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Full Results Donnelly wins by nearly 3 minutes from McNulty!!! GREAT RUN FOR DAVID BOGIE!
Rally News (Brian and Liz) BRC Website Kevin Lynch and Stephen Murphy both have withdrawn? Full Entry List is Up! MITSUBISHI TEAM SET FOR ANOTHER TOP PERFORMANCE
MSA Asphalt Rally Championship PREVIEW The Classes Gass Switches to Citreon David Higgins Entries Received so far! Preliminary Details
General Format
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Donnelly wins by nearly 3 minutes from McNulty!!! Click here for final classifications 1st (1) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 2.11.36.4
2nd (3) Tim McNulty/Diarmuid Falvey (Impreza WRC) 2.14.01.3
3rd (2) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Focus WRC 2.14.37.3
4th (6) Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Impreza N) 2.19.02.3
5th (14) Gareth Jones/James O'Brien (Focus WRC) 2.20.06.5
6TH (8) David Higgins/Ieuan Thomas (Corolla S2000R) 2.21.39.0
7TH (18) Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey (Impreza N) 2.22.40.5
8TH (16) Phillip Morrow/Daniel Barritt (Lancer N) 2.23.40.0
9TH (25) PJ McDermott/Sean Harris (Impreza WRC) 2.24.00.8
10th (22) Kevin O'Donoghue/Joe O'Leary (Lancer N) 2.28.22.7
11th (32) Darren Gass/Neil Shanks (Citroen C2) 2.28.29.3
12th (23) Robert Swann/Darren Garrod (Impreza N) 2.28.31.0 Group N Production class:
1 Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy,
2 Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey,
3 Philip Morrow/Daniel Barritt.
Leaders After:
SS1-SS18 Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Subaru Impreza WRC)
Stage Winners
SS1 Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS2 Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS3 Tim McNulty/Diarmuid Falvey (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS4 Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS5 Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS6 Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS7 Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS8 Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS9 Tim McNulty/Diarmuid Falvey (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS10 Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS11 Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Ford Focus WRC)
SS12 Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Subaru Impreza N12B)
SS13 Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS14 Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS15 Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS16 Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS17 Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS18 Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Subaru Impreza WRC)
Eugene Donnelly and his co driver Paul Kiely had a very clear cut victory today on this Jim Clark Rally while Mark Higgins’ 4th overall wins group N for himself and his co driver Rory Kennedy, and also nets them maximum Tesco 99 BRC points and indeed also moves Mark into the lead of the Tarmac Championship with 46 points as against Eugene Donnelly’s 39 and Eamonn Boland’s 29. When Donnelly brought his Reid Motorsport Subaru into the finish of the Swinton stage he said. “I’m just delighted, its my first Jim Clark win in 5 years of trying, just brilliant. Its another first as well to win with the S12 for the Reid Motorsport team and it was thanks to great work from Eddie Corr, the engineer, Prodrive and of course the Derek McGeehan team. The rally was difficult with changing conditions, Tim was always pushing hard and he’s had a great comeback after all his accidents and problems. Overall it was a very good rally a real challenge, it’s a shame that more of the Tarmac competitors didn’t enter”. Tim McNulty said. “Twelve valuable points, glad to get to the finish, things went 100 per cent towards the end”. Eamonn Boland commented. “Not too bad but would you believe it, I had wet tyres on for the last 3 stages in the dry”.
Mark Higgins said. “It was nice to get the points in both championships. It was a frustrating first day trying to hold on to the Mitsubishis but it all worked out well”. Gareth Jones seemed to have regained some of his form in finishing 5th, although his final stage was a bit frustrating with 2 over shoots and saying hello to a couple of sheep. David Higgins in 6th finished 2nd in group N in the new Toyota and David said. “There were lots of little problems but the car is improving all the time, its getting there and hopefully we will have a good Manx”. Colm Murphy in 7th was the highest placed Tarmac group N contender and he commented. “It was great craic on the rally, sideways at every junction, we thought it was the brakes but now it looks as if the centre diff has worn, but sure it will make for good TV!” PJ McDermott from Donegal was delighted with 9th o/a, his best ever result and it was always a learning curve for PJ, his first proper run in the Subaru. Killarney man Kevin O’Donoghue survived a broken drive shaft for the last 3 stages in his Lancer to take 10th o/a and bag a useful tally of Tarmac group N points.,
Darren Gass had a great drive to finish 11th in his Citroen, just held off Rob Swann by less than 2s at the finish. Darren won his class very convincingly on his first run in the Citroen and with no testing. Guy Wilks has finished outside the top 10 on a total of 2.30.05.2 and it remains to be seen how many British c/ship points he will be allotted.
