Rally of Scotland - 19-21 Nov 09

Posted: November 18, 2009 11:41 PM

Wilks completes day of testing for Rally of Scotland

Posted: November 17, 2009 6:09 PM

Guy Wilks and co-driver Phil Pugh started preparations for the Rally of Scotland yesterday, successfully completing a full day testing session in their Škoda Fabia S2000.

In often difficult and very wet conditions, Wilks put the Škoda Fabia through its paces in what was his first time in the car.

He said: “Despite some pretty treacherous weather, we were pleased with how the testing has gone. It was great to finally get behind the wheel, spend time in the car and put some mileage under our belt. The car handled well in the slippery conditions and the car feels very good. I can't wait to line up on the start line on Thursday now.”

Wilks will spend today (Tuesday) and Wednesday as further preparation, using the next two days as a recce for the Rally of Scotland before starting the event on Thursday afternoon.

Rally Radio – Live on the Web at the Rally of Scotland

Posted: November 17, 2009 6:02 PM

The team behind the hugely popular World Rally Radio has come together for a special broadcast from this week’s inaugural Rally of Scotland, thanks to sponsorship from Peugeot UK. There'll be full coverage of every stage, with reporters out and about at the stage ends talking live to the crews. You'll be able to listen by clicking through on the Rally of Scotland website – rallyscotland.tv - and through Autosport.com and peugeot.co.uk/rally.

Lisa O'Sullivan will anchor the programme, with Colin Clark, Chris Rawes and Simon Clark at the stage ends, and veteran broadcaster Greg Strange in the Service Parks. Julian Porter will be the resident pundit in the studio.

30 minutes before the start of each day's opening stage, and continue through to the end of the day, with an overnight programme reviewing the day.

Commented Greg Strange: "We're delighted to be involved with this inaugural Rally of Scotland, and very grateful to Peugeot UK for their support. Thanks to Peugeot, it means the event will reach all the rally fans around the world who can't be there - and provide a useful link for media, sponsors and supporters."

There'll also be a nightly vodcast on peugeot.co.uk/rally hosted by Becs Williams following IRC Champions Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle as they tackle the final round of this year's Championship.

Rally of Scotland

Tom Cave heads for 2009 swansong in Scotland

Posted: November 13, 2009 4:35 PM

Next weekend will see teenage rally driver Tom Cave round out his most ambitious season yet, as the 17 year-old heads for the finale of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, the Rally of Scotland. The event will be the last for Cave and co-driver Craig Parry in 2009 and the last at the wheel of his Group N Ford Fiesta ST, as the youngster will definitely be making a step up for the following season.  

The two-day event, based in Stirling will be another unknown for Tom, as has been the case with most of the nine events he has contested this season so far. However, despite this, Tom is looking forward to completing his third year of competition and the second in the Fiesta on a high.  

"I'm definitely looking forward to Scotland," said Tom. "However, I am a little apprehensive about the stages. As I haven't really competed in Scotland, other than the Jim Clark earlier this year, I don't know them at all so it will be another big learning experience. One thing I do know though is that Drummond Hill is renowned as one of the best stages in the world but also, one of the most challenging. There's also the 33.5Km Loch Ard test that's run twice on Saturday, so it's not going to be a walk in the park by any means.  

"My objective for the weekend will be to get a decent, solid finish. I've seen the entry list and while on paper, it looks as if we should be in with a good chance, as we know from Rally GB, anything can happen. I think the plan will be to try to stay out of trouble and avoid punctures, as I gather the conditions could be quite rough.  

"While I haven't done the event before, Craig has so I'm hoping that once again, his experience will help us to get a good result."  

Even though this is the final event of the season and for Tom with the Fiesta, the team has spared no effort in making sure the car is in perfect form, especially after the roll it suffered on last month's Rally GB and the gearbox issue on the second day. Tom has been working alongside the technicians to make sure that, like him, the car is in the best shape for it's 2009 swansong.  

"I've been down at the Davies Motorsport workshops this week, helping the team put the finishing touches to the car and it's looking in very good shape. We've had an engine rebuild and a complete chassis overhaul following Rally GB and the car looks a lot happier than it did by the time we finished in Cardiff. I'm just hoping we can have a clean run and end this year on a good note."  

The event begins with a double run of the superspecial stage at Scone Palace on the evening of Thursday 19 November before two full days of competition in the Scottish forests. Friday 20 November sees five stages including the Drummond Hill test while Saturday 21 November sees the crews run six stages, in two loops of three before the finish ceremony at Stirling Castle at around 4.30pm.

