Stig Blomqvist has been forced to withdraw from this weekend’s McRae Rally Challenge event due to flight cancellations in Sweden – meaning no World Rally champions will compete.
Blomqvist was supposed to perform demonstration runs in an Audi Quattro – the car that took him to the 1984 World Rally Championship title – as well as competing in the timed element of the event in a Vauxhall Magnum alongside 1990 and ’92 world champion Luis Moya.
But despite the best effort of Knockhill Racing Circuit, which is hosting the event, Blomqvist hasn’t been able to travel to the UK.
“It’s unfortunate that the rally has been robbed of Stig and his iconic Magnum and Quattro,” said Knockhill event director Stuart Gray.
“We spent most of the day yesterday trying to get Stig an alternative route to Scotland, but given the late nature of the cancellation and all the logistics in play it just wasn’t feasible.
“Stig is obviously extremely disappointed to be missing out this time around, given how much he enjoyed the first event in 2015, but it just wasn’t to be.”
Moya will however still be in attendance, focusing on a media role instead of competing.
The McRae Rally Challenge first ran in 2015 to commemorate 20 years since Colin McRae’s 1995 World Rally Championship title success.
A second iteration of the event was supposed to be held in 2020 to mark 25 years since McRae’s triumph, but it was twice postponed due to COVID-19.
It will finally take place this weekend (July 1-3) with a parade of Colin’s cars, demonstration runs from legends and a competitive rally headlined by three generations of McRae.
Alister McRae – who won the competitive element in 2015 – is seeded first in a Hyundai Accent WRC, while his son Max will drive a Ford Fiesta Rally2 for the first time. Jimmy McRae is seeded one car behind his grandson in 11th, driving a Ford Escort Mk2.
Toyota WRC driver Elfyn Evans will also be on-site to conduct demonstration runs on the Sunday of the event.
