Speyside Stages' 25th running to be celebrated with two firsts
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THE 25th running of the Speyside Stages is set to be celebrated with two firsts.
The Stages will begin in Fochabers and will start on a Friday – neither of those things have happened before in the event's history.
It is hoped this will encourage a new legion of fans – including local families – to attend and see the cars up close and personal.
More than 110 cars are signed up to take part in the McDonald and Munro Speyside Stages, which will take place on April 21 and 22.
The first car will head to The Square in Fochabers at 8pm, with a trail of competitors following before heading out to take on the first stage of the rally.
The last car – expected to be the fastest – will leave at 10.15pm. There's also a chance for spectators to watch the action from a forest location at nearby Whiteash.
Attending the event in the village is free, with the Fochabers Village Association set to put on a barbecue.
Neil Shanks, clerk of the course and chief organiser of the event, said: "It's great to be able to take the rally right into the heart of Fochabers.
"When the opportunity arose to bring it here and take the event into the heart of the community, it was something we jumped at.
"It's a good chance for local people to come and see what the rally is about without having to go into the forests.
"There is no cost and people can come down with the kids, see the cars and get a feel for the event.
"Hopefully it will be a nice night, the barbecue will be on and some of the local shops will be open.
"It's really good that Fochabers Village Association are keen to have us and are giving us a lot of help to put this event on."
The Speyside Stages have historic ties to the area, with the first event having started at Speymouth Hall in Mosstodloch in 1997.
Liz Rennie, of the Fochabers Village Association, added: "We are delighted to be part of this event. It will be a great spectacle in The Square and something really different.
"As always, the local community are keen to help and we look forward to having a really good evening.
"Hopefully it will be a nice night and people will turn out to support everyone taking part in the rally."
