow Stobart Motorsport historic competitor Jimmy McRae caused the test to be cancelled. Both Jimmy and co-driver Andy Richardson were uninjured.

Also competing, in a Stobart-liveried Ford Escort MK2 was Colin’s brother Alister who finished fourth overall and won class 12 by over one minute. Alister capped of a fine performance by setting the second fastest time on the final completed test of the day.

With the event complete Wilson and Martin now head to Catalunya for their regular duties with the Stobart VK M-Sport Ford rally team as the FIA World Rally Championship heads into its 12th round this weekend on RallyRACC Catalunya – Rally de España.

Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Team Driver Matthew Wilson said: “What a fantastic event and it is great we could come out here and win it in memory of Colin who was a driver I always looked up to as a young competitor coming into the sport. I remember being taught how to drive in the back field in a MK2 escort by Ari Vatanen when I was about eight and I never thought I would get the chance to compete against him one day or any of the other big names here. The organisers, officials and everybody involved in making this a special event did a great job and it must be said that everything was handled very well and everyone had a lot of fun.”

ford's all-star rally line-up pays tribute to colin mcrae

Posted: September 30, 2008 8:59 PM

Seventy iconic Ford performance cars will be among the 140 entrants lining up to compete in the Colin McRae Forest Stages Rally in Scotland this weekend.

With a unique national rally entry list, this special event will pay tribute to 1995 World Rally Champion Colin McRae, who lost his life in a helicopter crash last year.

McRae joined Ford in 1999 and drove a Ford Focus World Rally Car for four seasons. He claimed the Focus's first WRC win in Kenya's legendary Safari Rally, going on to win nine times with Ford and finish second in the world championship in 2001. His commitment and bravery behind the wheel marked him out as a sporting superstar and earned him legions of fans across the globe.

This weekend's star-studded entry list includes 15 rally greats at the head of the field in two-wheel drive cars. Ex-world champions Hannu Mikkola, Ari Vatanen and Stig Blomqvist will all drive Mk2 Ford Escorts, while Björn Waldegård, who helped Ford win its first manufacturers' world title in 1979 in an Escort, will also compete.

Other big-name drivers at the wheel of Ford Escorts include Colin's younger brother, Alister McRae, Malcolm Wilson, Travis Pastrana, Ken Block, Kris Meeke and Russell Brookes.

Four British champions, three American champions and six Scottish champions are among the starters set to deliver a stunning spectacle for the thousands of spectators expected to line the forest tracks on Saturday 27 September.

Organised by Coltness Car Club, the Colin McRae Forest Stages Rally will start and finish in Perth with a service halt at Aberfeldy. The route will include five of the most evocative stages in British rallying including three of Colin’s favourites at Craigvinean, Drummond Hill and Errochty.

BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team director, Malcolm Wilson, was McRae's boss during his time with the official Ford team. "The calibre of drivers coming to pay tribute to Colin is a mark of the esteem in which he was held," said Wilson. "I'm honoured to be among Colin's former friends and rivals at what will be a remarkable occasion."

Wilson's son, Matthew, a driver for the Stobart VK M-Sport Ford team in the WRC, will also compete. The 21-year-old will drive a 2005-specification Focus RS World Rally Car.

Fittingly the most popular car in the entry list is the Ford Escort – with 52 examples set to start. Ford is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Escort throughout 2008. The model's launch in 1968 heralded one of the finest chapters in the Blue Oval's rally history. It won the manufacturers' world title in 1979 while Waldegård and Vatanen lifted the drivers' world crown in 1979 and 1981 in Escorts.

"We are proud to be so heavily represented with some iconic Ford models at such an evocative event in the rallying calendar," said Mark Deans, Ford of Europe's Motorsport Director. "Colin McRae was a great ambassador for both Ford Motor Company and the sport of rallying and an inspirational figure to a generation of supporters."

This year's event is also the final round of the 2008 County Saab Scottish Rally Championship at which this year's national champion will be confirmed.

Unseeded List of Entries & Spectator Information available

Posted: September 15, 2008 5:29 PM

Coltness Car Club

Regulations available

Posted: August 26, 2008 4:51 PM

Coltness Car Club

All Star Rally Tribute

Posted: August 6, 2008 10:20 AM

Five World Rally Champions, four British Champions, three American Champions and at least six Scottish Champions are all set to contest the Colin McRae Forest Stages Rally, in association with Pirelli.

In a unique, national rally entry list, which will never again be repeated, this very special event will pay tribute to the former World Rally Champion, Colin McRae.

With the rally Regulations and Entry Form shortly to be available, the list of those who are determined to attend include five world champions: Bjorn Waldegard (1979), Ari Vatanen (1981), Hannu Mikkola (1983), Stig Blomqvist (1984) and our own Louise Aitken-Walker, the first Scot and first Briton, to win a world rally title when she won the Ladies World Rally title in 1990.

From America, the visitors include the country’s first national rally champion, John Buffum and its most recent, Travis Pastrana, with runner-up Ken Block also determined to visit Scotland. All three were firm family friends as well as rivals.

The line up of British Champions includes Jim McRae (1981, 82, 84, 87 and 88) and Alister McRae (1995) plus Russell Brookes (1977 and 85) and Malcolm Wilson, now boss of the Ford World Rally team who won the British title himself in 1994. And making their own personal tributes are English Champion Phil Collins and Northern Ireland’s Kris Meeke who won the British Junior title in 2002.

Topping the list of Scottish champions is Andrew Cowan who won his first national title in 1976, but he was also the first ever winner of the world’s first marathon rally when he won the London to Sydney Marathon in a Scottish built car (Hillman Hunter) in 1968.

Three times Scottish Rally Champion Ken Wood will be joined by more recent champions including Dave Weston, Jimmy Girvan and Michael Horne.

Organised by Coltness Car Club, the Colin McRae Forest Stages Rally will start from and finish in Perth with a lunch halt at Aberfeldy. The route will include five of the most evocative special stages in British rallying including three of Colin McRae’s all time favourites at Craigvinean, Drummond Hill and Errochty.

This year’s event is also the final round of the 2008 County Saab Scottish Rally Championship at which this year’s national champion will be confirmed.

Club President and Rally Manager, Jim Brown, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the level of interest and support for our event. This year’s rally will represent a fitting tribute to one of the sport’s most exciting drivers and a genuine personality. Coltness Car Club are therefore determined to put on a good show for competitors and rally fans alike. To us in this club, Colin wasn’t just a superstar and a hero, he was a club member first and foremost. Indeed, Colin took a personal interest in this rally ever since it started 14 years ago. He is still sorely missed.”

Joining Coltness Car Club for this unique event as title sponsor is tyre manufacturer and rally tyre specialist Pirelli Tyres.

Prelimerary Details

Posted: January 28, 2008 10:43 PM

The 2008 Colin McRae Forest Stages Rally will take place on September 27th and once again be based in its Perthshire home.

The Rally HQ will be at Perth Racecourse as in the past few years. The Stages are all North of Perth and include some of the Famous and most spectacular stages - Drummond Hill, Erochty, Griffin, Fonab and Craigvinean. Central servicing is based in the town of Aberfeldy.

Coltness Car Club

• 2008 Scottish Rally Championship
• 2008 Fiesta SportingTrophy UK