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Rally News - December 1, 2008
From the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow
Robbie Head, Cambell Roy and Mike Patterson, Motorsport Manager for Hankook Tyres took centre stage at the Glasgow launch for the announcement of the new Scottish Rally Championship sponsor for 2009.
The Korean based tyre giant is the 7th largest tyre manufacturer in the world and from its UK headquarters in Daventry and already supports a number of race and rally championships throughout the UK, and now Scotland can be added to that list.
Despite a pointed question, Mike Patterson would not divulge the extent of the sponsorship figure other than to say it is "substantial" but there will be enough in the kitty to build on what has been achieved over recent years with the support of Neale Dougan's County Saab support.
As part of the deal there is a commitment to help develop young Scottish rally drivers. For instance, the winner of the Junior programme in next year's Hankook MSA Scottish Rally Championship will receive a fully-funded outing on an international rally.
"We are delighted to be focusing our attention in 2009 on the Scottish Rally Championship," Hankook's motorsport manager Mike Patterson said. "The series attracts some intense competition and the enthusiasm and professionalism of the organising team has been instrumental in finalising this deal."
The scoring system will remain the same as this year for overall and class positions, but the winner of the Scottish Junior title will be decided by a panel of judges rather than a straightforward points system.
There was no news as yet of any major changes to the Championship Management Committee and it would appear that Robert Beck will continue in the role of Co-ordinator although he has been promised help for some of his duties. Campbell Roy was intending to step down as Chairman but for the moment he's still there.
Part of the sponsorship budget will again be used to support the TV coverage plans for this coming year and there are hopes to build further on the two half hour programmes already screened this year.
HANKOOK MSA SCOTTISH RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP 2009
14 February: Arnold Clark Thistle Snowman Rally
21 March: Brick and Steel Border Counties Rally
25 April: The Station Garage Mitsubishi Granite City Rally
24 May: Jim Clark Reivers Rally
27 June: RSAC Scottish Rally
8 August: Gleaner Speyside Stages
5 September: Merrick Forest Stages
3 October: Colin McRae Forest Stages.
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