SRC News

Coltel Granite City Rally - Statement 2

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 15 Apr 2012, 16:06:27 G4T

Following the incident on Stage 1 (Durris) of the Coltel Granite City Rally on Saturday, April 14, 2012, the organisers of the event have today issued the
following statement:

"Our first thoughts are to pass on our best wishes to the four casualties who suffered injuries in the accident which took place on the opening stage of the
rally: we hope they all make full recoveries.

"We are aware that two of the spectators suffered serious leg injuries: they have both undergone surgery and are today in a critical but stable condition.

"The third spectator is stable in hospital, while a fourth was detained overnight for observation.

"We are also very aware that a number of news stories issued by press agencies immediately following the incident inaccurately stated the rally had been
cancelled.

"This was never the case: Stage 1 was immediately cancelled as soon as the accident happened and the rescue crews and medical services entered the
stage.

"It was always the plan, once Stage 1 had been cancelled, to restart the rally on Stage 2.

"From information we have received from other spectators who were in the vicinity of the incident, we also know the competitors, and the marshals who
were on duty at the scene, reacted correctly.

"Warnings — issued verbally by the marshals, and by blowing their whistles — alerted the spectators that rally cars were approaching the scene.

"Finally, as the incident is now part of an official police inquiry by Grampian Police, no further details or comments will be issued by the organising committee of the Coltel Granite City Rally."

Champion's hat-trick

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 14 Apr 2012, 21:07:18 G4T

David Bogie and Kevin Rae powered to their third straight victory of 2012 on today's Coltel Granite City Rally, the third round of the MSA Scottish Rally Championship.

However, the event was overshadowed by a serious accident involving spectators on the opening Durris stage.

The stage was immediately cancelled and the 4WD competitors instructed to move on to the second stage, Fetteresso 1.

Triple Scottish champions Bogie and Rae threw down the gauntlet from the outset, blasting through the 7-miler in their Mitsubishi EVO 9, five seconds quicker than the Ford Focus WRC of Euan Thorburn and Paul Beaton, who went on to finish the event as runners-up.

Cumbrian Paul Benn, also in a Focus, was third fastest – just one second ahead of Bruce McCombie in a Subaru Impreza, and Donnie Macdonald in an EVO 9.

Bogie was three seconds quicker than Thorburn through SS3 Drumtochty, with Quintin Milne, co-driven by Martin Forrest, third fastest, pipping fellow Banchory competitor McCombie by two seconds. Mike Faulkner and Peter Foy were just a second behind in their Mitsubishi EVO 6 – the pair lying thirtieth overall at this point after a puncture lost them time on the previous test.

On the penultimate 9-mile Glenfarquhar stage, Bogie had a two second advantage over Thorburn, taking his overall lead to ten seconds. Benn and co-driver Daniel O'Brien were lying third – more than a minute adrift. Milne was holding on to fourth, while McCombie and navigator Michael Coutts, and Stonehaven's Barry Groundwater, with Neil Shanks on the notes, were tied for fifth.

There was still all to play for going into the final 13-miles of Fetteresso 2 – but Thorburn's challenge ended when he went off at a hairpin. He got his car re-started but finished the stage 23 seconds adrift of Bogie.

The Dumfries driver had concerns of his own – wrong tyre-choice making cornering difficult on the loose gravel. However, he had done more than enough to secure his third victory of the season, ending the day thirty-three seconds ahead of the Duns man.

Benn was delighted with his third place overall, but as the Cumbrian was not registered for the SRC, it was McCombie who took the final championship podium spot.

It was an excellent result for the local driver, although a twelfth overall on the Border Counties, following a fourteenth place on the Snowman, suggested he would be cracking the top ten sooner rather than later.

Invernessian Donnie Macdonald, co-driven by Andrew Falconer, was a further two seconds back in fifth overall, fourth in the points.

The Oban crew of Steven and Kevin Lockhart brought their EVO 7 back to the finish at Inverurie in a strong sixth overall, ten seconds ahead of the Subaru Impreza N15 of seventh-placed John McCrory and David Hood – their third successive top ten finish.

Quintin Milne's charge faltered on the final stage when he picked up a puncture – ending the day eighth overall – with Edzell's Alistair and Colin Inglis a further five seconds back in their Mitsubishi EVO 5.

The Inverness crew of Dougal Brown and Lewis Rochford rounded off the top ten in their EVO 9.

Faulkner – second in the points going into the event – suffered another puncture on the final stage and ended the day thirtieth overall, while Groundwater was hit by two punctures and finished twenty-second.

David Wilson from Alness and Jedburgh navigator Dave Robson emerged as the leading 2WD crew in a Ford Escort Mk2: the pair finishing thirteenth overall. Fellow Mk2 duo Keith Robathan and David O'Brien had been chasing, but went off on the final stage.

In the 1600cc category, John Boyd and Chris Williamson led from start to finish in their Ford Fiesta R2, securing eighteenth overall, while the Honda Civic of second-placed Graeme Schoneville and Michael Hendry, was a further nineteen seconds adrift, in twenty-first spot.

The Ayrshire crew of Blair and Alex McCulloch took top honours in Class 3 in a Vauxhall Nova, but they were beaten by one place in the overall standings by Dumfriesshire teenager and fellow Nova competitor Greg McKnight. Co-driven by dad Chris, he celebrated his second successive victory in Class 2.

There were 79 classified finishers and 22 retirements.

Full classified results can be found at www.flyingfinish.co.uk

The fourth round of the MSA Scottish Rally Championship is the Jim Clark Reivers Rally in Duns on 3^rd June.

Coltel Granite City Rally – Top 10 finishers with total times:

1^st David Bogie (Dumfries)/Kevin Rae (Hawick) Mitsubishi EVO 9 33 mins 58 secs

2^nd Euan Thorburn (Duns)/Paul Beaton (Inverness) Ford Focus WRC 34.31

3^rd Paul Benn (Cockermouth)/Daniel O'Brien (St Alban's) Ford Focus WRC 35.49**

4^th Bruce McCombie (Banchory)/Michael Coutts (Torphins) Subaru Impreza 36.04

5^th Donnie Macdonald (Inverness)/Andrew Falconer (Inverness) Mitsubishi EVO 9 36.06

6^th Stephen Lockhart (Oban)/Kevin Lockhart (Oban) Mitsubishi EVO 7 36.20

7^th John McClory (Glasgow)/David Hood (Paisley) Subaru Impreza N15 36.30

8^th Quintin Milne (Banchory)/Martin Forrest (Aberdeen) Mitsubishi EVO 9 36.38

9^th Alistair Inglis (Edzell)/Colin Inglis (Edzell) Mitsubishi EVO 5 36.43

10^th Dougal Brown (Inverness)/Lewis Rochford (Inverness) Mitsubishi EVO 9 36.46

** denotes non-SRC registered

CLASS WINNERS:

Class 2 - Greg McKnight (Penpont)/Chris McKnight(Penpont) Vauxhall Nova

Class 3 - Blair McCulloch (Ayr)/Alex McCulloch (Ayr) Vauxhall Nova

Class 4 - John Boyd (West Linton)/Chris Williamson (Glenrothes) Ford Fiesta R2

Class 5 - Duncan MacDonald (Portree)/Neil Ross (Portree) Ford Escort

Class 7 - Craig Rutherford (Fionphort)/Martin McCabe (Glasgow) Honda Civic

Class 8 - David Wilson (Alness)/Dave Robson (Jedburgh) Ford Escort Mk2

Class 9 - Ken Wood (Insch)/Gordon Wood (Insch) Triumph Dolomite Sprint

Class 10- Stephen Lockhart (Oban)/Kevin Lockhart (Oban) Mitsubishi EVO 5

Class 11-Kevin Ronaldson/Davy Falconer Subaru Impreza

Class 12- David Bogie (Dumfries)/Kevin Rae (Hawick) Mitsubishi EVO 9

Robin Wyllie

Coltel Granite City Rally - Statement 1

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 14 Apr 2012, 15:55:58 G4T

PRESS RELEASE:

COLTEL GRANITE CITY RALLY

On the opening stage of the Coltel Granite City Rally today at Durris, an incident happened at Post 4 which resulted in three spectators being injured, and the stage being cancelled.

A series of events contributed to the incident, which happened following a slight crest on a straight section of forest track.

Car 152, driven by Rachel Medich (Nissan Micra), initially went off the track on the left-hand side of the road. As it was a straight section of track, spectators were lining both sides of the road.

After the Micra came to a halt, approximately six feet off the track, a number of spectators went to offer assistance and help get car 152 back on to the road.

A few minutes later, car 154, driven by Simon Frazer Hay (Peugeot 205) went off at the same spot and collided with a number of spectators.

Immediately the stage was closed and the emergency services and rescue crews were sent into the stage. An ambulance was also dispatched immediately.

All three injured spectators — one a competitor in the Scottish Rally Championship, and all three members of one of Scotland's leading motorsport clubs — were treated at the scene before being taken to hospital. One of the spectators was airlifted by helicopter.

"Obviously this is sad incident, and our thoughts are with the injured spectators," Ian Shiells, Clerk of the Course, said today. "Safety is always paramount in Scottish rallying, and we thank the rescue crews and medical staff for their swift response to the incident."

Granite City Preview

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 07 Apr 2012, 13:46:02 G4T

Having dominated the first two rounds of the 2012 season, triple Scottish champion David Bogie goes into next weekend's Coltel Granite City Rally looking to extend his lead in the points and push on towards a fourth successive title.

Bogie and co-driver Kevin Rae, who are also the current British champions, will head a field of more than 100 crews for the Inverurie-based event in their Mitsubishi Evo 9.

Twelve months ago, Bogie – who had won the Granite in 2010 - missed out by a single second to local man Dave Weston in a Ford Focus WRC, but he aims to make amends this time around.

"Although I was disappointed to come second, it was still one hell of a battle with Dave, and one of the highlights of our year. We've had a dream start to this season, with two wins out of two, and we'll certainly be pushing for victory on Saturday. The stages on the Granite are first class, with flowing corners and plenty of high speed action. We're really looking forward to it".

Waiting to pounce in the Kincardineshire forests, should the opportunity arise, will be 2009 Granite winners Mike Faulkner and Peter Foy. They were runners-up on both the season-opening Snowman and last month's Border Counties: an excellent result given their EVO 6 had to be completely re-shelled prior to the event.

