Battle of the Titans

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Battle of the Titans set for the Beatson’s Building Supplies Mull Rally

  • The Beatson’s Building Supplies Mull Rally gears up for 11 – 13 October event
  • An impressive entry sees island regulars set for battle with mainland protagonists
  • 2023 winner Fergus Barlow makes a dramatic swap to top-flight machinery to defend his title
  • Reverting to a more traditional format offers the ultimate rallying challenge

The Beatson’s Building Supplies Mull Rally blasts back into action next weekend as the highly anticipated 11-13 October event begins its three-day mammoth adventure.

Organised by Mull Car Club, the jewel in the crown of UK rallying will see a bumper entry of around 150 cars tackle 139 miles of high-speed competitive action on the island, spread across twenty special stages and three, long, arduous legs.

Thanks to its return to a more traditional format, the 52nd edition of the Mull Rally will feature a stellar list of contenders aiming for glory, either fighting for the honour of leading the procession through Tobermory town centre on Sunday afternoon as rally winners, contending for class-based victory or simply finishing this year’s event – a feat in itself.

Sponsored for a seventh consecutive year by Beatson’s Building Supplies, the event boasts an impressive history dating back to 1969 and is renowned as one of Europe’s most challenging closed-road events. Reaching each corner of the island, the entire community can embrace one of the most exciting stage rallies in existence.

Lining up to do battle, is a fascinating list of top-flight drivers and co-drivers and despite being a small Hebridean island, boasts an impressive line-up of Mull crews littering the 150-strong entry list.

They will be led away by none other than 2023 rally winner and Mull resident Fergus Barlow. Despite originally announcing his intention to do the rally in a rear-wheel-drive rocket – a Ford Escort MKII and with co-driving brother Craig, Barlow will now revert to more familiar machinery.

“The financial hurdles of making it to the start line are a constant battle, and this year has been no exception for us” he explains.

“We originally set our sights on entering with an Escort, but despite our best efforts, the budget just didn’t come together.

“Thanks to Dom Buckley Motorsport, an opportunity presented itself for a Rally2 option, and we’re still working to close the financial gap; the raffle we’re running—where the winner gets a run in the rally shakedown—has been a great help.

“My brother Craig, who had hoped to join us, broke his hand in a mountain bike crash while visiting for my wedding in August. Between that injury and the logistics of getting medical clearance and multiple flights from New Zealand, I’ve teamed up with Darren Thompson. He’s a close friend, fellow Tobermory and Rockfield man, and my groomsman. Darren has deep roots in this rally, he co-drove for his brother, top Mull Rally contender Stephen Thompson before switching to the driver’s seat himself, finishing 16th overall last year.

“While we haven’t done much prep this year, our goal is simple: enjoy the rally, have fun, and take a shot at a local lockout of the podium, alongside Paul and John. We already had our big win last year, and no one can take that away from me”

Despite missing 2023, Mull man Paul MacKinnon returns with co-driver Paul Beaton and will pilot a VW Polo R5. As a four-time rally winner on Mull, MacKinnon knows exactly what’s required to compete at the sharp end on the island and will need to bed into his new surroundings quickly if he is to stave off the advances of those around him.

Completing a Mull 1,2,3, Dervaig’s John MacCrone bids for another home win, returning in a Fiesta Rally2 with co-driver Kirsty Riddick who makes her first start on the event in sixteen years. MacCrone ended his 2023 event early but will be looking for redemption this time around.

2021 winner Daniel Harper is the only non-Mull resident in 25 years to take victory and the MINI JCW WRC driver will be another to put last year’s event behind him with a top result.

Podium sitters in 2023, James Ford/Neil Shanks [Citroen C3 Rally2] and Neil Roskell [Ford Fiesta Rally2] will also be looking for a repeat of their result last year, with Roskell being equipped with Mull co-driver Daniel Barritt this time around.

The two-wheel drive charge is headed by regular visitors David Bogie/John Rowan [Ford Escort MKII] and Ross Hunter/Chris Dodds switch to a raucous Peugeot 208 Rally4 for 2024.

Other interesting entries come from experienced Mull Rally contender John Cope [Ford Fiesta R5] who will tackle his first island event since 2016. A regular on the rally over the decades, Cope has contested twenty-five editions of the event and although a regular podium sitter, has never sealed the coveted victory. He returns with co-driver Clive Molyneux, the first time they have contested an event together in seven years.

Event sponsor John Marshall also lines up in his Ford Escort MKII for the first time. Previously assisting with course car duties, Marshall has several starts to his name in four-wheel-drive machinery but will thread the classic Escort through the lanes in competitive mode this time around.

And it’s a fresh start to this year’s event on Friday [11 October] with a new location for the non-timed Shakedown taking crews across the Glengorm test, just northwest of Tobermory.

Once the darkness falls, crews will gather in Tobermory before being flagged off from Ledaig Car Park for the Ceremonial Start before the Glen Aros and Loch Tuath tests and a much-needed service in Craignure. Ben More, Scridain and a double run over Ardtun in the Ross of Mull rounds out the evening, with a finish around midnight at Pennyghael.

Saturday’s restart gets underway from Salen, with Ben More, Gribun and Scridain being enjoyed in daylight, as will another run over Glen Aros, with a slight modification from Friday. Tobermory will host service to bring the cars into the social hub of the community before setting off for a run over Calgary onto the final stage of the leg over the Lochs once again. The leg ends back in Tobermory just after 15:00.

After a short rest halt, it’s all go again as crews head out from the Craignure re-start in darkness for the final and most demanding leg of all. A clockwise route sees Loch Kinloch, Inch Kenneth and Knock included, before a whopping 23-mile “Long & Fast One” test greets crews ahead of a Craignure service.

The first three stages are repeated before an 18-mile blast across Calgary Bay continuing up over the lochs rounds out the competitive element, before the now traditional finish in Ledaig Car Park in Tobermory. The popular Winners Parade will take place on Sunday from 14:45 along with the Prize Giving ceremony, also in Ledaig Car Park.

Full spectator information can be found in the event programme, available in various outlets across the island but if you cannot make this year’s event, organisers have a thrilling option available.

New for 2024, sees an extensive live-streaming package, bringing both stage-side action and driver interviews to fans across the globe. With plans to be broadcast on both the event’s Facebook page and their new YouTube channel, this fantastic offering is set to be an even bigger spotlight on the island and the rally.

“We have it all this year,” remarks clerk of the course Richard Crozier.

“From a sensational entry that is one of the most unpredictable in terms of a win for many years, to the revised format which has stimulated so many fans and enthusiasts to make the trip onto Mull, the 2024 event has all the ingredients of being a classic.

“Those that come year after year know just how special the rally and the island is for the entire week. There is just rally fever everywhere you turn, and we do hope we can bring that to thousands of people’s homes and armchairs during the weekend, inspiring them to make the pilgrimage in future years. There is a real buzz about this year’s Mull Rally and thanks must go to John and Ross Marshall of Beatson’s Building Supplies for their continued backing of the rally. We are also indebted to Event Scotland, Argyll & Bute Council and of course to all our partners and supporters who help make the event happen.”