Jim Clark Rally - 30-31 May (-1 Jun) 14

Jim Clark Rally - MSA British Rally Championship statement

Posted: October 20, 2016 7:29 AM

The MSA British Rally Championship and everyone involved in the event are shocked and devastated by the events this afternoon. Our thoughts and condolences are with those involved, particularly the families and friends of those who have lost their lives or have been injured.

Police Scotland statement
Serious road collisions, Jim Clark Rally

Police Scotland is investigating two road collisions at the Jim Clark Rally in the Scottish Borders this afternoon.

A serious incident occurred around 4pm when a rally car came off the road near Kelso and collided with spectators.

Emergency services attended and three people were pronounced dead at the scene.
The fourth person was conveyed to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and is in a critical condition.

The Jim Clark Rally was stopped at that time.

An earlier incident occurred at 2.05pm, when a rally car collided with five people. Four people were treated at the scene and one person was conveyed to hospital where they are in a serious condition.

Police are in attendance at the scene and the investigation into both collisions is at an early stage.

Jim Clark Rally - 30-31 May 14 - RESULTS

Results on Line - Jim Clark Rally - 30-31 May 14
Jim Clark Reivers Rally - 1 Jun 14 - Did not Run
Results by: Tynemouth Computer Services Rally Results

Daniel Hoping To Find Spark On The Jim Clark

Posted: May 30, 2014 9:54 AM

The British Rally Championship rolls into Duns in Scotland this weekend as the town hosts the Jim Clark Rally and it’s a round that 2014 Pirelli Star Driver Daniel McKenna and co-driver Arthur Kierans are looking forward to with relish.

The Monaghan pairing took an impressive 2nd overall on the season opening Pirelli Richard Burns Foundation Rally on their first BRC event in the Pirelli backed DGM run Citroen DS3. However, with the Jim Clark Rally taking placed on closed, tarmac roads, Daniel is hopeful of an equally good result on the fast stages in the Scottish borders.
“Tarmac is my preferred surface so I’ll be looking to be on the pace from the start in Scotland. Getting a 2nd place in Carlisle on the previous round has given me the hunger to get another strong result this weekend. Having driven the Citroen earlier in the year on the Circuit of Ireland I have a good feeling with the car and the Pirelli tyres on tarmac and hopefully that will continue in Scotland.”

Daniel and Arthur start their Jim Clark weekend with the ceremonial start in Duns town centre on Friday evening followed by 52 miles of special stages. Saturday morning and afternoon sees the crews face a further 85 miles before the podium finish in Kelso town centre. The rally is unique as it is the only closed road rally in England, Scotland or Wales and it’s named after the legendary Formula One champion Jim Clark, who originally hailed from the area. Clark was also known to compete in rallies and 2 years after his untimely death in 1968, the Jim Clark Rally came into being. It’s been a fixture on the BRC calendar since 1999. “The rally has a very rich history and Irish drivers have featured strongly on the event these past 15 years. Hopefully I can do the same” commented Daniel ahead of this weekend.

You can follow Daniel’s progress this year by following him on Twitter @DMKMotorsport and Facebook at Daniel McKenna Rallying. You can also check out Daniel’s website, www.danielmckenna.net

Crews set for Reivers tarmac challenge

Posted: May 24, 2014 9:46 PM

Euan Thorburn goes into his home event in Duns with an eight point lead in the 2014 ARR Craib MSA Scottish Rally Championship after three rounds.

The Borderer, who won the season-opener in Inverness, steered his Ford Focus WRC to a thirty-seven second victory on last month's Granite City Rally, and is looking for further success on the SRC's only tarmac round, the Jim Clark Reivers, on Sunday June 1st:
"We've never started that well in the Scottish championship, so to have built up a wee cushion after three rounds is a new experience,” said Thorburn, who, with co-driver Paul Beaton, successfully defended his Plains Rally title in the BTRDA series last weekend.

On the Reivers, Thorburn will resume his duel with defending multiple-champion and fellow Focus driver David Bogie. Twelve months ago, the 26-year-old from Dumfries chalked up his fourth win on the fast and challenging Berwickshire stages, alongside navigator Kevin Rae from Hawick.

Jock Armstrong and Paula Swinscoe will start at number three – the pair buoyed by an impressive second-place finish on the Granite. The Castle Douglas competitor was sitting third behind Thorburn and Bogie on last year's Reivers when his Subaru Impreza picked up a puncture, knocking him back to ninth overall in the final results.

