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LinksArgyll Rally - (Sat) 24 Jun 17
Posted: November 21, 2017 7:38 AM - 4660 Hits
Round 5 - 2017 Scottish Rally Championship
- Thorburn takes last-gasp Argyll Rally win
- Results
- SRC returns to classic Argyll stages
- Seeded Entry List
- Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally ready for action
- Entries Received
- Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally is GO!
- Entries Open
- Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally - Launch Event - (Fri) 7 Apr 17
- Accommodation offer for Argyll Rally marshals
- Dunoon Presents the all new Argyll Rally
- Event Website
Thorburn takes last-gasp Argyll Rally win
Posted: November 21, 2017 7:38 AM
Euan Thorburn snatches Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally victory on final stage of the event from Jock Armstrong
Duns rally driver Euan Thorburn took a nail-biting victory at this weekend’s Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally as the event returned to Dunoon for the first time in 14 years on Saturday (24th June).
The current ARR Craib MSA Scottish Rally Championship (SRC) leader took his Ford Fiesta R5 to a final stage win from Jock Armstrong who had led the event for four out of the five stages, losing out by just four seconds in the tricky conditions. Shaun Sinclair endured a tough run in his Subaru Impreza S14 WRC but managed to bring the potent machine home in third spot, not quite managing to take the event win he achieved the last time the event was run.
The Mull Car Club organised event had been resurrected after its last running in 2003, with the support of Dunoon Presents and local businesses.
With a rich heritage that dates back to the 1970`s, the event formed round five of the Scottish Rally Championship and along with the ANWCC Stage Rally Championship, SD34 MSG Stage Rally Championship and www.c2rallyparts.co.uk Ecosse Challenge, brought around 70 crews to the region from across the UK. Thousands of spectators lined the route and were treated to some fantastic action throughout the day.
Reigning SRC champion Jock Armstrong, co-driven by Paula Swinscoe, led the crews away from the town centre start as favourite for the win in Dunoon and proved to be a safe bet by taking first blood on the very tricky Glenbranter opening stage by an impressive 12-second margin over Sinclair. Mike Falkner and Peter Foy took third quickest in their Mitsubishi Evo IX despite an early puncture with Thorburn languishing down in fourth.
The leader board would stay that way after the second test with Armstrong commanding a 15 second lead over Sinclair as the crews entered the first service of the day at Dunoon Stadium.
The route would then make the trip up towards Rest and Be Thankful for two stages and this is where Thorburn would begin his fight back.
Taking fastest times on stages three and four, Thorburn closed the gap to Armstrong to just four seconds going into the final stage and with an unbeatable time through the last, took an incredible Argyll Rally win from the grasp of Armstrong.
“We came here to try and win and we just had to try and pull our finger out and go for it on the last stage, and it worked,” said a pleased Thorburn at the finish. “There was nothing else for it other than to have a good go in that last one; with only four seconds in it, we had to try for the win. It’s great to have a battle with Jock right down to the wire and of course, will really help our Championship for the last two rounds”.
Armstrong took little consolation from his second place, having led the rally for most of the day. His very rough sounding Subaru crossed the finish ramp with a broken exhaust obtained during the stage; a contributor to his time loss.
With Thorburn charging from fourth to first, the top three shuffled around during the day but it would be Sinclair that bagged the final podium spot. Complaining about a lack of grip and confidence in the car during the afternoon loop of stages, Sinclair was pleased to make it back to Dunoon with another decent point haul for his championship aspirations.
Mark McCulloch and Michael Hendry took fourth overall in their Mitsubishi Evo IX. The duo occupied the position that Thorburn vacated on his way up the leaderboard and would hold it strongly until the end. Try as he might, Faulkner could not regain a top three position after a time zapping spin in stage three and rounded off the top five.
With stages not used for almost two decades, the rate of attrition for the event would undoubtedly be high and just 53 of the 70 starters would return to Dunoon to cross the finish ramp.
