An international field with competitors from Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Italy, Canada and Japan will line up in Dumfries a week on Saturday (June 8) for Scotland's biggest annual motor sport event the RSAC Scottish Rally.
One driver who will be particularly fired up for this event is Tapio Laukkanen. The Finn won the RSAC Scottish Rally in 1999 and 2000, but failed in his bid for a hat-trick last year when he had to retire following gearbox problems on the very first stage.
The 32-year-old, who now lives in Andorra, is currently sixth in the Pirelli British Rally Championship after the first two rounds.
Adding considerably to the international dimension of the rally is the entry of Katsuhiko Taguchi, the 1999 Asia Pacific Rally Champion, in a works Mitsubishi Lancer. The Japanese driver, who finished seventh on the International Rally of Wales, will have highly-experienced Glasgow-based co-driver Derek Ringer to help him on his first Scottish event.
Defending his lead in the seven-round Pirelli British Rally Championship, as the competitors head to Dumfries, is 31-year-old Yorkshire motor engineer Johnny Milner. He will be in confident mood as he drives his privately entered Toyota Corolla away from the start ramp, following an outright win on the International Rally of Wales and second place on the previous round the Pirelli International Rally.
In second place, just three points behind, is former British Junior Rally Champion Justin Dale from Hampshire. As last year's RSAC Scottish Formula Rally winner, the 31-year-old from Hampshire will carry the number one on his Peugeot 206 XS as he leads the field away from the start ramp.
Local honours are being upheld by Jock Armstrong, from Castle Douglas, who finished fourth in his class in a Mitsubishi Evo 4 on last year's rally, after a troubled event. Brother of former British Ladies' Rally Champion Barbara Armstrong, Jock was the highest-placed Scottish driver on the 2000 event.
