Kumho Tyres Scottish Rally
Rally drivers gear up for battle in Dumfries and Galloway forests
All eyes on the Kumho Tyres Scottish Rally which starts out from Dumfries
a week on Saturday (September 15) will be on Martin Rowe, who heads the
106 competitors on this year¹s event. The former British National Rally
Champion currently leads the Formula Rally Championship, but missed out on a
hat-trick of wins when he finished second on the previous round in Wales.
Rowe will be driving his Ford Puma Super 1600 flat out on the competitive
sections in some of the best rally stages in the country. His determination
will be to build on the four-point gap he has established between himself
and Justin Dale in second place. Dale finished second to Rowe on Rounds 1
and 2, but reversed the positions in Wales in his Peugeot 106 Super GTi.
Rowe has twice finished runner-up on this Royal Scottish Automobile Club
(Motor Sport) event, in 1998 and 99, in a Renault Maxi Megane but will be
determined to achieve outright success in Scotland in 2001.
Rowe and Dale, both full-time professional rally drivers, have taken on a
battle of their own at the head of the championship, but in the demanding
Dumfries and Galloway forest tracks, it could be anyone¹s game.
Nearest rival in the seven-round championship is Ford Puma-driving Frenchman
Patrick Magaud, who finished third and fourth in the first two rounds
respectively, adding strength to Ford¹s battle in the manufacturers¹
championship.
Crews in the Formula Rally Championship will tackle 65 miles of forest
tracks in six timed special stages, leaving the Dumfries start at 8 am on
Saturday morning, returning at approximately 4.50 pm the same day.
After an overnight halt, competitors in the National A event, run as part of
the Kumho Tyres Scottish Rally weekend, will restart for the second leg of
the event. The finish for these competitors is back in Dumfries on Sunday
lunchtime, at the end of a 375-mile route with more than 100 miles of
competitive sections.
"After the concerns created by foot and mouth disease and the postponement
of the rally from its usual June date, we are delighted to see the event
proceeding", commented Jonathan Lord, Clerk of the Course. "The main British
Rally Championship was cancelled as a result of foot and mouth, but with the
standard of competition and levels of enthusiasm in the Formula Rally
Championship, the event will be no less spectacular.
"I would like to thank everyone for their unstinting efforts in re-arranging
this event, and to Kumho Tyres for their generous sponsorship."
ends
For further information:
Ken McEwen or Neil Robertson
The PR Partnership
Tel 01224 588900
ken@prpartnership.co.uk
neil@prpartnership.co.uk
Jonathan Lord
RSAC Motor Sport
Tel 0141 204 4999
rsac_motorsport@compuserve.com
Kumho Tyres Scottish Rally Media Centre
The Ice Bowl, King Street, Dumfries
Tel 01387 248680 4 lines*
Fax 01387 248701/2*
* please do not publish these numbers, they are for media use only!
Media Centre opening hours
Thursday, Sept 13 16:00 to 20:00
Friday, Sept 14 10:00 to 23:30
Saturday, Sept 15 06:00 to 24:00
Sunday, Sept 16 05:00 to 19:00
Media Relations Officer
Ken Rundle
Formula Rally Championship media information and photographs are available
at http://www.formularally.com
Rally results and information on the web updated throughout the rally:
http://www.rsacmotorsport.co.uk/scottishrally/
Five rallies in one
Leaving the start one hour after the Formula Rally Championship contenders,
at 9am on Saturday, September 15 are crews tackling the National A event,
which takes place across two days, with an overnight halt in Dumfries.
Covering 106 special stage miles in ten forest stages, this section of the
event is open to all types of rally cars Group N Œshowroom class¹ cars,
the latest Group A World Rally Cars, rally kit cars and the mighty Group B
cars such as the legendary Metro 6R4.
