Threat to rally
THE Mull Rally looks to be in jeopardy after organisers said it is unlikely to go ahead in October owing to ‘insurmountable’ insurance costs.
ORGANISERS of the Mull Rally say that due to ‘insurmountable’ insurance costs the event is unlikely to go ahead in October, although they are working hard to ensure an alternative event takes its place.
The sport’s governing body, the Motor Sport Association, says it is of ‘considerable regret’ that insurance costs have affected the annual event.
In a statement from 2017 Beatson’s Mull Rally organisers it was stated: ‘It is a matter of considerable regret for the organisers and the Motor Sport Association, the sport’s governing body, that Mull Rally cannot run as a closed road event in 2017 due to insurmountable insurance issues.’
The association’s chief executive Rob Jones explained the current situation: ‘ The Mull Rally runs under a private Act of Parliament.
‘It has emerged that the private closed road legislation raises very significant insurance challenges for Mull this year, which was first thought to render the Mull Rally uninsurable.
‘The MSA has been endeavouring to find a solution with its brokers.
‘ Whilst the brokers have offered a potential solution for 2017, this is unfortunately totally impractical as each and every claim under the policy would be subject to a very significant excess payable by the organisers, and one which the organisers cannot afford.’
Consequently the Mull Rally is unable to run as a closed road event this year.
It will be the first time the world-renowned three- day rally, which last year attracted 150 crews and generates around £1 million for the local economy, will not be run on closed public roads since the event was granted its Act of Parliament in 1990.
‘This development has come as a massive shock,’ Andy Jardine, Mull Rally clerk of the course, said on receiving the news, ‘as we were well on with a lot of the early work of setting the route and preparing the paperwork.
‘As I understand it, the MSA has been working behind the scenes to try to agree a work- around but have been unable to come up with an acceptable solution.
‘Our attention is now focused on what can be done in the short timescale to make sure something happens over the weekend.’
Donald Brown, chairman of the Guardians of Mull Rally, admitted cancelling the 2017 Mull Rally would have a negative financial impact on the island.
‘There’s no denying this is a huge blow to the island and its businesses who work hard to welcome the competitors, volunteers and spectators each year to the island in October,’ Mr Brown said.
‘The organising team is endeavouring to put on an alter- native motorsport event for the same weekend on Mull.
‘Naturally those plans are at a very early stage of development, but it’s hoped the new event will be attractive to Mull residents, competitors, volunteers and spectators alike.
‘Initial feasibility checks have been started to see what can be done to mitigate the impact and we hope we can rely on our regular visitors continuing to support us.’
Organisers hope that following the conclusion of the Fatal Accident Inquiry into the Jim Clark and Snowman rallies, that the Scottish Government will quickly adopt legislation which will allow the Mull Rally to make a return in its closed road format in 2018.