Strong entry list for RallyScotlandposted in RSCOT20 | 09 | 2011
RALLYSCOTLAND, WHICH ROARS into action in the forest stages around Perth and Stirling next month, will have its strongest entry in its three-year history.
The penultimate round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge — which starts at Stirling Castle on Friday, October 7, and is broadcast live to more than 70 countries around the world by Eurosport — will feature around 20 Super 2000 cars.
And Inverness-based Iain Campbell, Clerk of the Course for the hugely successful event, today admitted he is delighted with the response to this year's route which has been slightly altered from 2010.
"The feedback we've received about the changes to the out have been very well received by all the drivers and teams," Campbell said today.
"After the huge praise the stages have received in the past two years, it's crucial the changes we've introduced work; and everything is pointing to the fact they will further enhance the three-day event."
After the ceremonial start at Stirling Castle, the cars tackle two runs through the all new Carron Valley stage — in the dark — on Friday evening.
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While most Scots eyes will be on Lanark's Aliser McRae and Dumfries driver David Bogie — the 23-year-old is poised to clinch the British Rally Championship this weekend in Yorkshire — there is significant international strength throughout the entry list.
Defending champion and last year's RallyScotland winner, Juho Hanninen, will again lead Skoda's challenge in his Fabia S2000. The Finn will be joined by his Skoda team-mate Jan Kopecky, as well as Skoda UK Motorsport ace Andreas Mikkelsen.
Darlington's Guy Wilks, who won the inaugural RallyScotland in 2009, will lead Peugeot's challenge in his 207 S2000. He will be joined by Bryan Bouffier and Thierry Neuville.
In addition to McRae and Bogie, plus the usual IRC regular runners, there's a crop of top British and Irish talent on the entry list.
Alastair Fisher and Craig Breen will pilot Ford Fiesta S2000s, while Robert Barrable and Jonny Greer will tackle the tough, high-speed Scottish stages in their Fabias.
Further entries are also expected from Turkish female ace, Burcu Cetinkaya in a Fabia S2000, plus and former Pirelli Star Driver Jarkko Nikara. The Finn is understood to be bringing the Lancer Evo IX he used to win the last round of the Finnish series near Helsinki last weekend.
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"As you would expect, I can't comment on the specifics of the entry list at the moment," Campbell said, "but there's not doubt this is looking like a fabulous entry.
"The top-seeded competition is going to be superb, and as a spectator I would be over the moon to watch these guys battling it out on some of the best forest stages in the world; which just happen to be in Scotland.
"Rally fans in Scotland are in for a real treat on next month's event. And with the championship still open, it's going to be everything to play for on our roads."
RallyScotland — which finishes with two spectator stages at Scone Palace on Sunday, October 9 — will operate from a central service park in Perth.
The drivers will tackle many of Scotland's most famous stages, including, on Saturday, Craigvinean, Drummond Hill and Errocht, followed by Loch Chon and High Corrie; the latter is essentially a tweaked version of the Loch Ard stage used two years ago.
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Jim McGill