Saturday is also a counter in a number of Œone-make¹ championships including
the Ford Ka Championship, the Ford Puma Championship, the Peugeot Super 106
Cup, the Volkswagen Polo Rally Challenge and the Maxsport Cup Formula 1400
Championship.
The Sunday (September 16) leg, as well as forming the second leg of the
National A event, hosts a separate one-day 41-stage mile rally for National
B competitors and is a counter in the Association of West of Scotland Motor
Sports Clubs championship.
Now traditional on the Scottish rally is the Land Rover rally, which takes
place over both days of the event. The crews, who are all HM Forces
personnel, compete in specially prepared Land Rovers and not only enjoy
close competition between themselves but join in the true spirit of rallying
by helping rally competitors who require recovery.
Where to spectate on the Kumho Tyres Scottish Rally
FOOT & MOUTH DISEASE PRECAUTIONS
The people of Dumfries & Galloway are delighted to welcome everyone to the
area and to have an enjoyable event. However, because of foot and mouth
disease, anyone spectating on the rally is asked to respect the problems
there have been by avoiding contact with farm animals, and to avoid
travelling across farm land. Your co-operation with this is greatly
appreciated.
Friday, September 14
LOCATION
Scrutineering: Ice Bowl, Dumfries 15:00 20:00
The competing cars are checked over in the Ice Bowl, Dumfries from 15:00 to
20:00. This is a good chance to see the cars close-up and check out the
latest information on the rally. There is a rally help desk to assist with
any specific information and refreshments will be available.
Saturday, September 15
Start: English Street, Dumfries 08.00
The crews will be flagged away from the start ramp in the centre of
Dumfries.
Ae 1 09.05
Follow the yellow road from the A701 at Ae Bridgend and enter the picnic
area car park at MR:78/979902, which offers superb mid stage viewing.
There is no access to the start or finish and no parking is permitted in Ae
village, in the vicinity of the Forestry Commission offices or on the road
from Ae village to Loch Ettrick.
Traffic will be very heavy in the area so please drive slowly and with
caution.
Windyhill 1 09.49
Inaccessible due to foot and mouth precautions
Twiglees 11.40
The car park (79/205 937) is on the forestry road south of the B723
Lockerbie to Eskdalemuir road. From here there is good access to mid-stage
viewing. There is no access to the stage finish. Please park carefully and
make sure you do not obstruct the roadway.
Castle O¹er 12.13
There is a car park on the forest road south of the B723 Lockerbie to
Eskdalemuir road, giving access to the stage finish. Enter the forest at MR:
79/221946 and follow the one-way system. No parking on the B723.
Please do not attempt to reach the stage start. Drive with particular
caution when entering and leaving the car park as there will be considerable
competitor and service vehicle traffic in the vicinity.
Ae 2 14.32
See details given above for Ae1.
Windyhill 2 15.16
Inaccessible due to foot and mouth precautions
Halt: English Street, Dumfries 16.53 17.53
Sunday, September 16
Restart: English Street, Dumfries 07.00
Glengap 1 08.32
There is limited parking on the forestry road, accessed from Laurieston
village, on the A762 New Galloway to Gatehouse of Fleet road. Do not park
between the village and the stage exit. Please note, there will be no access
to the stage start from the A75 and police will enforce this.
Black Loch 09.32
Clatteringshaws 10.51
Glengap 2 12.59
There is limited parking on the forestry road, accessed from Laurieston
village, on the A762 New Galloway to Gatehouse of Fleet road. Do not park
between the village and the stage exit. Please note, there will be no access
to the stage start from the A75 and police will enforce this.
Finish English Street, Dumfries 14.05
The traditional champagne celebrations for the victors!
Programmes
Full spectator information, with colour stage maps and entry lists, is
contained in the official rally programme.
Programmes will be available from the help desk at Dumfries Ice Bowl.
Alternatively, the programme will be available from vendors on the rally
route, or they can be ordered in advance call 02890 844111 (Monday to
Saturday 9 am to 6 pm).