Roy White is down the order following his broken drive shaft problem on stages 14 and 15 and he said he was “hooliganing” through the last 3 stages, sideways at every junction and bushes sticking out of the Lancer’s rear spoiler would appear to back that up. As we are waiting for more cars to come in the 2 Suzukis of Lorna Smith and James Wozencroft are just finishing the Swinton stage and it looks like they will be 1st and 2nd in their class.
BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
Live Rally News (Brian and Liz) GREAT RUN FOR DAVID BOGIE!
After twelve very tough stages over the closed public roads in the Scottish Borders, David Bogie arrived back at the finish of the Jim Clark National Rally in Kelso town square in 2nd place overall to take maximum points in the MSA Asphalt Rally Championship. Using the MG Metro 6R4 formerly campaigned with great success by his father, John, Bogie was less than half a minute from an outright victory but, nevertheless, the teenager came away with his best result in the Championship to date and, without doubt, there is more to come!
As crews began to arrive in Kelso for the podium finish, provisional results were showing a timing error on one of the final stages for Steve Simpson/Mark Booth in their Hyundai Accent WRC. However, once removed, the Asphalt Championship leaders were elevated to 4th place overall, two seconds ahead of the MG Metro 6R4 of John & Caroline Price. As Bogie’s co-driver was not registered for the Championship, Booth took a maximum in the category, his second from three events.
Dave Price brought his Ford Escort Mk6 RWD home in 12th place and has now taken class wins on both the events he has contested this year, while Tommi Graham/Mike Bailey posted a Top 20 finish in their Mitsubishi Lancer to elevate themselves to 2nd overall in the Championship at the halfway stage.
Bill Robertson was co-opted in to co-drive for Nick James on the Jim Clark and, following the retirement of Paul Curphey/Eunice Cubbon when their Mitsubishi Lancer’s head gasket failed one stage from the finish, they proceeded to take top Class N4 points in their similar car.
Following their absence from the Manx a fortnight ago, Richard Clews/Barry James reappeared in their Mechatronics Peugeot 106 to take a class win on the event and the Championship, their second from two events.
The battle of the Ford Escorts in Class B11 between Graham Hollis and Pete Hughes/Chris Evans ended after the former, who had arrived in the Borders in runner-up spot in the Championship overall, was forced out early on Saturday with mechanical woes. Hughes/Evans went on to claim maximum class points, ahead of Geoff Glover/Charlie Turner in their Vauxhall Astra RWD. Similarly, the rivalry between Paul Harewood/Bob Jones (Renault Clio Williams) and Richard Butler/Matt Dubber (Honda Civic Type R) in Class N3, which was so close on the Isle of Man, failed to materialise when the Honda’s gearbox cried enough after the fifth stage.
Winners of the ‘John Price Rallying Star Drive’ salver on the Jim Clark National Rally were Manx residents Dave Corris/Mark Perryman. They had rolled their Escort Cosworth quite comprehensively on their ‘home’ event just a fortnight before and were initially unsure whether they would be in a position to travel to Scotland at all. However, much burning of the midnight oil saw the car fitted with two new front wings, two rear-quarter panels, bonnet, bumper and all manner of other bits and pieces in double-quick time to the point that they were, indeed, able to head northwards. While taking the car off the trailer ready for the event shakedown on the Thursday evening, the turbo blew! Without a spare, one of their mechanics was despatched down to Northampton with the offending item to get it repaired. This was accomplished with the minimum of fuss and, well over 600 miles later, the refurbished turbo was returned to its rightful place under the bonnet in time for the car to take its place on the start ramp. To make the finish of the event after all this was, therefore, almost a bonus!..
