Five times winner of the Tunnock’s Mull Rally Calum Duffy will head a jam packed entry of 120 cars and crews from all corners of the UK on this weekend’s Tunnock’s Mull Rally staged annually on the Isle of Mull.
Starting on Friday evening, Britain’s most unique motor rally comprises three Legs, with the other two on Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening/Sunday morning. It’s the biggest, longest and toughest challenge on the rallying clubman’s calendar.
With brother Iain Duffy, the local man from Dervaig will start as hot favourite this year in his Ford Escort MkII aiming for his sixth win, but seeded number two is the 2008 winner Paul Mackinnon. The Tobermory driver was actually leading last year’s event at the end of the first Leg on Friday night but on Saturday afternoon his Subaru plunged off the wet road, damaging a wheel and tyre.
Oddly enough, when MacKinnon went off last year, Appleby’s Dougi Hall took over the lead of the 2009 event and he starts this year as the Number 3 seed. He failed to score his first win last year when driveshaft problems afflicted his Mitsubishi and he is determined to win an event which he has often led in the past, but not when it counted – at the finish!
The 2005 winner James MacGillivray runs at Number 4 in his Ford Escort MkII ahead of 2002 winner Daniel Harper from Barley in his MINI. Running behind the top five are four more drivers who have all challenged for the lead of this unique event in the past, John Cope (Bury), William Bonniwell (Oban), Tony Bardy (Scotch Corner) and Tristan Pye (Bishop Auckland) but they will all have to keep an eye on what and who is behind.
Just outside the top ten are Hugh Hunter (Ruthin) the new 2010 BTRDA Rally Champion in a Ford Focus WRC and tip-for-the-future John MaCrone (Dervaig) in his Ford Fiesta.
There’s also a new team in charge of the Tunnock’s Mull Rally this year. Previously organised and run by Lancashire based 2300 Club, this year’s event has been organised by Mull Car Club with the help and support of other clubs and individuals on the mainland.
Over the past 12 months a small band of dedicated enthusiasts have gradually been putting together an event which has long been established as ‘the best rally in the world’. This weekend will be testing and demanding and not just for the competitors!
Further information and entry list available at: http://mullrally.com/test/
– Credit: www.rallybuzz.com