Dumfries and Galloway Council officially unveil this year’s Scottish Rally at host town Dumfries.
Representatives from Dumfries and Galloway Council gathered with organisers of this year’s RSAC Scottish Rally this week, to officially launch the event to the people of host town Dumfries. Having supported the event for 20 years, Dumfries and Galloway Council Events Champion Colin Smyth unveiled one of the most popular and largest events in the Scottish motor sport calendar alongside local rising rally driver Niall Cowan Junior.
The 71st running of the RSAC Scottish Rally is honoured to host two of the most hotly contested championships in the UK in 2016, the MSA British Rally Championship and the ARR Craib MSA Scottish Rally Championship. The event will see a bumper entry of over 110 crews from 10 different countries including Australia, Sweden and Italy who will descend on the market town of Dumfries on June 25th to tackle classic Scottish stages in the nearby Eskdalemuir and Ae forests.
Thanks to the support of the people of Dumfries and the local council, the event can provide the South West of Scotland with a fantastic backdrop for this popular motor sport event. “Dumfries and the surrounding forests have all the ingredients to make a superb event for competitors who will travel thousands of miles to compete in the event” says Clerk of the Course Jonathan Lord. “But we simply could not offer these classic stages, hosted by the fabulous Dumfries townsfolk without the help and support of Dumfries and Galloway Council. They have been instrumental in enabling us to put the event together for many years now and we are very grateful for all their help over the years.”
Councillor Colin Smyth attended the event launch on behalf of the Local Authority and was delighted to welcome the rally back to Dumfries. “Within the Council we do our utmost to support the planning and delivery of the Rally, to bring superb live motorsports to our region, and to showcase south west Scotland” he said. “The Scottish Rally is a key part of our sporting heritage and I’m delighted that it is now restored as a Round of the British Rally Championship series. The adrenalin is beginning to kick in as we gear up for another superb weekend of world class action!!”
Representatives of the rally also recently attended the Scottish Rural College Barony Campus Open Day. Organisers were delighted to support the Barony event as the campus will be hosting Rally HQ, pre event scrutiny and documentation in 2016. On Saturday 25th, crews will then leave the Dumfries town centre start to tackle over 60 competitive stage miles in the surrounding forests, returning to the Heathhall service area on the outskirts of the town twice during the day. Those lucky enough to have completed the route will spray the champagne at the Dumfries finish podium celebrations later that evening.
You can find more information on the RSAC Scottish Rally at www.scottishrally.co.uk or keep up to date with event information via social media:
www.facebook.com/scottishrally and www.twitter.com/scottishrally
