The ninth Flying Scotsman Rally, Britain’s most famous competitive vintage car rally, will start on Friday 31 March with just over 100 participants crossing the start line at Slaley Hall, Northumberland.
For this year, the youngest car to take on the 800-mile event, organised by the Endurance Rally Association (ERA) is a 1948 MG TC while the oldest is an Itala 40 dating from 1907. The 2016 winning combination of the 1931 Talbot 105 Alpine of Gareth Burnett and Martyn Taylor also return to the entry list.
The 2017 Rally will give enthusiasts the rare opportunity to appreciate some truly exquisite machinery ranging from a 1937 SS Jaguar 100 and a 1925 Vauxhall 30/98 to a 1938 BMW 328 and a 1933 Aston Martin Le Mans.
The competitors will face some very changeable weather and a demanding array of roads through the North of England and Scotland over three days of intensive driving that would defeat many modern cars.
ERA Rally Director Fred Gallagher said: “Each year we have ventured further and further north. Our goal was to explore more of Scotland before we return to the original format for the 10th anniversary in 2018. The line-up is exceptional and we can guarantee that whatever the weather, the motoring will be second to none.”
The first stage commences at Slaley Hall in Hexham, and the route encompasses the stunning forest lands of Castle O’er, the Eskdalemuir moorlands and the Moorfoot Hills before crews and cars alike can take a well-earned rest at the four-star country house hotel of Dalmahoy, situated just outside of Edinburgh.
On Saturday 1st April, the entrants head towards the Forth Road Bridge before progressing towards the Cairngorm Mountains. Before nightfall, they will have to navigate the remote highways in the regions of Braemar, one of the coldest places in the UK and Tomintoul, believed to be the highest village in the Scottish Highlands.
After a night’s respite at Aviemore, Sunday 2nd April will see the many drivers attempting to improve their standings in the results as they journey along the roads around the Forest of Athol and Loch Tay. Crews will be able to refresh themselves at the renowned Bridge of Balgie tea rooms before they reach the finishing line at Gleneagles Hotel in the late afternoon.
The Rally, sponsored by dunhill London, will conclude with the traditional accompaniment of bagpipes and popping corks - and rarely would a glass of Bonham’s champagne be more hard earned.
Over the past nine years, the event has firmly established itself as one of the major fixtures in the motoring calendar, famed for the chance to experience some of the most beautiful scenery in Western Europe.
Above all, the 9th Flying Scotsman Rally is an occasion in which some of the world’s finest cars can be driven in the way that they were originally intended to be enjoyed.
2017 Flying Scotsman Spectator Points
Day One - Friday 31 March
Slaley Hall Hotel - Event Start and Test
NE47 0BX
07:30 to 09:15
Gilsland - B6318
CA8 7DR
08:45 to 10:35
Clarencefield - Comlongon Castle
DG1 4NA
10:10 to 12:20
Castle Douglas - B736
DG7 1EN
13:30 to 15:30
Thornhill - Drumlanrig Castle Test
DG3 4AQ
14:45 to 16:55
Leadhills - B797
ML12 6XP
15:40 to 17:30
Carnwath - A70
ML11 8HP
16:40 to 18:35
Kirknewton - Dalmahoy Hotel
EH27 8EB
17:20 to 19:25
Day Two - Saturday 1 April
Kirknewton - Dalmahoy Hotel Restart
EH27 8EB
07:45 to 09:30
Perth - Scone Palace Checkpoint
PH2 6BD
09:55 to 12:05
Newtyle - North Street
PH12 8TY
10:40 to 12:35
Glamis - Glamis Castle Checkpoint
DD8 1RJ
10:55 to 12:55
Cairn O'Mount
B974
11:50 to 13:45
Kincardine O'Neil - Kincardine Test
AB34 5AE
12:30 to 15:15
Alford - Grampian Transport Museum
AB33 8AE
13:55 to 16:00
Dufftown - Glenfiddich Distillery Checkpoint
AB55 4DH
15:20 to 17:35
Nethy Bridge - B970
PH25 3DP
17:00 to 18:55
Aviemore Highland Resort
PH22 1PN
17:20 to 19:25
Day Three - Sunday 2 April
Aviemore Highland Resort Restart & Test
PH22 1PN
08:00 to 09:45
Ruthven - Ruthven Barracks (B970)
08:30 to 10:30
Dalwhinnie - Dalwhinnie Distillery
PH19 1AA
09:05 to 11:05
Blair Atholl - Blair Castle Checkpoint
PH18 5TL
10:15 to 12:25
Kenmore - A827
PH15 2NU
11:45 to 13:40
Logierait - Logierait Bridge Checkpoint
PH9 0LJ
12:10 to 14:05
Ballathie - Ballathie House Checkpoint
PH1 4QN
12:45 to 15:35
Gleneagles Hotel Event Finish
PH3 1NF
15:05 to 16:55
These times are also available online here: http://www.endurorally.com/pages/flying-scotsman-rally-2017-spectator-points
