Classic stages return for BRC’s Jim Clark Rally

The highly-regarded two-day event has long enjoyed a place in the BRC calendar, and its legendary closed roads around the host town provide a sensational mix of deceptive moorland roads coupled with twisty country lanes and the perfect offering for the third round of the season.

Over the decades, its iconic Langton water splash has long been the picture postcard of the British Rally Championship and thanks to a shake-up in the format of the rally, the famous stage returns to the roster after a decade away from the schedule.

Packed into Friday night are six high-speed tests with the second pass likely to be under the cover of darkness to test championship contenders to the limit. Saturday crams in eight tests, taking the total rally miles to 88, over 20 more than the 2023 edition.

And the unforgiving roads will see a staggering entry weaving its way across the Borders landscape, with around 140 crews taking to the event. Once again, the BRC brings a top-drawer list of drivers, co-drivers and machinery all eager to stamp their mark on this landmark rally.

Championship leaders Chris Ingram and Alex Kihurani head into round three with one win under their belts in a Volkswagen Polo GTi. Ingram’s lack of knowledge of the region could play into his rival’s hands; he hasn’t been to the event since 2013, but he will be eager to uphold the Castrol MEM Rally Team honours regardless.

Fresh from WRC Rally Portugal, William Creighton and Liam Regan have enjoyed an impressive BRC form with two second place results so far this season. The M-Sport Ford Rally Team crew will be back in their Ford Fiesta Rally2 and with a stellar asphalt pace of late, may well be looking at a maiden BRC win.

But a glance down the seeded entry list unveils a myriad of likely winners, none more so than Keith Cronin and Mikie Galvin who are previous victors on the rally in 2022. A difficult BRC campaign so far has meant they are down the standings, but once Cronin gets hold of his Fiesta Rally2, will be a hard act to follow.

If anyone knows how to tackle the Borders roads, it’s Duns drivers Garry Pearson and Euan Thorburn. Thorburn is reunited with Paul Beaton for the weekend and stormed to a Reivers Rally [Sunday’s non-championship event] win in 2023 so is well versed at handling his VW Polo on the Border’s roads. Equally, Pearson is settling into his Ford Fiesta and with Daniel Barritt on the notes, he could well nail a victory on home soil.

Osian Pryce landed victory at round two in Wales with a sensational drive on the gravel in his Fiesta Rally2. He and co-driver Rhodri Evans blitzed their rivals and put a round one retirement firmly behind them. The rally hasn’t been kind to Pryce in the past, so he will be eager to make amends this time around.

Meirion Evans and Jonathan Jackson head north in the Toyota Yaris GR Rally2 after two solid finishes on the car’s UK debut campaign. Third overall at the season opener has been a highlight so far and with additional asphalt mileage outside of the BRC, could well hit the ground running.

After missing the Severn Valley Stages, Max McRae returns to the series after concentrating on his Junior European Rally Championship campaign.

The M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2 driver showed flair in the season opener but failed to make the finish. He will be hoping for more luck this time around and is re-joined by Cammy Fair in the co-driver seat.