Scotland’s capital city played host to the launch of the Jim Clark Rally 2009.

The event celebrates the life of Scotland’s legendary World Motor Racing Champion, and is the only tarmac closed-road rally on mainland Britain.

A host of new attractions and features are being introduced to this year’s rally in order to widen its appeal and attract new visitors from within the UK and across the world.  Its organisers have secured the backing of Edinburgh’s premier leisure destination FountainPark in their bid to enhance the rally’s already worldwide reputation as an outstanding event.

The launch of the rally took place at FountainPark – which will host the event’s spectacular opening ceremonial start in May.  Rally organiser Colin Pagan and FountainPark marketing manager Julie Goulden were joined by Scottish rally driver Stevie Brown and his Ford Fiesta ST rally car to mark the occasion.

Traditionally one of the most popular events on the UK motorsport calendar, the Jim Clark Rally is famous for high-speed jumps and good weather – an unusual occurrence at many rallies. 

When the event kicks off over the Bank Holiday weekend of 22nd to 24th May Fountain Park will be the location of a high-octane rally festival featuring stars and cars from across the motorsport world.  Following its official start in the capital, the rally will then progress to rural Berwickshire and Jim Clark’s hometown of Duns.  On the Friday and Saturday legs of the rally, selected streets in Duns will thunder to the sound of high powered rally cars when a super special stage runs through the centre of the Berwickshire county town.  There will also be a new class introduced for historic rally cars and motor sport heritage show.

With a total of 220 miles of special stages criss-crossing the borders and a new rally festival village, spectators will be treated to an exciting weekend as old and new come together to create the spectacle of the 2009 Jim Clark Rally.

Jim Clark Rally Manager Colin Pagan said: 
“We feel that the 2009 Jim Clark Rally will provide an exciting mix of the familiar along with lots of fresh innovations, which will maintain the Jim Clark Rally’s reputation as one of the best events in the country - for both competitor and spectator.  We are delighted with our new partnership with FountainPark and the valuable support we have received from it.  This has enabled us to return to Edinburgh and ensure as many people as possible can see the rally.  It’s also very exciting to be able to bring special stage rallying right into the heart of Duns - very much the spiritual home of the event, and just a few miles away from where Jim Clark farmed before going on to become World Motor Racing Champion.”

Fountain Park General Manager Mary Turner said:
“FountainPark believes this joint venture with the Jim Clark Rally is a positive step in bringing a great spectator sport into a city centre leisure environment.  The Jim Clark Rally is a very popular event in the motor sport diary and we are pleased to be hosting this event.  Everything is geared up for the spectators to have a great day and this is sure to be a terrific start to a weekend of great motor sport.”