Balmoral welcomes Malts classic 04 | 05 | 2012

BALMORAL CASTLE OPENED its gates to drivers from all over the world when 40 classic cars, taking part in this year’s Scottish Malts rally, were allowed into the Queen's Scottish residence

“Not only was it a great privilege to be allowed to take the cars to such an outstanding venue but the weather was stunning,” Patrick Burke, joint Managing Director of HERO, the Historic Endurance Rallying Organisation, admitted.

The cars had made their way from Turnberry, stopping overnight in Kinloch Rannoch before heading up into the Highlands for two nights in Inverness, visiting some of the most famous whisky distilleries.

Day four saw the cars heading down the shores of Loch Ness to Fort William and then via Glencoe to Inveraray.

The teams were flagged off from Turnberry by Jaguar legend Norman Dewis, who had driven on the Grand Prix circuit in Turnberry 60 years before.

Scottish Malts Rally gets underway

Among the cars taking part is the very first right hand drive production Jaguar E-Type Fixed Head Coupe, supplied by Jaguar Cars in August 1961, a 1930 Riley Brooklands 9HP and two Jaguar SS100

There's also a photography competition so the Scottish public can take pictures of the cars and email them to the organisers. There are two classes, children and young people up to the age of 18, and adults.”

The winners will receive specially engraved cups and other goodies just as the drivers of the event do.

You can also keep up-to-date with the rally by visiting the Hero website (www.heroevents.eu) where updates will be given every day and where a full list of the cars can be seen and downloaded.

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Jim McGill

Caption: Scottish Malts Rally: Heading through the Grampians, Julian Pitts and his co driver Graham Briggs in their 1965 Ford Lotus Cortina (Picture: Rastrelli)