Stonehaven's Barry Groundwater and co-driver Neil Shanks from Elgin, who took the final podium spot in Duns in 2013, will line up as fourth seeds in their Mitsubishi EVO 9, one place ahead of Mike Faulkner and Peter Foy, who clinched a hard-earned final podium spot on the Granite in their EVO.

The Reivers has provided mixed fortunes for the duo. Last year a failed rear damper a few miles in put the car off the road at high speed, wrecking the engine: “As a result of last year's early exit, we really haven't had any tarmac miles in our current car, so the aim has to be to finish the rally”, said Faulkner: “Also, as the only tarmac round in the championship calendar, the Reivers can be unpredictable. There are probably more names in the mix capable of producing a surprise result”. “The past few weeks have been fraught for us. Not only have we had to rebuild the centre diff which gave us problems on the Granite, but the engine dropped a valve, so we've been busy with an engine rebuild as well”.

Tarmac specialists Alistair and Colin Inglis achieved their best ever SRC result on the Reivers last year, ending the day fourth overall. While not registered for the 2014 championship, the pair will be pushing for another top five finish in their EVO 5. Dom Buckley, with Patrick Walsh co-driving, will be another local hopeful in his Subaru Impreza – the Kelso driver placed seventh overall in 2013.

Among the SRC regulars, the EVO 9 crew of Donnie Macdonald and Andrew Falconer from Inverness will head to Duns boosted by a fifth place on the Granite - following two consecutive DNF's.

Ninth seeds Steve Bannister and Louise Sutherland were also in fine form in Aberdeen, emerging as the leading SRC two-wheel drive crew. The Yorkshireman powered his Ford Escort Mk2 to eleventh overall in Duns in 2013.

Andrew Gallacher and Phil Sandham (Mitsubishi EVO 9) will be chasing maximum points in the Group N category, after being pipped by Fraser Wilson and Jane Nicol, also in an EVO 9, on the Aberdeenshire round.

Third-placed Dale Robertson from Duns and Tranent navigator Paul Maguire, meanwhile, have been steadily regaining confidence through the early rounds of 2014, after their EVO was completely burnt out following a crash on last year's Jim Clark:
"Paul and I were both still in the car when it caught fire”, recalled Robertson: “I looked across and couldn't see him for flames, and because he couldn't get out of his door, he had to clamber through them. It was a big fright. Thanks to our loyal sponsors we were able to source a replacement car in Ireland for this year, and we're only now getting back to where we want to be".

Portlethen's Chris Collie, co-driven by Mark Fisher, will be targeting a top-ten spot in his Mitsubishi EVO 6, as will Rory Young and Allan Cathers in their EVO 5. Another to watch will be Mark McCulloch, with Jim Haugh on the notes, in his Subaru Impreza. The Newton Stewart driver recorded his best championship result – sixth overall – on the Granite, but knows the tarmac will present a very different challenge:
“The Jim Clark is one of my favourite events of the year but unfortunately it's also my unluckiest - I've only had three finishes from seven starts”, said McCulloch: “A good points haul, hopefully in the top ten, would be a great result for us. Jim and I are working really well together, and we'll aim to be on the pace right from the start”. Among the 2WD competitors, Graeme Schoneville from Glasgow, with Michael Hendry of Archiestown co-driving, will be looking for a repeat of his Class 7 success on the Granite in his Honda Civic Type-R.

In the 1600cc category, Carl and Rob Tuer from Alnwick will be targeting a third successive class win on the Reivers in their MG ZR S1600. They will face strong competition from, among others, Paisley's Alasdair S Graham who, with co-driver Laura Stuart, took maximum points in Aberdeen in his Vauxhall Corsa, and Dumfriesshire duo Greg and Chris McKnight in a Ford Escort Mk 2.

Coldstream's Kieran Renton, co-driven by Dave Robson, will also be looking to impress in front of home support in his Ford Fiesta R2:
“I really like the tarmac, but it's a completely different style of driving – you can't throw the car around as you can in the forests”, said Renton: “In the 1600 class we have to watch our driveshafts because there's so much more grip, and you're going at higher speed around the corners”.

Dumfries and Galloway's Iain Haining and Mairi Riddick (Vauxhall Nova) will be the crew to beat in Class 3 – the pair taking their second successive victory in Aberdeen, while young Ayr driver Derek Connell, with Laura Marshall navigating, will be looking to keep up the momentum after winning Class 2 last time out in his Vauxhall Corsa.

In total, the Jim Clark Reivers Rally has attracted an entry list of just over 120 crews. They include members of the Armed Forces Rally Team, who will be competing in six Land Rover Wolf XD’s.

REIS MSA Asphalt Rally Championship - CLOSED ROADS OPEN FOR BUSINESS!...

