September 8th, 2025

50th Galloway Hills Rally: Preview

An action packed weekend is in store at this weekend’s Armstrong Galloway Hills Rally in the forests of south west Scotland, as the motorsport event celebrates both it’s 50th running and 25 years of sponsorship from Dumfries-based Construction and Renewables specialists, The Armstrong Group, who have backed the event since the year 2000.

Basing itself in the East Ayrshire town of Dalmellington for the first time, competitors will travel south for three stages in the forests near Clatterinshaws, before returning to Dalmellington for Service. A variation of the same three stages will follow, before the ceremonial celebrations take place back in Dalmellington around 17.30.

Castle Douglas driver Alan McMorran, who competed in the first Galloway Hills Rally in 1974, has been given the honour of car number 1 on his MG3. Five-times event winners – although never together – David Bogie and Kirsty Riddick will run first on the road in their Skoda Fabia Rally2, hoping that a good run on Saturday might seal a 7th Scottish Rally Championship Drivers’ title. Chasing them will be Event Sponsor Jock Armstrong and Owen Paterson in their Subaru powered Skoda. Jock holds the record as the most successful Driver on the event with a tally of nine overall wins, and will be hoping for another good event on stages he always enjoys. Hot on his heels will be 2011 event winner Mark McCulloch guided by Michael Hendry, who has been having an excellent 2025 season in his Proton Satria Evo.

Another local driver Rory Young from Kirkgunzeon will tackle the event in a Skoda Fabia co-driven by Allan Cathers, and they will be followed by Stephen Petch & Michael Wilkinson in a Fiesta Rally2. The 2023 Galloway Hills’ winning car and co-driver Chris Lees line up at number 7, with Ian Forgan at the helm of the Fiesta Rally2 this time. A host of ‘Hills’ regulars make up the rest of the top 10, with John Crawford & Josh Davison, Bob Adamson & Nikki Addison, and Angus Lawrie & Jane Nicol all keen for a good day out. A late change of car from a historic Sierra will see Jonny Greer and Niall Burns line up in a Toyota Yaris Rally2. The Northern Irish driver has finished both 3rd and 2nd on the event in the past, and will be a strong favourite for the podium on Saturday.

In the two wheel drive battle, a trio of Ford Escorts from the island of Ireland kick us off, in the hands of Marty McCormack/Barney Mitchell, Damien Tourish/Kevin Duggan and Barry McKenna/Arthur Kierans. Taking them on will be our top seeded Scots, Paddy Munro and Andrew Stevenson.

Seven entries have been received from the competitive MG3 Rally Challenge, the budget one-make rally series for 1400cc cars, and three drivers will also make the trip as part of the Northern Historic Gravel Rally Championship.

The Armstrong Galloway Hills Rally has been a round of the popular Scottish Rally Championship since 2016, and was voted ‘Best Event’ in the series in 2017 and 2021. The Asset Alliance Motorsport Uk Scottish Rally Championship is again a very welcome addition to the event, with many of the 61 starters on the entry list being register competitors.

The event would not be possible without the cooperation and assistance of our local Forestry & Land Scotland team, and the enthusiastic support of our individual Event Partners and loyal, local suppliers. Event Promoters Solway, Machars and East Ayrshire Car Clubs are also extremely grateful to the people of Dalmellington for the warm welcome to the town they have given the Rally this year.

Spectator Information can be found on the website
www.gallowayhillsrally.co.uk/spectators/