PRESS RELEASE: Kumho Tyres Scottish Rally postponed, GKN Driveline Scottish hillrally cancelled

Kumho Tyres Scottish Rally postponed to September and Gkn Driveline Scottish Hillrally cancelled

As a result of the continuing foot and mouth epidemic, the Royal Scottish Automobile Club (Motor Sport) Ltd has announced details of a postponement and a cancellation affecting two of its major events.

The Kumho Tyres Scottish Rally, which was to have taken place on Saturday and Sunday, June 9 and 10, has been rescheduled for Saturday and Sunday, September 15 and 16. However, the GKN Driveline Scottish Hillrally which was due to have taken place on July 13 and 14, has become a casualty of the epidemic. The RSAC has announced that this year's event, which was to have been based in Perth, has had to be cancelled.

Commenting on the announcements, Jonathan Lord, the RSAC's Clerk of the Course for both events, said: "Last month we were remaining hopeful that the foot and mouth epidemic might have ended in time for us to run the Kumho Tyres Scottish Rally on its June dates, but as we said at the time, we would be watching the situation closely and consulting with the agricultural authorities. The way that the epidemic has developed over the intervening weeks has made it quite clear that the rally must be postponed in the interests of the agricultural community.

"Sadly this year's GKN Driveline Scottish Hillrally has become just the latest sporting casualty of the epidemic. The Perth area is currently clear of any cases, but, to avoid any danger of spreading the outbreaks, we have taken the decision to cancel this year's event and turn our attention to planning for 2002."

On its new September dates the Kumho Tyres Scottish Rally will remain based in Dumfries. With financial and operational support from Dumfries and Galloway Council, the rally is a counter in the MSA British Rally Championship and the Formula Rally series. As one of the biggest events in the area, it generates at least £1 million of additional business for Dumfries and Galloway.

The rally will follow the schedule proposed for the original dates in June. It will start in Dumfries, on the morning of Saturday, September 15, before heading north east to tackle the Forest of Ae and some other classic rally stages. The crews then return to Dumfries for an overnight rest halt, before restarting, on Sunday morning, heading west into the final sections in the Dumfries and Galloway forests.

… Further information on the Kumho Tyres Scottish Rally is available from the Royal Scottish Automobile Club (Motor Sport) Ltd, 11 Blythswood Square, Glasgow G2 4AG. Telephone 0141 204 4999. Fax 0141 204 4949. E-mail rsac_motorsport@compuserve.com. The Kumho Tyres Scottish Rally website is at www.rsacmotorsport.co.uk/scottishrally/

April 6, 2001 ends For further information: Ken McEwen, The PR Partnership, telephone 01224 588900 or, Jonathan Lord, RSAC Motor Sport, telephone 0141 204 4999