PROGRAMME FEATURE
BBC ALBA HITS THE ROAD
AIR AN RATHAD: SERIES FOUR ON BBC ALBA
‘Air an Rathad / On the Road’ is Scotland’s very own popular car series which has returned to our screens on BBC ALBA for another series offering viewers an exciting mix of rallying, racing and car reviews.
Presenters Fiona Mackenzie, Murray Macleod and Calum Iain Mackenzie are back with all the thrills and spills you expect from ‘On the Road’, with guest appearances from stunt driver Paul Swift, Roy Maclennan (aka ‘rollover’) and rally drivers David Bogie and Donnie Campbell.
The cars in the spotlight throughout the series will include the Porsche 911 Carrera 4S, the Seat Leon Cupra R, the Ford Focus RS 500 and the teeny tiny Toyota IQ. There’s plenty of tough stuff as Murray test drives the Isuzu Rodeo Pickup at home in Ness and he also tries out Super lorries at an Argyll Super quarry, whilst Fiona learns to steer an HGV at Errol, near Perth. Calum Iain puts his new Mitsubishi Evo through its’ paces at the Granite City Rally in Aberdeenshire and Scotland’s foremost tarmac rally, The Jim Clark, in the Borders is also featured.
The weird and wonderful Wacky Races competition also returns and there’s more fun on the track as the presenters battle it out for the coveted title, so sit down and buckle up for the new exhilarating series.
Coming up:
- Programme 1 – Thursday 3 Nov
This week Calum Iain goes head to head with champion stunt driver Paul Swift at his home track in Doncaster, Fiona is test driving the sporty Seat Leon Cupra in Arbroath, and Murray has some seasonal advice for driving in wintry conditions.
- Programme 2 – Thursday 10 Nov
Fiona joins Grampian fire-fighters in Aberdeen joining them on a blues and twos exercise, Murray is back to his day job looking after the sheep on the croft whilst putting the Isuzu Rodeo through its’ paces, and Calum Iain joins the competitors at the Fintray Hill Climb for a taste of entry level motorsports.
- Programme 3 – Thursday 17 Nov
Calum Iain’s dream comes true when he gets behind the wheel of a Porsche Carrera 911, Murray is in a remote part of Argyll, home to the largest coastal superquarry in Europe, with giant Tonka toys to play with and Fiona swaps four wheels for two as she joins members of Peterhead Scooter Club on their 25th anniversary rally.
- Programme 4 – Thursday 24 Nov
Fiona and Murray join Highland Old Skool Fords Car Club as they enjoy a weekend of car packed activities, including rallying, autotesting and drag racing on Lewis. Fiona gets her first lesson behind the wheel of an articulated lorry and Murray is test driving the Audi A1.
- Programme 5 – Thursday 1 Dec
Calum Iain heads to the Borders for The Jim Clark Rally, mainland Britain’s only closed road event, where he follows the fortunes of Lewis drivers Donald Riddell and Donnie Campbell. Fiona visits Mercury Classic Cars in Fife and Murray gets his hands on a hot hatch with a twist - the hybrid Honda CRZ.
- Programme 6 – Thursday 8 Dec
Calum Iain is at Knockhill for Modified Live’s Time Attack Trials and the European Drift Championships, Fiona is at Arlary House Stables watching champion trainer Lucinda Russell’s thoroughbreds being put through their paces as well as test driving the new Range Rover Sport, whilst Murray investigates the best way to get insurance for under 25’s.
- Programme 7 – Thursday 15 Dec
Earlier this year Calum Iain took the dust sheets off the Evo to give it a spin at the Granite City Rally, Murray reports on all the action as we follow Calum Iain and SRC favourite David Bogie over a challenging route, whilst Fiona is in Falkirk trying out the tiny Toyota IQ.
- Programme 8 – Thursday 22 Dec
Fiona travels to Switzerland to visit Rinspeed Concept Cars, Calum Iain is a happy man as he gets his hands on a Focus RS500 and Murray is in Ness behind the wheel of his favourite vehicle - his tractor - as he takes part in an island rally for charity.
Air an Rathad is an eight part series, produced by Eyeline Media for BBC ALBA and commences on Thursday 3rd November at 10pm and each subsequent Thursday.
