Organisers call off Rally of Scotland

SCOTLAND’S biggest international motorsport event, Rally of Scotland, will not be returning in 2012 after organisers failed to find a funding solution.

The event, held in the Perthshire and Stirlingshire forests, attracted a record entry this year and has been hailed as one of the world’s best rallies by drivers.

However, EventScotland backing expired after October’s third running of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge round.

It is understood a new funding package could not be agreed in time and organisers will now regroup in the hope they can bring the rally back in the future.

Rally of Scotland was secured as an international showcase event for Scotland three years ago on the back of political support. However, poor weather, problems with timetable and a lack of business support meant it could not reach a point of financial self-sufficiency.

A source from motorsport’s British governing body, MSA, said: “It’s a great shame that Scotland won’t be running next year. We will maintain dialogue with Eurosport, EventScotland and all our partners.

“Rally of Scotland went from a standing start in late 2008 to a benchmark event in three years. It is not an achievement we are going to discard overnight.”