RAC 2023 23rd-27th November 2023

[FM155]

RAC Rally coming up again with Saturday stages in the Galloway Hills so much more accessible than previous years for NI speccys.
350 stage miles over 5 days which is almost a season's stage mileage of something like the BTRDA championship in one event.

Route

Plenty of interesting car/driver combinations that will be great to watch. Currently looking at ferry times and stage maps for a trip across on the Saturday. Most of the stages are Galloway hills stages but there are 2 stages that haven't been used in a long time which should again be very interesting. The map links below are from older rallies as the RAC programme isn't released yet but gives a good indication of where the stages will be.

Interesting drivers/cars:

Kris Meeke Mk2 Escort
Oliver Solberg Mk2 Escort
Marty McCormack Mk2 Escort
Chris Ingram TR7 V8 (!)
Richard Tuthill 911

TBH, there are loads of great drivers there and interesting cars. http://files.freethought.website/freethought27/file/unseededentrylist041023.pdf

The Saturday schedule and links to stage maps are below:

Stage #	Name	Length (Miles)	First Car Due	Map link
15	Ae	8.5	08:39	â SS 2+5 - Ae stage in Google Maps - RSAC Scottish Rally 2023 [SRC] Stage map Ae - RSAC Scottish Rally 2023 â Also on this site: Related stages, itinerary/schedule, elevation chart/plot, onboard video. www.rally-maps.com
16	Dalbeattie	4.6	10:08	â SS 1+2 - Dalbeattie stage in Google Maps - Galloway Hills Rally 2019 [BRC] Stage map Dalbeattie - Galloway Hills Rally 2019 â Also on this site: Related stages, itinerary/schedule, elevation chart/plot, onboard video. www.rally-maps.com
17	Glen Gap 1	7.0	10:37	â SS 3+4 - Glengap stage in Google Maps - Galloway Hills Rally 2019 [BRC] Stage map Glengap - Galloway Hills Rally 2019 â Also on this site: Related stages, itinerary/schedule, elevation chart/plot, onboard video. www.rally-maps.com
18	Glencaird Hill 1	10.75	12:55	â SS 35 - Glencaird stage in Google Maps - CHI Scottish Rally 1990 [BRC] Stage map Glencaird - CHI Scottish Rally 1990 â Also on this site: Related stages, itinerary/schedule, elevation chart/plot. www.rally-maps.com
19	Arroch Hill 1	8.85	13:32	â SS 3 - Arroch Hill stage in Google Maps - Rally Alno 1996 Stage map Arroch Hill - Rally Alno 1996 â Also on this site: Related stages, itinerary/schedule, elevation chart/plot. www.rally-maps.com
20	Glen Gap 2	7.0	15:17	â SS 3+4 - Glengap stage in Google Maps - Galloway Hills Rally 2019 [BRC] Stage map Glengap - Galloway Hills Rally 2019 â Also on this site: Related stages, itinerary/schedule, elevation chart/plot, onboard video. www.rally-maps.com
21	Clencaird Hill 2	10.75	16:55	â SS 35 - Glencaird stage in Google Maps - CHI Scottish Rally 1990 [BRC] Stage map Glencaird - CHI Scottish Rally 1990 â Also on this site: Related stages, itinerary/schedule, elevation chart/plot. www.rally-maps.com
22	Arroch Hill 2	8.85	17:32	â SS 3 - Arroch Hill stage in Google Maps - Rally Alno 1996 Stage map Arroch Hill - Rally Alno 1996 â Also on this site: Related stages, itinerary/schedule, elevation chart/plot. www.rally-maps.com

 

[FM155]

I'm now booked to go over with a mate on the Friday, staying in Dumfries on Friday night and then going to a stage or two on the Saturday.

 

[Graham]

I'm now booked to go over with a mate on the Friday, staying in Dumfries on Friday night and then going to a stage or two on the Saturday.

Wish I could make it over, but funds do not permit. Maybe next year.

 

[FM155]

Space in the car if you can get a room in Dumfries

 

[Keith56]

Guys just to let you know stages 18 and 21 are incorrect, stage starts further up A714, about 1/2 mile further up, I live in the property shown on the stage on the RMS motoring site and had confirmed this is incorrect by the organisers. Should be a good alternative route coming down glencaird, not up. Also not clencaird but glencaird. Look Forward to the rally

 

[Keith56]

Guys just to let you know stages 18 and 21 are incorrect, stage starts further up A714, about 1/2 mile further up, I live in the property shown on the stage on the RMS motoring site and had confirmed this is incorrect by the organisers. Should be a good alternative route coming down glencaird, not up. Also not clencaird but glencaird. Look Forward to the rally

 

[AidanMcG]

Pity about Meeke but this clip from Solberg is brilliant, just like him across todays stages

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02ZBfEmCAhGrJXrcxXbAcLCLSs1gTiXANmm34TQp4br76vdbPyA65GLM96ewDHqLj8l&id=659836722&mibextid=WC7FNe

 

[Graham]

Been watching the live stream and following closely. Serious pace!

