The Asset Alliance Group Scottish Rally Championship (SRC) is proud to support the Be More Colin Super Stage, taking place on Saturday April 25 at Elgin’s Cooper Park.
Cooper Park is the traditional opening test for the Speyside Stages, which was originally due to run as round three of the 2026 SRC before organisers were forced to make the difficult decision to cancel the event due to complications securing enough forestry mileage.
But while there’ll be no official Scottish championship action in Moray this year, many of the championship’s stars – past and present – will compete in a standalone event in memory of the dearly missed Colin Christie,
Colin – a lifelong rally fan, competitor, marshal and member of 63 Car Club which organises the Speyside – passed away in January, leaving a massive hole in the Scottish rally community.
Keen to honour him in whatever manner they could, the Speyside organising team got their heads together and with Cooper Park still booked, sought permission to extend the usage for a full day event – and the council agreed.
With 45 invitational entries, competitor support has been overwhelming. Reigning Scottish Rally champions David Bogie and Kirsty Riddick both feature on a star-studded entry that includes several SRC regulars, former WRC driver Barry Clark who hasn’t competed in nearly 20 years and even co-drivers who’ve switched to the drivers’ seat for the occasion, like championship runner up Michael Hendry.
Each crew will tackle eight special stages on the spectator-focussed event, with the final four offering Cooper Park in reverse for the very first time. Permission has been granted for a lapping layout, meaning one-minute start intervals in place of the usual 30 seconds, but also two attempts at the famous hairpin on each stage. A new start location layout will also be utilised, while service will be in the Moray Council car park in the centre of the city.
The SRC will support the event with the championship’s official banner in use, while SRC Media Partner BeckSport Media will cover the event, producing live broadcasts and a review video which the championship will share.
SRC chairman Fiona Moir said: “Colin Christie was a truly unique character who would simply do whatever he could to help others, and help rallying. His passing has left an irreplaceable void in the Scottish Rally Championship community that is still taking time to digest.
“The Be More Colin Super Stage is a fantastic way to keep his memory alive and we offer our utmost congratulations to the Speyside Stages organising team for arranging this special event under emotional circumstances. We look forward to what promises to be an entertaining rally later this month and reminiscing about a legend.”
Clerk of the course Neil Shanks added: “Colin was a true one off. His sudden and untimely passing earlier this year was devastating for everyone and it still doesn’t seem real. He was a real driving force behind the Speyside, and not being able to pay tribute to him in our way on this year’s event didn’t sit well with me, hence the Be More Colin Superstage was born.
“For one time only, this is a unique event for someone who was one of one. It’s going to be an emotional day for us all, but I’m sure it’s a tribute he would get behind, whilst being slightly embarrassed it’s in his honour. But the best way we can pay that tribute to him is to Be More Colin – rallying and the wider world will be all the better for it.”
