Hall has high hopes for Scottish debut

Date: 22-06-2009

Kick Energy FST UK Round Four. RSAC Scottish Rally, 27 June 2009 Event Preview

Stobart Motorsport driver Kris Hall is hoping to get his Fiesta SportTrophy UK title bid back on track this weekend as he takes on the RSAC Scottish Rally, the fourth round of the FST UK competition, for the first time.

Hall’s last outing in Scotland, at the Jim Clark Rally, ended in disappointment as he crashed off the road on the final day after skidding off on cold tyres, but the Appleby-based driver is looking forward to kick-starting his campaign in Dumfries on Saturday. With the Fiesta SportTrophy UK reaching its midway point Hall is lying in fifth place overall, but there is still all to play for in the closely-fought championship.

This year’s Scottish Rally is set to be one of the biggest ever, with 130 entrants set to take on 44.93 miles of stages around the Dumfries and Galloway countryside. The rally is made up of six stages, none of which are repeated, meaning the drivers can look forward to fast, clear roads with minimal ruts. Two classic Scottish Rally stages, Castle O’er and Twiglees are also returning to the rally which will be based around the Ice Bowl arena in Dumfries.

Hall will again have co-driver Robbie Durant on board after returning from commitments in the USA. The pair will take part in shakedown in Dumfries on Friday giving Hall the chance to get a feeling for being back on gravel for the first time since April’s Pirelli Rally.

The 22-year-old will also be drawing on the knowledge and support that he has received from being part of the MSA British Rally Elite scheme this season as he aims to score his first victory since his win at the Malcolm Wilson Rally in March. 

Stobart Motorsport driver Kris Hall said:

“It is a completely new rally for me, but I think a lot of the stages are quite similar to the Pirelli Rally. I’m expecting it to be quite abrasive and grippy and that should suit me. I’m really looking forward to it. I think that whoever stays out of trouble is going to do well here so that’s what I’ll be aiming to do.”