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Rutherford Revels In Rock Solid Granite

Isle of Mull youngster Craig Rutherford continued his impressive start to 2012 with a fine drive on Saturday’s Coltel Granite City Rally. The 21 year-old took his second consecutive win in the top class of the Brick and Steel Ecosse Challenge, building his speed in the Honda Civic Type-R in the process.

Rutherford and co-driver Martin MacCabe finished the Aberdeen-based rally 28th out of more than 100 starters. By the time the clocks stopped after 45 miles of rallying over five forest special stages, the junior driver was third-fastest front-wheel drive contender and quickest Ecosse Challenge pilot.

The result keeps up Craig’s scorching start to 2012. In the first four months of the current Scottish rally season, the company director has sealed two wins in the Civic Type-R Ecosse Challenge, taken two top-three 2WD finishes, and bagged one of this year’s RSAC Scholarships. Now the Fionnphort junior has his sights set on even more progress.

“All in all it was a pretty good day’s work, we got through and set a solid pace,” reflects Rutherford. “Looking at the results I’m very pleased with the outcome – first in the Challenge class, first in our class on the rally outright and another top-thirty!”

“The stages were quite rough in places, although the ruling that allows cars like mine to run at the head of the field certainly helps,” continues Craig, who was full of praise for his Challenge-specification Honda Civic Type-R. “The car never missed a beat all day and I’m learning all the time. We’ll be up there in no time, and I’m aiming to go even faster next time out – no question about it.”

The next outing for Craig Rutherford is scheduled to be the Jim Clark Rally on the weekend of 1-3 June 2012. The Jim Clark sees crews switch from the usual gravel forest tracks to the tarmac lanes of the Scottish Borders. And when you consider that Craig hails from the Isle of Mull – also known as the world capital of tarmac rallying – the young Muileach is sure to be one to watch as he continues the learning curve with his Honda.

For further information contact Craig Rutherford on 07742 143524 or Leslie Mabon on 07864 006762. For more information on the Brick and Steel Ecosse Challenge, visit www.ecossechallenge.co.uk

Joint Winners for Rally Talent Scheme

Two aspiring young rally drivers have been named as joint winners of a prestigious new scholarship run by RSAC Motorsport, in conjunction with the Brick & Steel Ecosse Challenge.

Craig Rutherford from the Isle of Mull and Callum Atkinson from Lauder were both deemed worthy of the award by a panel of judges at the weekend.

The 21-year-olds were up against strong competition from two other finalists, Scott Balgowan from Duns and Scott Peacock from Castle Douglas.

The RSAC Motorsport New Talent Scholarship is open to Ecosse Challenge registered drivers who are under the age of 23 and in their first or second year of stage rallying.

The selection panel met at Stirling University on Sunday, following a Colin McRae Junior Programme session organised by the MSA Scottish Rally Championship.

The four finalists were interviewed by a panel of judges consisting of Grahame Douglas from RSAC Motorsport, Andrew Pemberton from the Brick & Steel Ecosse Challenge, Garry Headridge from the Scholarship board, and Jordan Black, runner-up in the 2011 programme.

The drivers were questioned on car preparation, how well they worked with their co-drivers and other team members, and what they could bring to the scholarship.

After a lengthy discussion, the panel agreed that Callum and Craig had shown the most commitment and spirit during the interview process, and decided to award a scholarship to both drivers.

“We really couldn’t separate the two”, said Garry Headridge: “It had always been the intention of RSACMS to offer the scholarship to two drivers from 2013. This decision brings forward our plans by 12 months!”

“All four finalists should be proud of what they have achieved”, added Andrew Pemberton: “This continues the strong relationship between the Ecosse Challenge and RSAC Motorsport.”

The award means Craig and Callum will receive a free entry to the RSAC Scottish Rally in Dumfries on 30 June, in addition to £100 for each of the other four rounds of the 2012 Brick and Steel Ecosse Challenge they start.

Both drivers were delighted with their joint success and believe it will help them progress in their respective rallying careers.