Chris Woodcock, Clerk of the Course for the event is pleased with how the event has run.
“It was truly amazing to be back in Argyll after 14 years and we would like to thank Dunoon Presents, all the local businesses and townsfolk that welcomed the event with open arms,” he says.
"Like any event of this size, we had lots of issues thrown at us during the day but the team managed to overcome them and we, of course, will learn from them for next year. Congratulations to Euan and Paul on their win, they join iconic names on the trophy”.
More information on the event, including full results, can be found on social media or the website at www.argyllrally.co.uk
SRC returns to classic Argyll stages
Posted: June 20, 2017 5:58 AM
The ARR Craib MSA Scottish Rally Championship (SRC) travels west to Argyll & Bute for round five of the 2017 series, the Dunoon Presents Argyll Stages this weekend.
With a packed entry list full of quality, competitors will tackle the famous stages in the Argyll Forest Park for the first time this millennium with the battle at the front finely poised between the latest two champions: Euan Thorburn and Jock Armstrong.
Thorburn and Paul Beaton head the standings courtesy of four consecutive podium finishes and a first win of their season last month on at the Scottish Rally. The Ford Fiesta R5 pairing struggled to get up to their ultimate pace quickly at the start of the year, but have improved with every passing round and are a serious threat for a second Scottish title.
With two titles already to his name, Jock Armstrong is vying to make it three in 2017 with his Subaru Impreza. Co-driven by Paula Swinscoe, Armstrong took second behind Thorburn in Lockerbie, but will be hoping to use the blank canvas that Argyll presents to his advantage and claim a second win of the season.
That won’t be easy though, as Shaun Sinclair and Jamie Edwards are back on form in their awesome Subaru Impreza S14 WRC and keen to reach the top step of the rostrum after two top three finishes from four starts. Sinclair, from Oban, grabbed third last time out after a trouble free but “over-cautious” run so will be eager to go for it on an event he won the last time it was run.
“This is as close as I’m going to get to a home event so I’m looking forward to it,” said Sinclair. “The event returning to the SRC is great for Dunoon and for Fred [McLean] and the whole of the Mull Car Club who have organised it.”
Fourth was a tad disappointing for Mike Faulkner and Peter Foy who showed they had the pace to fight at the very front in their upgraded Lancer Evo IX. An early overshoot put paid to their podium challenge, but having visited the podium in Jedburgh and Elgin, Faulkner will be keen to return to the champagne spraying positions in Dunoon.
Mark McCulloch and Michael Hendry are due a spot of luck this year, with the Evo IX’s day out on round four being blighted by punctures. The same can be said of Greg McKnight and Laura Marshall who again showed great pace on the Scottish but suffered a puncture which wrecked their Evo’s wiring loom. Scott McCombie and Mark Fisher are on a high after a strong showing on the Scottish while Steven Clark and Paul Brown return to action for the first time since the Border Counties.
The battle for the SRC Challengers is poised to be as relentless as ever, with all three 2017 category winners Iain Wilson (Subaru Impreza), John Wink (Mitsubishi Evo IX) and Michael Binnie (Mitsubishi Evo V) gunning for success on round five. The consistent Simon Hay and Calum Jaffray also can’t be discounted in their Mitsubishi Evo VI.
Dougal Brown and Lewis Rochford have been the class act of the Scottish 2WD field this year in their Ford Escort Mk2, and will be looking to build on that strong run of form in Argyll. Mike Stuart and Sinclair Young are sure to be in the reckoning, while a whole host of front wheel drive runners will also be in contention, not least Angus Lawrie and Keith Riddick whose squabble for class three was decided by a missing rear wheel on Lawrie’s Corsa last month.
John McIlwraith blitzed the opposition on his home event in the www.usedcarparts.co.uk Subaru Cup, but will face the usual challenge from Colin Baxter and Matthew Thomson. Andy Struthers and Max Redpath are expected to fight for Juniors’ honours.
