History beckons for Colin McRae rally

Dec 22 2010

THE nostalgic sight and sound of competition cars from the past is to form part of next year’s Colin McRae Forest Stages Rally.

Organised by the county’s Coltness Car Club, the 2011 event will also be a counter of the Dunlop/WONAGO.com MSA British Historic Rally Championship.

That championship attracts some of the country’s top drivers, competing in cars from the early 1960s right through to 1981, and regularly attracts entries of over 60 famous makes such as Lancia Stratos, Saab 96, Porsche 911, Mini, Triumph TR7 and Mk1 Escorts.

The rally will again be based in the forests of Perth and Kinross, and once more also be the final round of the Scottish Rally Championship.

A statement by the British Historic Rally Championship organisers this week confirmed that the Colin McRae Stages will replace the Yorkshire- based Trackrod Historic Cup in the schedule for the coming season.

Their spokesman said: "As part of the BHRC’s on-going consultation with crews, and following an end of season poll, the 2011 championship will now include the Colin McRae Forest Stages Rally, organised by Coltness Car Club as its penultimate round.

"This event will run on Saturday, October 1, and the event organisers have welcomed the championship to Scotland, and their rally in particular."

Simon Marks, Co-ordinator of the Dunlop/WONAGO.com British Historic Rally Championship said: "We have taken on board our contenders’ wishes and sought out a new gravel round for the championship.

"We are sure that the Colin McRae Stages will offer an exciting and enticing rally when we travel to Perth in October.

"We thank Trackrod Motor Club for all their efforts in hosting the championship for the last 10 years."

The historic series starts in Wales in March and takes in events in Ulster, England, Flanders, the Isle of Man, and now Scotland.