2017 Mull Rally - CANCELLED

2017 Beatson’s Mull Rally - Statement

Posted: June 7, 2017 8:47 AM

It is a matter of considerable regret for the organisers and the Motor Sport Association, the sport’s governing body, that the Beatson’s Building Supplies Mull Rally cannot run as a closed road event in 2017 due to insurmountable insurance issues.

MSA Chief Executive Rob Jones explained the current situation:
“The Mull Rally runs under a private Act of Parliament. It has emerged that the private closed road legislation raises very significant insurance challenges for Mull this year, which was first thought to render the Mull Rally uninsurable.

“The MSA has been endeavouring to find a solution with its brokers. Whilst the brokers have offered a potential solution for 2017, this is unfortunately totally impractical as each and every claim under the policy would be subject to a very significant excess payable by the organisers, and one which the organisers cannot afford.”

Consequently the Mull Rally is unable to run as a closed road event this year. It will be the first time the world renowned three-day rally, which last year attracted a record-equalling 150 crews and generates around £1 million for the local economy, will not have run on closed public roads since the event was granted its Act of Parliament in 1990.

“This development has come as a massive shock,” Andy Jardine, Mull Rally Clerk of the Course, said on receiving the news, “as we were well on with a lot of the early work of setting the route and preparing the paperwork.
“As I understand it, the MSA has been working behind the scenes to try and agree a work-around but have been unable to come up with an acceptable solution. Our attention is now focussed on what can be done in the short timescale to make sure something happens over the weekend.”

Donald Brown, chairman of the Guardians of Mull Rally, admitted the cancellation of the 2017 Mull Rally will have a negative financial impact on the island.
“There’s no denying this is a huge blow to the Island and its businesses who work hard to welcome the competitors, volunteers and spectators each year to the island in October,” Brown said.

“The organising team is endeavouring to put on an alternative motorsport event for the same weekend on Mull. Naturally those plans are at a very early stage of development, but it’s hoped the new event will be attractive to Mull residents, competitors, volunteers and spectators alike.

“Initial feasibility checks have been started to see what can be done to mitigate the impact and hope we can rely on our regular visitors continuing to support us.” The MSA and Mull Rally organisers fully acknowledge the Mull Rally's economic benefit of around £1 million to the Isle of Mull.

It is hoped that following the conclusion of the Fatal Accident Inquiry into the Jim Clark and Snowman rallies in July and August this year, that the Scottish Government will quickly adopt the new legislation recently passed in Westminster which will allow the Mull Rally to make a return in its closed road format in 2018.

MULL RALLY LAUNCHES NEW ESCORT CHALLENGE

Posted: March 10, 2017 7:36 AM

Organisers of the Beatson's Building Supplies Mull Rally will introduce the R.A.C.E. Escort Challenge at this year's event. The award is open to all rear-wheel-drive Ford Escort crews, and will feature an incentive for first time drivers.

The award, supported by leading Ford Escort proponents, Phil and Mick Squires of Rally and Competition Equipment in Stoke-On-Trent, are offering a STG500 voucher to the challenge winner.

The iconic asphalt rally, which last year attracted a capacity 150 car entry, takes place on the Isle of Mull between the 13 and 15 October. The R.A.C.E. Escort Challenge has been created in recognition of the continued popularity of Ford Escorts in rallying, and it is hoped that the new award will attract top Escort crews that may not have previously considered coming to Mull.

Duncan Brown, Mull Rally Deputy Clerk of the Course says, "Ford Escorts have a strong heritage on Mull, with RWD versions winning 17 of the previous rallies. They are still popular today, over 20% of last year's field were Escorts. We wanted to create a standalone award for the growing number of Escort crews, and we felt it was important that this award is possible for a newcomer to win.

We hope that R.A.C.E. Escort Challenge will attract new Escort crews from the U.K., Ireland and further afield. Perhaps some Welsh and English tarmac expects might consider this is the year to test themselves on Mull's roads. The event has recently attracted a number of high-profile Escort drivers, including former British Champion David Bogie, who was as high as fourth in his first time competing on the event last year."

The challenge is open to all crews who enter the rally in a rear-wheel-drive Mk1 or Mk2 Escort, or RWD Mk3-4-5-6 conversion ? as defined by the Make/Model on the entry form and MSA log book. All forms of Escort shall be allowed ? including historic models, and "hybrids" e.g. with Vauxhall or Millington engines, sequential boxes etc.

Crews will be scored on their overall finishing position, plus a handicap based the number of previous Mull Rally starts since 2000 as a driver. The crew with the lowest score wins. As with other class awards, the top three overall finishers are not eligible. Hence, the organisers think this category will be hotly contested.

COMPETITOR NEWS:

Posted: February 2, 2017 9:19 AM

If you're planning to compete on the 2017 Beatson's Building Supplies Mull Rally, we would like to share some provisional route information to help you with your preparations. As the keen-eyed amongst you will have noticed, the MSA has included a new regulation in their Yearbook; Section R, as follows for very understandable safety reasons:

"38.1.7. Competitors may only refuel in areas, not being road sections, specifically designated by the organisers or by using commercially available pump fuel dispensed directly from pumps at filling stations on the rally route."

As a result, the 2017 Beatson's Building Supplies Mull Rally intends (subject to MSA approval), to designate the Service Areas between TC(IN) and TC(OUT) as the specific and only areas where refuelling is allowed during the Legs. There is no intention to set up a stand-alone refuel zone this year. In addition, we are in discussions with the filling stations to determine which fuels and opening hours they are planning. The expected mileages between refuel points are given below, and we would encourage prospective competitors to ensure their cars can accommodate this route.

In summary, refuelling at Emergency Service locations will not be permitted and crews found doing so may be penalised. Details will be in the Supplementary Regulations which will be available on the Beatson's Building Supplies Mull Rally website in due course.

Start Leg 1 to Service A
22 stage miles + 17 road miles

Service A to end of Leg 1:
30 stage miles + 42 road miles

Restart Leg 2 to Service B
10 stage miles + 42 road miles

Service B to Service C
22 stage miles + 21 road miles

Service C to end of Leg 2
22 stage miles + 11 road miles

Restart Leg 3 to Service D
31 stage miles + 38 road miles

Service D to end of Rally
16 stage miles + 14 road miles

Event Website

Posted: February 2, 2017 9:13 AM

Mull Rally