Chris Woodcock, Clerk of the Course for the Argyll Stages, is proud of what his organising team have been able to achieve.
“Mull Car Club are proud to be working with Dunoon Presents to bring a rally back to the Argyll Forests after over a decades break,” he enthused. “It’s pleasing to see that all of the top five crews in the Scottish Rally Championship including Euan Thorburn and Jock Armstrong have entered but also great to see some names from the past like Ken Wood competing on the return to some classic Scottish stages.”
Dave Weston, Vice-Chairman of the Scottish Rally Championship, added: “The championship have worked hard with Chris and his team to make this event happen. It is great for the championship to be back in Argyll and for me personally when I was competing, Argyll was the one event we all looked forward to every year. With challenging and fast stages, amazing views and a great social atmosphere, it’s just a lovely place to visit annually in the rally cavalcade.”
With three rounds to go including the Argyll Stages, the battle for the SRC John Horton Star Driver Award is intensifying, with drivers using the stages around Dunoon to impress the judges and join Thomas Gray, Greg McKnight, Michael Binnie and Mike Stuart in an end of year shoot-out.
“The SRC John Horton Star Driver Award is hotting up with three rounds left, with the wild card entry starting to be discussed,” Weston explained. “Each round winner has earnt the right to be there by shining through on each event. We are anticipating a good battle this weekend in Dunoon and a fiercely contested shoot-out in October.”
The event is based at Dunoon Stadium, with the ceremonial finish, the service area and official documentation all being staged here. The first car leaves Argyll Street in Dunoon early on Saturday 24th June to take in over 40 miles of beautiful forest roads. There is a genuine air of excitement around the rally which sees the current crop of stars head to forests that previous greats have taken on and mastered.
The 2017 ARR Craib MSA Scottish Rally Championship is partnered by Pirelli Motorsport, Coltel Communications and Reis Motorsport Insurance.
The championship consists of seven forest events across the whole of Scotland, taking in over 300 competitive stage miles.
Keep up to date with all the latest news via the website, Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #SRC17
Seeded Entry List
Posted: June 20, 2017 4:20 AM
1 Jock Armstrong/Paula Swinscoe (Subaru Impreza WRX) [11]
2 Euan Thorburn/Paul Beaton (Ford Fiesta R5) [12]
3 Mike Faulkner/Peter Foy (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX) [11]
4 Shaun Sinclair/Jamie Edwards (Subaru Impreza WRC S14) [12]
5 Mark McCulloch/Michael Hendry (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX) [11]
6 Steven Clark/Paul Brown (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5) [11]
7 Freddie Milne/Abi Louden (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [11]
8 Scott McCombie/Mark Fisher (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [11]
9 Iain Wilson/Will Rogers (Subaru Impreza) [10]
10 Simon Hay/Calum Jaffray (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) [10]
11 John Wink/John Forrest (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [10]
12 Michael Binnie/Claire Mole (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5) [10]
14 Fraser Wilson/Craig Wallace (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [9]
