WORLD Rally Cars will be eligible to challenge for next year’s County Saab Scottish Rally Championship title following a meeting this week. At a meeting of the General Committee on Monday (November 8) organisers took into account the opinions and views of competitors and events alike and agreed to look at alternative measures to reduce speed and control costs. Regulations will remain the same for next year, however it looks likely there will be changes in 2006.

Campbell Roy, newly elected chairman of the championship, said: “We have listened carefully to the views of the competitors, organisers and scrutineers on this issue. Although one suggestion was to ban post 1999 WRC’s we concluded that the majority opinion was strongly against this move and our advice was that it would currently be difficult and costly to police such a ban.”

Representatives from all eight SRC events were present at Monday’s meeting in Stirling, and the widespread feeling was that change was needed – but that a knee jerk reaction was not the best way forward.

A meeting, held the previous day, between registered competitors and the Championship‘s Competitor Representative, Jim Brown, highlighted the strength of opinion. Jim said: “The overriding feeling from competitors was that until a workable alternative could be found the eligibility for vehicles competing should remain the same as the 2004 championship. While the feeling is that change is needed it has to be reasonable and competitor-friendly.” Campbell added: “The newly elected Management Committee will appoint a working group over the next few weeks whose remit will be to liase with competitors / organisers / scrutineers and the MSA in order to formulate a report by May of next year. The recommendations will be focused on reducing costs and encouraging closer competition and after due consultation we will seek to implement these changes for the 2006 season.”

SRC chief scrutineer, Rab Macdonald, added: “What we need is a workable solution that can be policed easily as well as one that the competitors will understand.”

By listening to the competitors and events and taking an innovative approach, the SRC will constantly strive to improve and thereby provide a safe, competitive, and enjoyable series of events for everyone involved.

 

Updated 18th November 2004
Webmaster - Jim Paterson