The Motorsport UK British Rally Championship heads north of the border next weekend for the Borders Competitions Jim Clark Rally, round two of the 2026 season, across the closed roads of the Scottish Borders [22-23 May].
Based in Duns, the event delivers almost 95 competitive stage miles over two days, with crews tackling some of the fastest and most demanding asphalt roads in UK rallying. Four stages on Friday evening, with the final pair likely run under darkness, set the tone before the remainder of the rally unfolds on Saturday, ahead of an early afternoon finish.
But while the competition promises another spectacular chapter in the championship fight, the BRC arrives in the Borders with Dai Roberts firmly in its thoughts following the tragic accident which claimed his life at the event in 2025.
The hugely respected co-driver and friend to so many within the sport will be remembered throughout the weekend, and while returning to the event will undoubtedly be difficult for competitors, teams and organisers alike, there is no doubt that Dai would have wanted rallying to continue. His memory will remain at the forefront of everyone’s minds across the weekend.
On the stages, Osian Pryce and James Morgan arrive leading the championship after a sensational victory on the Severn Valley Stages last month. Reunited with the MEM Rally Team and now armed with a Michelin-shod Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, Pryce immediately re-established himself as the benchmark in the series with a commanding performance on the Welsh gravel.
Team-mate Meirion Evans and Dale Furniss head to the Borders after securing second place on the opening round and once again look well placed to challenge for victory. Evans showed impressive pace and consistency in Wales and continues to grow increasingly comfortable aboard the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, armed with Pirelli rubber.
Garry Pearson and Hannah McKillop will relish a return to Scottish asphalt after claiming a hard-fought podium at the season opener. The Scotsman remains a firm favourite thanks to hailing from the event’s hometown and will undoubtedly be among the frontrunners in his M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2.
Max McRae and Cammy Fair also remain firmly in contention after misfortune denied them a potential podium challenge in Wales. The Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 crew showed impressive pace before a puncture derailed their event, and they will be aiming to bounce back strongly this weekend.
Asphalt aces Sam Touzel and Max Freeman will be ones to watch in the Scottish lanes in their Fiesta Rally2, whilst gravel regulars Scott MacBeth [Polo R5] and Elliott Payne [Fiesta Rally2] will also be eyeing a strong result.
Several additional contenders join the championship field for the Borders encounter, further strengthening the competition at the front. Local knowledge could prove invaluable for Duns resident Euan Thorburn, who returns alongside Paul Beaton in a Volkswagen Polo GTI R5. A multiple event winner on the Jim Clark Rally, Thorburn’s experience of the roads and proven asphalt speed make him a genuine contender for victory.
Fellow Duns driver Dale Robertson also rejoins the BRC field in a Ford Fiesta Rally2. Robertson has not contested an event since last year’s Jim Clark Rally, but has shown strong pace on these roads previously and could spring a surprise.
Alan Carmichael returns to the championship with an all-new Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, having switched from Hyundai machinery over the winter, whilst John Morrison makes a welcome comeback to the series in a Fiesta Rally2 after several years away from BRC competition.
The BRC3 category will see the return of the Fiesta Rally3 crews of Aoife Raftery and Kyle McDaid, as well as Chinese driver Junzhe Tang with Tsungyu Hsieh alongside.
The Junior British Rally Championship and BRC4 categories continue to provide some of the closest competition in the series. Fresh from his dominant Severn Valley victory, Ben McFall will be looking to continue his strong start to the season in Rally4 machinery, but several new challengers join the fight this weekend. Local ace Callum Atkinson enters his Peugeot 208 Rally4 as part of the Stellantis Rally Trophy UK, while James Lightfoot campaigns similar Peugeot machinery.
The Junior BRC also welcomes Robbie Wood for his championship debut in a Peugeot, adding another exciting young prospect to the entry.
Beyond the headline classes, the National Rally Title once again brings variety to the event, with Owen Paterson set to entertain fans aboard his Subaru Impreza on the fast Borders roads, joining round one winner John Clayton in his Nissan Micra.
With high-speed closed-road stages, unpredictable weather, darkness, and one of the most passionate fanbases in British rallying, the Jim Clark Rally always delivers drama in abundance. Round two of the BRC season promises to be a poignant but spectacular weekend in the Scottish Borders.
-Ends
Keep tabs on all the latest BRC developments & send us your BRC FanCam footage by visiting
www.britishrallychampionship.co.uk or by following us on social media:
Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Twitter using #BRCRally.