 

[Paul Hamill]

Fantastic event and coverage.Plenty of drama this morning.

 

[FM155]

Was spectating on Ae first thing this morning. Left our bnb in Dumfries at 6am (-4deg) and was on the stage at 6:30, got a great spot just after the hairpin but we could see the cars coming off the start across the valley for the first mile or so and then they would come into view down below us climbing up to the hairpin. The pace of the leading bunch compared to the rest was on a different planet, totally awesome. The noise of the stratos

Solberg, across the valley


Solberg, hairpin


Price, hairpin


Marty McCormack, hairpin
Marty McCormack Ae hairpin

James Ford, hairpin
James Ford Ae hairpin

Stratos, hairpin
Stratos Ae hairpin

 

[FM155]

Glued all the clips together into one. Was all the above named drivers plus James Ford and Richard Tuthill in 911s

Was watching the special stage coverage of that stage this morning and they were just across the valley, they were saying that it was -6C. I believe them, it was fairly baltic. Proper RAC weather, added to the experience though.

 

[Graham]

Solberg out. Broken shaft, meaning Marty McCormack and Barney Mitchell now lead from Perez and Gary in the Lancia.

Such a gripping event and such a shame Meeke, Pryve and Barrett exited so soon.

 

[DC.]

A real throwback to times past. I’m sure more will sign up for next years event.

A finishers rally, as ever.

 

[Graham]

Drive of the rally surely has to be Weaver in the Corsa. Absolutely outstanding, as always!

 

[FM155]

TBH, Marty was the one keeping a perfectly judged pace, both Solberg and Price were mental fast and although it was fantastic to watch, it's no surprise their cars gave them trouble. Surprised that Jason Pritchard wasn't in the groove but you could see that Richard Tuthill was keeping a good pace without risking anything. James Ford was quick in his 911 until he went out. The Special Stage live feed has been outstanding, better than WRC coverage tbh. Whole thing is class.

 

[FM155]

Drive of the rally surely has to be Weaver in the Corsa. Absolutely outstanding, as always!

View attachment 418068

Yeah, Weaver was on a good fast pace, really stood out amongst the other class runners.

We were watching the stage 9 live coverage in the BnB on Friday night and when Solberg got an 11:18 on Myherin, the reactions from mostly the local drivers here were laced with some lovely swearing from 1:07 lol

 

[Graham]

Yeah, Weaver was on a good fast pace, really stood out amongst the other class runners.

We were watching the stage 9 live coverage in the BnB on Friday night and when Solberg got an 11:18 on Myherin, the reactions from mostly the local drivers here were laced with some lovely swearing from 1:07 lol

Watched that with laughter.

McCourt was something like, "jeeeeezzz... That's some cut hae!"

 

[Graham]

 

[FM155]

Was watching the live feed earlier, gutted that Solberg couldn't bring it home at least. Too hard into it this morning, kielder probably isn't the place for a big charge but he had to give it a go.

 

[Graham]

Was watching the live feed earlier, gutted that Solberg couldn't bring it home at least. Too hard into it this morning, kielder probably isn't the place for a big charge but he had to give it a go.

At his level of the sport, simply bringing it home isn't in their vocabulary.

 

[FM155]

It should be, no point being the fastest man in the ditch. Was great to watch though!

5 Irish drivers / co-drivers and one Mexican in the top 3 cars lol....

Cathan McCourt has been great in this event, he has very little gravel experience in that car although he's fast in the R5/Rally 2 cars too. To be on the podium on his first attempt is a big achievement.

 

[Graham]

It should be, no point being the fastest man in the ditch. Was great to watch though!

5 Irish drivers / co-drivers and one Mexican in the top 3 cars lol....

Cathan McCourt has been great in this event, he has very little gravel experience in that car although he's fast in the R5/Rally 2 cars too. To be on the podium on his first attempt is a big achievement.

Absolutely.

Cathan in the R5 on local gravel earlier in the year took my breath away.

 

[Graham]

Final stage now live on YouTube.

 

[svensktoppen]

Glued all the clips together into one. Was all the above named drivers plus James Ford and Richard Tuthill in 911s

What a location

And what a day

Not envious at all, lol.

 

[Graham]

Cathan has passed Perez in the stage, could very well be a Northern Ireland, one, two, overall.

Bryan Jardine is also a local man who's held second in the national event from almost the start in his RS1600.

Fingers crossed.