15 Fraser MacNicol/Keith Boa (Ford Escort Mk2) [4]
16 John Rintoul/David O'Brien (TBC ) [11]
17 Dougal Brown/Lewis Rochford (Ford Escort) [7]
18 John McClory/David Hood (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [9]
19 Brian Watson/Caroline Will (Mitsubishi Evo) [11]
20 Mike Stuart/Sinclair Young (Ford Escort Mk2) [7]
21 Duncan MacDonald/Neil Ross (Ford Escort Mk2) [7]
22 Grant Inglis/Robert Gray (Ford Escort Mk2) [5]
23 Stephen Freddy Lockhart/Cameron Fair (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7) [10]
24 Angus Lawrie/Paul Gribben (Vauxhall Corsa) [3]
25 Ken Wood/Gordon Wood (Triumph Dolomie Sprint) [8]
26 Keith Riddick/Mairi Riddick (MG ZR) [3]
27 Steven Smith/Daniel Johnstone (Ford Escort) [3]
28 Matthew Thomson/Ian Graham (Subaru Impreza GC8) [10]
29 John McIlwraith/Heather Grisedale (Subaru Impreza GC8) [10]
30 Thomas Gray/Nikki Addison (Ford Fiesta R2) [3]
31 Paul McErlean/Niall Mckenna (Ford Escort MK2) [7]
32 Geoff Goudie/Murray Strachan (Subaru Impreza) [10]
33 Jim Robertson/Mike Curry (Citroen C2 R2) [3]
34 Calum Macleod/Laura Brannan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) [10]
35 Tom Coughtrie/Jim Carty (Ford Escort RS 1800) [5]
36 Alex Pirie/Frazer Skene (Citoren C2) [3]
37 Eddie O'Donnell/Matt Ratcliffe (BMW Compact) [7]
38 Alister MacArthur/Chris Robertson (Talbot Sunbeam) [7]
39 Neil Coalter/Hannah Cessford (Suzuki Ignis) [1]
40 Colin Baxter/John Campbell (Subaru Impreza GC8) [10]
41 Ross Hughes/Neil Ewing (Citroen C2 VTS) [3]
42 Andy Chalmers/Martin Maccabe (Peugeot 205 GTI) [2]
43 Luke McLaren/Phil Kenny (Ford Fiesta ST) [6]
44 Robbie Beattie/Dave Findlay (Peugeot 205 GTI) [2]
45 Graeme Sherry/Richard Wardle (Citroen C2) [3]
46 Michael Robertson/Gary McDonald (Subaru Impreza) [10]
47 John Okane/Meghan Okane (Ford Escort Mk2) [4]
48 Gina Walker/Richard Simmonds (Citreon C2) [3]
49 Grant MacRae/Martin Bruce (Ford Fiesta) [6]
50 Donald Peacock/Scott Peacock (Peugeot 205 GTI) [2]
51 Gerry Killmurray/TBA (TBC ) [6]
52 Michael Renton/Kenny Foggo (Peugeot 306 GTI) [6]
53 Andy Struthers/Alastair McIlroy (Citroen C2 VTS) [3]
54 Martin Crombie/Daniel Christie (Peugeot 306) [6]
55 Ian Milne/Sandy Milne (Ford Escort Mk2) [5]
56 Mark Shaw/William Munro (Subaru Impreza WRX) [10]
57 Max Redpath/Max Redpath (Peugeot 205) [2]
58 Lorn Macfadyen/Neil Galbraith (Ford Escort Mk2) [8]
59 Tom Howie/Charles Mackenzie (Talbot Sunbeam) [3]
60 Ali Galbraith/Del Galbraith (Ford Escort Mk2) [7]
61 Steven Crockett/Martin Henderson (Peugeot 205) [1]
62 Donald MacNeill/Cara MacNeill (Talbot Sunbeam) [2]
63 Douglas Watt/Donald Munro (Ford Escort Mk2) [4]
64 John Brownie/Gordon Ritchie (Opel Kadett C) [7]
65 Elvin Thomas Smith/Shannon Turnbull (Citroen C2) []
66 Iain (buffy) Donaldson/Angus MacNeil (Ford Escort Mk2) [7]
67 James Campbell/Shona Hale (Talbot Sunbeam) [2]
68 Duncan Maclean/Ian Parker (Peugeot 106) [3]
69 Ronnie Horne/Susan Macrae (Subaru Impreza) [10]
70 Paul Collins/Ian MacDougall (Subaru Impreza) [10]
71 John Rowan/Bridget Rowan (Talbot Sunbeam) [1]
Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally ready for action
Posted: June 19, 2017 7:01 AM
For the first time in 14 years, the forests around Dunoon will echo to the sound of rally cars this weekend as the ARR Craib MSA Scottish Rally Championship heads to the Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally (24th June).
