For the first time in seven years, the Asset Alliance Group Scottish Rally Championship makes a welcome return to the Border Counties Rally for round two of the 2026 season.
Based in the Scottish Borders town of Newtown St Boswells, the Saturday March 14 event offers competing crews seven magnificent special stages in the Tweed Valley, using some forests no rally car has competed in for almost 10 years.
The battle could not be finer poised heading into the Border Counties, with Scott Macbeth / Andrew Falconer taking the spoils at their local event, the Snowman Rally. The Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 pair return for round two with a target firmly on their backs after a fierce battle in Muir of Ord.
Icelandic driver Daniel Sigurðarsson made his SRC debut last month behind the wheel of a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, immediately impressing to claim second place. While he’ll be without co-driver Ásta Sigurðardóttir this weekend, he does have three previous starts at the Border Counties so is sure to be a victory contender.
As is the Ford Fiesta Rally2 of Alex Vassallo, co-driven by 2023 SRC co-driver champion Chris Lees. Vassallo was fastest on the opening stage of the 2026 season in February, but a couple of small issues restricted him to third. Thomas Gray and Harry Marchbank were equally strong on Gray’s first event in two years. They line up once more in a Polo R5.
But they’ll all have to overcome 2021 Scottish Rally champion Garry Pearson, who brings serious kudos to the entry in his Fiesta Rally2. The local driver is a British Rally Championship round winner and brings that experience to Scotland, registering for points alongside co-driver Hannah McKillop.
Also re-entering the fray in the headline Pro4 class are proven SRC round winners Rory Young / Allan Cathers (Fiesta Rally2) and frontrunner Ian Forgan / Ewan Lees (Fiesta Rally2), with Stephen Petch / Michael Wilkinson (Fiesta Rally2), Peter Stewart / Rachel Matheson (Citroen C3 Rally2) and Robert Adamson (Polo R5) adding to a mouth-watering entry.
Double SRC champion Jock Armstrong suffered a disappointing start to his 2026 season with a mechanical-related retirement sidelining his Subaru Impreza at the Snowman, but Armstrong is a previous winner of the Border Counties. He’ll be co-driven by Craig Nelson for this event.
Reigning SRC vice-champions Mark McCulloch / Michael Hendry made a splash with a new lick of yellow and red paint on their Proton Satria Evo, but a first stage puncture on round one left them sixth at the finish and with a point to prove in the Borders.
Martyn Erskine / Peter Carstairs asserted themselves in the Oakbank Challengers Championship for non Rally2/WRC cars, with a stunning drive to seventh overall and the category victory in their Mitsubishi at the Snowman. Last year’s champion, Duncan Campbell (Subaru Impreza), will be among his biggest rivals along with a pack of hungry chasers.
Mike Stuart / Clare Fraser stole the show in the G&M Mechanical Services 2WD Championship last month, slotting their historic Ford Escort Mk1 a stunning 10th overall. That result encouraged Alford driver Stuart to make the trip down to Newtown St Boswells, where he’ll face stern competition from Craig Rutherford (Escort Mk2), Ross Jarrett (Escort Mk2), Scott Peacock (Escort Mk2), Callum Atkinson (Peugeot 208 Rally4), Niall Cowan Jr (MG ZR), Meghan O’Kane (Ford Fiesta) and many others.
Natalie Robinson claimed top points in the Questmead SRC Juniors at round one, and returns for the Border Counties in her Peugeot 208 Rally4. Robbie Wood (MG ZR) and Fraser McDougall (Skoda Felicia) again line up to challenge her.
At the other end of the experience scale, John Rintoul conquered the Haddo Energy Super Seniors in Muir of Ord and targets the same result in Newtown St Boswells with his Ford Escort Mk2. Richard Stewart’s 208 Rally4 brings the challenge.
SRC chairwoman Fiona Moir said: “The Snowman Rally delivered an epic start to the season, and we anticipate more of the same at the Border Counties Rally. The strength of the field, across all the classes and categories, is even stronger than round one, showcasing the quality of the Scottish championship.
“It’s fantastic to return to the Border Counties Rally for the first time since 2019. The stages are some of the best in the country, the organisation is always strong and the area very welcoming, so the event richly deserves its place in the championship.
“See you all in Newtown St Boswells!”
