Return of Mull Rally ‘will live long in the memory’

By Chris MacLennan

October 14 2019, 7:02 am

Organisers of the returning Mull Rally hailed a superb 50th anniversary event at the weekend.

One-hundred-and-fifty cars roared down the Hebridean island’s roads – hailed as some of the most exciting and entertaining on the rally circuit.

An estimated 150,000 watched as the action was streamed live on the event’s site, joining large crowds who gathered to watch from the roadside.

Local man Paul Mackinnon came out on top at the end of a day filled with exhilarating competition.

Race winner Mackinnon led the 17-stage, 148-mile event from start to finish, belying his lack of time in the Ford Fiesta he drove to victory and early set-up issues to clinch victory by a margin of one minute and 41 seconds.

The event returned following the cancellation of the 2017 and 2018 instalments when organisers were unable to get insurance.

With new Scottish Government legislation in place following the conclusion of a fatal accident inquiry into deaths at the Jim Clark and Snowman rallies, the roads were opened to the drivers once more.

Clerk of the course Andy Jardine said: “Three years has been too long without this rally.

“Take a walk through the town and it’s packed.

“It’s not the school holidays, the summer’s gone and it’s raining, but the hotels are full, restaurants are doing a roaring trade and the chip van’s working overtime.

“I have to say a huge, huge thanks firstly to the volunteers who have braved the elements through the nights to make this happen.

“We have to thank the competitors and the spectators for coming and joining us and, of course, Beatson’s Building Supplies, as we couldn’t ask for a more enthusiastic sponsor.

“Police Scotland, Argyll and Bute Council and EventScotland, who funded this year’s rally, have been absolutely brilliant as well.

“The golden anniversary of this rally will live long in the memory.”

The event is estimated to be worth about £1 million to the island’s economy.