The 2019 RSAC Scottish Rally will return to the British rallying calendar once again in May and will see a host of changes to ensure a fresh new look to the popular motorsport extravaganza in the Southern Scottish forests (18th May).
The event has been based in Dumfries & Galloway for more than 20 years and sponsored by Dumfries & Galloway Council in what is thought to be the longest partnership between a rally and a British local authority.
As one of the longest running motorsport events in the UK, the Scottish Rally enters its 74th year in 2019 and will see the town of Moffat host the ceremonial start as well as the finish celebrations later that day.
Competitors will then be in for a treat as organisers have laid out an all new-route, combining classic stages from the past with a new twist to old favourites to ensure competitors across the country can enjoy an action-packed day of rallying in the region.
Joining the event once again will be some of the best rally drivers in Scotland as contenders from the KNC Groundworks Scottish Rally Championship head to Moffat for round three of the series.
They will also be joined by the Border Challenge Rally Championship, the Northern Historic Rally Championship and the ever-impressive Armed Forces Land Rover Championship. Add to that, local crews and competitors from across the country looking to sample some famous forest stages and the 2019 RSAC Scottish Rally is looking like one of the strongest in many years.
The event will be based as in previous years at Lockerbie Lorry Park which plays host to the pre-event technical checks and documentation ahead of the rally on Friday 17th May. Crews will then head into Moffat early on Saturday morning to be flagged away from the town centre before heading into the forests for over 40 miles of competitive driving in the nearby forests.
Stages in Eskdalemuir will kick off proceedings with tests in the world-famous Castle O’er and Twiglees complex before heading to Lockerbie for the first service of the day. After a year away, organisers have secured the use of stages in Windy Hill and Ae forest which takes place before the second service halt. A final blast in the Eskdalemuir stages rounds off the event before heading back to Moffat to be greeted by the townsfolk and the finish celebrations.
As well as the new-look route, the running order will also see a change from 2018. Thanks to the new Motorsport UK legislation introduced during last season, two-wheel drive crews will run first on the road to ensure they can sample some of the best road conditions during the day. They will be followed immediately by the four-wheel-drive heavy hitters, all vying to secure their name on the trophy alongside previous winners such as Colin McRae, Ari Vatanen, Hannu Mikkola and Stig Blomqvist.
Rally fans will also be well catered for, with spectator viewing locations in Castle O’er and in Ae Forest with the Castle O’er test offering a different perspective to previous years thanks to a reversal of the stage.
What they said…
Councillor Adam Wilson, the Council’s Events Champion
“Picturesque Moffat is the perfect location for the Scottish Rally, as it is so accessible to motorsport fans across the South of Scotland, the North of England and the Central Belt. The competition will be fierce in the forest stages and a lot more than just local pride is at stake. The lightning quick reflexes and skills of the drivers is awe inspiring and the organisers have planned some great areas where spectators can get close, in a safe environment, to all the action.”
Clerk of the Course, Jonathan Lord
“It is always a challenge to get a balance between tried and tested stages but also trying to bring something new to the event. We are pleased that we can get back into Ae forest this year which is a popular stage with both competitors and spectators alike. We believe we have the route and format just right this year and the stages are looking in great condition. We look forward to welcoming competitors from far and wide to Moffat in May.”
Publicity co-ordinator, Craig Webster
“Moffat has been the perfect backdrop to the finish of the rally for the past two years. The local Community Council has gone above and beyond in welcoming the event to the town with their encouragement and support, and we are delighted that 2019 will see the event both starting and finishing in the town centre. This means the event will have a presence in the town throughout the day and we’re looking to have activities and entertainment available for those spectators who don’t want to head out to the stages.”
Regulations are now available to download, and online entries are now open.
More spectator information will be released closer to the event on the official rally website:
www.scottishrally.co.uk
Keep up to date with event information via social media:
www.facebook.com/scottishrally and www.twitter.com/scottishrally
