The Voly Grampian Forest Rally marks the return to action for the Probite British Rally Championship after the summer break [8/9 August] and signals the annual trip to Aberdeenshire for the super-fast and flowing gravel stages.
Based just 15 miles west of Aberdeen, near the town of Banchory, the Grampian will provide crews with blisteringly fast and flowing forests, which are notoriously difficult to master but ultimately reward the brave. Big gains can be made if confidence is high, and that could well prove crucial in the BRC title race, with just three rounds remaining.
A firm favourite with drivers and fans alike, the popular Scottish event offers a two-day format, with stages on Friday evening before the remaining mileage on Saturday.
Once again, some of the best in the business resume the BRC1 top-flight battle, and they will be joined by the Junior BRC, National Rally Title and Open Rally Title protagonists, as the series continues to deliver its usual close competition across every category.
BRC1-BRC3
The tussle for the prestigious title is finely poised with Castrol MEM teammates William Creighton/Liam Regan and Meirion Evans/Dale Furniss level on points at the top of the standings.
The season opener at the East Riding Stages saw Creighton claim a commanding victory on the fast Yorkshire tarmac despite making his debut in the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. Creighton secured seven stage wins from ten, demonstrating that he had lost none of the pace he showed in 2024. Creighton’s run of form, coupled with a maximum score for Evans at round three, sees the duo tied heading back to the gravel.
Callum Black is the Toyota pairing’s nearest challenger, just four points adrift. The Fiesta Rally2 driver has been quietly racking up solid scores with Jack Morton alongside and leads reigning FIA Junior WRC champion Romet Jürgenson and co-driver Siim Oja in fifth, who are fresh from a confidence-boosting WRC2 result on their home rally. The Estonian pairing took an impressive win at the Carlisle Stages, highlighting their pace on fast gravel events.
Max McRae and Cammy Fair have been concentrating on their FIA European Rally Championship bid of late in their Citroen C3 Rally2 but will aim to better their eighth place on the Grampian last year.
Watch for Scottish ace Garry Pearson and co-driver Hannah McKillop in their Fiesta Rally2 after an inspiring non-championship Scottish Rally win recently, and Welsh champions Matthew Hirst / Declan Dear, who will all be in the mix at the weekend after a strong showing at the Nicky Grist Stages earlier this month.
Elliot Payne and Patrick Walsh remain contenders in their Fiesta Rally2, while Jonny Greer / Niall Burns return to the BRC with their Yaris Rally2, marking their Toyota’s gravel debut. Dan O’Brien is another to return to the series in a Fiesta Rally2.
Taking a staggering fifth overall at the Scottish Rally, Robert Proudlock will hope his Grampian outing is just as fruitful, bringing his BRC3 Ford Fiesta Rally3 with new co-driver Harry Marchbank alongside.
JUNIOR BRC
In the Junior BRC, Kyle McBride / Darragh Mullen head to Scotland with a confident lead, scooping two top scores so far this season. In a Peugeot 208 Rally4 lockout, round two winners Joseph Kelly/Eoghan Doherty are their closest rivals, but they are just one point ahead of a tied Jack Brennan and Kalum Graffin.
Sam Mason and Natalie Robinson both return to the fold and could well challenge the front-runners whilst Meghan O’Kane could well upset some of the more powerful Rally4 contenders as she once again aims to take her older specification Fiesta R2 to another impressive result.
OPEN RALLY TITLE
The Open Rally Title category will see the likes of Darren Martin, Alexander Vassallo and Alan Carmichael as main contenders, and each one could well make headway into Sam Touzel’s lead as he skips the Scottish event.
NATIONAL RALLY TITLE
Chris Richmond-Hand and Izzie Holman have been the stars of the National Rally Title, taking their Toyota Starlet to some impressive results and angles during their debut BRC season. The duo enjoy a 15-point lead over the Subaru Impreza of Rob Cotton, who took round one glory. Alyn Welsby is also in the mix in his Escort MK2.
The BRC will pay tribute to co-driver Dai Roberts during the event, who tragically lost his life during the recent Jim Clark Rally in May. Each car will carry commemorative sun strips and decals as the series returns to action for the first time since his passing.
As the championship prepares to resume at the Grampian Forest Rally in August, the gravel roads of Aberdeenshire will play a pivotal role. With Creighton and Evans tied on points, Jürgenson’s gravel pace, and others still firmly in contention, the championship momentum is building, and there’s everything still to play for.
-Ends
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