Busy two weeks for Alister McRae

Posted: November 11, 2009 2:28 PM

The next two weeks will be flat-out in more ways than one for former British Rally Champion and works WRC driver Alister McRae. The Scot is competing in Rally China this weekend, the final round of the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship before literally boarding a plane to the UK the moment the event finishes, to contest the Rally of Scotland, his home event and final round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

Following last month's positive outing in the works Proton Satria Super 2000 rally car, McRae is again driving the official Satria on both events. While the team suffered technical issues on the extremely rough stages in Indonesia, it has modified several key components for this weekend's event in China, which will use the same car as in Indonesia.

A one-day test prior to the start of the recce in China showed that revised dampers gave the car a more balanced and stable feeling over the rough test road while modified steering components have also been fitted.

While the conditions in China in the run-up to the event are wet, according to McRae, the roads appear to be harder and less likely to become rough than in Indonesia, with a compacted rocky base. However, despite this, he still feels it will be a tricky event.

"I've been to China for the rally three times before but never to this event in this region. Looking at on-board videos from previous years and the test road, while it looks to be a reasonably solid base, the roads are very narrow and twisty, so it's going to be hard work.

"The aim this weekend is to get a solid finish for Proton. The Mellors Elliot Motorsport team has done a fantastic job of developing new parts in light of what we learned in Indonesia and I'm looking forward to the weekend. I hope that perhaps the weather will improve, it'll stop raining and we'll have a clean run to show what the car is capable of and get a solid result.

"It's not going to be easy though; there's a very strong top ten this weekend. There's Cody Crocker, Katsu Taguchi, Emma Gilmour, Dean Herridge, David Higgins, Jusso Valimaki and Juha Salo, so I think there will be some good scraps."

The event begins with a superspecial stage in the evening of Friday 12 November, before two full days of action on Saturday and Sunday. The first cars are expected to finish the event at around 4pm on Sunday afternoon, which is where Alister's next round of activity begins.

As soon as he has completed the event, he begins a five-hour drive to Shanghai to catch a plane to the UK, to arrive in Perth, Scotland just in time to begin the recce for the final round of the IRC, the RACMSA Rally of Scotland. He will again be driving the Proton Satria S2000 but this time, on home soil and the prospect understandably has him excited.

"I'm really looking forward to competing at home again," he said. "I've done some of the stages that make up the event as they formed part of the McRae Stages rally and some were also part of the British Rally Championship when I competed in the mid 1990s.

"MEM is putting the finishing touches to the car for Scotland in the UK now and hopefully, we'll have a chance to carry out a small test before the event but realistically, I think it'll be little more than a shakedown, because of the tight deadlines with me arriving. Again, this car will use the revised components and a few more changes as we move forward in what is effectively the car's first year of competition and development."

The event begins with a double-run of the superspecial stage at Scone Castle on the evening of Thursday 19 November before two days of action in the Scottish Forests on Friday and Saturday 20 and 21. The first car is expected over the finish ramp at Stirling Castle at around 4.30pm on Saturday 21 November.

Entry Lists

Posted: November 10, 2009 11:30 AM

Top 10 + Irish

1 Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle (Peugeot 207 S2000)
2 Guy Wilks/Phil Pugh (Skoda Fabia S2000)
3 Keith Cronin/Greg Shinnors (Abarth Grande Punto S2000)
4 Adam Gould/Sebastian Marshall (Peugeot 207 S2000)
5 David Bogie/Kevin Rae (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX)
6 Franz Wittmann/Bernard Ettel (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX)
7 Jonny Greer/TBA (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX)
8 Dave Weston/Ieuan Thomas (Subaru Impreza N14)
9 Alastair Fisher/Barry McNulty (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX)
10 Alister McRae/Bill Hayes (Proton Satria Neo S2000)
11 Eamon Boland/MJ Morrissey (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX)

20 Daniel Siguroarson/Martin Brady (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX)
21 Craig Breen/Gareth Roberts (Ford Fiesta R2)

24 Barry Greer/Susanne Wright (Ford Fiesta ST)
Full Entry list in the Competitors section of the rally website:

Rally of Scotland

Skoda Signs Guy Wilks for Rally of Scotland

Posted: November 8, 2009 9:49 AM

Skoda UK has today announced that Guy Wilks, the double British Rally champion, will compete at this year’s Rally of Scotland – the final event of the 2009 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) series.

