Colin McRae Forest Stages Rally, 06 October …. Preview ….
Although David Bogie (Dumfries) has already clinched a record-breaking, fourth consecutive Scottish Championship title, the race to be runner-up has yet to be decided. Mike Faulkner (from Aspatria in Cumbria) currently holds the position, but Euan Thorburn (Duns) has been closing fast. These two dead-heated in the Championship points totals last year with Thorburn getting the place by the closest of margins. Last year’s McRae Rally also marked his first ever outright rally victory, so he hasn’t given up on the chase as yet, while Faulkner is equally keen to hold him off!
Welshman Julian Reynolds currently leads the 8 round British Historic Rally Championship in his iconic Ford Escort MkII from Castlerock’s Dessie Nutt in a Porsche 911 and Cheltenham’s Nick Elliot in another MkII Escort.
The rally will start from the centre of Aberfeldy at 7.30 am on Saturday morning the 6th of October and after 6 Special Stages totalling some 44 miles in 6 Special Stages, the survivors and the winners will return to the ceremonial finish at Breadalbane Community Campus in Aberfeldy from 2.15 pm.
As ever, the Coltness Car Club organising team have come up with some innovations this year including a novel way to make information available to spectators. The route of this year’s Colin McRae Forest Stages is on Google maps:
http://www.coltnesscarclub.com/mcraerally/mcrae.html
If would-be spectators visit the ‘Spectator’ section on Coltness Car Club’s McRae Rally website, they can click on a direct link to the maps. With more and more spectators using hand-held smartphones and tablets this will provide easy and detailed rally route access information – provided they can get a signal!
( Full Entry List at foot of page below Spect Info. )
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Rally Timetable:
Ceremonial Start in Burnside Lane, Aberfeldy town centre, from 7.40 am
SS1: Craigvinean 1 – 8.00 am
SS2: Griffin – 8.45 am
Service 1: Aberfeldy – 9.00 am
SS3: Errochty – 10.25 am
SS4 & SS5: closed to spectators
Service 2: Blairgowrie – 12.15 pm
SS6: Craigvinean 2 – 1.30 pm
Finish: Breadalbane Community Campus, Aberfeldy, from 2. 15 pm onwards.
SS1 Craigvinean 1 – Car Park 1
Stage start time 8.00 am.
This car park will be run for us by – The Dunkeld and Birnam district leisure Group, who are raising money to help build a swimming pool in the area.
Instructions – Turn off main A9 into car park signposted for Hermitage. Car park in field. Follow arrows and instructions by volunteers. The forest road must be kept clear for rally traffic exiting the stage.
OS Map Ref – 52-012423 GPS – 56.562124,-3.606214
This car park is a short walk from the flying finish of the stage. There is plenty of spectating area at the 90 left corner just before the flying finish. Easy access for spectating. Popular area so can get busy.
SS2 Griffin – Car Park 1
Stage start time 8.45 am.
This car park will be run for us by – The Aberfeldy Show group.
Instructions – Turn off main A827 onto farm road sign for Kennels. Car park in field. Follow arrows and instructions by volunteers.
OS Map Ref – 52-891498 GPS – 56.639451,-3.813336
This car park is a short walk from the end of the stage. There is plenty of spectating area at a fast sweeping bend just before the flying finish. A short walk into the stage gives plenty of other great vantage points. Easy access for spectating.
SS3 Errochty – Car Park 1
Stage start time 10.25 am.
Instructions – Turn off main A9 for Struan. Continue on B847 for 3.2.mile. Car park in field on left hand side. Follow arrows and instructions by volunteers.
OS Map Ref – 42-767638 GPS – 56.749264,-4.016325
This car park is a short walk from the start of the stage. This spectating area is not for the faint hearted. It is a long uphill climb. Plenty of good viewing of the last section of the stage. 1 mile in is a hairpin right with great viewing high on the banking. For those even more adventurous 2 miles in is the best viewing of the whole event. Approx 1 mile of stage can be seen from here with a 90 right corner. Beware though it is a long 2 miles uphill!
