Horsepower replaces pedal power in the Stewartry this weekend.

Hot on the heals of the Tour of Britain’s star cyclists, top rally crews are in the area for the Armstrong Galloway Hills Rally.

Traditionally the final round of the KNC Groundworks Scottish Rally Championship, this year it is also part of the British Rally Championship for the first time.

And while the Scottish title has already been decided, it’s still all up for grabs in the British series with Matt Edwards and Tom Cave battling it out on the Dalbeattie-based event.

Defending champion Edwards is the favourite as he just needs to finish seventh with co-driver Patrick Walsh in his M-Sport Ford Fiesta R5 to claim the crown for the second year running.

He said: “I don’t feel any more pressure than I did last year. It will be exciting for the everyone watching as I guarantee Tom and I will have different game plans.

Matt Edwards is leading the fight for the British Rally Championship.
Matt Edwards is leading the fight for the British Rally Championship.

“The stages are excellent and it will be a great battle providing an exciting end to the championship for all involved.”

Cave and navigator Dale Bowen have to go for the win on the final round in their PCRS Rallysport Hyundai i20 R5.

He said: “I did the event in 2009 but we only did one stage as the gearbox went. Scotland as a whole has some brilliant stages that are very fast but very technical.

“I have gone well in the past on the Scottish Rally which has similar stages in character so I am looking forward to getting back there and getting into the title fight.”

The best hope of a Scottish winner in the BRC event is the Ford Fiesta R5 of Carnoustie’s Alex Laffey and Glasgow’s Stuart Loudon. There’s local interest in the shape of the Subaru Impreza of New Abbey’s Richard Dickson and Castle Douglas’ Roger Alcorn, the Citroen C2R2 of Castle Douglas’ Angus Lawrie and Annan’s Paul Gribben and the MG ZR of Haugh of Urr brother and sister Keith and Mairi Riddick.

Tom Cave still has an outside shot at the British crown.
Tom Cave still has an outside shot at the British crown.

There’s a fantastic chance of Dumfries and Galloway success in the Scottish section of the event. Sponsor Jock Armstrong of Castle Douglas has already won the rally nine times and will have Cameron Fair back on the notes in his Subaru Impreza.

The only car ahead of them on the road is multiple Scottish champ David Bogie who has swapped his Skoda Fabia R5 for a Mini John Cooper Works WRC which will be navigated by John Rowan.

Third off the line is the Ford Fiesta R5 of Kirkgunzeon’s Rory Young and Allan Cathers.

Although the overall title has been decided there are still plenty of class championships up for grabs.

That includes the Scottish Two-Wheel Drive Championship, currently being led by Iain Wilson of Dalbeattie and Chris Williams in their Ford Escort Mk2.

A points finish will give him the title but he may be looking for an overall win as the event is based at his Jas P Wilson firm’s headquarters.

He said: “I’ve been thinking more about the rally venue at our place rather than the driving.

“With the championship in mind, we know we more or less just have to finish but I’ve never approached a rally to just tootle round and I’ll not be starting now.

“Of course we would love to win the 2WDs again on our home event but we won’t go chasing anything if it turns out that way, we’ve just too much to lose.”

Jock Armstrong is looking for his 10th success on the event he sponsors.

Competition will include the similar car of Dumfries’ Mark McCulloch and Michael Hendry. In the Challengers class, Thomas Gray and Thornhill’s Harry Marchbank lead the way after dropped scores in their Mitsubishi Evo 9.

There are plenty of Dumfries and Galloway entries for the event with Dumfries’ Peter Stewart in a VW Polo in class 10. Iain Haining of Dumfries and Mark Roberts of Torthorwald are in class eight in a BMW E30.

Class one sees the MG ZR of Scott Peacock of Castle Douglas and Robin Neill of Haugh of Urr with a real Dumfries family battle in class three. Niall Cowan Jnr with Callum Shanks on notes in his MG ZR and Niall Snr has Clare Mackenzie in his car.

And in class two there are two Peugeot 205 GTis to watch out for — one from Donald Peacock and Albert Connelly of Castle Douglas and another from Bryan Gourlay of Colvend and Scott Gourlay of Dalbeattie.

Jas P Wilson, on the outskirts of Dalbeattie, will host rally HQ and all pre-event checks. Spectators are welcome from 4pm tomorrow with the ceremonial start from 8am on Saturday.

The British crews will be off first as they tackle nine stages covering 75 miles. The Scottish crews, as well as those competing in the Border Challenge and HRCR Motoscope Northern Historic Gravel Rally Championship, have five stages covering 45 miles and start at 9.30am.

Spectators are welcome at the Dalbeattie stage, which is expected to run from 8am to 11am, and the Cairn Edward Stage which is from 10.30am to 1.30pm. They can also head to the Black Loch stage between 2pm and 7.30pm and the Raiders Road test from 2.30pm to 6pm.

The finish and prizegiving will be at Threave Garden and Estate, Castle Douglas with the first Scottish crews expected back around 3.30pm and the new British champ crowned about 6pm.

The Armstrong Galloway Hills Rally is organised by Solway, Machars and East Ayrshire Car Clubs.