* Route to run through stunning forests of Stirlingshire & Perthshire * Includes spectacular flat out stages by night * Ceremonial start at iconic Stirling Castle * 2011 winner to be crowned at Scone Palace

 The spectacular high speed route for this year's RACMSA Rally of Scotland - the UK's only round of the high profile Intercontinental Rally Challenge - has been announced with several exciting changes in place for 2011's event.Some of the world's leading rally drivers and teams representing top makes such as Ford, Skoda, Proton, Peugeot and Subaru will be in action on the event that this year takes place on the weekend of 7-9 October on the undulating gravel tracks in the vast forests of Stirlingshire and Perthshire.

Again, the rolling countryside of both counties will provide a stunning backdrop for Rally of Scotland and will also show off the country in all its splendour before a potential global TV audience of millions watching leading international sport broadcaster Eurosport's coverage of the event.

In addition, the fabulous setting plus the prestige of such a high level international rally will draw tens of thousands of motor sport fans from across Scotland and the UK. With invaluable support from volunteers, officials and marshals from the country's motor sporting fraternity as well as expert organisational input from EventScotland, Stirlingshire and Perth & Kinross councils and Forestry Commission Scotland, it all adds up to a sporting event which carries great national pride.

During its three days (7-9 October), crews competing in this year's Rally of Scotland will cover in excess of 1000km. More than 200 of those will be on the daunting special stages that will decide who is crowned the winner of this year's event.

Cars will be waved off from a ceremonial start at Stirling Castle on the Friday (7 Oct) but then comes an immediate change with the first two bursts of competitive action being held on a new stage called Carron Valley near Stirling - a 9km test in the dark through the forests around Carron Reservoir. Crews will tackle the stage twice before heading to an overnight halt at Perth Airport.

All of Saturday's action takes place in Perthshire and on what are some of the sport's most revered stages: Craigvinean (near Dunkeld), Drummond Hill (nr Kenmore) and Errochty (nr Calvine). Each stage will be run twice, first in the morning and again in the afternoon. Both Craigvinean and Drummond Hill have had minor tweaks made to the end of their stages, the former now with a particularly hair-raising series of high-speed crests over its final two kilometres. Furthermore, Drummond Hill will be held in the dark - adding to the spectacle, atmosphere and sense of anticipation for public watching stageside.

Following another overnight halt at Perth Airport's Service Park, Sunday's closing action moves to Stirlingshire, starting with a third blast around Carron Valley. Crews then head towards Aberfoyle for two runs each through the Loch Chon and High Corrie stages - each incorporating sections of last year's mammoth Loch Ard stage and split by a 'remote' service in Callander. Loch Chon's flying finish is close to a Victorian aqueduct that forms a magnificent attraction in the middle of this enormous forest complex. At 27km, High Corrie is the longest stage on the event and could therefore provide a real sting in the tail.

Finally, it will be at Scone Palace where this year's event is decided. The Palace's magnificent grounds will host the event's two final short stages as well as the podium celebrations - a fitting backdrop, for it was at Scone in years gone by that Scotland's kings were crowned.

Andrew Coe, Chief Executive of Rally of Scotland organiser International Motor Sports, commented: "The feedback each year from both UK and overseas crews has been that Rally of Scotland undoubtedly ranks as one of the best organised rallies anywhere in the world. This is testament to the dedicated and professional team which is drawn from the local network of Scottish motor clubs who run a truly world-class event of which Scotland can be justly proud. I sincerely believe that what is in store in 2011 for teams, drivers, officials, sponsors and, most importantly, the public, will make the Rally of Scotland a must-see event and we hope that as many people as possible will come out to support the event in October.

"The stages are among the most spectacular and testing the crews will ever face. Similarly, we continuously look for ways to improve the spectacle for the public and we will soon announce further plans regards access that will only enhance the experience. Details of our 2011 ticketing strategy will also be revealed in the near future.

"Meanwhile, our Clerk of the Course Iain Campbell and his team are, as ever, working tirelessly to ensure this year's event is the best yet and our many thanks go to him and, of course, EventScotland, Stirlingshire and Perth & Kinross councils and Forestry Commission Scotland for their tremendous support and enthusiasm for this event which not only produces a terrific sporting contest but also further shows off Scotland's majesty to a global audience."EventScotland, the national events agency, is continuing its support of the RACMSA Rally of Scotland for a third successive year. Its Chief Operating Officer Paul Bush OBE said: "Amidst the stunning backdrops of Perth and Kinross and Stirling, this event certainly showcases Scotland as the perfect stage for motor sport."From Stirling Castle on the Friday night to Scone Palace on the Sunday, the spectators and TV audience will witness exciting action across some of Scotland's finest natural landscapes and enjoy the splendour of some of our best known historical visitor attractions."Councillor Scott Farmer, Deputy Leader of Stirling Council and Portfolio Holder for Economy, Tourism & Finance, added: "Stirling looks forward to hosting this exciting event, with Perth & Kinross, for the third year. With the introduction of the Carron Valley stages to this year's route, spectators will be able to enjoy even more of the stunning scenery that Stirling has to offer."

And enthused Councillor John Kellas, Perth & Kinross Council's Enterprise & Infrastructure Convener: "The Rally of Scotland is an extremely exciting event which we are pleased to welcome to Perthshire again. The opportunity to see top-flight rallying in our scenic countryside and enjoy the event atmosphere at Scone Palace is something I hope many people will take up later this year."

2011 Rally of Scotland route at a glance (all timings provisional):Friday 7 October7.00pm      Ceremonial Start, Stirling Castle7.29pm      Special Stage 1, Carron Valley (nr Denny)            8.61km7.54pm      Special Stage 2, Carron Valley (nr Denny)            8.61km9.57pm      Overnight Service, Perth AirportSaturday 8 October8.25am      Re-start, Perth Airport9.16am      Special Stage 3, Craigvinean (nr Dunkeld)         16.54km10.41am    Special Stage 4, Drummond Hill (nr Kenmore)   13.16km12.06pm    Special Stage 5, Errochty (nr Calvine)                 17.68km4.11pm      Special Stage 6, Craigvinean (nr Dunkeld)         16.54km5.36pm      Special Stage 7, Errochty (nr Calvine)                 17.68km6.48pm      Special Stage 8, Drummond Hill (nr Kenmore)   13.16kmSunday 9 October9.08am      Special Stage 9, Carron Valley (nr Denny)           8.61km10.52am    Special Stage 10, High Corrie (nr Aberfoyle)     27.08km11.10am    Special Stage 11, Loch Chon (nr Aberfoyle)        9.91km12.08pm    Remote Service, Callender1.37pm      Special Stage 12, Loch Chon (nr Aberfoyle)        9.91km1.55pm      Special Stage 13, High Corrie (nr Aberfoyle)     27.08km4.50pm      Special Stage 14, Scone Palace (nr Perth)         2.76km5.12pm      Special Stage 15, Scone Palace (nr Perth)         2.76km5.24pm      Podium, Scone Palace (nr Perth)