Wilks (28) from Darlington will drive a Škoda UK-sponsored Skoda Fabia Super 2000, run by Rene George Rally Sport, and is set to go head-to-head with fellow British rally driver Kris Meeke, this year’s winner of the IRC, in what is sure to become a “Battle of the Brits”.

The RACMSA Rally of Scotland features 13 challenging stages on both tarmac and gravel, starting on Thursday 19 November in Perth and finishes at the stunning Stirling Castle on Saturday 21 November.

Commenting on the announcement, Wilks said: “This is a great opportunity for me and I’m really looking forward to driving for Škoda UK. The fact that we are competing on home soil in front of the British fans makes it a really special occasion and I’ll definitely be going all out for the win!”

Skoda’s Robert Hazelwood, UK brand director, added: “The Skoda Fabia Super 2000 has proved itself to be one of the best performing cars in the IRC and delivered fantastic results for our motorsport team. We are thrilled that Guy is competing for us and expect to see him pushing hard for the lead.

UK selects Adam Gould to contest IRC Rally of Scotland in fully-funded BFGoodrich entry

Posted: November 8, 2009 9:47 AM

Adam Gould will represent the UK on the RACMSA Rally of Scotland later this month after being selected to receive a fully-funded drive on the season-ending Intercontinental Rally Challenge event.

Gould, 22, from Bristol, will become team mate to newly crowned IRC Champion Kris Meeke in an identical S2000 Peugeot 207, courtesy of BFGoodrich and Kronos Racing. He will also enjoy substantial testing time to familiarise himself with the car, the tyres and the team before the rally.

A total of 36 applications were received for the drive by the Motor Sports Association and this was then reduced by BFGoodrich and Kronos to a shortlist that comprised David Bogie, Barry Clark, Adam Gould, Martin McCormack and Niall McShea. A panel of 12 journalists – as well as a representative from each of BFGoodrich, Kronos and the MSA – was convened today at Motor Sports House to consider the five drivers and to vote for their preferred candidate.

Adam Gould secured ten of the 15 votes and was immediately informed by the panel of his success.

“I can’t believe it!” said Gould afterwards. “It’s a huge surprise and I would like to thank BFGoodrich and Kronos for giving me this opportunity, as well as the members of the panel who selected me. I have never met Kris Meeke before and it will be incredible to be his team mate for this event. He is right at the top of his game, having just won the title, and I am sure I will learn a massive amount from him.”

“Adam Gould has easily won his drive within the BFGoodrich Drivers Team”, added Jacques Morelli, BFGoodrich’s IRC Programme Manager. “He can deliver a good performance and that could make all the difference to his future career plans.”

Adam will test the Peugeot 207 on November 16th, before contesting the RACMSA Rally of Scotland which runs from November 19th-21st.

Top quality entry for inaugural Rally of Scotland

Posted: November 8, 2009 9:25 AM

Details of the accepted entries for the inaugural RACMSA Rally of Scotland, the 11th and final round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), to be held from 19th – 21st November were released at the Blythswood Square Hotel in Glasgow on Wednesday. Amongst those addressing the media guests was triple Formula One world champion, Sir Jackie Stewart, OBE. Currently entries stand at almost 60 (with capacity to accept more up to the closing date of Friday 7th November), including 30 international entries from 10 nations representing 10 vehicle manufacturers.

Leading entrants include 2009 IRC Drivers’ Champion - and factory Peugeot driver - Kris Meeke, Scotland’s Alister McRae in a semi-works Proton Satria, reigning Scottish Champion, David Bogie, in a Mitsubishi Lancer and newly crowned British Rally Champion Keith Cronin from Ireland in a Fiat Abarth Punto. A second Peugeot 207 S2000 has also been entered by the BF Goodrich Drivers Team. The winner of that drive will be announced later this week.

Also on the entry list are future stars Craig Breen and Tom Cave. Cave, 18, tackled his first World Rally Championship event last year, just days after passing his driving test. Meanwhile, Waterford’s Breen, 19, has this year walked away with four championship titles, including the UK, Irish and International Fiesta series. Both will be names to watch taking on the might of the IRC’s established stars in the Scottish forests.

Andrew Coe, chief executive of the Rally of Scotland’s organiser, International Motor Sports Ltd, is thrilled with the quality of the entry and noted: “It is shaping up to be a cracking finale to the 2009 IRC series. The lochs and hills of Stirling and Perth & Kinross will provide a stunning backdrop for what we hope will be the first visit of many visits for the IRC to Scotland.” He continued: “It is not just the spectators in the forests who will be able to enjoy the atmosphere of top line international rallying in Scotland. The event will benefit from live coverage, both on Eurosport TV and online. Across the board, the rally will break new ground and we’re delighted it is also playing a pivotal role in the Homecoming Scotland celebrations of 2009.”