Posted: May 24, 2014 9:41 PM

The last weekend in May will see REIS MSA Asphalt Rally Championship contenders heading to the Scottish Borders for what is still the only closed-road rally on the UK mainland, the Jim Clark Rally. Contesting the National section and starting in the centre of Duns, crews have almost 110 miles of special stages, spread over Friday evening and Saturday, to look forward to prior to the finish in Kelso.

Having won the Jim Clark National Rally for the past couple of years, pride of place is given to Duns resident Euan Thorburn and co-driver Paul Beaton in their Ford Focus WRC. Starting right behind them is the Subaru Impreza WRC of MSA Asphalt Championship leaders after the first two rounds, Steve Simpson/Patrick Walsh. They were runners-up in 2013 and another good result would further their claim to the title which Simpson last won in 2007.

Meanwhile, defending Asphalt Champion Damian Cole (Ford Focus WRC) failed to finish the Jim Clark last year and, having suffered a similar fate on the Manx National Rally at the beginning of this month, he and co-driver Elliott Edmondson could do with a result to put their season back on track.

John Indri will have mixed feelings when it comes to the Jim Clark Rally - an unfortunate incident at the refuelling zone two years ago put his Darrian T90 GTR out at a stroke but, undaunted, he returned last year in the two-wheel drive machine to take 4th place. Although he has since taken delivery of an Impreza WRC, Indri has opted to bring the Darrian out on this occasion and, in addition to overall results, he and Craig Cameron will also be looking for supremacy in the Millington Rear-Wheel Drive Challenge.

Peter Taylor/Andrew Roughead were another crew to register a DNF on the Isle of Man but, with their Fiesta S2400 now restored to full health once again, they start just in front of the Skoda Fabia WRC of John Stone/Carl Williamson. Stone, from Blackburn, knows the roads in the area well and, in spite of retirements on his last two visits, was 5th in 2011 and 3rd the previous year. Good runs on Epynt and the Isle of Man see John & Carl in runners-up spot in the points table, marginally behind Simpson/Walsh.

There are two Ford Escorts in the Top Ten - running line astern, at least to start with, are Simon Mauger and Darren Atkinson/Phil Sandham. No doubt, sparks will fly as these two battle against each other and Mauger certainly has form on the event. 3rd in both 2011 and last year, he was actually leading in 2010 but, in the closing stages, it began to rain and his two-wheel drive car fell into the clutches of Damian Cole’s Focus. Even so, the victory margin was only 13s by the end of the event!

For his part, Atkinson’s first attempt at the Jim Clark last year saw him finish 11th, while this season has started well to the point that, as the Lancaster driver arrives in the Borders, he is 3rd in the table behind Simpson and Stone.

2007 Jim Clark National Rally winner Andy Fenwick is rejoining the Championship on this year’s event in a recently-acquired VW Polo S2000 and, following their 15th place on the Isle of Man, Alex Laffey/Jack Morton will be taking the opportunity to get some more miles under their belts in their Ford Fiesta R5+.

Kevin Tappin is bringing his Escort MkII all the way up from Holsworthy, in Devon, while the Citroen DS3 R3 of Andrew Hockridge/Aled Edwards will be leading the charge for AB Motorsport Front-Wheel Drive Challenge points. Opposition will come from Kev Monaghan/Chris Purvis (Vauxhall Corsa S1600), Lee Farrer/Neil Bye in their Ford Puma S1600 and the VW Golf of Andy Hawkins/Devlyn Johnson.

Seeded Entry Lists - All Sections

Posted: May 23, 2014 1:11 PM

Jim Clark Rally - 30-31 May (-1 Jun) 14 - SEEDED ENTRY LISTS (All Sections)