"Two events down and two seconds is a great start for us", said Faulkner: "David has been immense on both events but we haven’t given up and will focus on trying to beat him on the Granite before he runs away with the series. Being able to go head to head with a British and three times Scottish champion is fantastic for the championship and is what keeps us motivated. As ever, we'll be giving it 100 percent and can't wait for battle to commence. There are a number of crews capable of an upset, so it should be another great spectacle".

Stonehaven's Barry Groundwater has had a fine start to his 2012 campaign at the wheel of his Mitsubishi EVO 9 with a sixth place finish on the Snowman, followed by fourth overall, third in the SRC points, on the Border Counties. Co-driven by Neil Shanks, Groundwater has the opportunity to move into third place in the drivers' points, leap-frogging Rory Young from Dumfries who is sitting out this event.

It has also been a strong start to the year for Brick & Steel Construction boss John McClory in his Subaru Impreza N10. Co-driven by David Hood, McLory currently sits three points behind Groundwater after two rounds.

Among the local competitors, former Escort Mk2 driver Quintin Milne from Banchory has adapted quickly to his EVO 9 and, despite some mechanical niggles, has opened his campaign with two top ten finishes alongside experienced Aberdeen navigator Martin Forrest.

Another to watch will be Borderer Euan Thorburn – who was sixth on last year's Granite – and has been adapting to his new-for-2012 Ford Focus WRC '01 over the first two rounds, alongside Inverness navigator Paul Beaton. They finished outside the top 30 on the Snowman following gearbox problems, but had a better run on the Border Counties, ending the day in sixth.

There is a fascinating battle in prospect among the Class 8 Escort Mk2 competitors. Alford's Keith Robathan, with David O'Brien on the notes, will be up against his old rival Calum Mackenzie: the Inverurie- based competitor back behind the wheel of his Escort for the first time in two years, after recent outings in an EVO 8. Recent 2WD convert David Wilson – third on last year's Granite in an EVO 9 - will also be pushing for class honours. The Alford man, co-driven by Dave Robson, had a promising Mk2 debut on the Snowman, finishing twelfth overall.

Two-wheel drive cars in classes 1-7, along with the historics, will run at the front of the field.

In the 1600 category (Class 4), Graeme Smith and co-driver Laura Marshall, in a Honda Civic, have moved ahead in the points after two solid results. They are likely to face fierce competition from, among others, fellow Civic crew Graeme Schoneville and Michael Hendry, who are hoping to bounce back after a DNF on the Border Counties; John Boyd and Chris Williamson, who took class honours in Jedburgh in their Ford Fiesta ST; and Malcolm Robertson, co-driven by Katie Stimpson, in a Talbot Sunbeam.

Alford's Willie Stuart will be co-driven by Neil Ewing of Largs as he looks to extend his lead in Class 3 in his Talbot Sunbeam. Second-placed Tom and Sue Hynd will also be in the mix in their Peugeot 205; Ayrshire's Blair and Alex McCulloch will be aiming to repeat their Border Counties class win in their Vauxhall Nova, while Dumfries and Galloway crew Iain Haining and Mairi Riddick, also in a Nova, will want to make amends for a rare "off" last time out.

In Class 2, Alex Pirie of Keith, co-driven by David Law, in a Vauxhall Corsa, is equal in the points after two rounds with young Dumfriesshire driver Greg McKnight, who will again have dad Chris on the notes.

The first car will leave Rally HQ at the Thainstone Agriculture Centre near Inverurie at 0901 on Saturday April 14^th.

Full details can be found at www.admc.org.uk

Coltel Granite City Rally – Top Twenty Seeds

1 David Bogie (Dumfries)/Kevin Rae (Hawick) Mitsubishi EVO 9

2 Mike Faulkner (Aspatria)/Peter Foy (Bingley) Mitsubishi EVO 6

3 Euan Thorburn (Duns)/Paul Beaton (Inverness) Ford Focus WRC

4 Barry Groundwater (Stonehaven)/Neil Shanks (Elgin) Mitsubishi EVO 9

5 Donnie Macdonald (Inverness)/Andrew Falconer (Inverness) Mitsubishi EVO 9

6 John McClory (Strathblane)/David Hood (Elderslie) Subaru Impreza N10

7 Quintin Milne (Banchory)/Martin Forrest (Aberdeen) Mitsubishi EVO 9

8 Chris Collie (Aberdeen)/Lisa Watson (Alford) Mitsubishi EVO 6

9 Stephen Lockhart (Oban)/Kevin Lockhart (Mull) Mitsubishi EVO 7

10Bruce McCombie (Banchory)/Michael Coutts (Torphins) Subaru Impreza

11Calum Mackenzie (Inverurie)/Alan Clark (Glasgow) Ford Escort Mk2

12 Keith Robathan (Alford)/David O'Brien (Duns) Ford Escort Mk2

14 David Wilson (Alness)/Dave Robson (Jedburgh) Ford Escort Mk2

15 John Morrison Iconon Bridge)/Peter Carstairs (St Andrews) Mitsubishi EVO 9

16 Dougal Brown (Inverness)/Lewis Rochford (Inverness) Mitsubishi EVO 9

17 Alistair Inglis (Edzell)/Colin Inglis (Edzell) Mitsubishi EVO 5

18 Malloch Nicoll (Dundee)/Jim Howie (Kilmarnock) Mitsubishi EVO 9

19 Allan Smith (Inverness)/Ian Macivor (Evanton) Mitsubishi EVO 8

20 Stevie Brown (Peterhead)/Jack Morton (Stanley) Subaru Impreza

...............

Robin Wyllie

Merrick seals new sponsorship

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 03 Apr 2012, 07:26:33 G4T

The Merrick Forest Stages Rally has announced a major new sponsorship deal with leading Wigtownshire businessman Ian Broll.

It will allow the rally organisers to forge ahead with their plans for the September 1st event, which will be based in Wigtown for the third year running.

Ian is already closely involved in the local rally scene through his association with the Port William crew of Fraser Wilson and co-driver Steven Broll.

The pair compete in a Group N Mitsubishi EVO 6 in the MSA Scottish Rally Championship of which the Merrick is the penultimate round.

"Ian's generous support will give us a firm footing for the year ahead", said Merrick Rally Manager Allan Marshall: "He's very enthusiastic and welcomed the chance to come on board and put his company name Ian Broll Joiners and Funeral Directors as our headline sponsor. During our discussions Ian stated that he likes to support local sport in the Wigtownshire area and his love of rallying made it an easy decision to back his local round of the SRC”.

Ian Broll said: "It is indeed a pleasure and a privilege to be able to sponsor and support the Merrick Stages Rally. Along with my wife Fiona, we wish the organising committee all the very best for all their hard work that goes on behind the scenes".

Last week, the Merrick organisers nominated Rally2Raise as its official charity for 2012.

The project, founded by Aberdeen-based rally competitor Rachel Medich, supports four charities: Cancer Research UK, the Nystagmus Network, the MS Society and the Joanne Bingley Memorial Foundation for post-natal depression.

Rachel and her co-driver will be offered free entry to the Merrick, and competitors will be invited to donate to the charity when they enter online through the event website www.merrickstages.co.uk

Robin Wyllie

New Start for Coltel Granite City

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 28 Mar 2012, 12:25:45 G3T

NEW START FOR COLTEL GRANITE CITY RALLY

The biggest motorsport event in the North-east of Scotland, the Coltel Granite City Rally, is poised to enter a new era.

With the growing success of the rally, this year's event, — on Saturday, April 14 — has a new rally HQ, new organising team, and a new title sponsor.

Coltel, which has offices in Aberdeen and Edinburgh, is one of the country's leading providers of communication, information technology and safety testing services to the business market in Scotland.

The company's decision to sponsor the Coltel Granite City Rally significantly raises the profile of the North-east event.

"We're delighted to be sponsoring the Coltel Granite City Rally," Neil Collie, of Coltel, said. "The Granite has long been one of the principal sporting events in the North-east.

"This is a new era for the Granite and there are a number of exciting developments planned for the next few years. That's why we're onboard."

The HQ for the Coltel Granite City Rally, the third round of the Scottish Championship, has moved to a fantastic new venue at Thainstone Agricultural Centre, near Inverurie.

The site is large and comprehensive enough to host a round of the Intercontinental Rally Championship or World Rally Championship.

In addition to housing the media centre and rally offices, the Thainstone venue will be the scene of the rally's official start and finish, as well as scrutineering.

Local hotels and B'n'Bs will also benefit from the influx of crews, drivers and co-drivers who will travel to the area from all over Scotland.

This year's event has been masterminded by a new organising team, led by Aberdeen & District Motor Club President, Ian Shiells (correct, Shiells), who has taken over as the Clerk of the Course.

Shiells' team includes Inverness-based Iain Campbell, who masterminded Scotland's round of the Intercontinental Rally Championship for three years, as Deputy Clerk of the Course.

The experienced line-up also includes Andy Jardine as Event Secretary, and last year's winner of the Granite, Aberdeen's Dave Weston as Sponsor Coordinator.

"The team has been working tirelessly for the past few months to ensure the Coltel Granite City Rally is the best Scottish Rally Championship event of the year," Shiells said.

"We're delighted to have a major sponsor onboard in the shape of Coltel, and that has allowed us to concentrate on delivering a highly professional event for the competitors.

"But we've also done everything we can to make sure the spectators are able to get close to the drivers, and watch all the action safely in the stunning stages.

"This is a new start for the Coltel Granite City Rally, and it's a platform we intend to build on for 2013 and beyond."

Issued on behalf of the Coltel Granite City Rally by McMedia

Bogie seals another "perfect" win

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 18 Mar 2012, 10:48:40 G3T

On "a perfect day when everything just clicked into place" reigning Scottish and British champions David Bogie and Kevin Rae were in imperious form to take back to back victories on Saturday's Brick & Steel Border Counties rally, and their second win of the 2012 MSA Scottish Rally Championship.