Paul Bush OBE, chief operating officer at EventScotland, the national events agency, said: “The Rally of Scotland will, without doubt, be one of this year’s sporting event highlights and an un-missable spectacle in Perth and Kinross and Stirling. As the final stage of one of the world’s biggest motor sport championships, it will draw thousands of spectators from far and wide, bringing a substantial business benefit for local hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions. The event has secured an impressive line up of world class drivers, both from the UK and of international acclaim, which will ensure an exciting competition will be broadcast live on Eurosport to an audience of millions, showcasing Scotland’s sensational scenery and capacity for hosting major events.”

Perth & Kinross provost John Hulbert said: “Perth & Kinross Council is delighted to welcome this exciting new event to Perthshire which provides a great opportunity to showcase the best of the area to a global television audience. The Rally of Scotland is a fantastic chance for anyone interested in rallying to experience this thrilling sport in stunning surroundings here in Perth and Kinross and we hope that people will come from far and wide to take advantage of that.”

Councillor Scott Farmer, depute leader of the council and portfolio holder for economy, tourism and finance said; “I am delighted to welcome this prestigious and exciting event to Stirling. As joint hosts of the RACMSA Rally of Scotland, which is the final leg of the prestigious Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) series, we believe that the event will provide a unique platform for showcasing Stirling and the beauty of its landscape to the world, thereby boosting tourism and delivering major economic benefits to the community."

To keep up to date with news and information about the Rally of Scotland, visit

Rally of Scotland

British legend savours 'monster' Scottish stage

Posted: November 8, 2009 9:23 AM

Rallying legend Jimmy McRae has described the final stage of RACMSA Rally of Scotland as a “monster” after driving through the route recently.

The five-time British Rally champion and father of 1995 WRC champion Colin McRae will see his youngest son Alister – himself a former British and Asia-Pacific champion – competing on the event in a Proton Satria Neo Super 2000. Looking forward to the event, McRae declared that the Loch Ard stage will be a major challenge for crews.

Totalling 33.52 kilometres, the stage will be used twice on Saturday November 21, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. It will be televised live throughout the Eurosport network.

McRae said: “The organisers have found a true monster stage to create a sting in the tail and this will ensure the result will remain in doubt until the cars clear the stage.

“The stage is medium narrow throughout on a good hard based surface but there will never be a time for the drivers to take a breather and their powers of concentration and fitness will be tested to the limit.”  

 

Sir Jackie Stewart hails RACMSA Rally of Scotland

Posted: November 8, 2009 9:23 AM

The inaugural RACMSA Rally of Scotland was treated to an all-star launch event in Glasgow this week, with three-time Formula One world champion Sir Jackie Stewart leading the way towards this year’s IRC grand finale.

“Scotland has an amazing heritage when it comes to motor sport – and rallying in particular,” said Sir Jackie. “Traditionally the RAC Rally was one of the biggest in the world and it went through England and Wales but it was Scotland that was the largest part, with probably the best special stages anywhere in the world.

“We’ve had world class rally drivers such as Andrew Cowan, Jimmy McRae and his sons Colin and Alister as well as great teams and great circuit racing drivers, so it is entirely fitting for Scotland to join the likes of Monte Carlo and Sanremo on the IRC calendar.”

IRC series coordinator Xavier Gavory added: “It is a great privilege for the IRC, in only its third full season, to start out in Monte Carlo back in January and to end the year on these legendary Scottish stages. This is the ideal event for our premier TV package, with four stages being broadcast live in their entirety.”

Sir Jackie declared Scotland to be the ‘best-kept secret in world travel’ and was upbeat about the positive effect the event would have on trade and tourism.

“I think the importance of the Rally of Scotland is clear because the Scottish parliament has put its backing behind the event,” he said. “I’m looking forward to watching the action in Stirling alongside our First Minister, Alex Salmond. We can project ourselves as Scots and as a tourism and business destination in a better way through sport and through the RACMSA Rally of Scotland.”

9 hours of FREE LIVE ONLINE COVERAGE

Posted: November 2, 2009 3:22 PM

Details:

Rally of Scotland

BFGoodrich entries for Scotland now closed

Posted: November 2, 2009 3:21 PM

The deadline for applications for the BFGoodrich Drivers’ Team entry on RACMSA Rally of Scotland has passed. On Friday November 6 an expert jury consisting of UK-based journalists, plus representatives of BFGoodrich, Kronos Racing and the Motor Sports Assocation, the governing body of British motorsport, will meet to determine the winner from a shortlist of five drivers.

