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The 2026 Borders Competitions Jim Clark Rally delivered a spectacular weekend of motorsport action as Max McRae and Cammy Fair took an impressive rally win as thousands of fans lined the streets and lanes of the Scottish Borders across three days of competition [22–24 May].

There was plenty for the host-town residents of Dun to celebrate as Garry Pearson also secured victory on home soil, thanks to a dramatic Reivers Rally victory on Sunday with Hannah McKillop alongside.

Kicking off the weekend, the Jim Clark Rally is the jewel on the crown of the motorsport calendar in the UK, and it was Max McRae and Cammy Fair who produced a sensational performance to secure a hugely popular maiden victory after mastering the demanding Borders asphalt in their Skoda Fabia RS Rally2.

McRae, son of 1995 British Champion Alister, arrived in the Borders as one of several young stars tipped for a top result. Still, few could have predicted the maturity and composure shown by the Scotsman across two dramatic days. A blistering charge through Friday night’s stages under darkness ultimately proved decisive, allowing McRae to build a crucial advantage over the pursuing Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 crews of Meirion Evans/Dale Furniss and Osian Pryce/James Morgan.

The battle at the front was intense from the outset. Pryce struck first on the opening Bothwell stage before Evans responded immediately on Abbey St Bathans to ensure the leading trio remained separated by only seconds through the early stages.

As darkness descended, however, McRae came alive.

The young Scot delivered a series of stunning stage times across Friday evening, mastering the difficult night-time conditions to establish a commanding overnight lead. Behind him, Evans remained firmly in contention despite admitting to an issue with his auxiliary lighting setup on the final stage of leg one, whilst Pryce struggled to regain confidence after setup changes to his Yaris.

Saturday morning saw McRae immediately continue his relentless pace, extending his advantage on the opening tests as Pryce’s hopes faded following an overshoot which cost valuable time. Evans continued to apply pressure throughout the remainder of the rally, but McRae controlled the gap expertly across the final loop to seal a landmark victory on home soil.

The emotional result marked McRae’s second British Rally Championship victory and one of the standout drives of his career to date.

“This win feels pretty good,” said an emotional McRae at the finish ramp in Duns Square.

“This one came to us, not easily, but I think we had a really good rally this time. Compared to the Cambrian [Rally], this last stage was a lot less stressful!

“Massive thanks to the team and luckily Dad was over to witness this one. Obviously, this win is for Dai [ Roberts] and James [Williams] and their families.”

Behind the leading trio, the battle for fourth proved equally captivating. Garry Pearson and Hannah McKillop initially held the position comfortably on home asphalt before a Friday night off opened the door Sam Touzel and Max Freeman.

The Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 crew capitalised immediately on Saturday morning, moving ahead of Pearson on the opening stage of the day before securing an excellent fourth overall finish. Local favourites Euan Thorburn and Paul Beaton completed the top six after another assured performance aboard their Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 on familiar roads.

Sunday’s Jim Clark Reivers Rally provided a fitting finale to the weekend, with another spectacular entry tackling the famous Borders roads as the Asset Alliance Scottish Rally Championship and RAC Historic Asphalt Championship rounded out a memorable three days of competition.

Garry Pearson ensured he set the benchmark early on with a sensational time over the opening stage, seven seconds faster than Thorburn, who confessed to ‘not waking up’ over Westruther.

Thorburn kept Pearson within reach when the Ford Fiesta driver damaged a rim in Eccles, ensuring the afternoon loop was as breathtaking as the rest of the weekend.
Try as he might, Thorburn couldn’t catch Pearson, who went on to secure his first home win. Thorburn took second with Hugh Brunton and Drew Sturrock rounding out the Reivers podium.

“It’s a dream come true for me to win the Borders Competitions Jim Clark Reivers Rally – it’s going to take a while for me to understand it, I think”, said Pearson.

“Growing up in Duns and the Scottish Borders, the Jim Clark Rally is such a big part of the year and was definitely responsible for me becoming a rally driver. To have my name on the roll of honour makes me feel extremely proud”.

Beyond the competitive action, the event once again delivered a festival atmosphere across the Borders. Duns Square remained packed throughout the weekend for ceremonial starts, regroup halts, live coverage and podium celebrations, whilst spectator areas across the weekend attracted huge crowds in the glorious spring sunshine.

The success of the 2026 event once again highlighted the importance of the Jim Clark Rally to the Borders region, with thousands of visitors delivering a significant boost to local businesses, tourism and the wider community while showcasing the area to a national audience.

The 2026 Borders Competitions Jim Clark Rally returns to the British rally calendar next weekend, once again placing the Scottish Borders at the centre of the UK motorsport scene from 22–24 May.

