* Pictures to be broadcast live to 100-plus million homes * Massive exposure for Scotland's top international motor sport event
Television coverage of Scotland's round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge next month, 7-9 October, will be broadcast live to more than 100 millions households throughout Europe.Leading sports broadcaster Eurosport will show live coverage of four stages from the 2011 RACMSA Rally of Scotland - namely the 'double runs' through both Errochty in Perthshire on the Saturday (8 Oct) and High Corrie in Stirlingshire on the Sunday (9 Oct).A team of some 70 expert personnel working on the ground in Scotland and at Eurosport's headquarters in Paris will oversee the coverage which will be transmitted to a potential 123 million households in 59 countries.
The live feed will require five fixed camera locations on each stage, ten on-board cameras inside cars, a helicopter-mounted camera and a satellite plane in the skies above Perthshire and Stirlingshire.Furthermore Eurosport will show comprehensive highlights of all the Rally of Scotland action during the weekend (7-9 Oct) and following week.The Errochty and High Corrie stages were selected following a reconnaissance of the competitive route by Eurosport Events team, the IRC's promoter. This enabled it to plan its stage camera locations and also factor in spectacular aerial and panoramic views of the breathtaking Scottish countryside which makes the event one of the most popular on the IRC calendar.
A five-minute Eurosport video from 2010's Rally of Scotland can currently be viewed on the official www.rallyofscotland.comhttp://e2ma.net/go/10742562811/3921715/109845988/39938/b64/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5yYWxseW9mc2NvdGxhbmQuY29tLw==> website.Jean-Pierre Nicolas, the IRC's Motorsport Development Manager, said fans watching Rally of Scotland on TV would be treated to a spectacular show. He commented: "Errochty is a model stage - fast, quite wide, flowing with a perfect surface. High Corrie is very tricky and technical with lots of possibilities for the drivers to make mistakes. The action will be spectacular."Andrew Coe, the Chief Executive of Rally of Scotland organiser International Motor Sports, added: "Eurosport's coverage of the IRC is raved about the world over by motor sport fans. Its fantastic grasp of the sport, both technical and logistical know-how plus the dedication of its personnel - all experts in their respective fields - means our event is really spoilt when it comes to exposure and excitement on TV. The viewership figures are absolutely staggering.
"Eurosport, though, is always quick to point out just how enjoyable it finds filming the action in Scotland, thanks to its unique stages and stunning backdrop. That is a ringing endorsement of Rally of Scotland, its organising team and partners, given the many countries and events that Eurosport visits and covers as part of its IRC coverage."Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer for EventScotland said: "Having the opportunity to reach out to a huge European audience through the coverage on Eurosport for this year's Rally of Scotland is a wonderful opportunity to attract more visitors to our shores.
"Truly showcasing Scotland as the perfect stage for motor sports, the viewing audience will get a taste of our dramatic scenery, the challenges it presents for rallying and the enthusiastic fans we have in Scotland who will be supporting out on the course."The Rally of Scotland (7-9 Oct) is the UK's only round of the high-profile Intercontinental Rally Challenge and is contested by many of the world's leading rally drivers, teams and cars.
After its Ceremonial Start from Stirling Castle on the Friday (7 Oct), this year's Rally of Scotland heads straight into its first two competitive timed stages in the dark of Carron Valley on the Stirlingshire-North Lanarkshire border. The Saturday (8 Oct) sees classic stages in Perthshire such as Craigvinean, Drummond Hill and Errochty all run twice. The Sunday (9 Oct) sees the drivers return to Carron Valley before two more new tests in Stirlingshire, Loch Chon and the hugely challenging 26km High Corrie - each will be run twice. They will then head back into Perthshire for the event's final two stages and Ceremonial Finish in the majestic grounds of Scone Palace.Admission is £20 per public vehicle per stage with the exception of Sunday morning's Carron Valley stage which is £10 per vehicle.For Rally of Scotland stage locations and start times during its three days (7-9 Oct) see the Spectator section on the official website rallyofscotland.com