With the Jedburgh-based event celebrating its 40^th anniversary, Bogie and Rae blasted through the five forest stages in their Mitsubishi EVO 9 to finish with a total time of 42 minutes 17 seconds : one minute and fifty seconds ahead of runners-up Mike Faulkner and Peter Foy - their EVO 6 re-shelled after crashing out on the Malcolm Wilson Rally two weeks previously.

Northern Ireland's Jonny Greer, with Dai Roberts on the notes, secured third overall in his EVO 9, a futher nine seconds back, but since the pair were not eligible for championship points, it was Barry Groundwater, co-driven by Neil Shanks, who secured the final SRC podium spot, also in an EVO 9.

So, with two of the eight rounds completed, the championship already has a familiar feel to it – the triple Scottish title-holders in a league of their own out front, and a determined pack trying their hardest to stay in touch.

Bogie laid down the gauntlet from the off ("we put in a real charge, to be honest"), powering through the opening Craik Forest stage west of Hawick - which had not been used in competition since the 1980's – to finish twenty-three seconds ahead of Duns' Euan Thorburn in his Ford Focus WRC. Greer was third fastest a further five seconds back, with Faulkner and Stephen Petch in a Hyundai Accent WRC tying for fourth just two seconds behind.

SS2 Wauchope went even better for the champions: they were fifty seconds quicker than Faulkner and Foy, with Thorburn and Groundwater sharing third fastest, just ahead of Greer and 4-wheel-drive convert Quintin Milne in an EVO 9.

Fifty-seven seconds was the difference between Bogie and the rest on the third Hyndlee test; Thorburn second fastest, and Greer and Jon Burn in a Subaru Impreza WRC a further seven seconds adrift.

At second service, and with two stages remaining, Bogie led Thorburn by fifty-seven seconds. Greer and Faulkner were tied in third, fifteen seconds further back, and Dumfries farmer Rory Young had quietly edged his way up the leader board to fourth overall in his EVO 5.

Bogie and Rae further tightened their grip on the event immediately after the break: recording the fastest time through SS4 Redesdale, twenty-five seconds ahead of Faulkner and Foy.

It was all going on behind them though: Greer and Roberts just one second behind in third, and Groundwater and Shanks a further second adrift in fourth. Young and Milne were tied for fifth another two seconds back, and leading 2WD contender, and Kielder "master" Steve Bannister powered his Mk2 Escort through the 9-miler with a seventh quickest time.

The champions again set the pace on the final Wyndburgh Hill test, followed by Faulkner, Thorburn, Groundwater, Greer, Young and rally sponsor John McLory who, with David Hood on the notes, who had been targeting another top ten result in his Subaru Impreza N10 to add to that of the season-opening Snowman.

"I couldn't have asked for a better result – it all went so smoothly", said Bogie, at the finish in the shadow of Jedburgh Abbey: "It's been great weather, the crowds have been out in force on the stages, which were excellent – so all in all, a fantastic day".

Given all the hard work to get the car rebuilt in time for the event, Faulkner and Foy were more than happy with their second runners-up spot of the 2012 campaign.

"If there was ever a team result, then that was it", said a relieved Faulkner: "It's been a huge effort by everyone involved, and we're very grateful".

Greer enjoyed his "day in the Scottish forests" – his first since the Rally of Scotland last October, while Groundwater admitted co-driver Shanks had been "winding him up" to spur him on to a fine fourth overall and third in the points.

Young felt he had rather "over-psyched" himself going into the final stage – losing a place to Groundwater to finish fifth overall, following his fourth place in Inverness.

Having been second quickest on SS1 and SS3, and third fastest on the third stage, Thorburn and co-driver Paul Beaton's challenge was thwarted by a puncture on the penultimate test.

Quintin Milne, meanwhile, overcame manifold problems to record a fine seventh overall alongside navigator Martin Forrest: although the Banchory driver said he would have to "stop driving the EVO as if it was a Mk2!"

Brick & Steel Construction boss McClory was clearly delighted with his second-successive strong finish of the new season, while ninth-placed Bannister and Sutherland fought hard to keep ahead of a strong Mk2 Escort contingent.

It included a fine drive from Michael Horne and Robbie Mitchell in eleventh overall, while Matthew Robinson/Nigel Hutchinson; Keith Robathan/Phil Clarke and Malcolm Buchanan/Ian Nicoll finished line-astern in 15^th, 16^th and 17^th places respectively.

The top-ten overall results were rounded off by the EVO 9 of Conon Bridge-based SRC veteran John Morrison, and St Andrew's co-driver Peter Carstairs: the duo repeating their Border Counties result of 2010.

In the 2-wheel drive classes, which ran ahead of the main field, John Boyd and Chris Williamson made sure of the Class 4 (1600) category in their Ford Fiesta, finishing one minute and thirty-seven seconds ahead of Malcolm Robertson and Katie Stimpson in a Talbot Sunbeam. The Honda Civic of Graeme Smith and Laura Marshall was third, a further fourteen seconds back.

Class 3 honours went to Blair and Alex McCulloch in their Vauxhall Nova; husband and wife Tom and Sue Hynd taking the runners-up spot in their Peugeot 205Gti, ahead of the Talbot Sunbeam of Snowman class winners Willie Stuart and David Finlay who were third.

One of the biggest smiles at the finish was that of young Greg McKnight, who with dad Chris on the notes, repeated his Class 2 victory of twelve months ago in his Vauxhall Nova: the Dumfriesshire-based competitor picking up the award as the leading Under-21 driver to complete the event.

There were 57 classified finishers, and 26 retirements.

Among them were Carlisle ace Peter Taylor, whose Ford Focus WRC suffered prop-shaft failure early on; and Stephen Petch, who had to retire his Hyundai Accent WRC with electrical failure after the second stage.

Full results can be found at www.flyingfinish.co.uk

The third round of the MSA Scottish Rally Championship is the Coltel Granite City Rally in Aberdeen on April 14^th.

Border Counties Rally – Top Ten Results with total time:

1 David Bogie (Dumfries)/Kevin Rae (Hawick) Mitsubishi EVO 9 42 mins 17 secs

2 Mike Faulkner (Aspatria)/Peter Foy (Bingley) Mitsubishi EVO 6 44.07

3 Jonny Greer (Carryduff)/Dai Roberts (Carmarthen) Mitsubishi EVO 9 44.16

4 Barry Groundwater (Stonehaven)/Neil Shanks (Elgin) Mitsubishi EVO 9 44.36

5 Rory Young (Kirkgunzeon)/Allan Cathers (Carlisle) Mitsubishi EVO 5 44.38

6 Euan Thorburn (Duns)/Paul Beaton (Inverness) Ford Focus WRC 44.52

7 Quintin Milne (Banchory)/Martin Forrest (Aberdeen) Mitsubishi EVO 9 44.55

8 John McClory (Strathblane)/David Hood (Elderslie) Subaru Impreza N10 45.00

9 Steve Bannister (Malton)/Louise Sutherland (Hawick) Ford Escort Mk2 45.46

10 John Morrison (Conon Bridge)/Peter Carstairs (St Andrews) Mitsubishi EVO 9 46.07

CLASS WINNERS:

Class 2 – Greg McKnight (Penpont)/Chris McKnight (Penpont) Vauxhall Nova

Class 3 – Blair McCulloch (Ayr)/Alex McCulloch (Ayr) Vauxhall Nova

Class 4 – John Boyd (West Linton)/Chris Williamson (Glenrothes) Ford Fiesta

Class 6 – Steve Bannister (Malton)/Louise Sutherland (Hawick) Ford Escort Mk2

Class 7 – Craig Rutherford (Fionphort)/Martin Maccabe (Glasgow) Honda Civic Type-R

Class 8 – Keith Robathan (Alford)/Phil Clarke (Felhampton) Ford Escort Mk2

Class 9 – Michael Horne (Duns)/Robbie Mitchell (Duns) Ford Escort Mk2

Class 10 – Rory Young (Kirkgunzeon)/Allan Cathers (Carlisle) Mitsubishi EVO 5

Class 12 – David Bogie (Dumfries)/Kevin Rae (Hawick) Mitsubishi EVO 9

.......

Robin Wyllie

Border Counties Preview

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 11 Mar 2012, 06:25:52 G3T

Organisers of next weekend's Brick & Steel Border Counties Rally reckon the opening forest stage – last used in the 1980's - will be a "great leveller" for the eighty-plus crews entered for the event, the second round of the 2012 MSA Scottish Rally Championship.

The 9-mile stage at Craik Forest, west of Hawick, has been brought into play to mark the 40^th anniversary of the first running of the Border Counties in 1972.

"It's so long since it was last used that none of the crews will have any knowledge of it. It's virtually a brand new stage", said Clerk of the Course Paul Hughes: "It's in fantastic condition, and I'm confident the drivers will absolutely love it".

Crews will then head to a service area located at a town centre car park in Hawick, another throwback to Border Counties of the past.

The remaining four stages will take competitors to the more familiar - but no less challenging - Wauchope and Kielder Forests.

Current Scottish and British champions David Bogie and co-driver Kevin Rae will again be the crew to beat as they target a second successive victory on the Jedburgh-based event.

They dominated last month's season-opener in the forests around Inverness, despite several "big moments" in the treacherous blizzard conditions.

Bogie's Mitsubishi EVO 9 will be followed off the start-line by Snowman runner-up Mike Faulkner – provided he can repair his EVO 6 in time after crashing out on last weekend's Malcolm Wilson Rally. The car rolled, causing extensive damage to the bodywork.

"We've had a lot of help and advice for which we're extremely grateful. We've since sourced an EVO 6 shell, so we'll be burning a lot of midnight oil to get the car ready in time. Hopefully we'll make it", said Faulkner, who with navigator Peter Foy, finished second on the Border Counties twelve months ago.

Euan Thorburn from Duns had a frustrating start to his championship campaign in a newly-acquired Ford Focus WRC '01, gearbox and clutch problems spoiling his Highland outing. However, a strong third-place finish on the Malcolm Wilson alongside Paul Beaton should have boosted his confidence for this coming weekend.

Although not eligible for championship points, former BRC front-runner Jonny Greer from Northern Ireland will be eyeing overall honours as he returns to the Scottish forests at the wheel of a Mitsubishi EVO 9. He will be co-driven by Dai Roberts.

