Scotland will this week host a major international rally championship for the first time in more than 20 years as the Intercontinental Rally Challenge stages its season finale, the inaugural RallyScotland, over 500 miles of Scotland’s roads and forest stages.
Based primarily in Stirling, the three-day event — which comprises 13 of the country’s most demanding and exhilarating stages, including the blisteringly quick 12-miler at Drummond Hill near Perth, and 22-miles of Loch Ard in the Trossachs — gets underway on Thursday with a spectacular sprint through the grounds of Scone Palace.
Frustratingly for the organisers, Irishman Kris Meeke clinched the title in the previous round at SanRemo, but the Peugeot driver is adamant having the championship already tucked into his overalls won’t diminish his desire to win.
“Far from it,” the 31-year-old from Dungannon, who was mentored through his early career by former world rally champ Colin McRae, stated. “I’ve won four times already this season and it would be a fantastic way to finish the year by winning in Scotland.”
But Meeke, who will controversially be partnered by 22-year-old Bristolian Adam Gould in the Kronos team’s second Peugeot S2000 after a posse of English journalists opted to give him the drive instead of Dumfries’s David Bogie, knows Scotland will be tough.”I don’t think there are any stages in RallyScotland which we’ve done before,” he continued, “so it’s going to be a difficult for everyone. That’s why we have to make sure we complete meticulous pace note when we do the recce.”
Meeke’s main competition in the TW Steel-backed RallyScotland — which has a field of more than 70 crews — is expected to come from the Skoda of double British champ Guy Wilks from Darlington, as well as newly-crowned 2009 BRC champ Keith Cronin. The Irish youngster will pilot an Abarth Punto for the first time.
But while the majority of the thousands of spectators who will hike their way into the tree-lined stages to watch many of the world’s fastest drivers will cheer on Meeke, it’s Alister McRae who will get the biggest home support.
The former British champ and Lanark ace, now resident in Australia, is making an emotional return to compete in a major event in Scotland for the first time since his brother’s death in 2007. But was a mad dash for the 38-year-old.
“I’m competed in RallyChina at the weekend in the final round of the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship, so it was a bit of a sprint to catch the plane to Scotland,” McRae, who will drive a Proton Satria Super 2000, explained.
“It’s great to be back in scotland competing on home soil and I know the guys have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure we have a quick and reliable car for the weekend. A win would be great, but a podium’s more realistic.”
Behind Meeke, McRae, Wilks, Cronin and Gould, 2009 Hankook Scottish Rally champ Bogie is determined to upset the seedings in his lesser-powered Mitsubishi Evo IX.
“Of course I’m disappointed not to be driving a more powerful and lighter S2000 car,” the 22-year-old said, “but hopefully my knowledge of some of the stages will help ensure I can maybe be on the podium when we finish back in Stirling on Saturday.”
JM