BRC Entry List

Posted: May 20, 2014 8:06 PM

1 Osian Pryce/Dale Furniss (Citroen DS3 R3T) [BRC 1]
2 Daniel McKenna /Arthur Kierans (Citroen DS3 R3T) [BRC 1]
3 John Maccrone/Robert Fagg (Ford Fiesta R200) [BRC 1]
4 Callum Black/James Morgan (Citroen DS3 R3T) [BRC 1]
5 Jonny Milner/TBA (Abarth 500 R3T BRC) [BRC 1]
6 Garry Pearson/Davey Robson (Peugeot 208) [BRC 2]
7 David Carney/Ray Fitzpatrick (Citroen DS3 R3T) [BRC 1]
8 James Ford/Michael Gilbey (Citroën DS3 R3T) [BRC 1]
9 Timothy Cathcart/Dai Roberts (Citroen DS3 R3) [BRC 1]
10 Richard Sykes/Emma Morrison (Citroen C2 R200) [BRC 4]
11 Richard Archer/John Connor (Opel Corsa) [BRC 4]
12 Neil Matthews/Claire Williams (Vauxhall Nova) [BRC 4]
14 Mark Gamble/Simon Taylor (Suzuki Swift S1400) [BRC 4]
15 Ross Hunter/Josh Davison (Peugeot 205Gti) [BRC 4]
16 Calvin Beattie/Emmet Sherry (Ford Fiesta R2) [BRC 2]
17 Aaron McClure/TBA (Ford Fiesta R2) [BRC 2]
18 John Byrnes/Yan Griffiths (Renault Clio) [BRC 2]
19 Cameron Davies/Phil Hall (Ford Fiesta R2) [BRC 2]
20 Sean Robson/Iain Robson (Ford Fiesta ST+) [BRC 4]
21 Rene Dias Torcato/Jamie Edwards (Citroen C2 Max) [BRC 2]
22 Graeme Sherry/Peter Weall (Renault Clio) [BRC 4]
23 Des Campbell/Alex Orr (Peugeot 206 Cup Car) [BRC 5]
24 Gus Greensmith/Melanie Holmes (Ford Fiesta R1 +) [BRC 3]
25 Chris Wheeler/Yan Griffiths (Ford Fiesta MS1) [BRC 3]
26 Jonathan Jones/Jez Rogers (Ford Fiesta R1 +) [BRC 3]
27 Kim Baker/Paul Heath (Renault Twingo R1) [BRC 3]
28 Harry Threlfall/Andy Bull (Renault Twingo R1) [BRC 3]
29 Gary Wright/Glyn Thomas (MG ZR) [BRC 5]
30 Georgia Shiels /Tom Woodburn (Abarth 500) [BRC 3]
31 Niall Moroney/Elgan Davies (Peugeot 106) [BRC 5]

Entries Received

Posted: May 20, 2014 8:06 PM

Available at:

• Jim Clark Memorial Rally

Jim Clark Rally on schedule

Posted: May 16, 2014 2:33 PM

With 52 miles of timed to the second special stages packed into the evening of Friday 30th May followed by 85 miles on Saturday 31st, this year’s Jim Clark Rally promises to provide one of the toughest events in the 2014 MSA British Rally Championship.

Run over sections of closed public roads, the nature of the special stages range from fast, open, two-lane roads, where rally drivers have to pick a racing line through the bends, to narrow, bumpy lanes where the corners are obscured by walls and hedges.

Based at the Kelso showground for the first time, crews will loop from this new service area to stages north and north west of the town, returning for essential repairs several times throughout the two days.

But the pressure starts on Friday evening with eight special stages and includes the ever popular double run through Duns town centre. Also included in the Friday night line-up is the fearsome 16 mile Abbey St Bathans test where speeds can exceed 120 mph and the brows and blind crests can catch out the unwary.

On Saturday the ten stages include the spectator favourite at Langton on the edge of Duns, where the wet ford provides yet another challenge for the crews and treat for the fans, eagerly awaiting the biggest splash. The Saturday route also includes the notorious Swinton crossroads which has caught out some of the best in the business over the years.

Jim Clark Rally British Rally Championship timetable

Friday 30th May
19.00: Rally start and first stage in Duns town centre
19.22: SS2, Abbey St Bathans 1
20.15: SS3, Tweedside 1
20.47: SS4, Fogo 1
Duns High School Service & Regroup
21.21: SS5, Duns 2
21.43: SS6, Abbey St Bathans 2
22.36: SS7, Tweedside 2
22.58 Hrs: SS8, Fogo 2

Saturday 31st May
08.28: SS9, Swinton 1
09.00: SS10, Edrom E-W 1
09.31: SS11, Langton 1
Kelso Showground Regroup & Service
11.10: SS12, Eccles 1
11.41: SS13, Westruther 1
Kelso Showground Regroup & Service
13.11: SS14, Eccles 2
13.42: SS15, Westruther 2
Kelso Showground Regroup & Service
15.32: SS16, Swinton 2
16.07: SS17, Edrom E-W 2
16.35: SS18, Langton 2
17.16 (approx): Podium finish ceremony in Kelso town square

Regulations / On Line Entry

Posted: April 25, 2014 10:41 AM

Available at:

• Jim Clark Memorial Rally

Rally Guide 1 / Rally Website

Posted: March 24, 2014 12:21 PM

Rally Guide 1 available at:

• Jim Clark Memorial Rally