On offer is a prize of a free drive on the final round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge in a Kronos Racing-run Peugeot 207 Super 2000.

“The BFGoodrich Drivers’ Team is a unique operation which represents an exceptional opportunity for the selected driver,” said Kronos director Marc van Dalen.”

Colin Hilton, the chief executive of the MSA, added: “The UK is blessed with some extremely talented drivers. Whichever one of them is selected will make the most of the opportunity.”

As well as an outing on the IRC finale, the winner will get a day’s test on November 16 to acclimatise to the Peugeot 207 and the range of BFGoodrich tyres.

Closing date for entries extended until Friday 7 November

Posted: November 2, 2009 3:13 PM

In compliance with the FIA Regional Rally Championship Regulations, the closing date for entries for the RACMSA Rally of Scotland has been extended to 7th November.

The organisers have responded to a number of requests from privateer drivers to extend the deadline in order for them to secure the funding to contest the rally.

Rally of Scotland

Keith Cronin/Greg Shinnors in Abarth for Scotland

Posted: October 28, 2009 3:05 PM

Cronin Motorsport are delighted to announce that the reigning British Rally Champions will be competing on the final Round of the IRC, Rally Scotland, in a hired Abarth Punto S2000. The deal has been on the table with over a week as the final details had to be worked out and is has now been confirmed that is will go ahead.

Abarth have been competitive this year and it will be exciting to see Keith and Greg out in a competitive IRC car. They will travel to Northern Italy early next week to have a testing session in the car.
This is a fantastic opportunity for the lads to move a step up from the BRC and was made possible by support from Cremin Coaches, Cronin Motorsport Supporters Club and Pirelli, who have agreed to supply tyres for the event.

Speaking today about the development, Keith stated that he was very excited about the prospect and that since the deal was first tabled nearly two weeks ago he has been in daily negotiations about the finer details and that he now can't wait to drive the car. He was involved in testing a Proton Satria S2000 earlier in the year and although he did not get to actually drive that cat he said that the car felt much more balanced and responsive than the Mitsubishi.

Keith Cronin Rallying

Rally of Scotland welcomes six manufacturers in entry

Posted: October 27, 2009 12:00 PM

All but one of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge’s seven manufacturers will represented on RACMSA Rally of Scotland next month, the man in charge of running the event has confirmed.

Clerk of the course Iain Campbell said he was pleased with the level of interest showed by competitors so far and added that the variety of different cars would guarantee thrilling action on the stages when the event runs from November 19-21.

“Although both the IRC and 2WD Cup titles are wrapped up, almost every manufacturer will be represented and that’s great news,” said Campbell. “It’s fair to say we haven’t got as many entries as we had hoped but the quality is impeccable and it will be good for the British drivers who will get a lot of the attention.”

Great news for the fans who have followed the action in 2009 is that Czech hero Jan Kopecky is one of those set to take part. Despite surrendering the battle for this year's IRC crown to Kris Meeke in Sanremo last month, Kopecky will aim to end his season on a high in Scotland.

Kopecky, who cannot be caught for second in the drivers’ standings, is likely to drive a privately-run Skoda Fabia 2000 because the factory team, who whom he has driven all season, have not included the Scottish round in its original schedule.

Scottish champion joins the best home-grown talent in Scotland

Posted: October 27, 2009 11:59 AM

David Bogie, the winner of the Motor Sports Association-sanctioned Scottish Rally Championship, will make his Intercontinental Rally Challenge debut on Rally of Scotland next month.

The 22-year-old from Dumfries clinched the Scottish title on the Colin McRae Forest Stages in early October. The event uses the same stages that will be included in the itinerary for the IRC finale on November 19-20.

“There was no way I was going to miss this – it’s such a huge event and it’s coming to my country,” said Bogie, who will drive a Ralliart Lancer E9. “I know the terrain and the stages but I don’t for one minute think I will be on the same pace as the leading IRC boys. But I’d like to think I can put on a good show.”

Bogie, who is highly rated in his homeland, is one of three local drivers to have won a free entry for the gravel event as part of his prize for finishing in the top three of Scottish Group N classification.

He joins a wealth of top talent from across Great Britain and Ireland including newly-crowned IRC champion Kris Meeke, this year's MSA British Rally Championship winner Keith Cronin and former British and Asia-Pacific champion Alister McRae.

