Perthshire gears up for spectacular Colin McRae rally

Sep 24 2010 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

PERTHSHIRE is getting into gear for tomorrow’s annual Colin McRae Forest Stages Rally.

Thousands of devoted followers flocked to the Big County last year to enjoy the high-octane action and pay their respects to the Scottish sporting hero, who was tragically killed in a helicopter accident in 2007 that also claimed the lives of his young son Johnny and two friends.

About 100 entrants will be waved off from Aberfeldy’s Burnside Lane at 8.30am by Perth and Kinross Council Provost John Hulbert and schoolchildren from Breadalbane Academy.

This year’s rally, which includes a handful of local participants, will once again form part of the Hankook MSA Scottish Rally Championships.

Provost Hulbert declared yesterday: “I’m delighted Aberfeldy has been chosen to host the start of the rally this year.

“Locals have been working hard with event organisers to pull out all the stops and make it something special to come and see.

“Over the years, the Colin McRae Rally has become closely associated with the local area – and it has never failed to generate lots of excitement, and attract tens of thousands of spectators to the area.

“I have no doubt that this year’s event will exceed its predecessors and that drivers and spectators alike will enjoy the beauty – and the challenge – of Perthshire’s autumn landscape.”

Colin’s dad Jimmy, himself a multiple champion and a much-loved motorsport figure, will run ahead of the field in his late son’s 1991/92 British Championship-winning Subaru Legacy.

The opening two stages, through the tree-lined routes of Drummond Hill and the Griffin Forest, should be completed before noon.

Teams will navigate their way back to a central service point in Aberfeldy to tinker with their vehicles after both of the runs, which are open to spectators.

Course clerk Gavin Murray explained: “We’ve started and finished the rally in Perth for the best part of the last 10 years, with the service area in Aberfeldy.

“The organisers thought it would be a nice touch to give the people of Highland Perthshire the chance to cheer on their favourites for a little longer this time around.

“The rally will, however, return to Perth Racecourse for the finish, late on Saturday afternoon.”

Drivers will then head east, through Pitlochry, to tackle routes in Enochdhu’s Kindrogan Wood and Blackcraig Forest, situated approximately 10 miles north of Blairgowrie.

A spokesperson for rally organisers, Lanark-based Coltness Car Club, asked members of the public not to attend the third and fourth sections following an agreement with local landowners.

Fans are free to attend the final stage at Craigvinean – which will get underway near Dunkeld at around 2pm – and head to Perth Racecourse to see participants gather from 3pm.

Tayside Police Inspector Grant Edward, head of the region’s roads unit, said officers, special constables and a traffic warden will be on hand to ensure the popular event runs smoothly.

“The rally is held in Perthshire because our picturesque landscapes offer drivers some really challenging stages,” he said yesterday.

“It’s a coup for the region and it’s never posed any major issues for us in the past. Our officers – as well as a team of nine special constables – will be on hand to minimise congestion at the spectator entrance areas, and the Aberfeldy service stop.

“Both the McRae family, and the Coltness Car Club, are held in high esteem so people come from far and wide.

“We would ask motorists to respect the Highway Code, to ensure that anyone not attending the rally can enjoy their weekend as normal.”

A series of promotional events are also set to take place at Perth Racecourse this evening.