Series Three, Air an Rathad, Thursday 21st October 2010 at 22.00. You have been warned.
Air an Rathad, Scotland’s very own popular car series returns to our screens on BBC ALBA for a third series, with a heady mix of rallying, racing and car reviews – and an exciting new feature – Wacky Races.
Presenters Calum Iain Mackenzie, Louise Maclean, Murray Macleod and Fiona Mackenzie, battle it out on the race track in a series of fun challenges designed to stretch their driving abilities to the limit.
In the first programme, Fiona gets lost on Harris and Murray is all at sea when the two go head to head in an intriguing challenge. Could a boat possibly be a faster way to get around the Western Isles, than a super-fast, boy racer’s car?
Louise tops up her racing skills with one of Knockhill’s top instructors and gets the chance to live her dream behind the wheel of a Formula One car. How does she perform in the wet?
Calum Iain has never been happier as he puts the brand new top of the range Jaguar XJ Supercharged V8 Supersport through its paces. He discovers levels of comfort previously unknown to him in his Mark 2 Escort.
This season’s car reviews will include the new Jaguar XJ, the Peugeot RCZ and the BMW 5, with karting, camper vanning and drag racing providing all round entertainment.
And that’s just Programme 1. Coming up:
- Programme 2: Calum Iain gets a taste of a tough 4×4 hill rally course in the Galloway Forest, while Louise takes a VW campervan on a hippy trail to East Lothian. Fiona finds out if BMW’s new Gran Turismo saloon can be all things to all people. The Wacky Races heat up.
- Programme 3: Fiona checks in at Stornoway airport where her estimated flying time is just 12.5 seconds. Calum Iain takes on the Catterline Cartie Challenge, and Murray discovers the innovative technology of the new Mercedes E-Class estate.
- Programme 4: The Air an Rathad team reveal how you can save cash in this new age of austerity. Murray investigates a cheaper alternative to the regular diesel you buy at the pumps and we review one of the most affordable family cars on the market.
- Programme 5: There’s a retro feel to this week’s Air an Rathad as they join the Western Isles Classic Car Club. And there’s more mayhem when all four presenters battle for top spot on the Wacky Races leader board.
- Programme 6: They join forces with the police advanced driver training team. Fiona tracks down a punk rocker, and somehow, finds the time to put the Ferrari F430 F1 Spyder to the test. Meanwhile, Wacky Races gets personal.
- Programme 7: Calum Iain has won his first rally of the season. Will his form continue on the remote forest tracks of Argyll? After the Model T Ford and the Mini, could you name the next best designed car of all time? Louise discovers the answer.
- Programme 8: In the last of the series, Calum Iain has a taste of the Big Apple…in Inverurie! Fiona takes a look at the curves of Peugeot’s new RCZ. It’s the final challenge of the series – whose name will be on the Wacky Races Cup?
Air an Rathad is an eight part series, produced by Eyeline Media for BBC ALBA and commences on Thursday 21st October at 10pm and each subsequent Thursday.
The 0hotographs above show:
- The Air an Rathad team (left to right) – Murray Macleod, Fiona Mackenzie, Calum Iain Mackenzie, Louise Maclean
- Fiona Mackenzie behind the wheel of a Ferrari.