Having previously run in 2013, the Argyll rally has been reborn and is made possible thanks to the support of Dunoon Presents which aims to support local business by bringing the event to the town. The rally is organised by Mull Car Club and forms round five of the Scottish Rally Championship, bringing around 70 crews to the region during the weekend for the event.
Dunoon Stadium will house the rally for Friday and Saturday with Rally HQ, documentation and scrutineering all taking place at the facility. It will also play host to the rally service area on Saturday where crews will get the opportunity to work on their cars twice during the day’s six stages.
The rally kicks off in Argyll Street, Dunoon for the ceremonial start on Saturday morning before heading away to tackle some 42 competitive stage miles in the forests around the town.
Leading the field away from Argyll Street, Dunoon on Saturday morning will be two-time Scottish Rally Champion Jock Armstrong in his crowd-pleasing Subaru Impreza. The Dumfries and Galloway man will be co-driven by Paula Swinscoe and will undoubtedly be looking to close the gap in the series to current championship leader Euan Thorburn.
Thorburn and co-driver Paul Beaton start number two seed in their Ford Fiesta R5, fresh from a win at the last round of the series in Dumfries but have their eyes firmly fixed on a victory here in Argyll.
Third on the road, Mike Faulkner and Peter Foy head the Mitsubishi contingent in their Evo IX at car four, narrowly missing out on a podium at the Scottish Rally last month they will aim to go several better here.
In fourth, Shaun Sinclair and Jamie Edwards bring their fantastic Subaru Impreza WRC to the event after a podium spot last time out. An SRC win has eluded Sinclair so far this season, but with no real previous experience for any of the front running crews of the Argyll forests, this could be his first. Sinclair has the honour of winning the event the last time it was run in 2003.
Mark McCulloch/Michael Hendry, Steven Clark/Paul Brown, Freddie Milne/Abi Louden and Scott McCombie/ Mark Fisher all start the event in various guises of the popular Mitsubishi filling the position to eighth.
Iain Wilson and Will Rogers break the mould with their Subaru Impreza at nine, with Simon Hay and Calum Jeffray rounding off the top ten in…you guessed it, a Mitsubishi Evo VI. They will be followed by around 60 competitors from across the UK who will make the trip to the event to contest classic stages in Argyll.
Chris Woodcock, Clerk of the Course for the event is excited to be bringing the sport back to the region once again.
“There is so much rallying history here in Dunoon it really is a true honour to be bringing rallying back to Argyll after so many years away,” he says.
“It’s certainly not been an easy task but thanks to the immense support of Dunoon Presents and of course the local townsfolk we have been able to get the event off the ground once again. Spectators will be in for a treat too as the Scottish Championship is considered one of the best in the UK so the action will be fantastic on the stages. We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable day’s motorsport”.
Spectators will be able to catch the action both on and off the stages during the event. After crews leave the town centre start at 9.00am, there will an opportunity to catch the action at five special stages. The service area at Dunoon Stadium is also an opportunity to get up close to the drivers and teams with visits at 11.10am and 3.00pm for service.
Lucky crews will return to spray the champagne at the ceremonial finish the Stadium at around 4.00pm.
Argyll Rally souvenir programme contains spectator information and timings and is available from the following outlets in Dunoon.
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• Cowal Car Components
• Holy Loch Coffee Shop
• Mactavish’s Garage Arrochar
• Benmore Cafe
• Perk Up, Ferry Brae
• Dunoon Stadium (24th June only)
• Strachur Filling Station
Note: Start order correct at time of going to press - subject to change.
Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally is GO!
Posted: May 13, 2017 4:16 PM
New rally opens its doors for entries as much-anticipated event is launched
Regulations for the Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally have now been released and entries are officially open for the exciting new 24th June event.
Backed by Dunoon Presents and the local community, the event will bring rallying back to the region after a break of over ten years and is organised by Mull Car Club.
