THE Beatson’s Building Supplies Jim Clark Rally has officially launched the 2023 event, which is set to attract some of the best drivers in the world to Duns on May 26-28.

The prestigious closed-road stage rally released its regulations for competitors which outline the format and route of this year’s spectacular weekend of action, ahead of entries opening on Thursday 6 April.

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And interest in the event is at an “all-time high” thanks to a shift in the route during the weekend, as well as being all set to attract a string of top-flight championships and some of the best drivers in the business to the region for the event.

The ever-evolving rally will once again be a round of the Motorsport UK British Rally Championship, bringing the UK’s elite to the two-day event which winds its way through the Borders.

Also likely to make an appearance will be World Rally Championship ace Adrien Fourmaux who will drive an M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2 in a bid for seat time in between his WRC commitments.

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The BRC will also be joined by the best-sealed surface drivers in the country as the Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship brings a top-quality field and they will be joined by a host of regional series including the A S Performance North of England Tarmacadam Championship, the S G Petch ANECCC Stage Rally Championship and the Armed Forces Rally Team.

The two-day Jim Clark Rally offers over sixty miles of competitive action and will enjoy its traditional Duns town centre start on Friday [26 May] evening before crews head out to tackle a double run over the daunting Longformacus moorland stage with the second pass likely to be under the cover of darkness.

After an overnight halt, Saturday [ May 27 ] will be unfamiliar to many, as six stages in Edrom, Ayton and Fogo, situated to the West of Duns are introduced into the itinerary to test the crews to the limit before an early afternoon, champagne spray and finish celebrations take place back in Duns Town Square.

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The highly regarded Reivers Rally takes place on Sunday [May 28] and sees more top-class categories head to the area as the KNC Groundworks Scottish Rally Championship marks its first asphalt round of the season at the event.

They will also be joined by contenders in the Burnside Piling Scottish Tarmack Rally Championship, as well as the North of England, ANECCC Championship, Northern Historic and the Armed Forces series enjoying a double-header weekend, contesting all three days.

The Reivers rally will also get underway from Duns Town Square, at around 10:00 Sunday [May 28] before utilising the Westruther, Scott’s View and Eccles stages. Totalling 41 stage miles, the compact event will see the finish celebrations just before 16:00 later that day back in Duns.

“We are very excited to be launching the 2023 Beatson’s Building Supplies Jim Clark Rally,” said Dan Wright, Chairman of the organisers Jim Clark Memorial Motor Club.

“The organising team work tirelessly behind the scenes to produce a world-class event and it's all set to be another fascinating weekend of motorsport for the region. Interest in the rally is at an all-time high and we hope that fans and competitors alike will enjoy the offering we have this year. To keep the event fresh, there is a switch around in the route, meaning everyone can enjoy some new stages and see just what the Scottish Borders has to offer. We look forward to a bumper list of entries heading to Duns this May”.