Solway Coast goes from strength to strength …
Last year’s winner Mark McCulloch heads an impressive line-up of more than 60 crews for Saturday’s usedcarparts.co.uk Solway Coast Rally, held at the military ranges at Dundrennan, near Kirkcudbright.
The Newton Stewart driver, who comes off the back of a top-fifteen finish on the Speyside Stages at the weekend, will face strong competition from, among others, David Hardie – co-driven by Mark’s dad John – and Ian Paterson, who has been runner-up for the past two years.
Others targeting a strong finish include Alistair Inglis, one of the country’s leading exponents of tarmac rallying; 2007 Scottish champions Gary and Gordon Adam; and Ayrshire’s Andrew Gallacher, who was in action on Speyside in the Group N category.
The event is a qualifying round of the Five of Clubs Rally Championship, the BLUE Scottish Tarmack Rally Championship, North of England Tarmacadam Championship and the Border Championship.
There has also been a bumper entry for Sunday’s Junior Rally, which will see around thirty talented 14 to 17-year-olds from the UK and Ireland battle it out for honours.
For the first time, competitors from all three Junior championships – the Brick & Steel Junior 1000 Ecosse Challenge, the McGrady Insurance Junior 1000 Rally Challenge Ireland, and the Kick Energy Junior 1000 Rally Championship – will compete against each other at the same single venue.
To top it off, rallying legend Jimmy McRae will be behind the wheel of the course opening car for Sunday’s event.
The five-time British champion is due to drive a Nissan Micra belonging to former “junior” Harry Marchbank from Thornhill, who has now stepped up to the senior ranks. He will compete in the distinctive orange Micra on Saturday, before swapping seats the following day to call the notes for his distinquished driver.
Clerk of the Course Sanny Dobie says he’s been overwhelmed by the response to the event and the support received in preparing the rally route: “It’s been a great effort by everyone at Solway Car Club. Donald Peacock and his team have worked hard to ensure the stages are in tip-top condition, and there are many others who’ve given of their time. The event continues to go from strength to strength. When you think that only a few years ago we were getting around 30 entries, and now we’re double that plus reserves”.
He went on: “I’m also very grateful to Richard Stewart and family who have sponsored the event for the past 34 years – the support we get from them year after year is absolutely fantastic”.
Event details and more info about the organising Solway Car Club can be found at: www.solwaycarclub.co.uk
By Robin Wyllie
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UK Junior 1000 Drivers go Head to Head For The First Time ….
The www.usedcarparts.co.uk Solway Coast Junior Rally on Sunday 10th August 2014 will be a milestone in the development of Junior 1000 rallying in the UK. For the very first time competitors from all three Junior 1000 Championships – the Brick & Steel Junior 1000 Ecosse Challenge, the McGrady Insurance Junior 1000 Rally Challenge Ireland and the Kick Energy Junior 1000 Rally Championship – will compete against each other on the same single venue rally over the Military Ranges at Dundrennan in Kirkcudbright.
Solway Car Club’s hard work on the venue has been rewarded with an excellent entry approaching 30 cars and crews for this historic event. Clerk of the Course Sandy Dobie had the following to say: “Solway Car Club are very pleased and honoured to have all three Junior 1000 Championships attending the usedcarsparts Solway Coast Rally. As a club we realise just how important it is to support the cream of our young up and coming rally drivers.”
And Alex Vassallo – who currently leads the Brick & Steel Junior 1000 Ecosse Challenge – added: “The Solway Coast Rally is definitely the rally of the year for Juniors. I have won the event twice and will be going for a third victory in this my last year in the Junior 1000.”
From the Championship organiser’s point of view, David Barlow, Co-ordinator of the Junior 1000 Ecosse Challenge, commented: “The Solway Coast Junior Rally and its format is unique and allows the Junior teams to get a flavour of what lies ahead in the future. The welcome and enthusiasm of the organising club and helpers and being able to rub shoulders with competitors from the other 2 Junior 1000 Championships is an experience that we all appreciate and enjoy!”
And adding to the prestige of the event, the organisers have announced that the Course Opening car will be driven by Jim McRae. The hope is that he will drive a Nissan Micra. Jim has been a big supporter of the Junior 1000 formula ever since it started saying: “I wish we had something like this when Colin and Alister were 14.”
By David Barlow
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