Fifth seed Barry Groundwater – who has had four top ten finishes on the Border Counties since 2008 - got his SRC season off to a positive start with a sixth place on the Snowman in his EVO 9. He will be partnered this time out by Neil Shanks from Elgin.

Rising star and BRC challenger Peter Taylor, with Andrew Roughead on the notes,will also be one to watch after securing an exceptional third-place finish in Inverness in a Ford Focus WRC '02 – his first time out in the car.

Dumfries farmer Rory Young will be hopeful of another top five spot after steering his Group N EVO 4 to a fine fourth overall in Inverness, alongside Carlisle navigator Allan Cathers, and County Durham's Stephen Petch will be back in action, with navigator Michael Wilkinson, in his distinctive Hyundai Accent WRC.

Border Counties sponsor John McClory, co-driven by David Hood, starts ninth in his Subaru Impreza N10. The pair were on the pace on the Snowman – finishing fifth overall - their best ever result in the Scottish championship.

Stephen and Kevin Lockhart, in an EVO 7, will be looking for a repeat of their top ten finish of twelve months ago: the Oban crew starting one ahead of Banchory's Quintin Milne who marked his 4WD debut with an impressive performance on the Snowman.

The former Escort Mk2 competitor, co-driven by Martin Forrest from Aberdeen, was running second overall after four stages in his EVO 9, before a succession of mechanical problems knocked him back to ninth overall.

The top twelve is rounded off by Chris Collie and Lisa Watson who return to the fray in a Mitsubishi EVO 6. The Aberdeenshire crew's Snowman challenge ended when their Subaru Impreza sustained heavy damage after rolling twice on stage four.

Top seed in the 2WD classes, which will run at the front of the field, is Steve Bannister, co-driven by Louise Sutherland, in his historic-spec Ford Escort Mk2. Seventh overall on the Border Counties two years ago, the duo come fresh from a class-winning drive on the Malcolm Wilson last weekend.

They will be followed off the line by Willie Stuart and David Findlay in a Talbot Sunbeam: the Alford-based driver picking up a hard-earned Class 3 victory on the season-opener in Inverness.

The 1600 challenge is headed by John Boyd and Chris Williamson in a Ford Fiesta, hotly pursued by the Honda Civic of Graeme Schoneville and Michael Hendry. The Carluke driver got his 2012 campaign off to a flying start with a class win and nineteenth overall - his best ever result on the Snowman.

Alasdair S Graham, with Laura Stuart on the notes, will be targeting a strong points haul in his Vauxhall Corsa, and Carl Tuer, co-driven by Ross Hynd, will want to make amends for a DNF on the opening round in his MG ZR S1600.

Tom and Sue Hynd (Peugeot 205 Gti), meanwhile, will be battling for Class 3 honours with the aforementioned Messrs Stuart and Findlay , along with Dumfries and Galloway crew Iain Haining and Mairi Riddick, who were second in Inverness in their Vauxhall Nova.

The first 2WD car will leave Abbey Place in Jedburgh at 0831 on Saturday, with the first 4WD car following at 0936. The leading cars are due to return at approximately 1445 and 1550 respectively.

Further details and a full entry list can be found at www.bordercountiesrally.co.uk

Top Ten 4WD

1 David Bogie (Dumfries)/Kevin Rae (Hawick) Mitsubishi EVO 9

2 Mike Faulkner (Aspatria)/Peter Foy (Bingley) Mitsubishi EVO 6

3 Euan Thorburn (Duns)/Paul Beaton (Inverness) Ford Focus WRC

4 Jonathan Greer (Carryduff)/Dai Roberts () Mitsubishi EVO 9

5 Barry Groundwater (Stonehaven)/Neil Shanks (Elgin) Mitsubishi EVO 9

6 Peter Taylor (Carlisle)/Andrew Roughead (Newcastle on Tyne) Ford Focus WRC

7 Rory Young (Kirkgunzeon)/Allan Cathers (Carlisle) Mitsubishi EVO 5

8 Stephen Petch (Durham)/Michael Wilkinson (Durham) Hyundai Accent WRC

9 John McClory (Strathblane)/David Hood (Elderslie) Subaru Impreza N10

10 Stephen Lockhart (Oban)/Kevin Lockhart (Oban) Mitsubishi EVO 7

Leading 2WD crews with car no:

101 Steve Bannister (Malton)/Louise Sutherland (Hawick) Ford Escort Mk2

102 Willie Stuart (Alford)/David Findlay (Blairgowrie) Talbot Sunbeam

103 John Boyd (West Linton)/Chris Williamson (Glenrothes) Ford Fiesta

104 Graeme Schoneville (Carluke)/Michael Hendry (Elgin) Honda Civic

105 Alasdair S Graham (Paisley)/Laura Stuart (Alford) Vauxhall Corsa

106 Carl Tuer (Berwick)/Ross Hynd (Stonehaven) MG ZR S1600

107 Malcolm Robertson (Dunfermline)/Katie Stimpson (Edinburgh) Talbot Sunbeam

108 Iain Haining (Dumfries)/Mairi Riddick (Haugh of Urr) Vauxhall Nova

109 Sean Robson (St Boswells)/Iain Robson (St Boswells) Ford Fiesta ST

110 Graeme Smith (Carluke)/Laura Marshall (Glasgow) Honda Civic

111 Grant Inglis (Stepps)/Colin Gray (Glasgow) Honda Civic

112 Tom Hynd (Inverbervie)/Sue Hynd (Inverbervie) Peugeot 205 Gti

..............

Robin Wyllie

SRC Media Officer

Champs tame tough Snowman

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 18 Feb 2012, 23:54:00 G2T

Reigning Scottish and British champions David Bogie and Kevin Rae got their season off to the best possible start with a convincing second successive victory on Saturday's Arnold Clark Thistle Hotel Snowman Rally in Inverness.

With sleet and snow showers making for treacherous conditions on the opening round of the 2012 MSA Scottish Rally Championship, Bogie powered his Mitsubishi EVO 9 through the six special stages in a total time of 50 minutes 03 seconds - 1 min 08 secs ahead of Mike Faulkner and Peter Foy in an EVO 6.

Carlisle's Peter Taylor, with Andrew Roughead on the notes, were third in a Ford Focus WRC, a further 1 min 35 secs adrift. Rory Young and Allan Cathers were just three seconds back in fourth in an EVO 5, but only ONE second ahead of the Subaru Impreza N10 of John McClory and David Hood, who posted their best ever SRC finish.

On paper it might have looked like a comfortable win for the double champions, but in reality it was anything but, with slippery and unpredictable surfaces in the forests to the south and north of the Highland capital.

"We're both obviously delighted. You can't kick off your season with anything better than a win", said Bogie: "However, the conditions were really difficult - some of the toughest I've ever had to drive in. Everyone who got round this rally deserves a medal because you could get caught out so quickly. We had a couple of moments which could have put us in a ditch and ended our rally. The only other frustration was the car misfiring throughout the day, but we made it to the end, so no complaints".

Faulkner and Foy fought hard to close the gap to the leading pair in their older EVO. They shared the honours with Bogie/Rae on the first of the two short spectator stages. On SS5 Boblainy, they were equal fastest with Euan Thorburn/Paul Beaton, whose challenge was blighted by gearbox and clutch problems in a newly acquired Ford Focus WRC, and they were second quickest on the final thirteen-mile run through Glen Urquhart.

"We'll settle for second. It's not what we came for - we were fired up to go for the win - but it's our best result on the Snowman, so it's a great start to the season”, said the Kirtlebridge-based driver. The stages were so treacherous that we're glad to make it to the finish. That last one was deep snow, and the slush was filling the tyres up so you weren't getting any purchase at all - you were just skidding along on the top of it and it was really difficult to stay on the road".

Taylor is gearing up to contest the British Rally Championship in his 2-wheel drive Renault Clio, but showed he had quickly mastered the 4WD Focus. Lying twenty-third at the end of SS1 Meall Mor, he had climbed to thirteenth overall by the first service break at Muir of Ord. Then, on the difficult thirteen-mile fourth stage, Torr Achilty, he put in a blistering drive to finish fourth fastest and haul himself up to fifth. A third fastest stage time on the final test secured a podium spot:

"The aim today was to learn the car - which is so different from the Clio. We did what we came to do - we picked up the pace throughout the day. The last stage was very, very tricky but we got through it fine without dropping any time which is the hardest thing. It was like driving on tarmac with an inch of mud on it, topped off with an inch of snow. I'm now looking forward to the Border Counties where I can try to fully stretch my legs".

Young reckoned a recent opportunity to test his skills at the famed John Haugland Motorsport Winter Rally School in Norway helped him cope with the unpredictable surfaces on the way to a superb top five finish: : "I don't think I've ever been on an event with so many changes of grip. Within the same stage you could go from good, grippy gravel to the next minute driving on snow. So a very challenging event, but very rewarding too - and thoroughly enjoyable".

The tricky stages also proved a test for Brick & Steel boss McClory, who admitted there were some scares along the way to a fine top-five finish: “We were doing fine but on the last stage we lost a turbo pipe and we were off about six times. Overall we did okay - it's just a shame the stages got so slippy - one corner you were ideal, the next corner you were in the ditch. But it sets us up well for the Border Counties next month".

Stonehaven's Barry Groundwater, co-driven by Daniel Paterson, was satisfied with sixth place in his Mitsubishi EVO 9, newly fitted with a six-speed sequential gear-box: "On the first stage - it being snow-covered, there was actually more grip there than we expected, and we were going too slow. Those two short stages which followed were just a joke - and too many people went off, which is a great shame. The rest - well, I'm terrified of driving on the snow to be honest, and with others dropping back we ended up as the snow-plough! But we made it to the end, and all in all, it was good fun".

Steven Ronaldson and Ian Arbuthnott emerged as the leading "local" crew bringing their Subaru Impreza back to the Thistle Hotel in Inverness in seventh overall, twenty-nine seconds ahead of fellow Invernessians Dougal Brown and Lewis Rochford in an EVO 9: Brown picking up the coveted "Snowman Trophy" as the leading Highland Car Club driver, and Rochford the Kenneth McLennan Trophy as first HCC co-driver, and Nicky Jack Award as first HCC Highland resident navigator.