Please note although there is a car park at the end
SS3 Errochty – Car Park 2
Stage start time 10.25 am.
This car park will be run for us by – The Pitlochry Rotary Club.
Instructions – Turn off main A9 for Tummel Bridge. Continue on B8019 for 9.2.mile. Turn off onto forest road. Signed ‘Greenwich’. Follow arrows and instructions by volunteers. Road must be kept clear for access of emergency services and access to private property.
No parking on private property or access. PR sensitive area.
OS Map Ref – 43-805599 GPS – 56.715403,-3.951289
This car park gives access to the midpoint of the stage. Plenty of good viewing area at a 90 right. A short walk into the stage open up to other good viewing points. Parking is on forest road so the earlier you are there the less you will need to walk. Easy access although uphill if parking further down road.
Please note although there is a car park at the end of this stage it is not advisable to go there. Access to the stop line is via a 30 min walk.
SS6 Craigvinean 2 – Car Park 1
Stage start time 1.30 pm.
This car park will be run for us by – The Dunkeld and Birnam district leisure Group, who are raising money to help build a swimming pool in the area.
Instructions – Turn off main A9 into car park signposted for Hermitage. Car park in field. Follow arrows and instructions by volunteers. The forest road must be kept clear for rescue services exiting stage.
OS Map Ref – 52-012423 GPS – 56.562124,-3.606214
This car park is a short walk from plenty of great spectating areas. The main area is at the 90 right corner where the access road meets the stage. More great viewing areas including fast sweeping bends and hairpins a further walk into the stage. Easy access for spectating. Popular area so can get busy.
SS6 Craigvinean 2 – Car Park 2
Stage start time 1.30 pm.
This car park will be run for us by – The Cadets.
Instructions – Turn off main A9 onto B898. Follow road for 1.6miles. Turn of road into forest signposted ‘Dalmarnock’. Car park is in quarry. Follow arrows and instructions by volunteers.
This is the stage exit. No access to this car park when stage is live. If exiting car park while stage is live caution must be taken and priority given to all rally vehicles. The forest road must be kept clear at all times.
DO NOT USE THIS CAR PARK FOR STAGE 1 – DOING SO COULD RESULT IN STAGE 6 BEING CANCELLED!
OS Map Ref – 52-757471 GPS – 56.593889,-3.637079
This car park gives access to a hairpin just before the stage flying finish. Further good spectating further into stage. Very steep climb through trees from car park to stage – no pathway/uneven ground – route will be indicated by arrows.
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Full Entry List :
(showing driver and co-driver home towns)
H1 A Rikki Proffitt/Phill Harrison (Rhuddlan/St Asaph) Porsche 911, B5
H2 A Dessie Nutt/Geraldine McBride (Castlerock/Bangor) Porsche 911, B5
H3 A Derek Boyd/Alan Cathers (Isle Of Man/Carlisle) Porsche 911, B5
H4 A Callum Barney/Ron Channon (Shipston On Stour/Credition) Ford Cortina GT, B3
