On that day, ten Scottish Rally Championship drivers with a local connection will be in Stornoway, with their cars, for the inaugural Bethesda Rally Hebrides.

This will be the first closed Stage Rally ever held in the Western Isles and promises to be a real spectacle for the huge number of spectators anticipated.

The Rally is being organised by Lewis Car Club with assistance from Highland Car Club Rally Marshals and is fully supported by Stornoway Trust. All proceeds from the event will go to the Bethesda Nursing Home and Hospice.

The action starts with Rally Scrutineering in Studio Alba, Seaforth Road, Stornoway on Friday 22 August at 8pm.

This will be an opportunity for the general public to see full specification Rally Cars close up and to chat to the drivers.

On Saturday morning, 23 August, the action moves to Perceval Square for the Ceremonial Town Centre Start when Charlie Nicolson, Chairman of Stornoway Trust, will flag off the ten cars from the starting ramp outside the Estate Office.

Cars will be piped off the line by the Lewis Pipe Band. The cars will then make their way to the Service Park at Lews Castle College in preparation for a 2.6km forest Stage through the Castle Grounds.

In making part of the Castle Grounds available for this event, Stornoway Trust has played a pivotal role in turning the long cherished dream of a Hebridean Rally into reality.

At 12.30pm on Saturday 23 August, the cars will enter the Castle Grounds Stage to the rear of Lews Castle and will run at Rally speed through a challenging section which runs up the 'High Road' before cutting left around the back of Gallows Hill and dropping down to the Creed Bridge (Iron Well).

The cars will then cross the bridge and tackle the short gravel section up to the Arnish Road before completing their run with a high speed blast along the Arnish Road which will be closed for the occasion.

Once across the finish line near the Arnish Road / A859 junction, the cars will return to Lews Castle College Car Park at road speed via Marybank Lodge and the Sawmill.

The cars will be released from the start line at three minute intervals and each car will undertake two runs, giving eager spectators the impression of a sizeable 20 car Rally.

At 3pm, the cars will compete in a Tarmac Superspecial Stage at Lewis Karting Centre with each car running, against the clock, around the Karting Circuit.

This Tarmac Superspecial Stage will form part of the annual Motorsport Day which will include a Karting Grand Prix and Supercar Rides for Charity.

All proceeds from the Rally will go to Bethesda and, in reflection of the worthy cause being supported, ten of Scotland's top Rally drivers have eagerly volunteered to come across to Stornoway with their cars which are all based on the mainland without exception. The drivers (and cars) confirmed for the event are:

Jimmy Girvan (Subaru Impreza) – current Scottish Championship leader

John Morrison (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO9) – regular top ten finisher

Donnie Macdonald (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO9)

Alasdair Graham (Ford Escort Mk2) – 2007 Scottish Junior Champion

Calum George Buchanan (Ford Escort Mk2)

Donnie Macleod (ex Colin McRae Subaru Impreza)

Sandy Arbuthnott (MG Metro 6R4)

Andy Horne (DAM 4100GTi – twin Hayabusa engined 6R4 derivative)

Neil Morrison (Talbot Sunbeam)

Calum Macleod (ex Carlos Sainz 'Repsol' Subaru Impreza)

As an indication of the level of support for this event among the drivers, the last mentioned, Calum Macleod from Aird (Point), is travelling from his home in Germany specially for the event.

Calum will collect his ex Carlos Sainz Impreza (sister car to Colin McRae's L555 BAT Impreza) from Bill Gwynne Motorsport in Buckinghamshire and trailer it to Lewis.

Accompanying Calum will be Ian Gwynne, a professional Rallyschool Instructor who is also an exceptionally talented display driver so spectators will be treated to the unforgettable spectacle of Ian throwing the Impreza around the 650m Karting circuit on the Saturday afternoon.

Navigator rides in each of the ten cars will be made available through an auction system with all proceeds going to Bethesda.

Ten lucky bidders will receive a 'Rally Experience', sitting alongside their driver for the Town Centre Start, Forest Stage and Tarmac Superspecial. A further ten 'Forest Experiences' and ten 'Tarmac Experiences' will also be up for grabs.

Commenting on his involvement in this event, Alasdair Graham, 2007 Scottish Junior Champion, said: "A Rally in Stornoway is a dream come true for me and many others before my time. To raise money for the worthy cause of Bethesda by doing what we love doing and sharing that experience with the local community is great and something I'm very much looking forward to. For us to leave the island and compete in rallying is a big step and we wouldn't be able to take that step without the support of the local community and local sponsors.

"Now Bethesda Rally Hebrides gives us drivers the chance to give our sponsors great publicity on home soil and lets us take rallying to the doorsteps of Stornoway.

"A special thanks must go to Stornoway Trust and Lewis Car Club for putting together a great event for such a great cause.

"Hopefully, events like this and the recent Quarter Mile Drag Race at Stornoway Airport will continue for many years to come".