Scotland gears up for rally action

Posted: October 21, 2009 11:37 AM

It’s now less than two months to go until the inaugural RACMSA Rally of Scotland (19th-21st November). Excitement is growing about the three day event, which will see drivers from all over Europe travel to Scotland for the final round of the prestigious Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC).

The rally, which covers Stirling and Perth and Kinross, marks the first time in over twenty years that Scotland has hosted a motorsport event of such calibre. The event will bring not only top-class drivers and teams, but also dedicated motorsport fans and media, all eager to experience the thirteen enthralling stages, showcasing some of Scotland’s most breathtaking scenery and challenging terrain.

The Rally of Scotland forms part of Homecoming Scotland 2009, which celebrates some of Scotland’s great contributions to the world and has been attracting Scots as well as those who love Scotland to come home from across the globe and join in this inspirational programme of events.

In a quirky twist, organisers are encouraging fans to support their favourite drivers by placing a wish on the famous tree at the summit of Fairy Knowe, which is hosting stages nine and twelve of the rally on Saturday, 21st November. Contributing to the sense of tradition and ancestry of the event, Fairy Knowe in Aberfoyle, or Doon Hill as it is also known, has long been known as a site of legend and myth. The tradition goes that if you write your wish on a piece of cloth or silk and tie it around the branches of the majestic Scottish Pine at the summit, the fairies of the forest will make it come true.

“The countdown to the Rally of Scotland is now on and it is great to see the excitement building,” explained Andrew Coe, chief executive of event organiser International Motor Sports Limited (IMS). “The wishing tree at Fairy Knowe is a perfect example of how the stages of the rally are steeped in Scotland’s history and natural beauty.”

The Rally was secured for Scotland through a partnership of EventScotland, Perth and Kinross Council and Stirling Council.

Paul Bush OBE, chief operating officer at EventScotland, the national events agency, said: “Excitement is growing for the inaugural Rally of Scotland and, with less than two months to go, preparations are well under way. The Rally will bring significant benefits to Perth and Kinross and Stirling, positioning Scotland as the perfect motorsports’ stage and an unrivalled destination for tourism. The Rally is an integral part of Scotland’s year of Homecoming, a year long celebration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns and of our many other great contributions to the world including great minds and innovation and culture and heritage; which are showcased through this event.

“The 2009 Rally is the first in a three year deal secured for Scotland which will put the nation on the map with motorsports fans around the world. We look forward to welcoming the Rally and spectators to what will without doubt be one of the best stages in this year’s competition and a great finale.”

For an action packed day out, sure to excite motorsport fans, sport fans and families alike, the Rally of Scotland promises to deliver high-octane fun in beautiful, historic surroundings; truly the best of Scotland.

To keep up to date with news and information about the Rally of Scotland, visit

Rally of Scotland

Champion Meeke aims for glory in Scotland

Posted: October 21, 2009 11:34 AM

The newly-crowned winner of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), Kris Meeke, is looking forward to putting the icing on the cake when competing on home soil this November in the inaugural RACMSA Rally of Scotland. With the IRC Drivers' Championship title now in the bag and Scotland being the only event remaining on the calendar, Meeke has just one goal remaining - to end the year with victory on his home event.

When asked about the challenges of the Rally of Scotland, Kris Meeke commented: "There are some classic and rugged stages to overcome. The weather could also be a factor as it may well be challenging in this part of the world come November. For spectators the sound of these cars in the forests will be fantastic and there are lots of great vantage points."

Meeke is particularly looking forward to stages Drummond Hill, near Kenmore and Errochty near Pitlochry which he says require a great deal of commitment. When asked about the challenges offered by the Scottish stages, Meeke said: "They are generally fast and flowing in nature, but with some tricky narrow sections meaning that you have to retain maximum concentration at all times. The deep ditches at the side of the road will be something to watch out for and tightening corners over blind crescents, therefore creating the possibility of picking up punctures."

He concluded by commenting on how the UK spectators differ from those elsewhere around the world: "The Scottish fans are always enthusiastic as evidenced by the fantastic turn-out at last year's 'Colin McRae Forest Stages' and are also amongst the most knowledgeable in the world."

Kris Meeke can be seen live in action on the Rally of Scotland from 19th-21st November. To take advantage of the best ticket prices advance booking is essential. Details of how to purchase tickets together with other important news is available by visiting www.rallyofscotland.com. Tickets can also be booked by calling the ticket hotline on 0844 847 2488 or in person at Barrhead Travel in Edinburgh, Glasgow (Oswald Street), Stirling and Dundee.

