Officials and Councillors were delighted to launch the 2014 RSAC Scottish Rally at their annual visit to the Scottish Rural College Barony Campus Open day.
Supported by local driver Chuck Blair from Dumfries and a Junior 1000 competitor, Cameron Russell from Ayr, the organisers also announced details of the 2014 route for the rally.
Jonathan Lord, Clerk of the Course, said: “We are pleased that the rally this year will be a round of the Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship whilst continuing to be a round of both the MSA British and ARR Craib MSA Scottish Rally Championships, as well as other historic and one-make championships.”
He continued: “The route this year includes some familiar favourites as well as some new to ‘The Scottish’. Competitors will be visiting the spectator friendly Heathhall Stage just outside the town centre as well as a new spectator stage near Dalbeattie. We are also pleased to welcome the return of parts of Ae Forest through the Harestanes Windfarm which will form a spectacular backdrop to the stage. Other stages further East will be run through Castle O’er and Twiglees.”
The Organisers were also excited to announce a new partnership with “The Usual Place” Community Café in Dumfries.
Garry Headridge, Deputy Clerk of the Course said: “We were looking to partner with a local community project for the 2014 event and were interested in the work being done by the Usual Place. For this year, a percentage of our programme sales as well as other fundraising activities will be directed towards the project. We hope however, that this will be a longer term partnership and will be looking towards closer involvement with the project in coming years.”
Principal Officer (Events), Ian Barr and Events Champion, Councillor Colin Smyth were on hand to lend support from the event’s long time sponsor, Dumfries and Galloway Council.
Cr Smyth, the Council’s Events Champion said: “The Rally is a superb live sports event that is free to take in and makes a great day out for motorsports fans and families. I’m delighted that the Council’s long-standing partnership with RSAC Motorsport is in great health, and that the Scottish Rally is once again hosted by Dumfries and Galloway, to create both sporting drama and an economic boost for our region.”
The rally Preview Day, where spectator programmes will be on sale, will be on Saturday 21 June 2014, based on the Whitesands in Dumfries, with the event itself starting with an autograph session on Friday 27 June, also on the Whitesands. Up to date news and information on the rally is available to spectators at www.scottishrally.co.uk
