RSAC Scottish Rally Preview
31 May 1999
Flat out for 133 miles in battle for the Scottish crown, Reigning British Champion Martin Rowe (27) heads an international field on this year's RSAC Scottish Rally, which starts from Dumfries a week on Friday (June 11). Driving his Renault Megane Maxi, the Manxman will be hoping to put the huge disappointment of the last round retirement behind him as he sets out on the 505-mile, two-day route through Dumfries and Galloway. It was Martin's first British championship retirement since 1997 and dropped him to fifth place in the series. Right behind him on the start ramp will be Welshman Gwyndaf Evans in his SEAT Ibiza. The 1996 British Champion is currently ninth in the Mobil 1 British Rally Championship, after the first two rounds. He will start this rally determined not only to improve his position in the series, but also finally to win the rally on which he has finished third on four occasions including the last three years. It would be an excellent belated birthday present for Evans, who turns 40 the week before the rally. Championship leader as competitors prepare for the third round, is Tapio Laukkanen (28). He is in great form at the moment having won the previous round the Pirelli International Rally in his Renault Megane Maxi. His best result on the RSAC Scottish Rally was in 1997 when he finished second, behind Alister McRae, after a nail-biting final stage in the Forest of Ae. Right behind Laukkanen is fellow countryman Jarmo Kytolehto, leading the Vauxhall challenge in his Astra kit car. The 37-year-old Finnish farmer, who is currently third in this year's British championship, came second on the RSAC Scottish Rally in 1995 and 1996 and will undoubtedly be aiming for outright honours this year. Local hopes will focus on Barbara Armstrong (33) from Castle Douglas, near Dumfries. The 1998 British Ladies Champion retired her SEAT Ibiza with steering problems on the last round and will be determined to do well in front of her home crowd. There are a total of 173 crews entered in this, the Royal Scottish Automobile Club's centenary-year rally. The RSAC Scottish Rally is supported by Dumfries and Galloway Council and, as well as being the third round of the six-round Mobil 1 British Rally Championship, it is also a counter in the Scottish Rally Championship supported by Tyresafe and the British Junior Rally Championship. In addition to the international-status rally there are three supporting events the RSAC Scottish Historic Rally and the RSAC Formula 1400 Rally (which both precede the international rally on Friday) and the RSAC National Rally (which precedes the international rally on Saturday). The RSAC Scottish Rally will start at 9 am from Whitesands, Dumfries a week on Friday (June 11). (The first car in the historic rally leaves two hours earlier at 7am.) The first of the 133 miles of competitive sections which this year will be timed to a fraction of a second for the first time is in Dalbeattie forest before the first of two visits to a gruelling 19-mile stage in the Forest of Ae. After six special stages, the rally returns to Dumfries at 8.45 pm. After an overnight halt, the rally restarts at 8 am on Saturday (with the national rally crews leaving two hours earlier at 6 am) for a final loop through Dumfries and Galloway. This includes popular rallying stages like Proton Glengap, Glentrool and Clatteringshaws, before the champagne celebrations back in Dumfries at around 5.35pm.