Rally - To the Hills

If the current state of stage rallying is getting you down there could be an alternative. The speeds may be slower, but the costs are lower and the accidents cheaper. On the other hand, you will get muckier a lot quicker and you will be physically knackered and mentally drained at the end of it. 

Spectators are well catered for too. There are fewer rules and restrictions and it can be spectacular at the right vantage point, but the biggest attraction must surely be the noise. There’s little to beat the deep throated growl of a hard working, big capacity V8 in the distance – or could that be a bear? In other words, don’t tempt fate. Don’t stand there eating a poke of chips or you might just find out.

All the details and more pics here:

http://www.jaggybunnet.co.uk/2015/12/09-dec-scottish-borders-hill-rally/

Rally - Hyundai WRC

Earlier today Hyundai Motorsport took the wraps off its 2016 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) contender, the New Generation i20 WRC, at the team's factory in Alzenau, Germany.

From a standing start in 2013, the team developed a brand new WRC car from scratch for its first season of competition. The car secured a maiden win in Germany in 2014. From there, the team enjoyed a more consistent second season, scoring four podium finishes and fighting for second place in the Manufacturers' Championship right up to the season finale.

This past year, the team has also been committed to a year-long test and development programme for a WRC specification of the road-going New Generation i20, with its competitive debut set for Rallye Monte-Carlo 2016. The New Generation i20 WRC has already accumulated 8,000km of testing prior to today's launch, and has proven to be quicker than its predecessor, with the team's drivers also praising improved drivability.

Hyundai Motorsport will field three cars in every round of the 2016 Championship, with Dani Sordo, Hayden Paddon and Thierry Neuville all confirmed for a full season. The precise car-driver composition will differ from event to event. The team will begin its third season with two New Generation i20 WRCs and one previous model at Rallye Monte-Carlo before increasing to three identical cars from Rally Sweden.

The team has also retained the services of rising Dutch star Kevin Abbring, who will remain as Hyundai Motorsport Test Driver. Abbring will contest selected WRC rounds in a fourth car, but his primary focus will be on managing development of the team's 2017 WRC car and R5 activities.

The R5 project, run under Hyundai Motorsport's customer racing division, will roll out in the next few weeks. There will be a development phase during the first half of 2016, homologation of the car in mid-2016, with orders being accepted in the second part of the year.

Rally - Toyota WRC

Under the guidance and direction of Tommi Mäkinen, Toyota's World Rally Championship team is taking shape and on target, but the driver line-up has yet to be confirmed. Makes you wonder who is available, eh? Interview with Tommi Mäkinen here:

http://www.jaggybunnet.co.uk/2015/12/04-dec-wrc-toyota-on-schedule/

Rally - Future Champions

That was close! 4 points determined the outcome of this year’s Brick and Steel Junior 1000 Ecosse Challenge with Northern Ireland’s 15 year old Peter Bennett taking the ‘Big J’ trophy by just 4 points from Blairgowrie’s Finlay Retson, also just 15 years of age. On hand to present the awards was the 2015 Scottish Rally Champion, one Jock Armstrong Esq. And yes Jock did win his bet, although there is absolutely no truth in the scandalous accusation that David Bogie challenged him to attend the awards ceremony in his best pyjamas!

All the Junior runners and winners here:
http://www.jaggybunnet.co.uk/2015/12/03-dec-2015-junior-1000-winners/

Rally - SRC 2016

Late last night, the Scottish Rally Championship confirmed its calendar and dates for the 2016 ARR Craib sponsored national series next year.

As expected, there are 7 all-gravel rounds including one brand new one – note the name change from ‘Granite City’ to ‘Grampian’ - with the team responsible for last May’s hugely successful event back in place for next year on a new date in August. That means the Speyside will run earlier in the year, in April. Next year’s final round will also be much earlier with the Galloway Hills reverting to a September date.

The organisers have also revealed details of some new initiatives to try and encourage more drivers to do more events.

Full information here:

http://www.jaggybunnet.co.uk/2015/12/03-dec-2016-src-calendar/

Rally - BRC 2016

The BRC has today confirmed its calendar and dates for the 2016 series. As expected there have been some changes to the line-up following their earlier announcement in September. The Jim Clark Rally has not been included as it will be back on gravel for one more year although the BRC is keen to include it in 2017 when it’s back on tarmac. Neither is the Granite City featuring in the British calendar although it would appear that there is a brand new forest event scheduled to replace it next year. That should ensure a 7 round all-gravel Scottish Rally Championship for 2017. As yet there has been no puff of white smoke from the SRC committee room meetings, but things appear to be looking good for next year. We’ll just have to wait for the official announcement! 

http://www.jaggybunnet.co.uk/2015/12/02-dec-brc-2016-dates-confirmed/

Prize nights

Gordon and Jillian Shedden had a busy weekend. Scotland’s fastest couple were in Edinburgh on Friday night at the annual ‘Scottish Car of the Year’ awards and then in Oxford on Saturday night for the ‘TOCA Night of Champions’.

There was a nice touch at the Friday night ‘do’ when the Honda Civic Type R was announced as the winner of the ‘Hot Hatch’ category at the SCOTY awards and Honda asked Gordon to accept the trophy on their behalf. He picked up more silverware on the Saturday night when he collected the 2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship trophy.

Topping the weekend off was the double presentation on Friday night. Each year the President of the AoSMW, Alisdair Suttie (some time hillclimber and ‘specials’ builder), makes his own presentation to someone from the world of motoring or motor sport, and this year for the first time ever, there were joint winners, Gordon and Jillian Shedden. This year’s award was in recognition for both their efforts for the work they do supporting and promoting motor sport at Knockhill, Scotland’s National Motor Sports Centre.