Rally of Scotland

Closing Date for Entries, this Friday 16th October

Posted: October 12, 2009 2:40 PM

The closing date for entries for the RACMSA Rally of Scotland has been extended to Friday 16th October.

Rally of Scotland

Honda ready for IRC finale

Posted: October 12, 2009 2:37 PM

Honda will be hoping to secure the coveted runner-up spot in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge’s 2WD Cup on the final round in Scotland next month.

The company is just two points behind rival Abarth with the Scottish gravel event remaining. With a strong turn-out of Civic Type Rs expected on the season finale, the prospect of finishing second behind winner Peugeot is very realistic indeed.

Honda’s optimism was increased following a successful participation on Rallye Sanremo in Italy last month. Italian driver Sandro Sottile won the two-wheel-drive class in 17th overall in a Civic Type R, while Hungarian Laszlo Vizin finished sixth in the highly competitive category.

Alessandro Mariani, the boss of JAS Motorsport, which overseas Honda’s IRC attack, said: “Once again our cars proved to be both quick and reliable. Despite having no permanent entries on the IRC this year, we have managed to challenge for second place in the IRC 2WD Cup. We now look forward to more success.”

McRae comes home for Rally of Scotland

Posted: October 12, 2009 2:36 PM

Alister McRae is gearing up to return to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge when the season draws to a close on RACMSA Rally of Scotland on November 19-21.

McRae, the younger brother of the late 1995 world rally champion Colin, won the IRC pilot event – Zulu Rally South Africa – in May 2006.

He is due to drive a Proton Satria Neo Super 2000 for the factory-backed MEM World Rally Team operation from the UK.

Now 38, McRae, made his debut in the car during a round of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship in Indonesia recently, and said he would relish driving it on his home event.

“It would be great to be in the car again,” said McRae, who currently lives in Australia. “I know the nature of the stages being used on Rally of Scotland because I have done some of them before. It would obviously be great to be competing in the IRC in Scotland.”

MSA opens applications for BFGoodrich and Kronos Racing entry on Intercontinental Rally Challenge Rally of Scotland

Posted: September 23, 2009 8:41 AM

BFGoodrich and Kronos Racing, in association with the Motor Sports Association governing body of UK motor sport are offering a fully-funded entry for a British rally driver to compete in the Scottish round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) on November 19-21.

The 2009 BFGoodrich Drivers Team was set up to provide a fully-funded opportunity for a local driver to contest five of the IRCs 12 rounds in Monte Carlo, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Italy and now Scotland.

The MSA is inviting applications from drivers wishing to be considered for selection to contest the Rally of Scotland in the BFGoodrich Drivers Teams Peugeot 207 Super 2000. There is no age limit, but applicants must be British citizens and must hold an MSA International Rally competition licence.

The applicants will be reduced to a shortlist of five drivers put forward for consideration by a jury that will include representatives of the British media. The final selection will be made on 6th November and the winner announced the same day.

The winning crew will be given a test session in the week of the event to familiarise themselves with the Peugeot 207 Super 2000, with BFGoodrich's range of tyres and with the staff at Kronos Racing.

The selected crew will then take part in the Scottish round of the IRC in the colours of BFGoodrich/Kronos in the same conditions as the team's other three drivers, including British star and current IRC championship leader Kris Meeke (pictured above), who will be competing in a similar Peugeot 207.

"The BFGoodrich Drivers Team is an illustration of BFGoodrich's real commitment to rallying and gives us a chance to showcase the performance of our products and our dynamism," says Nick Shorrock, Director of the Michelin Group's Competition Department.

"We have been loyal to BFGoodrich ever since the brand arrived in rallying, and we are particularly proud to have had this chance to work with its staff on such an exciting project," underlines Kronos Racing Director Marc Van Dalen. "The BFGoodrich Drivers Team is a unique operation which represents an exceptional opportunity for the selected drivers."

This is a fantastic initiative from BFGoodrich and we are delighted to support it, says Colin Hilton, MSA Chief Executive. The UK is blessed with some extremely talented rally drivers and whichever one of them is selected for this drive, I am sure they will make the most of the opportunity.

Programme and timetable:
October 26:
The deadline for interested crews to forward their application to the MSA to be considered for the drive is midday on October 26, 2009. UK motor sports governing body will forward the list of drivers to BFGoodrich and Kronos management who will draw up a shortlist of five crews.