One of the broadest smiles at the finish was that of former Escort Mk 2 maestro Quintin Milne, who was making his 4-wheel-drive debut in an EVO 9, alongside Martin Forrest.

With very little opportunity beforehand to test his new car, Milne was running a hugely impressive second overall after four stages - 48 seconds shy of Bogie - and with a quickest stage time on the second of the short spectator stages under his belt. However, he had to cope with a catalogue of problems along the way, and both he and Forrest were worthy winners of the Wagon Finance Trophy for "Crew of the Meeting".

"On the third stage, the sump plug came out of the new gearbox. Lost all the oil. But the mechanics did a great job and fixed it," said Milne: "Then going into the fifth stage we had no diff control - but I thought that's OK, we'll manage to stay in the top five. Then we lost the brake pedal so we did the last stage as passengers. But given it's our first time out in a 4WD on gravel, to get a top ten finish, and a top stage time, is great. Hopefully we can give more as the season progresses".

Helensburgh's Matthew Calderwood in a Mitsubishi EVO 7 ("we've done very little to the car, it's basically the same as last year") ended his day a further fifteen seconds behind to secure tenthoverall alongside Glasgow-based navigator Stan Quirk.

The Weldex Trophy for top 2WD crew went to Alford's Keith Robathan and Forfar navigator Iain Nichol who won the "battle of the Escorts". They finished a fine eleventh overall, twenty-eight seconds ahead of Mk2 debutant David Wilson in a hard-earned twelfth place.

Partnered with Dave Robson, the Alness driver had made the switch from an EVO 9 to the recently-acquired Escort - which he had subsequently fitted with a six-speed gearbox.

"We couldn't get any rear brakes at all on the first stage, and every time I hit the brakes the front would lock up and we'd get understeer" said Wilson: "We changed the rear pads and fiddle about with the bias, but I still don't think it's right. But given it's my first gravel event in the car - second in class and twelth overall, very happy with that".

A relieved Graeme Schoneville and Michael Hendry took top honours in the 1600 category in their Honda Civic - the Carluke driver fully justifying what he had earlier considered to be "a higher seeding than he was used to".

"That was some rally. Really hard. You'd have probably gone quicker starting a stage with gravel tyres, and swapping to a snow-tread mid-way through", said Schoneville: "But we've tweaked the engine a bit, and have a lot more torque in the car. This is the best result I've had on the Snowman. It bodes well for the opening round of the Brick & Steel Civic Challenge on the Border Counties".

Alford's Willie Stuart, with Neil Ewing of Largs, on the notes celebrated a win in Class 3 in his Talbot Sunbeam: "I intended to take it cautiously, but I just can't help myself. I like a bit of snow, the slippy stuff". Dumfries and Galloway crew Iain Haining and Mairi Riddick did not have their troubles to seek on the way to second in class.

Said Haining: "The first four stages were grand,but on the second last stage we burst the rear brake pipe, so the pedal was going to the floor for the last few miles. We did a hasty repair, but the brakes weren't great for the last 12 miler andwith the snow as well it made things really interesting!".

Meanwhile, Huntly's Alex Pirie and co-driver David Law from Drummuir picked up where they left off last season with victory in Class 2 in their Vauxhall Corsa.

Reflecting the high rate of attrition, there were 48 retirements, leaving 67 classified finishers.

Among the notable retirees were local hopes Donnie MacDonald/Andrew Falconer, whose Mitsubishi Evo 9 sustained a double puncture; former Snowman winners Reay MacKay/Robert MacDonald who were hit by a blown head gasket in their Subaru Impreza WRC; and Michael Glendinning/Paul Hughes (Subaru Impreza N15), Chris Collie/Lisa Watson (Subaru Impreza) and Calum Mackenzie/Alan Clark (Mitsubishi EVO 8), who were among the many crews who went off the road.

Full results can be found at www.flyingfinish.co.uk

TOP TEN RESULTS WITH TOTAL TIMES:

1 David Bogie (Dumfries)/Kevin Rae (Hawick) Mitsubishi EVO 9 50 mins 03 secs

2 Mike Faulkner (Kirtlebridge)/Peter Foy (Bingley) Mitsubishi EVO 6 51.11

3 Peter Taylor (Carlisle)/Andrew Roughead (Newcastle) Ford Focus WRC 52.46

4 Rory Young (Dumfries)/Allan Cathers (Carlisle) Mitsubishi EVO 5 52.49

5 John McClory (Strathblane)/David Hood (Elderslie) Subaru Impreza N10 52.50

6 Barry Groundwater/Daniel Paterson (Stonehaven) Mitsubishi EVO 9 53.08

7 Steven Ronaldson (Inverness)/Ian Arbuthnott (Forres) Subaru Impreza 53.17

8 Dougal Brown (Inverness)/Lewis Rochford (Inverness) Mitsubishi EVO 9 53:46

9 Quintin Milne (Banchory)/Martin Forrest (Aberdeen) Mitsubisi EVO 9 53.58

10 Matthew Calderwood (Helensburgh)/Stan Quirk (Glasgow) Mitsubishi EVO 7 54.05

CLASS WINNERS:

CLASS 2 Alex Pirie/David Law (Vauxhall Corsa)

CLASS 3 Willie Stuart/Neil Ewing (Talbot Sunbeam)

CLASS 4 Graeme Schoneville/Michael Hendry (Honda Civic)

CLASS 5 Stewart Davidson/Breagha Dobney (Ford Escort Mk2)

CLASS 6 (Historic) Tony Thompson/Paul Hudson (Vauxhall Chevette HSR)

CLASS 7 David MacLean/Susan Hayes (Honda Civic Type R)

CLASS 8 Keith Robathan/Iain Nicoll (Ford Escort Mk2)

CLASS 9 Charlie Jarrett/Andrew Stevenson (Ford Escort Mk2)

CLASS 10 Dougal Brown/Lewis Rochford (Mitsubishi EVO 9)

CLASS 12 Barry Groundwater/Daniel Paterson (Mitsubishi EVO 9)

.......

Robin Wyllie

SRC Media Officer

Border Counties to mark 40 years

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 16 Feb 2012, 22:07:09 G2T

Wanted: Border Counties Rally veterans

Past competitors of the Border Counties Rally, which first ran 40 years ago, have been set a challenge to show they’ve not lost their talents. They are invited to get together in Jedburgh, at this year’s event on 17th March, where a 40th anniversary super special is being run in aid of local charities to celebrate.

The charity event, which involves crews steering and pushing a go-kart round a 50 metre track against the clock, in theory at least, should be much less challenging than controlling a rally car in the challenging forests across the Borders. The super special stage is open to all past competitors and intended to be a fun experience for competitors and spectators alike.

The rally was first run by Hawick & Border Car Club in 1972 and to celebrate the 40 year milestone, current club members are actively seeking out those involved over the last four decades.

Veteran co-driver Dave Robson, whose idea it was to mark the 40th anniversary, said:

“While it might a long time since some of the drivers and co-drivers have competed, I’m sure the competitive spirit will still be with them and this short stage will make an ideal come-back for some!
“Sadly we have lost touch with a lot of the past winners, competitors and organisers, the very people who are at the heart of the history of the Border Counties rally. We hope this event will encourage them to get in touch with us, or better still, put in an entry.”

The past winners roll lists some very familiar names including a plethora of Scottish Champions from Gallacher and Heggie to reigning champion Bogie and current competitors Steve Bannister, Marcus Dodds and Guy Wilks. Notably too the late Colin McRae won the event in 1988.

Local Borders drivers feature in every decade; Alistair Brearley (1975/77), Ken Wood (1982/83/87), Dom Buckley Jnr (1999) and the only driver to win the event over three consecutive decades, Andrew Wood (1984/1997/2000).   The first ever winner, in 1972, is Kelso resident, Alan McInroy.

The entry fee for the super special is only £20, similar in price to entry fees for rallies 40 years ago. The event will begin immediately after the prizegiving of this year’s Border Counties Rally, approx 1930 hours.

Spectators are welcome to come along to the super special stage outside Jedburgh town hall and also to enjoy the finale of the rally weekend, a grand fireworks display over the town.

All monies raised from the celebratory event will be donated to the Borders Childrens Charity and the Great North Air Ambulance Service.

Full details of the event, and entry forms to download, are on www.bordercountiesrally.co.uk.

-ENDS-

FURTHER INFO:
Dave Robson:            01835 830525; david@ancrum5.plus.com
Ann Wood:                 01896 822341; ann@scottsview.co.uk

Anticipation builds for Snowman

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 08 Feb 2012, 08:21:24 G2T

Reigning Scottish and British champions David Bogie and co-driver Kevin Rae head an impressive entry of nearly 120 crews for the opening round of the 2012 MSA Scottish Rally Championship in Inverness on Saturday, 18th February.

The three-times Scottish title-holders are seeking a second successive victory on the Arnold Clark Thistle Hotel Snowman Rally, but will face fierce competition over 44-miles of classic forest stages to the north and south of the Highland capital.

They will be followed off the start line by 2011 Snowman and SRC runners-up Euan Thorburn and Paul Beaton in a newly-acquired Ford Focus WRC '01 - ahead of the Mitsubishi Evo 6 of Mike Faulkner and Peter Foy, who finished third and second respectfully in the drivers' and co-drivers' championships, and fourth overall twelve months ago.

The competition at the sharp end of the field has been increased further with the addition of 2010 Snowman winner Jock Armstrong from Castle Douglas who has put in a last minute entry in a hired Mitsubishi Evo 9. Armstrong and navigator Kirsty Riddick finished third on the event last year.

Bogie has been weighing up several options on how to advance his rallying career since becoming the first driver to achieve the "double" last season. However, the Dumfries-based competitor is relishing the opportunity to defend his Snowman title.

"The Snowman is a great rally - they're awesome stages - some of the best in Scotland and the spectator interest is unbelievable", said Bogie: "It gives us an option to continue and go for a crack at a fourth championship and a chance to make history, which would be unbelievable. Our Mitsubishi Evo 9 is beginning to show its age, but I still think we can squeeze one more season out of it yet".

Faulkner is also aiming to push to the limits: "We feel that we have some unfinished business. The car will be exactly the same. We just need to find a way to drive it faster if we are going to challenge for the championship. The weather on the Snowman can always be a bit of a lottery, but we're hoping for fast hard tracks for maximum attack".