The all-gravel rally will form round five of the ARR Craib MSA Scottish Rally Championship which will bring some of the best drivers in Scotland and further afield to the region to tackle stages in the forests surrounding Dunoon.
The event is also a qualifying round of the ANWCC Stage Rally Championship, SD34 MSG Stage Rally Championship and the www.c2rallyparts.co.uk Ecosse Challenge.
A total of eight stages offering 45 miles of competitive driving are on offer for crews, all easily accessible from Dunoon Stadium which will play host to Rally HQ and the event service area. The close proximity of the event base to the stages will ensure low road mileage for competitors, making the event as cost effective as possible.
The event kicks off on Friday 23rd June with pre-event scrutiny and documentation taking place at Dunoon Stadium from 2:00pm. To bring rallying into the heart of the community, the event will commence with a spectacular ceremonial start in Dunoon town centre at around 8.45am on Saturday 24th June.
After an action packed day in the forests, crews will return to spray the champagne at round 5.00pm later that day with the awards ceremony taking place in the Stadium from around 9.00pm.
First known as the Burmah Rally, the event originated from the early 1970’s where the British Rally Championship assembled in the region and saw classic battles in the local forests with names such as Roger Clark and Jimmy McRae.
Last run in 2003 by Lankarkshire Car Club, the event fell victim to the austerity measures of the era and ended an almost 40 year history. Thanks to the support of the locals and businesses in Dunoon, the Argyll Rally returns once again in 2017.
Chris Woodcock, Clerk of the Course and his team have been working hard over the past few months to prepare an event worthy of continuing its prestigious heritage and they believe they have the formula just right.
“It’s been a lot of hard work but it’s a real honour to be able to come back to the region and put on an event in the Scottish Rally Championship” says Woodcock.
“The people of Dunoon are so excited by the prospect of the event returning to the local woodlands and we are of course indebted to the support from Dunoon Presents and the local businesses.
We have a great route planned and everything is really starting to come together. I would urge competitors to enter the rally as early as possible; interest in the event has been exceptionally high.”
Online entry is now available alongside event regulations on the website, link below.
Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally - Launch Event - (Fri) 7 Apr 17
Posted: April 6, 2017 10:27 AM
'DUNOON HOSTS SENSATIONAL RETURN TO TOP CLASS RALLYING IN ARGYLL'
The ARR Craib MSA Scottish Rally Championship makes an overdue return to Argyll this summer when the area hosts this year's fifth round in the forests between the Rest and Be Thankful, Glenbranter and south to Toward.
It is more than a decade since the area has hosted the event and the Argyll forests have a rich heritage of forest stages gravel rallies. The local businesses funded 'Dunoon Presents' project have teamed up with Mull Car Club to bring the event back and already expectation is building in the motorsport community
On the beautifully restored Victorian Dunoon Pier this coming Friday morning, we are hosting a rally photocall with the driver and proud owner of a limited edition Colin McRae Subaru Impreza : Campbell Lauffer is huge motorsport fan and putting his local support behind the rally – an iconic rally car in an iconic riverside location.
Representatives from both Mull Car Club and rally sponsors 'Dunoon Presents' will be on hand to chat through plans for this exciting June rally and how this will impact positively on the local area as the town fast emerges as a sporting hub.
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When – Friday 7th April at 11.30am
Where – Dunoon Pier building
If travelling on foot, board the Argyll Ferries passenger only service departing Gourock Pier at 20 and 50 mins past the hour (a sailing of 22 mins), pay on board. This service arrives right next to Dunoon Pier.
If driving, take the stunning route via the Rest and Be Thankful and then alongside the coastal road by Loch Fyne, Loch Eck and in to Dunoon.
We look forward to welcoming you and journalists attending will be treated to some good old fashioned Scottish hospitality and rally goodies after your trip 'Doon the Watter' !!