November 6:
BFGoodrich and Kronos will set up a jury which will include representatives of the British media. In a secret vote, this jury will then nominate the crew which will be given the opportunity to contest the Rally of Scotland in the programme's Peugeot 207 Super 2000. The selected crew will take part in the Scottish round of the IRC in the colours of BFGoodrich/Kronos in the same conditions as the team's other three drivers, namely Freddy Loix, Nicolas Vouilloz and Kris Meeke, all of whom will be competing in similar Peugeot 207 Super 2000s.

November 16:
a test session will be organised in the region visited by the rally to give the nominated driver a chance to familiarise himself with the Peugeot 207, with BFGoodrich's range of tyres and with the staff at Kronos Racing.

November 19-21:
the crew will contest the Royal Automobile Club Motor Sports Association Rally of Scotland.

4 Hours of Live TV Coverage

Posted: August 31, 2009 4:23 PM

A TV spectacular will mark the RACMSA Rally of Scotland, the eleventh and final round of this year's IRC calendar, due to take place on 19-21 November.

Following its ground-breaking coverage of the Monte Carlo Rally and Belgium Ypres Rally, the IRC promoter Eurosport Events, is delighted to announce innovative television production from this prestigious inaugural Rally of Scotland with four hours of live coverage.

Set in the picturesque countryside around Perth and Stirling – the 'Gateway to the Highlands' – the Rally of Scotland is perfectly suited to this innovative approach to broadcasting world-class rally action. Four of the stages will be produced live, giving viewers the opportunity to see more than four hours of action from the all-gravel stages, many of which have been dormant for more than 20 years.

"Producing rallying live is probably one of the most complex TV operations, but this is our ambition to continue giving viewers the opportunity to experience the excitement of the IRC directly as it happens." said Géraldine Filiol, Managing Director of Eurosport Events. "We started the IRC season with our landmark coverage of the Monte Carlo Rally, and again at the mid-season point we brought the full experience of the Belgium Ypres Rally through a similar successful broadcast package. Once again we will build our coverage for Scotland around four live stages over the two days, including the impressive Loch Ard stage, which will mark the climax of the rally on its final night."

This unmatched live action will enable rally fans to see all the action thanks to a unique international media coverage, including live extensive broadcasts on Eurosport's channels (Eurosport, Eurosport 2 and Eurosport Asia-Pacific), complemented by coverage on EurosportNews and Eurosport network of websites.

The RACMSA Rally of Scotland is set to draw all the major players in the series and a host of additional British talent. With the battle for the championship currently on a knife-edge after eight events in the series, Peugeot UK driver Kris Meeke leads Skoda Motorsport’s Jan Kopecky by just three points, with the works Abarth driver Giandomenico Basso and the Peugeot Benelux star Freddy Loix hard on their heels. With the championship set to go down to the wire, a titanic battle can be expected in Scotland.

"The RACMSA Rally of Scotland is really getting back to the soul of great British events," said Andrew Coe, chief executive of event promoter International Motor Sports. "With some of the most beautiful forests and parks in the country, and some of the most challenging special stages in the world, it will make a spectacular event. For a proud rallying nation such as Scotland, this is the most important event to take place since the late Colin McRae won the world championship and I'm delighted that the IRC organisers are committed to bringing the closest possible experience of being there to millions of fans around the world.”

CLASSIC STAGES INCLUDED ON RALLY OF SCOTLAND ROUTE

Posted: May 17, 2009 2:38 PM

The inaugural RAC MSA Rally of Scotland will include stages not used for more than 20 years when it brings the curtain down on this year's Intercontinental Rally Challenge.  

Due to take place from November 19-21, the event will be made up of a competitive distance of 224.88 kilometres split over 13 special stages, of which some will run at night in the challenging Scottish forests.   

Jimmy McRae, a five-time winner of the British Rally Championship and the father of the late Colin McRae, was full of praise of the route following an inspection.  

"It's great to see these stages used for rallying again," said Scottish legend McRae during the recent official launch of the rally in the grounds of Stirling Castle. "They provide a real spectacle for spectators and they are immensely enjoyable for the drivers."  

The event will start in the Scottish city of Perth on the evening of Thursday November 19, with the event scheduled to finish in Stirling on the afternoon of Saturday November 21. Tickets are already on sale for the event, which has a capacity entry of 85 cars.  

More Details:  

Rally of Scotland

Event Website / Details / Tickets

Posted: January 1, 2009 12:01 AM

Rally of Scotland