Labour of love for motorsport fanatic Iain Campbell helps restore British Rally Championship
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But for Kiltarlity-based Iain Campbell it has proved a labour of love that is about to bear fruit.
A former clerk of the course at the Snowman Rally and a lifelong motorsport fan, Campbell was destined for a role such as this.
He works for International Motor Sports Ltd, who were tasked with reinvigorating the British Rally Championships after the 2015 season was postponed by the Motor Sports Association due to lack of interest.
However, with some stellar names and widespread interest in the new beast, Campbell is eager to see the results when racing gets under way in March.
“We were given the job of restarting it and we’ve introduced new classes, more powerful cars and four-wheel drive cars,” he said. “It’s open to a lot more people to compete.
“What’s really exciting was starting with effectively a blank sheet of paper – but you only get one shot at getting it right.
“The response we’ve had has been very good. I was at the Autosport Show the other week and I’ve never spoken to so many people wanting to find out more. There’s a real buzz about it.”
The championship will be contested over seven rounds, starting with the Mid Wales stages in Newtown, Powys, on March 5.
It then goes on to the Circuit of Ireland, the Pirelli Rally in Carlisle, the Scottish Rally in Dumfries, the Nicky Grist stages in North Wales, Ulster and the Isle of Man.
The championship will also benefit from increased television coverage, with Channel 4 and BT Sport screening the races.
Competition for the title will be fierce. Highland interest sees Paul Beaton, from Inverness, team up with his driver and fellow Scottish Rally Championship winner Euan Thorburn for the season, while Culloden Car Sales’ Donnie Macdonald is expected to be among the leading contenders.
Also in the field are David Bogie, a long-time rival of Thorburn and Beaton and a former British Rally Championship winner.
But the team to beat could be in the DMACK-backed Ford Fiesta R5. World Rally Championship regular Elfyn Evans will be paired with Finland’s Max Vatanen, whose father Ari won the 1976 and 1980 championships.
“Elfyn is the benchmark and he should come away as the winner,” said Campbell. “There’ll be pressure on Max to because he’s got a big name to live up to.
“David Bogie and Euan Thorburn won’t hang about either, and Donnie Macdonald will be up there too. It’ll be a very open competition, which is exactly how we want it.”
Motorsport has turned from a hobby into a livelihood for Campbell. He used to juggle his rally responsibilities with his job with Macrae and Dick Land Rover until taking over as manager of the British championship at the start of October, as well as succeeding Fred Gallagher as clerk of the course for Rally GB.
It all started out from humble beginnings for 44-year-old Campbell, originally from Skye, who developed a love of motorsport from a young age.
“I came through to spectate with my father for the Snowman Rally aged about seven or eight and got to see the Scottish Rally too,” he said.
“I wanted to give something back to the Highland Car Club for organising the Snowman, so I volunteered to help out as a clerk of the course.
“I started work for the WRC in 2003 and like most things in life, through contacts I got to where I am now. I enjoy the organising side of things, which is a lot different to competing.”
Campbell manages to get all his business done from home, which is an undoubted plus, but in the middle of race weekend he finds it hard to switch off and just enjoy a race.
“I rarely get chance to take notice of the results,” said Campbell. “You spend four days in rally control making sure everything falls into place, and it’s only really at the end that I can have a look and say ‘Oh, it’s so-and-so who’s won’.
“But the variety it provides is nice. It was always a hobby, but now it’s become a job.”
