McCulloch Going for 3 In A Row At The Solway Coast Rally This Weekend
Written by author on August 5, 2015
A host of motorsport stars from near and far will travel to the region this weekend to contest the www.UsedCarParts.co.uk Solway Coast Rally on the military ranges near Dundrennan.
The event, which is held annually and is organised by Solway Car Club, has attracted a capacity entry of 90 cars for the Senior event on Saturday, which will see competitors from the Five of Clubs, Scottish Tarmack, North of England Tarmacadam, and Borders Challenge Rally Championship all tackling the 45 mile event on the MOD ranges.
Winner in 2013 and 2014 Mark McCulloch from Newton Stewart will start as top seed, with Mairi Riddick (Haugh of Urr) alongside in their Mitsubishi Evo IX. The Hardie Engineering Subaru Impreza of 2012 winners David Hardie and John McCulloch (Dumfries/Newton Stewart) will start second, with Kirkgunzeon’s Rory Young/Allan Cathers starting at 3 in the Scottish Christmas Trees Ford Fiesta R5. Following them will be son and father duo of ex-Scottish Rally Champions Gary and Gordon Adam in a Ford Escort Mk II, with 4x winner of the Solway Coast Rally Ian Paterson (Mouswald) rounding off the top 5.
Sunday’s event is a counter in three championships for junior drivers aged 14-17. 32 of the nation’s youngsters from the Brick & Steel Junior 1000 Ecosse Challenge, McGrady Insurance ANICC Junior 1000 Rally Challenge Ireland and Kick Energy Junior 1000 Rally Championship will tackle the event in a selection of 1000cc cars. This is the first time this season that the three series have joined together, allowing those from Scotland and Northern Ireland to pitch themselves against the best drivers from the sister series in England and Wales. Newly-crowned 2015 Junior 1000 Rally Challenge Ireland Champion Josh McErlean (Kilrea, NI) is the top seed in a Peugeot 107, but he will be challenged all the way by the Citroen C1s of current Brick & Steel Junior 1000 Ecosse Challenge leader Finlay Retson (Blairgowrie) and Welshopool based Zak Hughes, who finished on the podium on his last visit to the ranges in 2014.
The popular event has again attracted generous sponsorship from Dumfries based DA Autoparts, with this event marking the 35th consecutive year that the Stewart family have supported the event. Peter Stewart will be in action in his Ford Fiesta R2 with novice co-driver Paula McGuire alongside. Paula, a journalist, will be competing as part of her challenge to try the top 15 jobs that kids dream of doing when they grow up.
The organisers Solway Car Club, winners of the coveted ‘MSA Club of the Year’ title in 2014, have made provisions for spectators, with spectator points in every special stage. Parking is available adjacent to the A711, a short walk from the Service Area at Girdstingwood, or at each of the spectator zones. The action will start at 9am on both Saturday and Sunday, and more information and maps can be found on the club’s website, www.solwaycarclub.co.uk
