The news that the Intercontinental Rally Challenge was coming to Scotland next year has surprised many rally fans and many rally organisers, but is no less welcome for all that.
First Minister Alex Salmond announced the news in Glasgow ahead of next year's 'Homecoming Scotland' tourist and cultural campaign. He believes the three-day event will accelerate Scotland's position higher up the world motorsport stage.
"For too long Scotland has been off the world stage when it came to hosting an event at the highest level of motorsport," he said. "Now, by hosting the final round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, Scotland is back at the forefront of the action."
"Scotland has long enjoyed a rich motorsport heritage, with names like Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Louise Aitken-Walker and Colin McRae all being synonymous with success at a world level. Now we're going to show the world how to put on a world class rally."
Provisionally named the RAC RallyScotland, the event will run from 19-21 November and though the final route has yet to be confirmed, it is expected it will include some of Scotland's toughest gravel rally stages in central and eastern Scotland.
The IRC is part of the World Rally Championship programme and is for 2 litre Super2000 cars. Monte Carlo will host the opening round while Scotland will provide the final round.
The announcement was welcomed by Andrew Cowan: "It's absolutely magnificent. Scotland has missed out on being at the forefront of world rallying for too long. The recent Colin McRae Forest Stages Rally in Perth showed just how good a well-organised Scottish event can be."
In addition to the opening round in Monte Carlo, next year's ten-round IRC is scheduled to include events in Turkey, Italy, Russia, and China, as well as attracting the involvement of works' teams from Fiat, Citroen, Mitsubishi, Peugeot, VW and Honda.
The Scottish round has been made possible following a joint approach by both Perth & Kinross and Stirlingshire councils to the Scottish Government through EventScotland. Backed by the Forestry Commission Scotland, the event was given the green light.
The event - which is expected to generate at least £3 million in additional revenue - will also act as a major tourism boost with Eurosport, the global promoter of the IRC series, showing live footage and highlights through its international network.
It is also expected in excess of 100,000 spectators will line the 15 timed stages which will form the rally's route ensuring it is the biggest single motorsport event in the country.