Accommodation offer for Argyll Rally marshals
Posted: March 27, 2017 9:14 AM
Volunteer marshals who attend the Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally will be entitled to a generous discount on accommodation for the event thanks to the support of Argyll Holidays Hunters Quay Holiday Village.
The Mull Car Club organised event will take place on 24th June 2017 in Dunoon and event organisers are seeking a small army of dedicated volunteer marshals to assist with the safe running of the event which is anticipated to bring competitors from across the UK to the region.
As accommodation in the area is at a premium in holiday season, the Hunters Quay Holiday Village have offered a great saving for marshals, meaning they can get a four berth mobile home for less than ?250 for a three night stay.
The all-gravel rally will form round five of the ARR Craib MSA Scottish Rally Championship and marks the first time stage rallying has taken place in the forests for over ten years. The event is hosted by Dunoon Stadium which will house Rally HQ, documentation, scrutineering and the rally service area.
Chief Marshal John Clayton believes this offer is too good to miss.
"Of course the rally takes place in a busy period for the area so we suspect accommodation will be filling up fast locally" he says. "This is a great way for our marshals to enjoy a luxurious break whilst helping the event run as safely as possible" he says.
"It's perfectly placed and only five minutes from Rally HQ and just 10 miles from the stages. The event extends its thanks to Argyll Holidays for their generous support of the rally".
To book, potential marshals simply have to email lesleyanne.smith@argyllholidays.com or call Hunters Quay on 0345 4599772 / +44 345 4599772 by 30th March 2017.
Due to the time of year, there is a minimum 3 night stay from Friday 23rd June.
More information on the Argyll Rally will be available over the coming weeks.
Dunoon Presents the all new Argyll Rally
Posted: March 10, 2017 8:45 AM
Stage rallying returns to Argyll for the first time in 10 years with new-look event
Mull Car Club is proud to announce outline details of the Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally which will take place on 24th June 2017 in Dunoon and the nearby forests.
The rally has been made possible with support from Dunoon Presents and aims to support local business by bringing the event to the town.
The all-gravel rally will form round five of the ARR Craib MSA Scottish Rally Championship and marks the first time stage rallying has taken place in the forests for over ten years.
The event is hosted by Dunoon Stadium which will house Rally HQ, documentation and scrutineering. The facility will also play host to the rally service area ensuring a compact and atmospheric weekend for crews and spectators alike.
Both competitors and rally fans will be in for a treat as some of the UK's best rally drivers contest over 40 miles of classic forests in the region and all just a walking distance from the rally base at the Stadium. The rally will commence with a spectacular ceremonial start in Dunoon town centre.
First known as the Burmah Rally, the event originated from the early 1970's where the British Rally Championship assembled in the region and saw classic battles in the local forests with names such as Roger Clark and Jimmy McRae.
Last run in 2003 by Lankarkshire Car Club, the event fell victim to the austerity measures of the era and without inclusion in the Scottish Rally Championship in 2004, ended an almost 40 year history.
In more recent times, Mull Car Club attempted to rejuvenate the concept around six years ago. But as the SRC continues to grow from strength to strength, the opportunity for a new round of the series was created. Thanks to the support of the locals and businesses in Dunoon, the Argyll Rally will be reborn in 2017.
Chris Woodcock, Clerk of the Course for the event believes it's the perfect time to resurrect the rally.
"The heritage of this event takes some beating and anyone around at that time of the original events always has very fond memories of coming to Dunoon" he says.
"Scottish Rallying is at its prime right now and has a huge following both on and off events and we are truly excited to bring the sport back to the region. We extend our thanks to the SRC for inclusion in their championship which will ensure an exciting days action in the Argyll forests.
We are also indebted to Dunoon Presents (the businesses) and the locals for all their support and allowing the event to grace the region once again."
More information on the Argyll Rally will be available over the coming weeks.
You can keep up to date on the event via their social media feeds on Facebook, Twitter or the website - Link below
Upcoming