Amongst those whose names did not appear on the results of the Jim Clark National Rally were defending MSA Asphalt Champions David Kynaston/Andy Russell who seemed set for a good result until their Audi A3 Quattro’s clutch failed during Saturday morning and there was insufficient time to repair it at the following service.
Mark Jasper’s quest for points was similarly frustrated when a combination of gearbox failure and a puncture proved to be his Ford Escort WRC’s undoing. Roger Priestnall/Jamie Forrest’s grip on Class A6 slipped when their Proton Satria went out, while Adrian Drury/Phillip Stone completed the whole route, only for their Peugeot 106 to be declared OTL at the finish.
Contenders for the MSA Asphalt Rally Championship now have six weeks to prepare themselves for a trip across the Irish Sea to the Sligo Stages Rally on Sunday 8th July. BRC Website Kevin Lynch and Stephen Murphy both have withdrawn? There is a rumour that both Lynch and Murphy have withdrawn their entries. Any one with more info on this email us at
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!! Click here for a list of Entries Received to date MITSUBISHI TEAM SET FOR ANOTHER TOP PERFORMANCE
Following a stunning performance on the opening round of the 2007 Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship, last month’s Pirelli Rally, the Mitsubishi Motors UK Rally Team are eager to continue from where they left off – at the front of the field.
With Guy Wilks winning his first ever rally with the works operation and team-mate Gwyndaf Evans holding a strong second place until clutch problems intervened, things looked good for a one-two victory last time out in Kielder Forest. However, with a change of surface to asphalt for round two, the team is well aware it cannot automatically expect a repeat performance.
With this in mind, Wilks and Evans tested their works Lancer Evolution IXs on tarmac roads for the first time last Thursday, in order to familiarise themselves with the cars before this weekend’s event. Both drivers came away from the test extremely satisfied with the day’s work and delighted with the way their cars felt. During the test the team spent considerable time assessing the transmission in order to predict any further likely-hood of problems – an important consideration with asphalt providing greater grip levels and subsequently increased mechanical forces to that of gravel.
The Jim Clark Rally is unique, as it is currently the only stage rally that’s competitive sections take place on closed public roads on the British mainland. With long straights and flowing corners, punctuated by slow junctions, the event requires maximum commitment and extreme concentration from the crews. These prerequisites become even more pertinent when it rains, as the Berwickshire lanes are notoriously treacherous when they’re wet.
With his other motorsport programmes providing regular opportunities to get behind the wheel of a rally car, Wilks is raring to go and admits he’s really looking forward to driving the Mitsubishi again and carrying on from where he left off:
“The works Mitsubishi is a great car – we proved that on round one, so if we can use what we learnt from then - and from the test last week, I’m confident we can be challenging for the lead again. I’m approaching this event as I did the Pirelli Rally, so I hope its going to be another case of being able to pull out an early advantage and letting the others play catch-up.”
Wilks will be partnered by his regular co-driver Phil Pugh, who has recently been suffering from back problems, but has confirmed he is fit to compete in Jim Clark Rally.
Evans was pleased to report that he has recovered from the bout of flu that plagued him during the Pirelli Rally and is keen to get back into the driving seat now he’s fully fit:
“I’m hoping to be on the leading pace this weekend. I was pleased with the way the car performed on the test, especially with the big brakes and 18” wheels and if it’s stays dry, then I’m sure we’ll go well. But I know this event of old and if it’s wet the road surface becomes so unpredictable anything can happen. So let’s hope it doesn’t rain and we can really get the best out of the cars.”
Evans will be co-driven by fellow Welshman Huw Lewis, who contested the Berwickshire-based event for the first time last year.
The activity starts on Thursday evening with a shake-down test held in the grounds of Floors Castle near Kelso. The rally proper gets underway on Friday evening with two spectator stages which pass through the popular viewing point of Langton Ford. The action continues on Saturday with 10 stages and again on Sunday with a further six, before crews return to Kelso for the finish that afternoon.
Besides leading the British Driver’s Championship, Mitsubishi also heads the Team’s standings, albeit currently tying on points - a situation they are keen to address this time out.