Based in the heart of Duns, the Jim Clark Rally remains one of the UK’s most iconic asphalt stage rallies and a cornerstone of the national motorsport calendar. It continues to attract the best drivers from across Britain and beyond, whilst delivering a major boost to the Borders community and economy.

The 2026 edition will carry extra significance as the rally community comes together to remember co-driver Dai Roberts, who tragically lost his life during the 2025 event. Throughout the weekend, tributes will be paid to Dai, ensuring his memory remains at the heart of the event.

Backed once again by Borders Competitions, the rally will feature around 95 competitive miles across Friday and Saturday, with the British Rally Championship, Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship and regional series joining the ranks. Alongside, Sunday’s Jim Clark Reivers Rally adds a further 58 stage miles to complete a full weekend of high-speed Border action.

The main rally gets underway on Friday evening with four special stages, ensuring the famous night-time element remains a key feature of the event. Crews will tackle fast and flowing closed-road tests in darkness before returning to Duns for the overnight halt. Saturday’s second leg houses six stages with a demanding day of classic Borders asphalt awaiting crews, before the traditional champagne celebrations in Duns Square.

Sunday’s Jim Clark Reivers Rally sees the Asset Alliance Scottish Rally Championship and RAC Historic Asphalt series provide a fitting finale to the weekend, featuring eight stages.

Meirion Evans and Dale Furniss head to the Borders as the number one seeds after leading the event last year. Evans showed impressive pace on asphalt in 2025 and continues to grow increasingly comfortable aboard the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.

Osian Pryce makes it a Yaris, one-two, arriving after a sensational victory on the opening round of the BRC in Wales. Pryce immediately re-established himself as the benchmark in the series with a commanding performance on the Welsh gravel

Euan Thorburn leads the Duns drivers and continues to be one of the benchmarks on Scottish Borders asphalt in his VW Polo GTi and will aim to add yet another Jim Clark success to his record. But Garry Pearson has enjoyed the best start to a BRC season yet in 2026 and is long overdue a top result on home soil, driving his M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2.

The next generation of British rallying talent is also expected to shine, with Max McRae continuing his rise in Rally2 machinery. The grandson of Jimmy McRae and nephew of Colin and Alister McRae has already demonstrated impressive speed and will be eager to challenge for top honours on the Borders lanes in his Skoda Fabia Rally2. 

Local knowledge could prove invaluable for Dale Robertson in a Ford Fiesta Rally2. Robertson has not contested an event since last year’s Jim Clark Rally, but has shown strong pace on these roads previously and could spring a surprise. A strong top-ten also sees Sam Touzel [Skoda] and Elliot Payne [Fiesta] make the trip.

The Reivers Rally on Sunday is no less competitive, and over 130 cars will line up to tackle the event. Thorburn aims to take a record tally of wins with four in a row, but he’ll be pushed by Robertson and Pearson, which could make it a Duns 1-2-3 on the road. Scott MacBeth, Hugh Brunton, Mark McCulloch and James Ford add some top-flight flavour to Sunday.

Fans can once again look forward to a festival atmosphere throughout the weekend, with Duns Square remaining the focal point for ceremonial starts, finishes, regroup halts and live rally coverage on the big screen in the town.

Many stages offer spectacular viewing spots for spectators, including Abbey on Friday night, and Polwarth, which enjoys two separate locations on Saturday. The Westruther and Scott’s View stages are available on the Reivers Rally Sunday. Full spectator information is available in the Rally Programme, stocked at a wide range of outlets across the region.

Thousands of spectators are expected to descend on the town over the three days, creating one of the biggest sporting weekends in the Borders calendar. 

Full spectator information is available on the Jim Clark Rally website HERE where the entry lists for both events can also be viewed.

-Ends

The build-up to this year’s Jim Clark Rally gets underway in style this Saturday with a special promotional event in Duns Market Square.

Running from 09:00 until approximately 12:30–13:00, the event offers fans a chance to experience rallying up close, with an impressive display of machinery set to take centre stage. Among the highlights is Jim Clark’s iconic 1966 RAC Rally car, alongside a striking Aston Martin and a formidable desert rally vehicle.

Visitors can also explore a fully equipped rally rescue vehicle, providing a fascinating insight into the safety operations behind the sport. A variety of stands will be on hand offering rally merchandise, giveaways, stickers and programmes, as well as information from the Jim Clark Museum and the Muscular Dystrophy charity, which is being supported by the event this year.

Organisers will also be present throughout the morning, giving attendees the opportunity to learn more about the 2026 rally route and ask any questions ahead of the main event.

The promotional day promises to be a relaxed and engaging start to rally week, bringing fans, competitors and the local community together in the heart of Duns.

Regulations are now available to view and download for the 2026 Borders Competitions Jim Clark Rally and Borders Competitions Reivers Rally.
Entries open for the Jim Clark Rally on 6th April at 19:00, with Reivers entries opening on the 9th April at 19:00.

