has gripping start to 2009 season
Organisers of the Hankook Scottish Rally Championship are celebrating a successful start to the season with registrations running well ahead of 2008.
Despite the tough economic conditions and falling registrations elsewhere in the UK, the series continues to attract some of the country’s top rally teams.
With two rounds now complete, the championship has already attracted over 200 registrations, almost 10 per cent up on the same time last year and calls to the organisers suggest this number could climb still higher as the series heads to Aberdeen for the Granite City Rally in April.
The series, which is sponsored by tyre giant Hankook, is proving increasingly popular with junior drivers, and competitors outside Scotland who have been attracted by the package being offered by the SRC as well as to Scottish crews.
Launched in Glasgow last year by Scottish rally legend Jimmy McRae, the series includes eight classic rallies from February to October, throughout the length and breadth of Scotland.
Hankook motorsport manager Mike Patterson said he was delighted to be involved in such a thriving championship with the great level of competition on the first two rounds set to continue throughout 2009.
“The championship has proved that with the right organisation, a positive outlook and a great mix of rallies you can continue to attract both seasoned competitors and the juniors looking to make their way up the rallying ladder,’’ he said.
“We have worked closely with the organisers to put together a package with a great prize fund and a format which the competitors want to be a part of and that is now paying dividends.’’
Competitors in the Hankook Scottish Rally Championship head to Aberdeen for the Granite City Rally on April 25.
14 Feb 09Arnold Clark Thistle Snowman Rally Inverness, Highlands21 Mar 09 Brick & Steel Border Counties Rally Jedburgh, Scottish Borders25 Apr 09 Station Garage Mitsubishi Granite City Rally Aberdeen, Grampian24 May 09 Jim Clark Reivers Rally Kelso, Scottish Borders27 Jun 09 RSAC Scottish Rally Dumfries, Dumfries & Galloway08 Aug 09 Gleaner Oil & Gas Speyside Stages Elgin, Moray05 Sep 09 Merrick Forest Stages Newton Stewart, South West Scotland03 Oct 09 Colin McRae Forest Stages Perth, Perth & Kinross