The "Highland" challenge is led by fourth seeds Donnie Macdonald and Andrew Falconer in a Mitsubishi Evo 9. The Inverness driver had a solid campaign in 2011. He finished fifth in the points, and will be targeting another strong showing on his home event, following a sixth-place last year.

Next up is the Evo 9 of SRC regular Barry Groundwater from Stonehaven, co-driven by Daniel Paterson, while 2009 Snowman winners Reay Mackay and Robert MacDonald from Fort Augustus start sixth in a Subaru Impreza WRC.

Tyne and Wear crew Michael Glendinning and Paul Hughes won last month's Grant Construction Stages Rally at Knockhill in a brand new Subaru Impreza N15 and will be hoping to replicate their good form on gravel.

The Aberdeenshire duo of Chris Collie and Lisa Watson emerged as one of the most improved crews of 2011. They will want to pick up where they left off in the Subaru Impreza in which they secured four successive top-ten placings in the second half of the season.

Inverurie's Calum Mackenzie is back in action in his Mitsubishi Evo 8 alongside navigator Alan Clark: the pair powering to an eighth-place finish in the ice and mud in 2011.

The top ten is rounded off by Conon Bridge driver John Morrison and navigator Peter Carstairs from St Andrews, who have finished twelfth or better on the Snowman on four occasions in the past five years.

There will be a good deal of home support for Inverness crew Dougal Brown and Lewis Rochford in a Mitsubishi Evo 9. They are making a welcome return to competition after a serious accident on the penultimate Merrick round last year which resulted in Lewis being airlifted to hospital.

The 2-wheel drive challenge is headed by David Wilson, co-driven by Dave Robson, in a recently acquired Ford Escort Mk2. The Alness-based driver made the long journey south to Devon to pick up the car last November and a couple of days later was competing on the Kingdom Stages at Crail where he finished second in class and a very creditable 15th overall.

The car - now fitted with a six-speed sequential gearbox - will go head to head for Class 8 honours with the Mk2's of Keith Robathan and co-driver Ian Nicoll; Charlie Jarrett, partnered by Andrew Stevenson; and Alasdair Graham , who will be accompanied by Donnie Macdonald's regular navigator Keir Beaton.

The 1600 category sees battle rejoined between the Honda Civics of Lanarkshire rivals Graeme Schoneville, co-driven by Michael Hendry, and Graeme Smith, who is partnered with 2011 BRC Challenge class winning navigator Laura Marshall.

Also in the mix is Paisley's Alasdair S Graham, who finished as Class 4 runner-up in the SRC last year at the wheel of his Vauxhall Corsa. He will be accompanied by Laura Stuart from Alford. Carl Tuer from Alnwick, co-driven by Inverbervie's Ross Hynd, will be one to watch in his MG ZR S1600, while Dumfriesshire's Jim Robertson, with Helen Brown on the notes, will be looking to repeat his 2011 Snowman class win in his Citreon C2R2.

There is also a strong entry in Class 3, with reigning champions Tom and Sue Hynd (Peugeot 205) again locking horns with runners-up Iain Haining and Mairi Riddick (Vauxhall Nova) who took top honours on the season-opener twelve months ago. Alford's Willie Stuart and Largs navigator Neil Ewing in a Talbot Sunbeam will be pushing for a good finish, as will Ayr's Blair and Alex McCulloch (Vauxhall Nova) who ended last season third in class.

Alex Pirie and David Law (Vauxhall Corsa) will be looking to continue the excellent form which saw them chalk up five wins and two second-place finishes on their way to wrapping up the Class 2 championship in 2011.

SRC Chairman Dave Robson described the bumper entry for the Snowman as a "fantastic start to the season".

"Once again it shows the strength and depth of the series. We continue to have fantastic support from Calum MacLeod's Royal Aero company, who have introduced an entry discount scheme for Juniors this year. We're also delighted that partners DMACK Tyres are investing in young talent with an end of season prize of £3000 as well as competition tyres for the highest placed Junior running their product and a range of other exciting incentives. Added to that is the commitment by BBC Scotland to again broadcast two highlights programmes this year. It all bodes well for the 2012 championship".

Full details on the Snowman Rally can be found at www.snowmanrally.co.uk

2012 Arnold Clark Thistle Hotel Snowman Rally - Top 20 Seeds

1 David Bogie (Dumfries)/Kevin Rae (Hawick) Mitsubishi Evo 9

2 Euan Thorburn (Duns)/Paul Beaton (Inverness) Ford Focus WRC

3 Mike Faulkner (Kirtlebridge)/Peter Foy (Bingley) Mitsubishi Evo 6

4 Donnie Macdonald (Inverness)/Keir Beaton (Inverness) Mitsubishi Evo 9

5 Barry Groundwater/Daniel Paterson (Stonehaven) Mitsubishi Evo 9

6 Reay Mackay/Robert MacDonald (Fort Augustus) Subaru Impreza WRC

7 Michael Glendinning (Ryton)/Paul Hughes (Newcastle) Subaru Impreza N15

8 Chris Collie (Portleithen)/Lisa Watson (Alford) Subaru Impreza

9 Calum Mackenzie (Inverurie)/Alan Clark (Glasgow) Mitsubishi Evo 8

10 John Morrison (Conon Bridge)/Peter Carstairs (St Andrews) Mitsubishi Evo

11 Alistair Inglis (Hillside)/Colin Inglis (Edzell) Mitsubishi Evo 5

12 Calum M MacLeod/Claudia McLeod (Garmisch-patenkirchen) MG S2000

14 David Wilson (Alness)/Dave Robson (Jedburgh) Ford Escort Mk2

15 Rory Young (Kirkgunzeon)/Allan Cathers (Carlisle) Mitsubishi Evo 5

16 Dougal Brown (Inverness)/Lewis Rochford (Inverness) Mitsubishi Evo 9

17 Bruce McCombie (Banchory)/Michael Coutts (Torphins) Subaru Impreza

18 Matthew Calderwood (Helensburgh)/Stan Quirk (Glasgow) Mitsubishi Evo 7

19 Craig McMiken (Newton Stewart)/Susan Shanks (Elgin) Mitsubishi Evo 9

20 Peter Taylor (Carlisle)/Andrew Roughead (Newcastle on Tyne) Ford Focus

......

Robin Wyllie

SRC Media Officer

email: wyllier@hotmail.co.uk

Vital Equipment launches Champions on Ice 2012

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 02 Feb 2012, 15:29:52 G2T

Following the success of 2011's Run to the Sun competition, Vital Equipment, the UK distributor for Carless Racing Fuels and DMACK tyres has announced its 2012 competition, Champions on Ice.

This year's reward will differ from 2011, in that the winning driver from the Junior categories of the BTRDA and Scottish rally series will win a funded four-day trip to Ice Drive Sweden to hone their skills on a frozen lake.

Last year, the winning junior driver and their co-driver from both series were treated to a four-day trip to Rally d'Espana as guests of Vital Equipment. This proved a huge success, with all four - Tom Cave, Craig Parry, Liam Harkness and William Keaning - soaking up the WRC's most famous party atmosphere as well as taking in some iconic stages.

However, the company decided this year that the prize should help develop a driver's skill and propel them forward in their rallying career. One of the most widely acknowledged ways to do this is for drivers to take part in an ice driving event, learning car control in low grip situations. And it is exactly this that the 2012 scheme will deliver.

Each driver will receive two days of training with Matt Edwards of MERallyDrive. Matt is a former BTRDA 1400, MSA English and Welsh National Group N Champion. Driving Group N Ford Fiesta STs fitted with DMack tyres, they will spend the two days at the Ice Drive Sweden facility, run by former rally and rallycross champion and 205 Challenge series organiser, Pat Flynn. All associated costs, including flights, transfers and accommodation will be met by Vital Equipment.

While the 2011 Run to the Sun competition was open to all Junior drivers in the BTRDA and SRC series, in 2012, drivers must register for the scheme and use fuel supplied by Vital Equipment, exclusively for at least four events during the season. This can be products from the Carless Racing Fuels range, such as Turbo Ultimate or Vital Equipment's low-cost option, of super unleaded fuel. Competitors must also carry Champions on Ice stickers on their cars on every rally, highlighting their participation in the scheme.

Commenting, MD of Vital Equipment, Alistair Roberts, said: "Last year's Run to the Sun competition was a resounding success and all four of the winners had a real blast in Spain for the penultimate round of the 2011 WRC. We wanted to do something similar for this year but at the same time, offer a prize that would help drivers develop their skills and that's when we came up with the idea of the ice driving school.

"Participation in the scheme is fairly straightforward - people just have to run the stickers and use fuel supplied by Vital Equipment at least four times during the year. We know from feedback from our many customers that the fuel itself delivers the goods in terms of performance and consistency and the idea is to offer a little something more from Vital Equipment.

"Of course, we'll be providing fuelling services at every round of the BTRDA and the SRC series, starting with the Wyedean Rally in February and will also have the full range of DMACK tyres available for delivery to each event."

For more information, including registration details for Champions on Ice and order forms for Carless Racing Fuels and DMACK tyres, go to the Vital Equipment website, www.vitalequipment.co.uk.

Class 7/Juniors/2012 dates

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 01 Feb 2012, 06:52:34 G2T

At the recent Scottish Rally Championship AGM the decision was taken to allow 16V front wheel drive cars in the 1600 to 2000cc category to run alongside those in classes 1 - 6, ahead of the main field on the Border Counties, Granite City and RSAC Scottish rallies. They presently run at the front on the McRae Stages Rally.

Newly elected Chairman of the SRC, Dave Robson said:

"A few years ago, we decided to let the smaller engined 2 wheel drive cars run in front of the main field on several rounds of the championship, as a means of attracting more competitors into those categories. This is usually the starting point for many of our Juniors and those new to the sport. With the face of rallying changing in the UK, and with the British Championship moving to 2 wheel drive next year, we felt that allowing 16V 1600 to 2000cc front wheel drive cars to also run at the front of the field on these events will help some of our juniors step up into more modern machinery.

As a championship we keep a close eye on what is happening on the national scene and this move will enable more of our competitors to consider cars in this class, which may ultimately be a stepping stone to competing further afield, or at a higher level with the same cars."