The Cirencester-based Mitsubishi Motors UK rally team is supported by HKS, Pirelli, Sparco, Speedline Corse, PIAA, Ricardo and Performance Friction Brakes. The team’s two Lancer Evolution IXs are built and run on events by ADR Motorsport of Chesterfield. Guy Wilks is supported by Mobil 1. MSA Asphalt Rally Championship PREVIEW - JIM CLARK NATIONAL RALLY
For many rally fans, especially those whose preference is asphalt, the Jim Clark Rally (25th/26th May) represents the pinnacle of the sport in the UK – closed road rallying on the mainland – and the entry list reflects this popularity.
The third round of the MSA Asphalt Rally Championship sees competitors congregating in Kelso on Friday 25th May for the start of the Jim Clark National Rally. Split into two legs, the event offers thirteen stages, totalling almost 100 miles, on some of the classic Borders roads and the first car leaves the start at 8.00pm. Following an overnight halt, the rally resumes at 8.00am on the Saturday morning for a full day’s sport, prior to the finish in Kelso town square at 7.00pm.
Leading the MSA Asphalt Rally Championship contenders will be defending champions, DAVID KYNASTON/ANDY RUSSELL, in their Audi A3 Quattro, with the MG Metro 6R4 of multiple series winners JOHN & CAROLINE PRICE right behind them. DAMIAN COLE (Hyundai Accent WRC) will be looking for a much-needed finish to put his season back on track but, with each competitor’s four best scores from the six qualifying events, there is still plenty of time for a change of fortune for the Get Connected! boss.
Championship leaders following the recent trip to the Isle of Man, STEVE SIMPSON/MARK BOOTH (Hyundai Accent WRC), will have their work cut out to maintain that position as the top three crews in the points table are currently separated by a mere five points! Meanwhile, MARK JASPER (Ford Escort WRC) was leading the Jim Clark National Rally in 2005 before being sidelined by mechanical problems, and he will be hoping to improve on his 7th place last year.
DAVID BOGIE is already making a name for himself as a talented driver who has turned in some amazing results in a Vauxhall Corsa. This season, under the watchful eye of his father John, the Scottish teenager is still acclimatising himself to a new Group N Mitsubishi Lancer EVO9 and it is only a matter of time before the results start to come – and where better than on home soil?…
Having missed the opening round of the season while a rebuild of his Mitsubishi Lancer was completed, former Group N Asphalt Rally Champion CHRIS MARSHALL and co-driver SIMON HUNTER are now chasing Class B13 points. Following a Top 10 finish on the Jim Clark in 2006 in the car, a repeat performance this time is certainly on the cards and the soaring temperatures experienced when the rally ran in July should not be a problem this year!..
Manx residents PAUL CURPHEY/EUNICE CUBBON retired their Mitsubishi Lancer on their home event and will be hoping for better luck as the Championship reaches the halfway stage. GRAHAM HOLLIS took his Ford Escort RS to a class win in the Borders last year and, having done likewise on both Asphalt Championship rounds so far this year, the South Walian has good reason to be confident of further success!
NICK JAMES (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO8) overcame considerable problems to move into the lead of Class N4 on the Isle of Man as he put behind him the memory of a major accident on the event last year. The Jim Clark could now give him the opportunity to press home his advantage prior to the trip to Ireland for the Sligo Stages Rally in July.
TOMMI GRAHAM/MIKE BAILEY are contesting their first full season of Asphalt Championship events in their Lancer EVO9 and consistent finishes on each round so far should do wonders for their confidence. DAVE PRICE (Ford Escort MkVI RWD) is back for more this year and a good result on his first event, the Manx, persuaded him to put a late entry in for the Jim Clark. The rigours of the 2006 event resulted in transmission failure but, having survived the punishment on the Isle of Man, there is no reason why a similar run should not bolster his position still further.