Craig, who won the first round of the Ecosse Challenge on last month's Border Counties Rally, said: “It’s great to win the scholarship and be part of the RSAC team. It will also give me the opportunity to get more seat time in the car with the test before the Scottish rally. The publicity that comes with the scholarship will really help as well”.

“Winning the scholarship will definitely cement my future participation in the Ecosse Challenge this year due to the financial benefits received”, said Callum: “It will also help improve my media skills and hopefully help to attract sponsors.”

The second round of the Brick & Steel Ecosse Challenge is the Coltel Granite City Rally in Aberdeenshire on Saturday 14 April.

For more information please visit www.rsacmotorsport.co.uk or www.ecosse205challenge.co.uk

Class 7/Juniors/2012 dates

At the recent Scottish Rally Championship AGM the decision was taken to allow 16V front wheel drive cars in the 1600 to 2000cc category to run alongside those in classes 1 - 6, ahead of the main field on the Border Counties, Granite City and RSAC Scottish rallies. They presently run at the front on the McRae Stages Rally.

Newly elected Chairman of the SRC, Dave Robson said: "A few years ago, we decided to let the smaller engined 2 wheel drive cars run in front of the main field on several rounds of the championship, as a means of attracting more competitors into those categories. This is usually the starting point for many of our Juniors and those new to the sport. With the face of rallying changing in the UK, and with the British Championship moving to 2 wheel drive next year, we felt that allowing 16V 1600 to 2000cc front wheel drive cars to also run at the front of the field on these events will help some of our juniors step up into more modern machinery.

As a championship we keep a close eye on what is happening on the national scene and this move will enable more of our competitors to consider cars in this class, which may ultimately be a stepping stone to competing further afield, or at a higher level with the same cars."

This change will be reflected in the definition of Junior drivers . For the purposes of the 2012 Championship Junior drivers will be defined as those who meet the following criteria:

(a) Was born on or after January 1st 1989

(b) Competes in a vehicle eligible for one of the following championship classes; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7

The class structure for the 2012 championship remains unchanged from the 2011 season.

The programme of events will again include 7 gravel rounds and 1 tarmac round and the dates will be as follows:

18th February 2012 - The Arnold Clark Thistle Snowman Rally

17th March 2012 - The Brick and Steel Border Counties Rally

14th April 2012 - The Granite City Rally

3rd June 2012 - The Jim Clark Reivers Rally

30th June 2012 - The RSAC Scottish Rally

4th August 2012 - The Gleaner Oil and Gas Speyside Stages

1st September 2012 - The Merrick Stages

6th October 2012 - The Colin McRae Forest Stages

Major Boost For New Rally Talent

RSAC Motorsport, the promoters of the Brick and Steel Ecosse Challenge, have launched an exciting new scholarship scheme for young drivers which will run in conjunction with the acclaimed rally series.

The New Talent Scholarship is open to Ecosse Challenge registered drivers who are in their first or second year of stage rallying and who will be under 23 years of age for the first round of the championship on the 17th March 2012.

The aim is to provide young drivers with the chance to showcase their rallying talent. It will give them the opportunity to develop both their driving potential and social development skills in dealing with the press and broadcast media.

As well as a free entry to the 2012 RSAC Scottish Rally, the media stage, and a management pack, the Scholarship winner will also receive £100 for each round of the Ecosse Challenge they enter, and the possibility of the same support again next year.

RSAC Scottish Rally Clerk of the Course Jonathan Lord said: “We are delighted to mark eighty years since the first Scottish Rally by supporting the Scholarship. Scotland has a great rallying tradition, and we aim to ensure that our young drivers have the best possible chance of keeping that heritage alive.”

Applications for the Scholarship are now available to download and must be completed and received by Saturday 24th March. Finalists will be invited to an interview on Sunday 1st April, with the winner being announced later that day.

The winner must be available for at least two publicity events in tandem with the Dumfries-based RSAC Scottish Rally in June and may be required to attend other press events with their car.

The Ecosse Challenge Co-Ordinator, Andrew Pemberton said: “We commend RSAC Motorsport for their help and support for our sport that we love. This will help new drivers compete who have limited funds and the additional support that is available should keep them on the right track.”