This change will be reflected in the definition of Junior drivers . For the purposes of the 2012 Championship Junior drivers will be defined as those who meet the following criteria:

(a) Was born on or after January 1st 1989

(b) Competes in a vehicle eligible for one of the following championship classes; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7

(c) Has not previously been 'Junior Champion'

The class structure for the 2012 championship remains unchanged from the 2011 season.

The programme of events will again include 7 gravel rounds and 1 tarmac round and the dates will be as follows:

18th February 2012 - The Arnold Clark Thistle Snowman Rally

17th March 2012 - The Brick and Steel Border Counties Rally

14th April 2012 - The Granite City Rally

3rd June 2012 - The Jim Clark Reivers Rally

30th June 2012 - The RSAC Scottish Rally

4th August 2012 - The Gleaner Oil and Gas Speyside Stages

1st September 2012 - The Merrick Stages

6th October 2012 - The Colin McRae Forest Stages

Awards Evening

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 01 Nov 2011, 14:27:19 G11T

Tickets now available for Awards Night - Saturday 26th November

Ticket application forms are now available for the annual Dinner Dance & Presentation of Awards to be held at the Marriott Hotel Glasgow on Saturday 26th November. Please click here to download the form along with further details of the evening.

Rooms are available at the Marriott hotel at a discounted event rate by clicking here

Thorburn wins McRae "Mud Fest"

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 02 Oct 2011, 15:53:50 G10T

Euan Thorburn fared best in the atrocious conditions to take his first victory of the season on Saturday's Colin McRae Forest Stages Rally and, in a final twist to a dramatic day, clinched second in the MSA Scottish Rally championship.

The Duns driver battled through the rain and mud to finish the four stages in a total time of 49 mins 04.8 secs in his Mitsubishi Evo 9.

Oban's Shaun Sinclair was second, 9.6 seconds adrift, also in an Evo 9, while Mike Faulkner was a further 45.2 seconds back, despite losing brakes on the last stage, to secure the final podium spot in his Evo 6.

With Sinclair not registered for the Perthshire event, Thorburn and Faulkner finished tied in the points for second in the championship.

Based on the best six rounds from eight, they also shared the same number of first, second, and third place finishes after one of the closest-fought campaigns in recent years.

However, once the arithmetic had been done, Thorburn was adjudged to have secured the runners-up spot thanks to his second place on the opening Snowman round, where Faulkner finished fourth.

"I'm obviously very happy to have ended the season on a high - and on this, of all events", said Thorburn, who was co-driven by Paul Beaton from Inverness: "Today has been really tough out on the stages - they were very muddy and slippery in places, the first one in particular. But it was the same for all the crews, we just made the best of it".

Sinclair and navigator Chris Hamill also made the best of the conditions on only their third SRC outing of the season - notching up two fastest stage times.

"I think Euan and Mike were probably watching the championship which played to our advantage", said Sinclair: "We took a lot of time out of Euan on the last one - he was probably holding back a bit, and Mike had a problem, but we definitely pushed, so we're well pleased with the result".

Faulkner, with Peter Foy on the notes, rued what might have been but was relieved just to get to the finish at a sodden and muddy service area based at Aberfeldy showground.

"We weren't even a quarter of a mile into the last stage when we lost the brakes altogether so it's been an eventful end to an eventful day to say the least. Obviously, we're disappointed not to have taken second in the championship, but it's been so close with Euan all year, it could have gone either way".

Malcolm Buchanan mastered the conditions in his Ford Escort Mk2 to lead home the 2-wheel drive contingent and finish a hugely impressive fourth overall alongside Ian Nicholl.

It included a fourth fastest time on what the Isle of Lewis competitor described as "an awful first stage", although he lost time on the second: "I was driving with my head and probably drove too sensibly".

John Lloyd and Adrian Cavanagh justified the long-trip north to take fifth spot in their Subaru Impreza WRC, while Matthew Calderwood and John Baird made sure of sixth overall with an impressive run in their Evo 7.

There were class wins for Calum MacLeod and Claudia Macleod, who were seventh overall in their MG S2000 ("that Errochty stage was absolutely brilliant!"), and eighth-placed Mike Horne and Robbie Mitchell from Duns in a Ford Escort Mk2.

The Aberdeenshire crew of Chris Collie and Lisa Watson achieved another solid championship result, finishing ninth overall.

Steve Bannister, co-driven by Louise Sutherland, struggled in his historic Mk2 ("I just couldn't make any headway today") to round off the top-ten.

The Yorkshireman finished one ahead of Liam Harkness from Thornhill, also driving a Mk2, who celebrated his first season in the SRC by wrapping up the Scottish Junior Championship, the Red Bull Junior Challenge, and overall class honours, alongside co-driver Tont Marchbank.

Concluding their first season in a 4-wheel drive car, Fraser Wilson and Steven Broll not only achieved their aim of a top fifteen finish (they were twelfth) but also took the Group N award.

Alastair S Graham, with Kenny Maguire on the notes, bounced back from two successive retirements to take maximum points in Class 4 in his Vauxhall Corsa.

Dumfries and Galloway crew Iain Haining and Mairi Riddick (Vauxhall Nova) notched up their fifth class win of the championship - ahead of Tom and Sue Hynd in a Peugeot 205, who had already secured overall honours in Class 3 on the penultimate round.

Third in class went to Sean Robson, who also won the SRC Royal Aero Deserving Award. The Peugeot 205 driver from St Boswells had drafted in navigator Dave Robson (no relation) who was heard to mention before the start: "I first went through the Drummond Hill stage in 1982 - I didn't like it then, and I don't like it now!".

The day was probably best summed up by the fact that the "Spirit of the Rally Award" was presented to the team of tractor drivers who spent the day towing stricken cars, vans, trailers and tyre-trucks out of the muddy expanse of the service area.

There were 51 classified finishers from a start list of 83: the retirees including Robbie Head and Gordon Noble who were hit by mechanical problems on the final stage in their Evo 9; Inverness crew Donnie Macdonald and Keir Beaton who were forced to call it a day on stage two in their Evo; and John McLory and David Hood who had been running fifth overall before losing a wheel in SS4 Craigvinean in their Subaru Impreza N15.

Full results can be found at www.flyingfinish.co.uk

Colin McRae Forest Stages - Top Ten finishers with total times:

1 Euan Thorburn (Duns)/Paul Beaton (Inverness) Mitsubishi Evo 9 49 m 04.8 s

2 Shaun Sinclair (Oban)/Chris Hamill (Oban) Mitsubishi Evo 9 49: 14.4

3 Mike Faulkner (Kirtlebridge)/Peter Foy (Bingley) Mitsubishi Evo 6 49:59.6

4 Malcolm Buchanan (Uig)/Ian Nicoll (Forfar) Ford Escort Mk2 51:41.0

5 John Lloyd (London)/Adrian Cavanagh (Brecon) Subaru Impreza WRC 51:47.0

6 Matthew Calderwood (Helensburgh)/John Baird (Edinburgh) Mitsubishi Evo 7 52:19.9

7 Calum MacLeod (Bayern)/Claudia MacLeod (Bayern) MG S2000 52:46.6

8 Mike Horne (Duns)/Robbie Mitchell (Duns) Ford Escort Mk2 52:51.0

9 Chris Collie (Aberdeen)/Lisa Watson (Alford) Subaru Impreza 52;56.7

10 Steve Bannister (Malton)/Louise Sutherland (Hawick) Ford Escort Mk2 53:16.7

All set for championship finale

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 24 Sep 2011, 08:56:25 G9T

The final showdown in the 2011 MSA Scottish Rally Championship will be played out in the Perthshire forests next weekend.

The Colin McRae Forest Stages will start and finish in Aberfeldy on Saturday, October 1st.

Two points separate Mike Faulkner and Euan Thorburn as they battle it out for the runners-up spot in the championship, which has already been won by David Bogie.

Faulkner and co-driver Peter Foy were victorious on the penultimate round, the Merrick Stages, while Thorburn fought his way back up the leaderboard to finish fourth, after losing time on the opening stage with turbo-pipe problems.

It followed a titanic struggle on the previous Speyside round when both drivers recorded equal times on four of the stages.

Faulkner is under no illusion that the challenge will be just as tough this weekend at the wheel of his Mitsubishi Evo 6:

"I'm really looking forward to the final battle with Euan. It has been close all year, so I don't see it being any different on the final round", said Faulkner: "We're not thinking about the championship permutations - we just want to carry on the momentum from the Merrick and hopefully finish the season on a high with another win. The McRae stages are always a challenge as they very slippery when they are wet, so we will have to balance between attacking and staying on the road".

Duns-based Thorburn, with Paul Beaton of Inverness on the notes, is also putting thoughts of the championship to one side and has his sights firmly on securing his first victory in a 2011 campaign in which he has been runner-up three times at the wheel of his Mitsubishi Evo 9.

Both are likely to come under pressure from Robbie Head, also in an Evo 9, who sits third in the drivers' points, eleven points shy of Thorburn.

The Lanarkshire ace was second on the Merrick, his highest finish since returning to regular competition at the start of the season.

Head, who will be without regular co-driver Claire Mole, has drafted in one of Northern Ireland's top navigators, Gordon Noble, for the Perthshire challenge.

Shaun Sinclair and Chris Hamill return to the fray in an Evo9 for only their third outing on an SRC round this year. The Oban crew will be looking to repeat the form which took them to a top six finish on the McRae Stages two years ago.

Sixth seeds Donnie Macdonald and Keir Beaton from Inverness will want to finish their championship campaign with a flourish, following their only retirement of the season thus far on the Merrick, when their Evo 9 slid off into a ditch on the penultimate stage.

The Aberdeenshire crew of Chris Collie and Lisa Watson will also be in the hunt for a good points haul in their Subaru Impreza, after recording their best championship result - sixth overall - in Galloway.

Meanwhile, John McLory, co-driven by David Hood, sits three points adrift of Macdonald in the overall drivers' standings in his Subaru Impreza N15 but has a single point advantage over the Inverness driver in Class 10.

In the DMACK Group N championship, Kilmarnock's Andrew Gallacher (Subaru Impreza) has a four point lead over David Newall in a Mitsubishi Evo 8: the former having finished fifth overall on the Merrick alongside navigator Phil Sandham.