GEOFF GLOVER/CHARLIE TURNER take the start in their immaculate rear-wheel drive Vauxhall Astra, not only chasing Class B11 points but also those in the RWD category. RICHARD CLEWS/BARRY JAMES return in their Mechatronics Peugeot 106, while PAUL HAREWOOD/BOB JONES (Renault Clio Williams) and RICHARD BUTLER/MATT DUBBER (Honda Civic Type R) spent the Manx Rally locked in combat for maximum Class N3 points. The battle eventually went to the former crew, but they were never more than a few seconds apart throughout the weekend.
The Ford Escort RS of PETE HUGHES/CHRIS EVANS was, unfortunately, one of the long list of non-finishers on the Manx while, on the other side of the coin, ROGER PRIESTNALL/JAMIE FORREST strengthened their hold on Class A6 with another win in their Proton Satria, a fact that was not lost on ADRIAN DRURY/PHILLIP STONE whose Peugeot 106 – also Class A6 - was one of the early casualties in some atrocious weather! Click here to visit the Rally Website The Classes:
Rally 4
Mitsubishi’s new signing Guy Wilks heads to the Scottish Borders after a maximum points tally on round one, but he has shown his hand and there are several drivers who will not be willing to give him any slack here. Not least of these is triple British Rally Champion Mark Higgins in his Stobart Teg Sport Subaru, who would dearly like to make it four. More importantly a win in 2007 would see him achieve the first ever consecutive hat-trick since the series’ inception in 1958.
Another former champion Gwyndaf Evans had a torrid start to his Mitsubishi works drive, being beaten by Wilks then having transmission problems on the penultimate stage. He is followed by the final former title holder David Higgins whose TQ RED Toyota team will be hoping to make it to the start in time in the Corolla S2000R. The team struggled to get the new car finished after parts supply problems, but Higgins the younger should go well with time to iron out the glitches before the Jim Clark.
Next in class R4 is a pair of young guns from Northern Ireland. Phillip Morrow currently leads the Evo Challenge, several points ahead of Connor McCloskey’s similar car, but the pair will have the lead of the British series in their sights on their favoured asphalt. Rob Swann was close to his best ever BRC finish on round one, breathing down the neck of Stobart Teg Sport’s second driver Wyn Humphreys. Swann retired near the end of the event but was buoyed by his pace and will give Humphreys a battle in Berwickshire.
The top ten R4 drivers are rounded off by privateer David Meredith who is getting to grips with his new four wheel drive Evo. He is followed by the second TQ RED driver Hugh Evans, who will fly in from Kuwait again to support his team.
Rally 3
With Conrad Rautenbach absent from the event with commitments overseas, the battle for R3 honours will be between Darren Gass and Stefan Davies, both in Fords. Gass had a major scare in his Fiesta in 2006 with a huge moment on the infamous Swinton crossroads bump, which both he and Puma driver Davis will hopefully be wary of this year.
Rally 2 & Citroën C2R2 Cup
Leading the R2 category away on the tarmac is Finland’s Vesa Mikkola whose Civic who retired on round one after a storming drive was cut short by transmission problems. Matt Beebe swaps from Citroën to his familiar MG, while James Wozencroft will be hoping to stay out of trouble in his Dealer Team Suzuki Swift, after a frustrating retirement in Kielder. George Thomas leads the Citroën C2R2 Cup contenders and is split from the first round victor Jason Pritchard by the Suzuki of Lorna Smith. An Englishman, Japanese and Irishman follow in the guise of Jamie Hickman, Kazutomo Kusama and Martin Laverty, all in Citroëns, and they are joined by Martin Roberts who missed the opening event as his car was not ready.
Rally 1
The R1 category is once again solely represented by brothers Steve and Tony Graham in their trusty MG in which they finished an impressive fifteenth overall on the Pirelli International Rally.
Diesel Cup
Irishman Fin McCaul in his BMW 120D is joined in the Diesel Cup by Welsh youngster Simon Hughes who debuts the Vauxhall AstraD. Two further diesels add to the battle but Irishmen John Mulholland and Brian Dennis in similar Skoda Fabia VRS TDis are yet to be persuaded to register for the British series. GASS SWITCHES TO CITROEN
Young Northern Irish driver Daren Gass will drive his newly acquired Citroen C2 S1600 for the first time in anger on the forthcoming Jim Clark International Rally
He will be joined in the new car by regular co driver Neil Shanks who will only see the car for the first time on the Friday of the rally. “I have driven the car for just ten miles on the roads near my house.” said Darren, “but hopefully I’ll get a chance to test a little more before the start. The problem is that the springs are French tarmac specification and we’ll probably only get the right ones just before the rally.”
