The Voly Grampian Forest Rally marks the return to action for the Probite British Rally Championship after the summer break [8/9 August] and signals the annual trip to Aberdeenshire for the super-fast and flowing gravel stages.
A firm favourite with drivers and fans alike, the popular Scottish event offers a two-day format, with stages on Friday evening before the remaining mileage on Saturday.
The tussle for the prestigious title is finely poised with Castrol MEM teammates William Creighton/Liam Regan and Meirion Evans/Dale Furniss level on points at the top of the standings.
The season opener at the East Riding Stages saw Creighton claim a commanding victory on the fast Yorkshire tarmac despite making his debut in the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.
Creighton secured seven stage wins from ten, demonstrating that he had lost none of the pace he showed in 2024. Creighton’s run of form, coupled with a maximum score for Evans at round three, sees the duo tied heading back to the gravel.
Callum Black is the Toyota pairing’s nearest challenger, just four points adrift. The Fiesta Rally2 driver has been quietly racking up solid scores with Jack Morton alongside and leads reigning FIA Junior WRC champion Romet Jürgenson and co-driver Siim Oja in fifth, who are fresh from a confidence-boosting WRC2 result on their home rally. The Estonian pairing took an impressive win at the Carlisle Stages, highlighting their pace on fast gravel events.
Max McRae and Cammy Fair have been concentrating on their FIA European Rally Championship bid of late in their Citroen C3 Rally2 but will aim to better their eighth place on the Grampian last year.
Watch for Scottish ace Garry Pearson and co-driver Hannah McKillop in their Fiesta Rally2 after an inspiring non-championship Scottish Rally win recently, and Welsh champions Matthew Hirst / Declan Dear, who will all be in the mix at the weekend after a strong showing at the Nicky Grist Stages earlier this month.
Elliot Payne and Patrick Walsh remain contenders in their Fiesta Rally2, while Jonny Greer / Niall Burns return to the BRC with their Yaris Rally2, marking their Toyota’s gravel debut. Dan O’Brien is another to return to the series in a Fiesta Rally2.
Taking a staggering fifth overall at the Scottish Rally, Robert Proudlock will hope his Grampian outing is just as fruitful, bringing his BRC3 Ford Fiesta Rally3 with new co-driver Harry Marchbank alongside.
In the Junior BRC, Kyle McBride / Darragh Mullen head to Scotland with a confident lead, scooping two top scores so far this season. In a Peugeot 208 Rally4 lockout, round two winners Joseph Kelly/Eoghan Doherty are their closest rivals, but they are just one point ahead of a tied Jack Brennan and Kalum Graffin.
