After 2 rounds on the tarmac the Asset Alliance Group Scottish Rally Championship returns to the woods for round 4 of the 2024 season, the RSAC Scottish Rally. Around 80 crews will line up to tackle the 6 stages that make up the Dalbeattie based event.
Winner of the dramatic 2023 edition, Jock Armstrong returns to his home territory with a different car and a different navigator. Owen Paterson returns in the navigator’s seat and it will be the Scottish gravel debut for Jock in a Skodaru. The car proved to be competitive on it’s 1st SRC outing on the Jim Clark, now it’s time to see how it goes on the gravel.
The rest of the top 5 is made up of the latest round of formula Volkswagen. 4 Polo R5s, all with rapid pilots lining up to chase Jock & Owen.
Speyside winners David Bogie & John Rowan are seeded number 2, David holds the all time record for Scottish Rally wins with 7 victories on his home event. David & John are always guaranteed to be in the mix at the top.
Also always in the mix, championship leader Euan Thorburn comes fresh from 2 wins on the 2 tarmac rounds. He is rejoined for this round by Keir Beaton, the Inverness man guided Euan round to 3rd at the Speyside.
Finlay Retson & Paul Beaton were 2nd at the Speyside on their Polo debut. Paul has since guided Euan Thorburn around to 2 wins on the tar. Finlay managed a solid 4th at the Jim Clark but missed the last round in Argyll. Finlay & Paul will be looking to make amends on this event after they retired late on while battling for the win 2023.
Rounding out the Polo runners, Rory Young & Allan Cathers make their Scottish gravel start in a while although they have seen gravel action on the Severn Valley earlier this year. They come fresh from a 2nd place at Argyll last time out.
John Wink & Neil Shanks buck the VW trend, out as ever in their faithful Hyundai i20. John very excited to be back on the gravel after 2 tricky runs on the tarmac. They line up in front of Mark McCulloch & Michael Hendry’s Proton Satria. Mark & Michael have already tasted champagne this year with 3rd on the Jim Clark.
Hugh Brunton has endured a difficult start to his Scottish campaign, finishing once out of 3 starts. The Skoda Fabia pilot joined on this event for the 1st time by John Easson Award Winner Emily Easton-Page and will be looking to build on his 4th place finish from Argyll.
Then comes the army of Ford Fiesta’s. Scott Beattie & Peredur Davies, Stephen Petch & Michael Wilkinson, Ian Forgan & Chris Lees, Chris Collie & Ricky Finlayson, Bob Adamson & Liam Whiteley and John Crawford & Josh Davison all campaigning M-Sport products.
Sadly, missing from that list are Michael Binnie & Claire Mole, the former Snowman winners’ Fiesta still poorly after late engine issues in Argyll.
Joining Armstrong & McCulloch in the ranks of non-R5s, Ian Baumgart & Richard Simmonds make their 1st SRC start of the year in the evergreen and ever competitive Impreza. They’ll be chased down by a returning Scott Peacock & Craig Wallace. The reigning Challengers champions missing Argyll because Scott was busy becoming a Dad. The Evo pilot will be looking to do well on his home patch.
Johnnie Mackay & Rachel Matheson top the Albyn Garage Challengers seeding in their Evo. Johnnie still learning the gravel game in his new car. They line up just ahead of Challengers sponsor Simon Hay & Callum Jaffray, looking to do better than they managed at the Jim Clark.
Rob Cotton & Ethan Kidd top the Groundwater Lift Trucks Subaru Cup entries, fresh from 2 wins on the tarmac they are an unknown quantity on the gravel. Graeme Sherry & Ewan Lees and long-time Cup competitors Mike Moates & Gary McDonald line up to take the fight to the young English crew.
Greg McKnight & Harry Marchbank top the G&M Mechanical Services 2wd seeding. After an extraordinary run at Argyll was cut short with engine failure the team have burned the midnight oil to make sure Greg & Harry can take the start of their home event.
Another local man, Robert Proudlock returns to the SRC with Steven Brown in the hotseat of the 208 as always. Robert & Steven on a rebuilding mission after a big off in Donegal, but always go well in these forests.
Then comes the army of Mk2 Escorts. Paddy Munro & Andrew Stevenson will probably be the crew most excited to be back in the woods. The blue MK2 lining up in front of G&M teammate Craig Rutherford, teaming up for this round with Ashleigh Will.
Gordon Murray & Peter Carstairs top the Haddo Energy Super Seniors entry, the MK2 crew on a great run of form, unbeaten in the Seniors in 2024. They’ll have the close attention of David Hardie & John McCulloch on their home event and Argyll 2wd winners Gordon Morrison & Ian Parker.
Backing Proudlock up in the fwd ranks, Niall Cowan Jnr & Charley Sayer-Payne make their 1st SRC start this year in their MG ZR, provided they can sort an engine after a blow up at a recent test.
Also utilising MG power, Lewis Haining is the top Moates Offshore Junior seed, Lewis & co-driver Eoghan Anderson out in an MG3 with an 1800cc engine in it. They’re chased by fellow local pilots Richard Stewart, reunited with Carin Tait-Logan and Scott Gourlay. The rapid 205 pilot joining forces with Connor Gardiner for the 1st time.
Joining Haining in the Moates offshore Juniors is a stacked Junior entry.
Points leader Meghan O’Kane will be hoping for a better gravel experience with her new Fiesta R2 than she experienced at the Speyside. Meghan will also resume her Ladies battle with Aileen Forrest, the Evo pilot navigated for this round by SRC Chairman Tom Hynd.
2nd in the points, Christopher Smith took his 1st Junior win of the year at Argyll. The Corsa pilot joined for this event by former Scottish Tarmack Champion Andrew Blackwood.
Lochlan McIver & Cameron Morrison look to kick start their year after a tough start to the season and MG3 challenge regular Thomas Milne makes his 1st SRC start with regular navigator Neil Jeffrey alongside.
Also a feature of this event is the Scottish gravel debut of the Autoshop MG3 Rally Challenge and the traditional visit to these woods of the Army Land Rovers which are always worth a watch. The 2wd ranks are also boosted by the Motoscope Northern Historic Championship.
All the action takes place on Saturday the 20th of July. Keep an eye out on the Scottish Rally Championship Facebook and Youtube pages for live coverage and updates throughout the day.
