Author Archives: Barry Whenman

2019 Route Published

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After two years of missing the sound of anti-lag or straight cut gearboxes or a Millington screaming up Glen Aros the Mull Rally is back. Back due to popular demand.

The new closed road legislation that was passed for Scotland in April means that the insurance clause that was causing an issue no longer applies. Mull is back, 50 years since the first one in October 1969. The one evening format from that era is replaced with by the well known itinerary of Friday night, Saturday daylight, finishing with Saturday night stages going into Sunday morning.

The 2019 edition follows the 2016 itinerary very closely. The only real difference to the competition being the omission of the short Ardtun as the opener on Saturday daytime.

Each leg is approximately 50 competitive miles. There are 5 special stages on Friday night, eight on Saturday during the day (all run at 30s intervals). Saturday night starts with the 21.5mile Long One from Calgary to Aros 33X before the remaining three special stages see the winner announced at the end of the Mishnish Lochs stage in Tobermory around 1am on Sunday.

Mull is a motorsport festival. It is a week of socialising, reconnaissance and craic before the rally begins. Once the rally begins the socialising and craic continue – just the recce is replaced by flat out motoring.

For spectators, both on the island and on line, the organisers are doing everything to get the magic of Mull to everyone. Colin Clark will be bringing live reporting from stage ends and he and David Evans will be setting up their Kitchen Table in the centre of Tobermory for on the spot analysis. And probably the odd disagreement about what driver is doing best.

There are more plans to make this comeback as memorable as possible. Many of these are still in the pipeline and will be announced over the coming months.

Entries open on 2nd August and such is the expected demand we hope to close them on 3rd August!! 150 is the maximum entry that we can start.

Aros 33X? This is the phone box just outside Salen where in the distant past the rally was more or less run from. It was here that results were called in from, where the communication centre was long before everyone had a mobile phone.

Route Details

We’re Back!

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The Beatson’s Building Supplies Mull Rally is back

  • Normal service resumes on the Isle of Mull this October
  • Police Scotland and Argyll & Bute Council has agreed the route
  • Beatson’s Building Supplies Mull Rally pays tribute to Transport Scotland
  • Plans for 50th anniversary celebration of rallying on Mull

Fifty years after rally cars first competed up Glen Aros, the Scottish Government has today (Wednesday, April 17) published legislation allowing Closed Road Motor Sport to take place in Scotland.

Replacing the 1990 Strathclyde Act means one thing: the Beatson’s Building Supplies Mull Rally is back.

The organisers of Britain’s first ever closed-road rally have been working behind the scenes in readiness for this news. Thanks to that diligence and determination, the route for Beatson’s Building Supplies Mull Rally (October 11-13) has already been approved by Police Scotland and Argyll & Bute Council.

Additional support for the rally has been applied for and granted by Event Scotland.

Friday October 11 this year marks the end of a 1,089-day wait* since John MacCrone and Stuart Loudon won the 2016 Beatson’s Building Supplies Mull Rally. Finally, the likes of MacCrone, Duffy and Harper and 147 other lucky crews get to pit themselves against the Hebridean island’s legendary Tarmac roads.

Clerk of the course, Andy Jardine said: “The island has missed the event over the last two years, but the sport has missed it as well. Mull is such a special rally for lots of people. Our thanks to everyone at Transport Scotland for pursing this legislation and for enabling the event to come back in time for the 50th anniversary.”

“We also have to express our thanks to Duncan Brown and the Saltire Rally club for all they have done on the Targa Rally and Gravel Sprint over the last two years to keep motorsport alive on this beautiful island.”

Jardine and the rest of the Beatson’s Building Supplies Mull Rally team have no intention of letting the golden anniversary of Britain’s foremost closed-road rally pass without celebration.

Further details of the route, entries, marshalling news and, of course, plans for a golden Beatson’s Building Supplies Mull Rally will be coming your way.

And relax… we’re back. See you on the island.

*Mull Rally organisers were forced to cancel the 2017 and 2018 events for insurance-related reasons. The new law has clarified the position and potential liability to the satisfaction of the Mull Rally team.

Low-flying rally cars will finally be back in Hebridean airspace this October

Closed Road Consultation

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Transport Scotland has today launched a public consultation on proposals to enable motorsport on closed public roads. This is great news for motorsport in Scotland, and for the Mull Rally in particular.

If you are a Mull Rally competitor, volunteer, supporter or fan – or if you represent a business which has been affected by the loss of the rally – then please take this opportunity to respond positively, and help return our amazing event to the calendar.

Click here to access the survey.

Thank You!

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Hi All,

To Everybody who helped on this years Beatson’s Motor Sport weekend, be it the Targa Rally or Time Trial, I cannot thank you enough for your support. Your efforts on Saturday during the most miserable weather has been much appreciated by the organizers.

The effort just getting to Mull in the first place was amazing. We had all sorts of plans in case marshals could not get to Mull, due to the landslides, heavy rain, and of course CalMac Ferries. But we need not have worried. I thank you for that. Some of you acted as a contact for other marshals – please pass on our message of thanks.


All the packed lunches were provided by Park Lodge Hotel, Tobermory. In total over the two days almost 150 lunches were provided. I am sure you will all agree they were very tasty and would also like to say thanks to the hotel and it’s staff for the lunches.

Feedback so far from the competitors has been very good and again I pass on their thanks to you.

I hope you will all come back next year, for hopefully the Mull Rally in it’s true form. I will be organizing marshals as of now with the anticipation of the rally going ahead next year. I do know many of you have been coming to Mull for many years, you have your favourite stages and commanders. If you would like to sign up for next year that would be great, even if at a later stage you can not make it to Mull.


Once again Many thanks for Marshaling.
Chief Marshal Adrian Fitness, Mull Car Club
Deputy Chief Marshal Tom Wilson, Saltire Rally Club

You may want to consider a few events coming up that are looking for Marshals:
POKERSTARS RALLY VOLUNTEER TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION PACKAGES
Thinking of Marshalling for the PokerStars Rally on the Isle of Man this 9th – 10th November 2018
VOLUNTEERS TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION PACKAGES:
From £63 pp based on 2 people sharing
2 nights hotel accommodation
Return ferry (with car)
Further discounts apply for more than 2 people sharing a vehicle
3 Night Packages also available!

Their website seams to be down at present, if you would like more information call Alison 07624205705 – I am sure she will be glad to hear from you, if you would be so kind to say you got details via Mull Car Club.

A Message from John Clayton:
Hi All,

Here is a note to thank you all who attended and helped make Sunday such
a success. Sorry about the number of competitors but competition was
close, and without exception they all stated that they could not
understand why more people did not enter, and as one said it was the
cheapest test day ever, and he could judge what different settings did
as it was timed and competitive.

Here is hoping for the future.

Thank goodness the weather was nice after being like a drowned rat
setting up on Saturday but I hope you enjoyed Sunday.

Monday we went in to clear the stage and thank you, we collected a pile
at the stop line, a pile at the start and the caravan and that was it.
A very big thank you for this, it really does make a difference. The
stage held up really well so hopefully we will be allowed back in the
future.

Finally Results for both days are now on the Mull Rally web site if you
wish to view. Also please read the report from Jaggy Bunnet with regard
to next year, we have everything crossed but it won’t be easy.

Thanks again,
Cheers everyone