The Borders Competitions Jim Clark Rally will return to the Scottish Borders from 22–24 May 2026, with an all-new format designed to keep the event fresh and competitive.

Based once again in Duns, the 2026 edition will feature around 100 competitive miles across the two-day rally. The action begins on Friday evening with four special stages, ensuring the much-loved night-time tradition remains a core part of the event. Saturday’s second leg will pack in around 65 miles across six demanding stages, offering an intense day of competition.

Sunday’s Jim Clark Reivers Rally will provide a fitting finale to the Scottish motorsport weekend, with around 58 stage miles over eight stages, ensuring another day of fast, flowing Border tarmac for crews and fans alike.

Next year’s rally will also take time to remember co-driver Dai Roberts, who tragically lost his life on the event in May.

More information will be released in the coming months….

When the Jim Clark Memorial Motor Club launched its Targa Rally Support Grant earlier this year, the aim was simple: to give local clubs a boost in keeping grassroots motorsport alive and thriving.

One of the first clubs to benefit was Spadeadam Motor Club Ltd., who used the grant to help safeguard the running of their long-established Blue Streak Targa Rally in August 2025.

Spadeadam MC has been a cornerstone of the northern rallying scene since 1959, with members marshalling, competing, and supporting events from the Malcolm Wilson Rally to the Roger Albert Clark Rally. Like many grassroots clubs, however, they faced a significant hurdle when their regular test venue at Carlisle Airport was suddenly withdrawn by new owners.

Combined with the loss of another long-standing venue, the future of the Blue Streak Targa Rally looked uncertain. Without new ground to run on, there was a real risk that the 2025 edition simply couldn’t happen.

That’s when perseverance, and a little help from the JCMMC grant, turned the tide. Thanks to support from landowner Roly Webster, Spadeadam secured three new tests near Haltwhistle, Northumberland, totalling five miles of competitive mileage. Though this came at a cost to the club, the grant eased the pressure and gave the organising team the confidence to press ahead.

The event grew from strength to strength, relocating its start to Haltwhistle East Industrial Estate and expanding to feature 16 tests over 20 competitive miles, with venues including Plenmeller Common, Kingswood Common, Plumpe Farm in Gretna, Hallburn Airfield, and even the brand-new Junction 45 Lorry Park at Gretna.

From a near cancellation, the 2025 Blue Streak Targa Rally became one of the club’s most successful editions yet. Over 80 marshals, blistering summer weather, and enthusiastic competitors combined to create an event that was widely praised by all involved.

What began as a year of uncertainty ended with a rally that demonstrated the strength of teamwork, volunteer spirit, and the difference a small grant can make to grassroots motorsport.

For the Jim Clark Memorial Motor Club, this was exactly the purpose of the grant scheme: to help clubs face the challenges of venues, costs, and logistics, and to ensure motorsport remains accessible for organisers and competitors alike.

The Blue Streak Targa Rally continues its legacy into the future, and the JCMMC remains committed to backing local clubs who are the heartbeat of British motorsport.

The British Rally Championship have issued this kind tribute to Dai Roberts, which we would like to share with you all.


The British Rally Championship and the entire rallying community are mourning the loss of Dai Roberts, a hugely respected co-driver whose life was tragically cut short during the 2025 Jim Clark Rally. 

Aged 39, he was more than just an experienced name in the co-driver’s seat. A standout driver in his own right, Dai had a quiet, calming presence along with a kindness and astounding knowledge that touched everyone who had the privilege of working alongside him.

Hailing from his beloved Carmarthen, he was a man deeply rooted in the sport, with a career spanning over 22 years at both national and international levels. His partnership with several talented drivers, including James Williams in recent seasons, was built not only on skill but on unwavering trust. Drivers and teams knew they could count on him, his timing was meticulous, his notes delivered with unshakeable calm, and his attention to detail was second to none.

But beyond the stages, it was Dai’s character that made him special. He was gentle, humble, and unfailingly generous with his time, whether helping a newcomer find their feet or checking in quietly on a teammate after a tough day. To many, he was the soul of a service park: never loud, but always present when it mattered.

Dai knew all too well the fragility of life in motorsport, yet, despite such heartbreak, he continued, his love for rallying never dimmed, and neither did his strength.

He is survived by his family, including his wife Louise and children, who were the centre of his world. They and the wider rallying community continue to grieve not only for a competitor, but a man who lived with fire in his belly, gave generously, and left the sport better than he found it.

Dai Roberts was, simply put, one of rallying’s good souls. His ferocious passion on the stages and quick wit and humour away from them will live on with his incredible legacy that will roll out the service park with every car for years to come.

The British Rally Championship extends its deepest condolences to Dai’s family and friends. The series aims to honour Dai’s legacy in the upcoming events. We also continue to support James Williams in his fight for recovery.