There is only a week to go until the 70th RSAC Scottish Rally takes place in Dumfries, on the 26th and 27th of June. ‘The Scottish” is a round of the ARR Craib MSA Scottish Rally Championship, the Motoscope Northern Historic Rally Championship, the C2MotorsportParts.com Ecosse Challenge, The Five of Clubs Championship and the Border Challenge Championship.
Following the tragic events at the Jim Clark Memorial Rally 2014 during which three individuals died and several others were injured, a Motorsport Event Safety Review (MESR) was carried out. The remit of the MESR was to “examine safety, specifically spectator safety, at motorsport events in Scotland and make recommendations to improve safety for future events”. Recognising that there is an inherent risk taking part in, or attending, motorsport events, the role of the review is to recommend reasonable and proportionate measures that will keep risks to spectators at an acceptable level in the future.
Rallies must now give extra consideration to where spectators can view stages. This year, for the first time on the Scottish , there will be dedicated spectator zones which allow members of the public safe viewing. These are located on four of the stages- Ae West, Heathhall, Castle O’er and Rivox. Details can be found on our Facebook page (facebook.com/scottishrally) and the rally website (scottishrally.co.uk). These locations have been carefully selected to allow people an exciting spot to glimpse the cars, but where there is reduced risk.
Rivox is a brand new stage for this year. Access to the spectator area is off the B7076, 2.6 miles north of A74(M) Junction 15/A701. This new venue gives extended and close up views of the cars through a fast section towards the end of the stage. Heathhall has proved very popular and it returns this year, with spectators able to see the cars go through a watersplash as they overlook from the banking.
Rallying in this country remains under scrutiny at the moment which is why we, and other rallies, are making every effort to encourage spectators to enjoy the rally from the spectator zones.
Assistant Clerk of the Course, Craig Webster said: “Preparations for the event are well in hand and we are looking forward to an exciting rally. We would especially encourage spectators to use the specially created spectator zones in Ae forest, Heathhall, Castle O’er and at Rivox. These have been chose to provide safe viewing of our most popular stages. We are grateful for the help of the Forestry Commission in creating these areas and details of them can be found on the event website and in the spectator programme.”
There is still time for people who would be interested in taking part in the event as part of the team of marshals. Contact is Laurence Ferguson (Chief Marshal). Further info on website (www.scottishrally.co.uk) or by email to [email protected]
RSAC Scottish Rally
Event timetable
SCRUTINEERING: SRUC Barony Campus, Parkgate, DUMFRIES, DG1 3NE. Friday 26 June 2015, 4:00pm to 9:00pm
CEREMONIAL START: Whitesands, Dumfries, Saturday 27 June 2015, from 8:00am
FINISH AND PRIZE-GIVING: High Street, Dumfries, Saturday 27 June 2015, from 3:45pm
STAGE TIMES: Saturday 27 June 2015
Ae West- 9:00am
Heathhall- 9:50am
Castle O’er- 11:50am
Rivox- 2:30pm
Contact Information
Rally helpdesk: Dumfries Ice Bowl, King Street, Dumfries. The Help Desk will be open for your queries from 12.00 on Friday 26 June.
Rally Information Line: 08432 893953.
Rally Safety Line: 07767 446 149
Programme sales: Rally Helpdesk, Service Park, Startline, various stage locations (check website for details)
