Snowman Rally called off after ‘late setbacks’ leave organisers unable to proceed

Rally fans in the Highlands have been dealt a blow after organisers confirmed this year’s AM Phillip Trucktech Snowman Rally will not go ahead.

The event, which typically kicks off the Scottish Rally Championship season, had been provisionally scheduled to take place on March 2.

However, organisers have confirmed they have been left in too uncertain a position to proceed due to “late setbacks with the original planned route and proposed changes to the way we engage with the landowners.”

The route setbacks referred to are weather damage to an access road as well as a bridge in two of the forests used for the race – Boblainy and Glenurquhart.

The second issue relates to incomplete negotiations between Motorsport UK and Forestry and Land Scotland to renew their deal on access to forests for rallying. The status of these talks meant Snowman Rally organisers stood to take a financial hit if no agreement had been reached by the time the race was set to take place in March.

Last year’s event was won by Jock Armstrong, of Castle Douglas – who claimed his third Snowman Rally triumph alongside co-driver Hannah McKillop.

The cancellation of this year’s rally means the next scheduled event on the SRC calendar is the McDonald and Munro Speyside Stages, which is due to take place on the weekend of April 19/20 .

In a statement, the Snowman Rally said: “The Snowman Rally team are disappointed to let you know that the event being planned for March 2nd 2024 will not go ahead.

“We have had a couple of late setbacks with the original planned route and proposed changes to the way we engage with the landowners, which leaves us in too uncertain a position to proceed.

“Our focus now is to work hard to getting the event in a good place for the future.
We are grateful for the help received from the Scottish Rally Championship and from our Sponsors AM Phillip Trucktech.”