The 2026 Asset Alliance Group Scottish Rally Championship (SRC) title battle intensifies at the Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally [June 19/20] as the season moves into its second half.
Scott Macbeth / Andrew Falconer (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5) and Garry Pearson / Hannah McKillop (Ford Fiesta Rally2) have both won rounds so far in 2026, with Macbeth claiming the Snowman Rally and Pearson the following Border Counties and Jim Clark Reivers rallies.
Both line up on the start-line of the Dunoon-based Argyll Rally, the second of two closed-road Tarmac events and fourth championship event of the season. However Pearson does so with a new car and co-driver, trading McKillop and his Fiesta for Jack Morton and a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 for this event.
The 2021 SRC champion is the top seed for the two-day and 16-stage event, where competitors will be challenged on fast but technical Tarmac stages in Argyll & Bute. He’ll face stiff competition from defending SRC Argyll winner Rory Young / Allan Cathers, who also drives a Fabia. Young won Argyll in 2023 too, meaning it’s the only SRC event he’s scored maximum points on.
Macbeth will run directly behind Young, eager to atone for a disappointing Jim Clark where he retired after damage while fighting for the podium. Other front-running contenders include Alex Vassallo / Chris Lees (Ford Fiesta Rally2), who scored their second podium of the season at the Jim Clark, and Hugh Brunton / Drew Sturrock (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) who also finished on the Jim Clark podium, and this weekend will play their Joker in the SRC – entitling them to up-to five extra championship points.
Current championship leaders Stephen Petch / Michael Wilkinson sit this event out in their Fiesta Rally2, with competitors able to drop two scores from the seven-round championship.
Mike Stuart / Clare Fraser lead both the G&M Mechanical Services 2WD and Oakbank SRC Challengers Championships in their Ford Escort, but Jim Clark winner in both categories Craig Rutherford has a strong chance of overhauling them as he’ll compete in Argyll and Stuart won’t.
Rutherford’s rivals at round four include fellow Escort Mk2 crew Ross Jarrett / Dave Robson in both the 2WD and Challengers – for drivers without an overall top-seven finish in the last 10 years that aren’t driving a Rally2 or WRC car – as well as Keith Robathan / Peter Carstairs (Escort Mk2), Callum Atkinson / Nikki Addison (Peugeot 208 Rally4) and Scott Peacock / Mairi Riddick (Escort Mk2).
John Rintoul looks to extend his championship lead in the Haddo Energy SRC Super Seniors behind the wheel of his Subaru Legacy, while Robbie Wood (208 Rally4), Ollie Forrester (Citroen C2 R2 Max) and Fraser McDougall (Skoda Felicia) compete for top points in the Questmead SRC Juniors.
SRC chairwoman, Fiona Moir, said: “The Argyll Rally marks the halfway point of the 2026 Asset Alliance Group Scottish Rally Championship, and it’s already been an amazing year of stories and battles.
“We are expecting more of the same as crews convene for one of the most difficult rallies on the calendar. The SRC is a unique challenge with gravel and Tarmac mixed into the one campaign, so this weekend offers those who favour Tarmac a final chance to score big points. May the best crew win!”
