Colin McRae Forest Stages Rally

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If the mods don't mind me posting a full press release...

All Star Rally Tribute

Five World Rally Champions, four British Champions, three American Champions and at least six Scottish Champions are all set to contest the Colin McRae Forest Stages Rally, in association with Pirelli.

In a unique, national rally entry list, which will never again be repeated, this very special event will pay tribute to the former World Rally Champion, Colin McRae.

With the rally Regulations and Entry Form shortly to be available, the list of those who are determined to attend include five world champions: Bjorn Waldegard (1979), Ari Vatanen (1981), Hannu Mikkola (1983), Stig Blomqvist (1984) and our own Louise Aitken-Walker, the first Scot and first Briton, to win a world rally title when she won the Ladies World Rally title in 1990.

From America, the visitors include the country’s first national rally champion, John Buffum and its most recent, Travis Pastrana, with runner-up Ken Block also determined to visit Scotland. All three were firm family friends as well as rivals.

The line up of British Champions includes Jim McRae (1981, 82, 84, 87 and 88) and Alister McRae (1995) plus Russell Brookes (1977 and 85) and Malcolm Wilson, now boss of the Ford World Rally team who won the British title himself in 1994. And making their own personal tributes are English Champion Phil Collins and Northern Ireland’s Kris Meeke who won the British Junior title in 2002.

Topping the list of Scottish champions is Andrew Cowan who won his first national title in 1976, but he was also the first ever winner of the world’s first marathon rally when he won the London to Sydney Marathon in a Scottish built car (Hillman Hunter) in 1968.

Three times Scottish Rally Champion Ken Wood will be joined by more recent champions including Dave Weston, Jimmy Girvan and Michael Horne.

Organised by Coltness Car Club, the Colin McRae Forest Stages Rally will start from and finish in Perth with a lunch halt at Aberfeldy. The route will include five of the most evocative special stages in British rallying including three of Colin McRae’s all time favourites at Craigvinean, Drummond Hill and Errochty.

This year’s event is also the final round of the 2008 County Saab Scottish Rally Championship at which this year’s national champion will be confirmed.

Club President and Rally Manager, Jim Brown, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the level of interest and support for our event. This year’s rally will represent a fitting tribute to one of the sport’s most exciting drivers and a genuine personality. Coltness Car Club are therefore determined to put on a good show for competitors and rally fans alike. To us in this club, Colin wasn’t just a superstar and a hero, he was a club member first and foremost. Indeed, Colin took a personal interest in this rally ever since it started 14 years ago. He is still sorely missed.”

Joining Coltness Car Club for this unique event as title sponsor is tyre manufacturer and rally tyre specialist Pirelli Tyres.

I'll be making the short trip down as a spectator for sure. What an awesome soundng event. Anyone else planning on going, or been before? Is it a good event?