H5 A Nick Elliott/Dave Price (Cheltenham/Cheltenham) Ford Escort MkII, D5
H6 A Julian Reynolds/Patrick Walsh (Narberth/Aberystwyth) Ford Escort RS1600, C5
H7 A Martin Mccormack/TBA (Maghera/TBA) Ford Escort II, C5
H8 A David Stokes/Guy Weaver (Dursley/Tipton) Ford Escort RS 1600, C5
H9 A Matthew Robinson/Nigel Hutchinson (Ripon/Helperby) Ford Escort, D5
H10 A Richard Hill/Patrick Cooper (Chesterfield/Chesterfield) Ford Escort RS, C5
H11 A Warren Philliskirk/Matt Whattam (Green Hammerton/Selby Ford) Escort RS 1800, D5
H12 A Dick Slaughter/Tim Sayer (Maidstone/Hastings) Ford Escort RS2000, C3
H14 A Philip Squires/Mick Squires (Stoke-On-Trent/Stoke-On-Trent) Ford Escort RS1800, D5
H15 A Mark Holmes/Tony Lindsay (Preesall/Preesall) Ford Escort, C3
H16 A Wayne Bonser/Richard Aston (Abergavenny/Ebbw Vale) Ford Escort RS2000, C3
H17 A Peter Mcdowell/Peter Weall (Oakham/Lenzie) Porsche 911, C4
H18 A Tim Freeman/Paul Barden (Gloucester/TBA) Ford Escort, D5
2 B Euan Thorburn/Paul Beaton (Duns/Inverness) Ford Focus WRC, 12
3 B Mike Faulkner/Peter Foy (Aspatria/Bingley) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo6, 12
4 B Barry Groundwater/Neil Shanks (Stonehaven/Elgin) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9, 12
5 B Donnie Macdonald/Andrew Falconer (Inverness/Culloden) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9, 10
6 B John Mcclory/David Hood (Strathblane/Elderslie) Subaru Impreza N15, 10
7 B Quintin Milne/Martin Forrest (Banchory/Aberdeen) Mitsubishi Evo 9, 12
8 B Chris Collie/Lisa Watson (Aberdeen/Alford) Mitsubishi Evo, 12
9 B Dougal Brown/Lewis Rochford (Inverness/Inverness) Mitsubishi Evo 4, 10
10 B Mark Mcculloch/Elliott Edmondson (Newton Stewart/Olney) Subaru Impreza, 12
11 B Stephen Baillie/Ian Fraser (Kingston/Aros) Subaru Impreza, 12
12 B Fraser Wilson/Steven Broll (Port William/Newton Stewart) Mitsubishi Evo 6, 10
14 B Martin Craik/Steven Brown (Perth/Inverness) Subaru Impreza, 12
15 B Fraser Louden/Abi Louden (Kintore/Kintore) Mitsubishi Evo 10, 12
16 B Gordon Murray/David O’Brien (Perth/Duns) Subaru Impreza, 12
17 B Brian Ross/Sean Donnelly (Elgin/Elgin) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5, 12
18 B Brian Watson/Caroline Will (Stonehaven/Inverurie) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9, 12
19 B Roland Wessel/Malcolm Vie (London/Montrose) Lancia Delta Integrale, 12
20 B Geoff Goudie/Calum Jaffray (Calliff/Torphins) Subaru Impreza, 12
21 B Gareth Macmillan/David Alexander (Inverness/Inverness) Subaru Impreza, 12
22 B James MacQueen/Susan MacRae (Inverness/Inverness) Subaru Impreza, 12
23 B William Hamilton/TBA (Omagh/TBA) Subaru WRC, 12
26 B David Bogie/Kevin Rae (Dumfries/Hawick) TBA
27 B Keith Robathan/Ian Nicoll (Alford/Forfar) Ford Escort II, 8
28 B Malcolm Buchanan/Jim Howie (Stornoway/Kilmarnock) Ford Escort II, 8
29 B John Boyd/Chris Williamson (West Linton/Glenrothes) Ford Fiesta R2, 4
30 B Graeme Schoneville/Michael Hendry (Carluke/Archiestown) Honda Civic, 4
31 B Craig Rutherford/Ross Hynd (Isle Of Mull/Inverbervie) Honda Civic, 4
32 B Willie Stuart/Neil Ewing (Alford/Largs) Talbot Sunbeam, 3
