'Stark warning' issued to Jim Clark Rally spectators amid concerns over safety
It's the biggest motorsport event in the Borders, and is believed to be worth around £3 million to the local economy.
But organisers of the Jim Clark Rally have revealed this year's event was in danger of being cancelled amid concerns over spectators on the road.
It's emerged a stage was halted during Sunday's Reivers Rally after repeated requests by safety marshals were ignored.
And an official statement released last night (Tuesday) is reminding anyone thinking of attending next year they must follow the rules.
But some spectators have hit back - saying they were only trying to help after a vehicle left the road and criticising a lack of communication.
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Clerk of the Course, Jonathan Lord said: “The safety of everyone involved in the Jim Clark Rally from spectators and residents to competitors and officials is our highest priority.
“Once the road is closed for the rally, it becomes an offence to walk on the road, including heading onto the road to recover or push cars, and it is a condition of use that this is policed. But a small number of people chose to ignore that and sadly we had to stop the stage to deal with their actions and relocate them.
"That subsequently causes delays and could stop the entire rally, spoiling it for both competitors and fans.
“It was just a small number of people who caused the issues, but we work closely with the police and local authorities during the rally, and they will have no hesitation in pulling the plug on the event."
Motorsport enthusiasts from all over the country converged on Duns for the three-day closed roads event, which is named after the late Formula One star, who lived locally.
World Rally Championship contenders Adrien Fourmaux and Alex Coria won the main event on Saturday, while Duns driver Euan Thorburn claimed back-to-back victories in the Reivers Rally on Sunday.
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Organisers have promised to review the viewing areas ahead of next year's event, after complaints from some spectators.
Lord said: "Sadly, we don’t have the luxury of grandstands or stadiums and are working totally with the natural landscape around us and what we can utilise thanks to the generosity of local landowners.
"However, we appreciate that we need to review these for 2024 to ensure they can enjoy this spectacular event even more.”
Meanwhile, the family of a spectator who died at the Jim Clark Rally on Friday night are paying tribute to emergency teams who battled in vain to save him.
John Dickson, who was 73, was attending his first event when he took unwell, near Abbey St Bathans.
In a statement, his son-in-law Mark Stewart says the pensioner would not have wanted the race to have been stopped.
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