The Royal Scottish Automobile Club (RSAC) Scottish Rally is the highlight of the Scottish Rally Championship and the longest-standing rally event in Scotland, having been first contested in 1932. The event takes place in May or June of every year and the organisation claims that the warm weather and unique forest stages draw competitors from around the world. The rally has previously hosted a round of the World Rally Championship, enjoying the status of being a round of the Rally Championship for Drivers in 1978, and it also spent 26 years on the calendar of the European Rally Championship but in recent years it has been limited to being a round of the Scottish Rally Championship.
History The first Scottish rally took place from 4 to 9 July 1932 on a route of approximately through Scotland and England and consisted of six days of competition with participants beginning the rally at one of six start points in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, London, Harrogate and Droitwich. The first day involved competitors travelling from their chosen starting point before all rendezvousing in Scotland later in the event and finally ending in Edinburgh. Unlike in modern rallies where the object is to complete the course in as short a time as possible, competitors were set an average speed that they were expected to maintain on each stage. Points were awarded for meeting this target, the condition of the car at the end of the stage, and even for the number of occupants of each vehicle. There were also tests of driver and vehicle such as accelerating and braking challenges and "kerb driving" (driving as close as possible to the kerb without touching it). There were even dances organised in the evenings to allow drivers to socialise.
There was no single overall winner of the rally but G.F. Dennison (driving a Riley) was crowned champion of the small car category, while the large car category was won by J.S. Couldrey in a Hudson. There were also control prizes awarded for the best performer from each of the six starting points.
It was not until 1961 that a driver was awarded the overall winner's title, John Melvin being the first driver to receive that honour. The event used to enjoy International status, however since 1988, as the World Rally Championship moved to include only one event per country, it has been reduced to a National event in favour of the RAC Rally in Wales. Over the years, the event has been based in towns and cities throughout Scotland including Glasgow, Perth, Inverness and Dunoon. However, since 1997 it has been centered in Dumfries in South West Scotland.
The Scottish Rally formed part of the European Rally Championship from 1970 until 1996, but arguably its biggest moment came in 1978 when it formed part of the Cup for Rally Drivers. There was no World Championship title for rally drivers at this point, but the title was the precursor to today's World Rally Championship drivers' champion.
Notable winners of the Scottish Rally include Roger Clark, Hannu Mikkola, Stig Blomqvist, Ari Vatanen, Tony Pond, Malcolm Wilson, Richard Burns and Colin McRae. The most successful drivers in the event's history are Roger Clark and David Bogie, who tied Clark's record of six wins in 2019.
List of winners A full list of rally winners from the first time a single overall winner was recognised in 1961 until the present day is shown in the table below, along with their co-drivers and the car being driven. Year Driver Co-Driver Car2024 David Bogie Kirsty Riddick Volkswagen Polo GTI R52023 Jock Armstrong Hannah McKillop Subaru Impreza2022 Michael Binnie Claire Mole Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX2021 David Bogie John Rowan Mini John Cooper Works WRC 2020 Rally cancelled – COVID-19 pandemic2019 David Bogie John Rowan Škoda Fabia R52018 David Bogie Kevin Rae Škoda Fabia R52017 Euan Thorburn Paul Beaton Ford Fiesta R52016 Elfyn Evans Craig Perry Ford Fiesta R52015 David Bogie Kevin Rae Ford Fiesta R52014 Daniel McKenna Arthur Kierans Citroën DS3 R3T2013 Alastair Fisher Gordon Noble Citroën DS3 R3T2012 David Bogie Kevin Rae Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX2011 Jock Armstrong Kirsty Riddick Subaru Impreza2010 David Bogie Kevin Rae Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX2009 Mike Faulkner Peter Foy Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI 2008 Dave Weston Dave Robson Ford Focus RS WRC 2007 Gary Adam Gordon Adam Subaru Impreza 2006 Dave Weston Dave Robson Ford Focus RS WRC 2005 Mark Higgins Bryan Thomas Ford Focus RS WRC 2004 Jonny Milner Nicky Beech Subaru Impreza WRC 2003 Jonny Milner Nicky Beech Toyota Corolla WRC 2002 Jonny Milner Nicky Beech Toyota Corolla WRC 2001 Dave Weston Neil Shanks Subaru Impreza WRC 2000 Tapio Laukkanen Kaj Lindstrom VW Golf 1999 Tapio Laukkanen Kaj Lindstrom Renault Maxi Mégane 1998 Alister McRae David Senior VW Golf GTi Kit Car 1997 Alister McRae David Senior VW Golf GTi Kit Car 1996 Harri Rovanperä Juha Repo Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 1995 Tomas Abrahamsson Mike Kidd Ford Escort RS Cosworth 1994 Malcolm Wilson Bryan Thomas Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 1993 Richard Burns Robert Reid Subaru Legacy RS 1992 Colin McRae Derek Ringer Subaru Legacy RS 1991 Colin McRae Derek Ringer Subaru Legacy RS 1990 David Llewellin Phil Short Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165 1989 David Llewellin Phil Short Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165 1988 Jimmy McRae Rob Arthur Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 1987 David Llewellin Phil Short Audi Quattro 1986 Mikael Sundstrom Voitto Silander Peugeot 205 T16 1985 Malcolm Wilson Nigel Harris Audi Quattro A1 1984 Hannu Mikkola Phil Short Audi Quattro A2 1983 Stig Blomqvist Bjorn Cederberg Audi Quattro 1982 Hannu Mikkola Arne Hertz Audi Quattro 1981 Tony Pond Mike Nicholson Vauxhall Chevette 1980 Hannu Mikkola Arne Hertz Ford Escort RS1800 1979 Pentti Airikkala Risto Virtanen Vauxhall Chevette 1978 Hannu Mikkola Arne Hertz Ford Escort RS1800 1977 Ari Vatanen Peter Bryant Ford Escort RS1800 1976 Russell Brookes John Brown Ford Escort RS1800 1975 Roger Clark Jim Porter Ford Escort RS1600 1974 Rally cancelled – Tanker drivers' strike 1973 Roger Clark Jim Porter Ford Escort RS1600 1972 Hannu Mikkola Hamish Cardno Ford Escort RS1600 1971 Chris Sclater John Davenport Ford Escort RS1600 1970 Brian Culcheth Johnstone Syer Triumph 2.5 Pi 1969 Simo Lampinen Arne Hertz Saab 96 1968 Roger Clark Jim Porter Ford Escort RS1600 1967 Roger Clark Jim Porter Ford Cortina GT 1966 Tony Fall Mike Wood Mini Cooper S 1965 Roger Clark Jim Porter Ford Cortina GT 1964 Roger Clark Jim Porter Ford Cortina GT 1963 Andrew Cowan David Thomson Sunbeam Rapier 1962 Andrew Cowan David Thomson Sunbeam Rapier 1961 John Melvin Anne Melvin Sunbeam Alpine
References
External links Official Rally Website RSAC Official Website