33 B Alasdair S Graham/Laura A Stuart (Paisley/Alford) Vauxhall Corsa, 4
34 B Andrew Gallacher/Phil Sandham (Kilmarnock/Carnforth) Ford Escort MkII, 9
35 B Blair McCulloch/Alex McCulloch (Ayr/Ayr) Vauxhall Nova, 3
36 B Graeme Smith/Laura Marshall (Crossford/High Blantyre) Honda Civic, 4
37 B Ken Wood/Gordon Wood (Insch/Huntly) Triumph Dolomite Sprint, 9
38 B Lachlan Cowan/Stuart Bell (Dunfermline/Dunfermline) Ford Fiesta ST, 7
39 B Grant Inglis/Robert Gray (Stepps/Stepps) Honda Civic, 4
40 B Ian Cattanach/Jim Haugh (By Beauly/Stranraer) Talbot Sunbeam, 4
41 B Duncan Campbell/Gavin Chisholm (Ballochmyle/Kilmarnock) Honda Civic, 4
42 B Tom Hynd/Sue Hynd (Inverbervie/Inverbervie) Peugeot 205 Gti, 3
43 B Kieran Renton/TBA (Coldstream/TBA) TBA
44 B Mike Stuart/David Findlay (Inverurie/Blairgowrie) Talbot Sunbeam, 3
45 B Ian Forgan/Kathryn Forgan (Lundin Links/Lundin Links) Ford Ka, 7
46 B Jordan Black/Ewan Leeming (Lanark/Edinburgh) Peugeot 205 Gti, 3
47 B Ian Millar/Ronan O’Neill (Kilrea/Fintona) Ford Escort, 4
48 B Scott Macbeth/Calum Macleod (Rosemarkie/Inverness) Vauxhall Nova, 2
49 B Alexander Curran/David Mcgeoch (Newton Stewart/Dumfries) Vauxhall Corsa GSi, 4
50 B Roy Maclennan/Robin Nicolson (Inverbervie/Largs) Peugeot 205, 2
51 B Alister Macarthur/Chris Robertson (Lochgilphead/Glasgow) Talbot Sunbeam, 3
52 B Ross Macdonald/Matthew Johnstone (Dingwall/Inverness) Vauxhall Corsa, 2
53 B Ally Galbraith/Derek Galbraith (Lochgilphead/Glasgow) Peugeot 205 Gti, 3
54 B Kieran O’Kane/Matt Reid (Alloa/Stirling) Opel Ascona, 9
55 B David Cameron/James Cameron (Portree/Broadford) Ford Escort MkII, 5
56 B Stuart Glendinning/Craig Robb (Glasgow/Inverness) Ford Puma, 8
57 B Tony Thompson/Paul Hudson (Morpeth/Darlington) Vauxhall Chevette HSR, 6
58 B Robert Paterson/Neil Richardson (Dumfries/London) Ford Escort II, 5
59 B Scott Peacock/Keith Riddick (Castle Douglas/Castle Douglas) Peugeot 205, 3
60 B Donald MacNeill/Cara MacNeill (Furness/Furness) Talbot Sunbeam, 3
62 B Adrian Stewart/Richard Simmonds (Aberdeen/Duns) Peugeot 205 Gti, 3
62 B Callum Atkinson/Kevin Mathers (Lauder/Melrose) Peugeot, 205
63 B James Aitken/TBA (Perth/TBA) MG ZR, 2
64 B Iain Mutch/John Macleod (Isle Of Skye/Isle Of Skye) Vauxhall Astra, 7
65 B Colin Baxter/John Campbell (Tain/Invergordon) Peugeot 205, 3
66 B Jonathan Benzie/Diarmid Baird (Tranent/Dundee) Peugeot 205, 3
67 B Gary Blackmore/John Kennedy (Fort William/Fort William) Peugeot 205 XS, 2
68 B Gary Parker/Lynn Parker (Lockerbie/Lockerbie) Ford Fiesta, 7
69 B Rene Torcato/Ernesto Zedan (Banbury/Banbury) Ford Fiesta R2, 4
70 B Robert Harkness/Michael Cruickshank (Kilmarnock/Crieff) BMW 316, 9
71 B Rachel Medich/Katherine Begg (Aberdeen/Morecambe) Nissan Micra, 2
72 B Cheryl Naisby/Carol Watt (Furnace/Furnace) Vauxhall Nova, 2
73 B Steven Wood/Mary Wood (Inverness/Inverness) Ford Fiesta, 3
74 B Des Campbell/Alex “Eck” Orr (Coldstream/Berwick On Tweed) Peugeot 206, 4
75 B Neil Morrison/Allan Matheson (Dunvegan/Inverness) Ford Escort, 8
76 B Alex Pirie/David Law (Keith/Cornhill) Vauxhall Corsa, 2
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