Despite the suspension being too stiff Darren has nothing but praise for the little Citroen, “Everything about the C2 is 100% better than the Fiesta; the gear change, the ratios, the engine, everything. Even the guys from Crosier Motorsport like it already; apparently the front bumper is held on with three screws so you can access the parts behind like the power steering pump quickly. It has been well designed I’m already excited about using it.”
The team has been looking for a replacement to the Ford for the gravel rounds of the Championship and was considering four wheel drive. But the additional development of the Citroen means that the swap will be for all the remaining events
The rally kicks off on Thursday evening with a shakedown at Kelso’s Floors Castle but the action proper stars on Friday. Two spectator stages near Duns are followed on Saturday and Sunday by fast and furious asphalt Berwickshire stages. The 160 mile event then finishes in the centre of Kelso on Sunday afternoon.
Darren would like to thank Castrol, Dalzells of Markethill, EMC Autopax, PIAA, AC Vehicle Components, Alpha Cam, Killycarn Sand & Gravel, Crozier Motorsport Engineering, and ID Graphics for their continuing support in 2007. David Higgins - BACK TO BUSINESS
TQ driver David Higgins and his co-driver Ieuan Thomas have a non-stop week ahead of them getting ready for the Jim Clark International Rally on May 25-27.
The team will spend Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday testing the car at various locations to ensure they find the perfect asphalt set up, and give David plenty of time behind the wheel before the Scottish event. From there it will be straight to Kelso to recce the stages before a pre-event shakedown at Floors Castle on Thursday night and the rally start on Friday.
“Three days testing so close to the event will be fantastic,” says David. “After the problems we had on the Pirelli International Rally we went home with just two points. We’ll be aiming for maximum points this time round.”
David, and his sponsor and fellow TQ RED driver Hugh Evans, have also undertaken driving tuition from F1 driver trainer Rob Wilson to up their game on asphalt. “We learned a lot with Rob, but transferring what we were taught in a saloon car on a race track into driving a rally car on the stages will be the big test on the Jim Clark,” says David.
He may not have taken many points, but David set stunning times in the TQ RED Toyota S2000R on the Pirelli having never sat in the car before. He was just 0.4 seconds off a fastest stage time on the gravel event, and the car is expected to perform even more impressively on asphalt.
“On paper it looks like the car will be highly competitive on asphalt,” says David. “It is lighter and has less torque than a Group N car which can put it at a disadvantage on gravel. I just can’t wait to get back into the car again for the test runs. It’s stunning.”
David and Ieuan are seeded at number 8 on the Jim Clark International Rally entry list. Their TQ RED team mates Hugh, and his co-driver Iestyn Williams, are seeded at number 31 in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9.
Preliminary Details
The organisers of the Jim Clark Rally have released preliminary details of the 2007 rally which will be held on the weekend of 25th to 27th May.
The event, now Scotland’s only international rally, will once again be a counting round of the Tesco 99 Octane British Rally Championship, as well as a round of the Scottish, Irish Tarmac and other national and local series.
Confirming the new, earlier date in the rallying calendar, the organisers have also announced a revised format to the Jim Clark, which remains the only such event run over closed public roads on mainland Britain.
In following the general move to more concise rallies, the opening day of the main international event will be reduced to a double run of the ever-popular Langton spectator stage near Duns. However the international event will now continue with a full itinerary on the Saturday through to the Sunday. The organisers have also cut the number of special stages - although the international section’s competitive mileage has not been reduced. Following the opening two stages on the Friday, initial plans indicate five stages run twice on Saturday and a further three repeated on Sunday.
Based as before at Kelso Racecourse, and centrally serviced from Charterhall Airfield, the rally will for the first time see the clubman’s event - the Jim Clark Reivers rally - staged in conjunction with, and run over the same stages as the second leg of the international rally on the Sunday.
