Mull Rally News - June 2017
Most
of you already know that there is an insurance problem that will
prevent the Beatson's Mull Rally running as a closed road event in
2017.
We know that many competitors and marshals and other
officials have already booked and paid for accommodation and/or
ferries, and some have stated their intention to be on the Island in
October regardless.
The event organisers are actively looking
at options to run some kind of event or events on the usual weekend,
and obviously, a forest rally is one of those options. Clearly it will
be difficult to put a new event together in the four months available,
but the will is there.
And of course, if an event is to run, it will need marshals.
If
you are coming to Mull anyway, or if you will be coming if an event is
run, please register on the mull rally web site so that we have some
idea of how much support we can count on.
We really hope to see you on Mull, and we really hope we'll keep you busy doing what you do so well.
2017 Beatson’s Mull Rally — Statement
It
is a matter of considerable regret for the organisers and the Motor
Sport Association, the sport’s governing body, that the Beatson’s
Building Supplies Mull Rally cannot run as a closed road event in 2017
due to insurmountable insurance issues.
MSA 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 a record-equalling
150 crews and generates around £1 million for the local economy, will
not have 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 and agree a work-around
but have been unable to come up with an acceptable solution. Our
attention is now focussed 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 the cancellation of
the 2017 Mull Rally will 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,” Brown said.
“The organising team
is endeavouring to put on an alternative 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 hope we can rely on our regular visitors
continuing to support us.”
The
MSA and Mull Rally organisers fully acknowledge the Mull Rally's
economic benefit of around £1 million to the Isle of Mull.
It
is hoped that following the conclusion of the Fatal Accident Inquiry
into the Jim Clark and Snowman rallies in July and August this year,
that the Scottish Government will quickly adopt the new legislation
recently passed in Westminster which will allow the Mull Rally to make
a return in its closed road format in 2018.
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