Focus on Duns as Jim Clark Rally returns to the Scottish Borders
Last updated 24th May 2026
Cars taking part in this weekend's Jim Clark Rally are being fitted with new AI recognition equipment to help monitor fan safety.
The new camera system can instantly detect if anyone moves onto the road where competitors can reach speeds of more than 100mph.
In 2014, three people were killed when a car crashed off the road into an area where people were not supposed to be.
Chairman Dan Wright told Greatest Hits Radio: "We do get people who either don't pay attention to the information we give them on safety or think that, after the safety cars have gone through, they can then move to other positions, which are not as safe as they should be.
"And this technology allows us to identify them very quickly and take action to put them into a safe place."
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More than 100 competitors are taking part in the closed roads event, with thousands of spectators expected to line the route.
The event - which is estimated to be worth around £4 million to the local economy - gets underway in Duns at 5.45pm on Friday (May 22nd).
Duns racing drivers Euan Thorburn and Garry Pearson are confirmed among the entrants, alongside Max McRae - the nephew of the late World Rally Champion, Colin McRae.
All the cars will carry stickers in memory of co-driver Dai Roberts, who lost his life in a crash at last year's event.
Dan added: "The stage where the accident happened, we're now using Manderston - an area slightly away from that - for reasons of respect. It's not inherently a dangerous area but motorsport is one of those things, so we're avoiding that."
Meanwhile, the cousin of the late Formula One legend the event's named after is recalling his memories of the champion racer.
The Berwickshire sheep farmer died in a race in West Germany almost 60 years ago - aged 32.
Doug Niven, a family trustee with the Jim Clark Trust, told us he hero-worshipped him during his school days.
"I can remember when they had the first rally way back in 1970, and then I did a few of them myself," he recalled. "I could never get the hang of the rallies, compared to driving on the circuits, you can see where you're going. Some of the rallies at night time you just don't know where you are sometimes."
WATCH: Click on the link below to view our video report...
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