Commenting on the 2007 event, Rally manager Colin Pagan said: “Having to bring the date earlier to suit the international rallying schedule has meant we have had to look at a number of changes - none least because as a rural event we have to take into consideration different agricultural circumstances. As a major bank holiday weekend south of the Border there are also both good and not so good aspects we have to face. But we are confident that we will once again put on an event which will, as always, be every bit as challenging for our competitors as it will be exciting for the spectators.” General Format This will be the Jim Clark’s fourth year in the beautiful town of Kelso. Set in rolling border country an hour south of Edinburgh and nestled on the confluence of the Tweed and Teviot rivers this ancient town with its Georgian cobbled square offers a great backdrop to the event. The 2007 Jim Clark Rally will consist of 5 rallies each with its own appeal to a spectrum of competitors' ability and budget. The International, National and Landrover rallies get things underway on Friday evening with a swift pair of blasts around the Langton special stage. These two events are then joined on Saturday morning by competitors from the BRC Stars of the Future series who are running in a separate shorter event designed just for them. The National and Stars Rallies finish back in Kelso Square on Saturday evening. In all the organisers are hoping to run 5 repeated stages through the day. For leg two the International Rally is joined by the ‘Reivers’. This year ‘the Sunday run’ will be even more compact than ever, with 80% of the route being competitive stages, this while offering the County Saab Scottish Rally Championship contenders their longest event of the season. The Reivers Rally is a national B status event. All of the events will be centrally serviced from the one time racetrack and airfield at Charterhall, where there is ample hard stand and easy access. All the overnight ‘parc ferme’ will also be based here. Activities get underway a week ahead of the event with the first recce session taking place on Sunday 20th May, although most of the recce takes place on the two days before the rally itself. The action will start with a shakedown stage to be held in the grounds of Floors Castle on Thursday evening. Last year the facility was opened to all competitors. This proved to be a great success as a spectacle as well as a very useful opportunity for the competitors to try out their cars on surfaces similar to those they will encounter on the stages.
Local services and information: Accommodation The types and grades of accommodation are varied throughout the area. For assistance finding suitable accommodation contact VisitScotland on 0845 2255 121 or via their website at www.visitscotland.com Kelso
Is a an ancient abbey town which sits on the confluence of the Tweed and Teviot Rivers the ‘Joining Pool’ of which is famed for its Salmon fishing. The Town House, outside which the rally will start from, which overlooks a fine cobbled square whose architecture mainly dates from the Georgian period the town is dominated by Floors Castle. Berwickshire
All of the special stages are held within the old county of Berwickshire. Berwickshire which has Duns at its centre is steeped in Motorsport History and in 1997 assisted with the passing of a road closure order, currently the only one valid on the British mainland. How to get here: Nearest Airport: Edinburgh 45/ 72 ml/km Newcastle 60/96 ml/km Nearest Railway Station Edinburgh 44/70 ml/km Berwick -on- Tweed 23/37 ml/km Ferry Ports: From Europe To Edinburgh 48/77 ml/km
Superfast Ferry to Zeebrugge www.superfast.com To Newcastle 64/100 ml/km
DFDS and others to Holland , Denmark , Sweden and Norway www.newcastleferries.com To Stranraer 140/225 ml/km
From Belfast and Larne try Stena Line www.stenaline.com By Road From the South and West:
Travellers from the south of England, Wales the ferry port from Ireland at Stranraer should pick up the A7 at Carlisle and head north to Hawick they should follow the signs for the A698 and Kelso.
Travelling time from Carlisle 90 minutes From the South and East On the A1 north and about 15 mile of Newcastle take the A697 which is sign posted for Coldstream. Once over the Border and through Coldstream (50 Ml) Follow the A698 to Kelso. Travelling time from Newcastle 90 minutes From the north
Leaving the Edinburgh bypass at the A68 and follow this road for 17 miles to the first roundabout! Then take the A697 for 5 miles before turning right to Kelso on the A6089. Travelling time from Edinburgh bypass 60 mins |
