“Scotland must do everything it can to haul itself out of the international wilderness and overtake the Welsh-based Rally GB to establish itself as the best location for international rallying and motorsport.”
That was the strong message from triple Formula One world champ, Sir Jackie Stewart, speaking at the launch of the inaugural RallyScotland, the final round of this year’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), in Glasgow.
“For too long Scotland has been in the motorsport shadows of England and Wales. It’s not right. Just look at the number of world champs, grand prix winners and international winners Scotland has produced.
“Guys like Jimmy Clark, Colin McRae, David Coulthard, Allan McNish and Dario Franchitti are five you can list without even thinking. But when’s the last time Scotland hosted a truly international motorsport event. To be honest, I haven’t a clue, but I know it was decades ago.
“Now, through the hard work of EventScotland and VisitScotland, we’re hosting the three-day RallyScotland which will not only be contested by international rally drivers and teams from around the world, but will be televised around the globe. It’s a major boost for Scotland.
“If I’m honest, I believe we in Scotland could — and would — do a better job hosting Britain’s round of the World Rally Championship than Wales does. But we missed the boat there.
“Now though we have the platform to showcase Scotland in all its glory; geographically and business-wise. It’s also an opportunity to show our world renown hospitality.
“The country must take full advantage its position on the motorsport world stage. Not only must the tourism industry ensure it flies the flag for Scotland, but so too must Scottish business as a whole. This is a terrific opportunity fo Scotland, and we mustn’t blow it.”
Details of the three-day RallyScotland — which starts at Scone Palace on Thursday, November 19 — were unveiled at the former home of the Royal Scottish Automobile Club, now a hotel, in Glasgow’s Blythswood Square.
The event covers 200 miles over its three days as the competitors hurtle through some of Scotland’s most famous rally stages around Perth and the Trossachs.
The dramatic opening one-mile spectator-special stage on the Thursday will see the cars — with headlights blazing and representing manufacturers such Abarth, Honda, Mitsubishi, Peugeot and Volkswagen — hurtle past the front of Scone Palace at around 100mph.
The following day will see the cars depart the teams’ overnight halt in Perth’s Tay Street at 8am before heading to one of Scotland’s most famous stages, the 13.3-miler at Craigvinean, followed by the 8.5-miler at Blackcraig.
The crews will then head for Blair Castle for servicing before tackling the 14-miler at Errochty and Drummond Hill’s 11.7 miles. After a further service halt at Blair Castle, the crews will have a second run through Craigvinean before heading to their overnight halt in Stirling.
Saturday, the final and longest day of the three-day season finale will see the crews fire up their cars at 06.10am.
Then they head into the Trossachs for two loops of three of Scotland’s toughest and most demanding stages, the 11.5 miles of Achray, the 5.2-miler at Fairy Knowe and the gruelling 21.7-miler at Loch Ard, just 30 miles from Glasgow.
The day is broken by a service halt in Stirling after the first run through the three stages. After the second blast through Loch Ard, the crews will return to Stirling Castle for the podium celebrations.
It’s an event newly-crowned IRC champ Kris Meeke is eagerly looking forward to.
“I can’t wait to get back into action on the Scottish stages,” Irishman Meeke, a protégé of former world champ Colin McRae and who will again drive his Peugeot S2000, said.
“Scotland is my second home and I have a terrific affinity with both the country and, specifically, the stages round Perth. I won the McRae Stages Rally there years ago, so I’m going back to an area I know.”
And Meeke, who will face stiff competition from Lanark’s former British champ Alister McRae’s Proton S2000, was quick to rule out any thoughts of taking it easy now he has already clinched the title.
“Why would I do that?” he asked. “As soon as any rally driver gets into his car, the only thing on his mind is going as fast as he can. That’s exactly what I’ll be doing. I want to win the first RallyScotland.”
It’s also a target this year’s Hankook Scottish Rally champ, 22-year-old David Bogie from Dumfries, isn’t ruling out. The youngster — like Meeke, a previous winner over the demanding Perth stages — is relishing his opportunity to go head-to-head with some of the world’s fastest rally drivers.
“I’m under no illusions just how tough it’s going to be,” Bogie, who is expected to drive his Mitsubishi Evo IX in the event, admitted. “But I know what I’m capable of and if I get a good, clear run then I know I could be up there pushing at the front.”
The event, which is predicted to generate millions of pounds into the Scottish economy, was also welcomed by Paul Bush, chief operating officer at EventScotland, joint organisers.
“There’s no denying the rally will, without doubt, be one of this year’s sporting event highlights and an unmissable spectacle in Perth & Kinross and Stirling,” he said.
”As the final stage of one of the world’s biggest motorsport championships, it will draw thousands of spectators from home and abroad and it will showcase Scotland’s sensational scenery and capacity for hosting major events.”
JM