The town centre that turns into a 100mph racetrack

BBC News

20-06-2025

For one night each year, the normally quiet main street of Dunoon is transformed into a racetrack.The seaside town's Argyll Street and surrounding roads are closed, and rally drivers from across the UK take their turn racing around them reaching speeds of up to 100mph.The Argyll Rally is currently Scotland's only motor sporting event that sees racing take part on a town centre course.The event returns this weekend for its fifth year and this time the start list features five local teams who have been inspired to take up the sport due to the local event.
On a normal day, if 37-year-old Matt Youden saw a car speeding through Dunoon, he'd be forced to take action as a local police officer.But this weekend it is his turn to race.He told BBC Scotland News: "When you're in a rally car, strapped in with your helmet on, it's a totally different feeling to driving about in my normal 4x4 car."It certainly is a wee bit different to going for your morning rolls."Matt grew up around rally driving as his dad used to race, but it wasn't until he was stationed in Dunoon he decided to take up the hobby for himself.The action takes place over two days. As well as the Dunoon town centre stage, drivers race on routes in some of the Cowal peninsula's most scenic locations including routes in Glendaruel and Millhouse.Matt said he doesn't pay much attention to the speedometer during a race, but he expects to reach speeds of up to 100mph.Asked if the adrenaline is comparable to a high-speed police chase, Matt replied: "No, because there's usually a lot of paperwork at the end of that."
The town's veteran racer is David Robertson, 53, who is competing for the third year.Born and raised in Dunoon, he took up rally driving as a result of watching the event and said racing in his home town was special."I wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't for the Argyll Rally coming to the town," David told BBC Scotland News."You know, the feeling of everybody cheering you when you come round that first corner. It's just special, it brings a tear to your eye."The rules state local drivers aren't supposed to try out the routes prior to a pre-arranged recce before the event - to make sure they aren't given an unfair advantage.But David, a local courier, spends every day driving on Dunoon's roads, so he feels like he knows the roads like the back of his hand.He said this is a bonus, but driving in his van is completely different to his Ford Fiesta rally car."Every time I come up Argyll Street street, I'm analysing the road, thinking about what's the quickest line," he said."When I'm working, I'll spot a pothole and think, I'll need to watch out for that on rally night."He is piloted by his wife Jen, who gives him instructions throughout the race.
As well as locals, over 100 of the country's fastest drivers head to the region for the event.It draws hundreds of spectators but some locals aren't in favour of the event saying it is unsafe and road closures are inconvenient.Organisers say that strict safety protocols are implemented to ensure the safety of drivers and spectators, and the event is good for the local economy.Colin Moulson from Dunoon Presents told BBC Scotland News the event was worth around £500,000 to the local area through visitor spend, and it has a "tangible community feel" to it.