Upcoming Events

Over 60 of some of the best rally drivers from the UK and Ireland will converge on Castle Douglas this weekend for the 42nd running of the Galloway Hills Rally. Sponsored by The Armstrong Group, the now traditional final Scottish loose surface event of the season has attracted a top quality entry which will be led away by seven time rally winner and local hero Jock Armstrong in his Subaru Impreza with co-driver Paula Swinscoe alongside.

Hot on the heels of the popular Scots man will be fellow country man David Bogie in his Fiesta R5+ at number two. Fresh from victory at last weekend's Cambrian Rally in North Wales, the Dumfries star will be aiming to repeat his 2007 victory on the event with co-driver Kevin Rae.

Organised by Solway, Machars and East Ayrshire Car Clubs, the Sunday 25th October event has been awarded a prestigious grant from the Dumfries and Galloway Council Major Events Strategic Fund which has enabled crews from Ireland to take advantage of free ferry crossings with event partners Stena Line. This has attracted a myriad of crews from across the Irish Sea led by Skoda S2000 pilot Desi Henri/Damien Duffin who will start at the number three seed.

After campaigning a Ford Fiesta R5 for much of the season, locals Rory Young/Allan Cathers will use their Mitsubishi E5 for their "home" event and will start with number four on the doors. Another one-time event winner and Dumfries residents Mark McCulloch/Michael Hendry start at five in their Mitsubishi E4. Subaru Impreza WRC crew Niall Henry and John Rowan make the trip over from Northern Ireland at car six and are followed by a wrath of Mitsubishi crews.

First of the two wheel drive contenders are Penpont's Greg and Chris McKnight in their Ford Escort MK2 but will be closely followed by the spectacular Seamus O Connell/Andy Richardson in their similar machine. Perhaps one entry to note is Irish Citroen star Jonny Greer who made a last minute entry in the gorgeous DS3 R5 with Kirsty Riddick in the co-driver's seat. Like O'Connell, Greer also crosses the Irish Sea thanks to the grant from Dumfries and Galloway Council.

Councillor Colin Smyth, the Council's Events Champion said,
"The Galloway Hills Rally is a much loved event that has worked hard to develop its special stages and keep attracting new competitors. There is a really exciting weekend of motorsports ahead and the prospect of very tough competition that will add to the atmosphere. It's very positive that the organisers have created new spectator areas within the Galloway Forest Park which is a development that the Council has wanted to see take place."

The event is a round of the Five of Clubs Rally Championship and Border Challenge and for the first time will also welcome competitors from the Ecosse Challenge and Motoscope Northern Historic Rally Championship. The compact route of six gravel stages all located to the north-west of Castle Douglas and crews will utilise a new service area in Kirroughtree, thanks to assistance from Forestry Commission Scotland.

The first car will leave Karcare in Castle Douglas at 8.30am on Sunday 25th October and spectators will have the chance to view the action at four locations throughout the day. The first spectator stage is The Toffee Shop Laggan O'Dee 1 which will start around 08:54 near to Mossdale.

The remaining locations include Craigencallie and Cairn Edward which all feature some fantastic viewing opportunities. For more information which will be updated on the run up to the event is available online from the event website.