Pirelli and Land Rovers at the Scottish ….
Ahead of this weekend’s Scottish Rally, Pirelli Star Driver, Mark Donnelly commented: “We’ve had a tricky start to the season after our retirement at the Pirelli RBF Rally and various set-up problems at the Jim Clark, but the season is far from over. We’re not even half-way through yet.”
“The Scottish Rally is a leap into the unknown. We know very little about the stages as it’s only been a round of the Scottish Rally Championship for the past few years but there will be several of us in the same boat. I’ve had some positive feedback about this event and it is renowned for its fast, flowing roads so it will be a perfect rally to try and get the throttle down and secure some more points. We’d like to finish this rally with a top five finish, and then aim for a podium or even a win in the second half of the season. The car is quick enough, we just need to ensure we’ve got all the right elements in place,” added the 22-year-old from Northern Ireland.
Last year’s Pirelli Star Driver Jukka Korhonen is currently leading the British Rally Championship having already taken two out of two victories in this year’s BRC and the Finn could make it a hat-trick when he travels north of the border once again this week.
For the Scottish Rally, Pirelli will supply its highly successful K6 Scorpion gravel tyres (ideal for cooler conditions) in 15-inch fitments. The harder Pirelli K4 gravel tyre will also be available, perfectly suited for sweeping away loose gravel.
Pirelli UK Tyres Operations Manager, Matthew Corby, commented: “Scotland features some of the best rally stages in the UK so it’s fantastic that the British Rally Championship is heading north for a second time this year. All of the action has been condensed into one full day so the crews will need to be fully focused from the start. We’re looking forward to working with our Pirelli Star Driver Mark Donnelly in Dumfries, he demonstrated excellent pace on the gravel roads in Cumbria which share several of the same characteristics that we can expect on this rally. Our Pirelli K4 tyre will work well if there’s a lot of loose gravel on the roads for the second pass but if the temperatures drop, then the K4 will be a popular choice. As always, tyre management could prove crucial and the crews will have to take this into account on a rally which could be flat out from the word go.”
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Golden anniversary for Armed Forces Rally Team
This year the RSAC Scottish Rally is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Armed Forces Rally Team competing at the event in their Land Rovers.
To celebrate the five golden decades since their formation, Colonel (Retd) Colin Den-McKay OBE and SSgt (Retd) Les Dalton both of whom were regular and successful competitors at the Scottish during the 1970s and 1980s will be demonstrating lightweight Land Rovers which competed from that era.
The lightweight Land Rovers will be on display at the Ceremonial Start in Dumfries High Street at 7.00 pm on Friday 28 June.
The non-profit making organisation formed by members from all sections of the British Armed Forces including reserve forces takes part in several British Rally Championship events each year.
By using ex military Land Rover vehicles, sponsorship and personal contributions the team aim to promote the British Armed Forces and to advance Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force members’ driving and personal development skills.
Chairman of BAMA Major General Carew Wilks CBE said: “I am truly delighted as the Chairman of the British Army Motorsports Association to be a participant on the Scottish Rally this year, it being the 50th anniversary of the Armed Forces first competing on this famous event. “
“Since 1963 the RSAC Scottish has been at the very heart of Army Rallying activities and the bond of friendship that BAMA has developed with the RSAC and the Scottish Rally Community is as strong today as it has ever been”.
Garry Headridge, deputy clerk of the course of the RSAC Scottish Rally said: “We are delighted to welcome the Army Land Rovers to the Scottish Rally which, coincidently is being held on Armed Forces Day.
“They might run at the back of the field but the Land Rovers are an integral part of the event. Keeping on the military theme, we are once again raising funds for Help for Heroes – each programme sold will result in £1 going to the charity.”
Major Alan Paramore, director of the Armed Forces Rally Team who competed in his first Scottish Rally in 1987 said: “The Scottish is where it all started for British Army Motoring Association crews and the Armed Forces have never lost sight of the link and the loyalty we all feel for the event and the Scottish Rally community. “
“The combination of superb stages, lovely scenery and a very warm Scottish welcome has always made the Scottish a firm favourite with the crews.”
And so say all of us, Ed.
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