The 2026 Asset Alliance Group Scottish Rally Championship (SRC) title could be won at this weekend’s Grampian Forest Rally [August 7/8].
Victory at the previous four events sets 2021 Scottish Rally champion Garry Pearson up for a second championship title at round six, but the season’s only two-day event stands between the M-Sport driver and glory.
Based in Milton of Crathes, the Grampian Forest Rally is one of the biggest rallies in recent Scottish history, with several FIA World Rally Championship crews in attendance ahead of Rally Scotland’s impending inclusion on the WRC schedule in 2027.
With SRC competitors not permitted to participate in the pre-event reconnaissance, they will be locked in their own battle across the event’s 10 stages and 56.5 competitive miles.
Pearson, reunited with co-driver Hannah McKillop, is the top SRC seed as he seeks the championship crown, but must withstand the pressure from Mark McCulloch / Michael Hendry who have once again been giant killers in their home-built Proton Satria Evo.
McCulloch and Pearson start the Grampian, round six, tied on 125 championship points, but with competitors carrying only their best five best scores from a possible seven towards their final championship total, Pearson’s four victories put him within touching distance of the trophy. McCulloch needs to beat Pearson this weekend to stand any chance of denying his rival the title.
Flying high from his best ever SRC result at last month’s RSAC Scottish Rally, Alex Vassallo and co-driver Chris Lees are a guaranteed victory contender in their Fiesta Rally2, as is Hugh Brunton who makes his first SRC start on gravel with his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 alongside new co-driver Greg Halfpenny.
Stephen Petch / Michael Wilkinson (Fiesta Rally2), Bruce McCombie / Neil Shanks (Fiesta R5), Alan Dickson / Ewan Lees (Skoda Fabia R5) and the returning Icelandic duo Daniel Sigurðarson / Asta Sigurðardóttir (Fabia RS Rally2) are other Rally2 contenders, while local Alford driver Scott Beattie makes his first appearance of the season in a Fiesta R5.
Callum Atkinson took the lead of both the Oakbank SRC Challengers and G&M Mechanical Services 2WD Championship after a superb drive at the Scottish Rally, and will again look to take it to the rest in his front-wheel-drive Peugeot 208 Rally4. Rivals include Craig Rutherford (Ford Escort Mk2), Mike Stuart (Ford Escort Mk1) and Scott Peacock (Ford Escort Mk2), with Chris Collie (Mitsubishi Evo) and Martyn Erskine (Mitsubishi Evo) additional contenders in the Challengers battle.
Natalie Robinson is yet to be beaten on gravel in the Questmead SRC Juniors and will therefore have designs on continuing that run at the Grampian. She’ll be raced by fellow 208 Rally4 driver Robbie Wood, Ford Fiesta Rally4 pilot Meghan O’kane and Skoda Felicia driver Fraser McDougall.
John Rintoul meanwhile can win the Haddo Energy SRC Super Seniors if he clinches another victory (a fifth of the season) this weekend in his Ford Escort Mk2.
Groundwater Lift Trucks Subaru Cup honours will be disputed between championship leader Mike Grant, Martin Lock and Neil Philip.
Calum MacLeod, owner of SRC live coverage partner Royal Aero, also makes his first Scottish rally start in many years behind the wheel of his MG ZR S2000, co-driven by his wife Claudia.
SRC chairwoman, Fiona Moir, said: “The 2026 Asset Alliance Group Scottish Rally Championship has reached the business end of the season, where every point and tenth of a second really will count.
“We’ve been treated to a fantastic season of Scottish rallying yet again this year, and the Grampian Forest Rally is poised to be another example as our nation welcomes some of the world’s best rally drivers to the forests.
“I wish every single competitor across all the classes and categories the very best of luck and await the final result on Saturday with great anticipation.”