No fewer than seven Ford Escorts lead the 2-wheel drive entries, which will run at the front of the field.

They are led by the historic Mk2 of Steve Bannister, with Louise Sutherland on the notes. However, they will face strong competition for overall "Escort" honours from, among others, Ludlow-based Joe Price and SRC regulars Malcolm Buchanan, Quintin Milne and Michael Horne.

Milne, co-driven by Martin Forrest, has scored maximum Class 8 points on the last two rounds, and sits six points behind another quick Escort man, Liam Harkness from Thornhill.

Twenty-three-year-old Harkness, co-driven by Kenneth Marchbank, also has his eye on the SRC Junior Championship, where he trails Gareth White by three points, with both drivers also in contention for the Red Bull Junior Challenge.

White, with fellow Borderer Mike Dickson on the notes, will be at the wheel of the Citreon C2R2 which has taken him to the top of the fiercely competitive Class 4 1600 category.

The 23-year-old mechanic from St Boswells has a seven point cushion over Thornhill's Jim Robertson, also in a Citreon, and Graeme Schoneville in a Honda Civic who are both tied for second.

Schoneville, who took maximum class points on the Merrick, and fellow Lanarkshire competitor Graeme Smith, will slug it out for top "Civic" honours, while Paisley's Alisdair Graham (Vauxhall Corsa) will want to finish the season on a high after two previous non-finishes. Malcolm Robertson and Katie Stimpson are another crew to look out for in their Talbot Sunbeam.

Tom and Sue Hynd have wrapped up Class 3 in their Peugeot 205GTi but second place is still up for grabs, with Merrick-winners Iain Haining/Mairi Riddick (Vauxhall Nova) defending a one point advantage over Ayr crew Blair and Alex McCulloch, also in a Nova.

As the cars line up for the start in Aberfeldy on Saturday morning, competitors, officials and spectators alike will remember former Scottish champion Jimmy Girvan who lost his life on last year's event.

The first 2-wheel drive car will leave at 0830, with the leading cars returning from 1438 approximately.

Full details can be found at www.coltnesscarclub.com

For SRC news and updates, go to www.scottishrallychampionship.co.uk

Colin McRae Forest Stages - 2WD - Top 10 seeds with car no ** denotes non-SRC registered

30 Steve Bannister (Malton)/Louise Sutherland (Hawick) Ford Escort Mk2

31 Joe Price(Ludlow)/Christopher Brooks(Birmingham) Ford Escort Mk2 RS**

32 Malcolm Buchanan (Uig)/Ian Nicoll (Forfar) Ford Escort Mk2

33 Quintin Milne (Banchory)/Martin Forrest (Aberdeen) Ford Escort Mk2

34 Michael Horne (Duns)/Robbie Mitchell (Duns) Ford Escort Mk2

35 Matthew Robinson (Ripon)/Nigel Hutchinson (Helperby) Ford Escort **

36 Charlie Jarrett (Dingwall)/Andrew Stevenson (Inverness) Ford Escort Mk2

37 John Boyd (West Linton)/Chris Williamson (Glenrothes) Ford Fiesta R2**

38 Graeme Schoneville (Carluke)/Michael Hendry (Archiestown) Honda Civic

39 Graeme Smith (Crossford)/Laura Marshall (Glasgow) Honda Civic

4WD - Top 10 seeds with car no:

2 Euan Thorburn (Duns)/Paul Beaton (Inverness) Mitsubishi Evo 9

3 Mike Faulkner (Kirtlebridge)/ Peter Foy (Bingley) Mitsubishi Evo 6

4 Robbie Head (Cartland)/ Gordon Noble (Omagh) Mitsubishi Evo 9

5 Shaun Sinclair (Oban)/Chris Hamill (Oban) Mitsubishi Evo 9

6 Donnie MacDonald (Inverness)/Keir Beaton (Inverness) Mitsubishi Evo 9

7 Chris Collie (Aberdeen)/Lisa Watson (Alford) Subaru Impreza

8 John McClory (Strathblane)/David Hood (Elderslie) Subaru Impreza N15

9 Andrew Gallacher (Kilmarnock)/Phil Sandham (Carnforth) Subaru Impreza

10 David Newall (Mid Calder)/Peter McLean (Edinburgh) Mitsubishi Evo 8

Royal Aero flies flag for Juniors

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 22 Sep 2011, 10:58:17 G9T

The development of young rally drivers in Scotland has received a major boost thanks to "unprecedented" backing from international aviation trading company Royal Aero Group.

The German-based firm, which is headed by long-time rally enthusiast and competitor Calum MacLeod, has increased its support of the Junior category for the 2012 MSA Scottish Rally Championship.

For 2011, the firm introduced the Deserving Driver Award, which provided assistance to one driver on each round of the championship as a result of an outstanding, or "deserving", drive during the season.

Next year, all SRC-registered junior drivers, born on or after January 1st 1989, will be offered a £120 reduction in the entry fee on each of the eight rounds of the championship. As well as the age stipulation, they must compete in a 2-wheel drive car of up to 2000cc.

Royal Aero's Junior Support Scheme will work in tandem with the championship's established and highly-acclaimed junior programme, which the company will co-sponsor with the Colin Mcrae Vision in 2012.

"I felt that we needed to spread our support beyond this year's "Deserving Driver Award" to encourage and enable more juniors to participate in the Scottish championship", said Calum, who has two rallying sons of his own: "It's a very expensive sport and it's hard for kids at apprentice level income to enter many rounds, so this may encourage them and their family, friends and sponsors to achieve more. Without the youngsters coming through behind us"old folk", the sport and events struggle to survive, so hopefully this small gesture will help".

SRC Chairman Neil Shanks said the increased support from Royal Aero Group would take the nurturing and development of young rallying talent in Scotland to new heights.

"We are delighted that Royal Aero Group has decided to not only continue its support of the MSA Scottish Rally Championship Junior Category, but to increase it for the coming season. These are tough financial times for everyone, but this will undoubtedly benefit the category that needs help the most, which is fantastic. Both Royal Aero Group and the Championship organising team firmly believe this reinforces the SRC as the best place in Britain for young talent to compete".

Calum MacLeod will himself be competing on the Aberfeldy-based Colin McRae Forest Stages - the final round of the Scottish championship - on October 1st.

Co-driven by wife Claudia, he will field the distinctive MG ZR S2000 in which the couple achieved a top twenty finish on the ProTune Remapping Merrick Stages earlier this month.

Details of Royal Aero Group can be found at www.royalaero.com

Merrick win for Faulkner

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 05 Sep 2011, 09:04:51 G9T

FAULKNER CHALKS UP FIRST MERRICK WIN

Mike Faulkner and Peter Foy powered to a superbly judged victory on Saturday's ProTune Remapping Merrick Stages Rally - their first win in the MSA Scottish Championship for more than two years.

The Kirtlebridge-based driver completed the six Galloway Forest stages in a total time of 42 minutes 13 seconds in his Mitsubishi Evo 6, forty-five seconds ahead of Robbie Head in an Evo 9. Wayne Sisson, also in an Evo 9, was third, a further 1 min 2 secs adrift.

Euan Thorburn - who was tied for second in the championship with Faulkner going into the "Merrick" - fought his way back up the leaderboard following turbo-pipe problems on stage one to finish with the same overall time as Sisson: the Lancastrian taking the final podium spot thanks to the faster run on the opening test.

The event was marred by an accident on the final stage involving the Inverness crew of Dougal Brown and navigator Lewis Rochford in a Mitsubishi Evo 4. Twenty-seven-year-old Brown was airlifted to hospital in Dumfries where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Rochford suffered shock, but was otherwise unharmed.

The stage was cancelled as a result of the incident, with notional times being given to competitors who were running further down the field.

More than 70 cars had set off from a wet Wigtown earlier in the day: the entry list minus three-times Scottish champion David Bogie, whose car was being prepared for the next round of the British series, which he leads, and 2009 Merrick winner Jock Armstrong, who had sustained heavy damage to his Subaru Impreza on the Speyside Stages.

Faulkner put down an immediate marker in their Mitsubishi Evo 6 by winning the first 9-mile Craignell stage - twelve seconds ahead of Northern Ireland's Jonny Greer, with Head a further five seconds back.

Thorburn, with Paul Beaton on the notes, was a minute and a half down after problems with the turbo-pipe of his Evo 9, but bounced back immediately with the fastest time on SS2 Jenny's Hill - just one second in front of Head. British Championship contender Greer was eight seconds down on Thorburn, two seconds ahead of Faulkner who had recovered from a brief "off" in the slippery conditions.

Head and navigator Claire Mole were top of the timesheets on the third stage, Glentrool East, in their Evo9 - cutting Faulkner's overall lead to three seconds. Greer was a further six seconds back at the mid-way point, twenty seconds ahead of the Evo 9 of Wayne Sisson, with Chris Collie in a Subaru Impreza just two seconds behind in fifth.

Thorburn pipped Faulkner by two seconds to take the win on the second of the Glentrool stages. Head and Greer were also pushing on - just two seconds separating the pair - with Sisson and Donnie Macdonald fifth and sixth respectively.

There was another tight finish on the penultimate test, Glentrool South, with Faulkner and Head sharing the honours - just one second ahead of a hard-charging Thorburn. Sisson was a further four seconds adrift, while fifth fastest time went to local competitor Mark McCulloch who was making steady progress at the wheel of his newly acquired Subaru Impreza N10.

Faulkner and Foy "threw everything " into the final - and longest - stage of the event, the 12.35 miles of Black Loch. They emerged thirty-one seconds ahead of Thorburn, with Head another seven seconds back.

We're both very pleased with the outcome", said Faulkner at the finish in Wigtown: "Obviously we had a problem on stage two which made it more difficult for us than it should have been, but we settled ourselves down and didn't try to win it in the middle of the rally. Robbie pushed us hard but we turned up the level on the final stage and had a really good run - we were fully committed and there was a real buzz to come out on top. It's a bit late in the championship but it's a great one to have, we've never won the Merrick, and it sets us up well for the runners-up spot."

Head was more than satisfied with his runner-up spot: his highest finish since returning to regular competition at the start of the year: "It was great. Stages three, four and five were a real battle and then I backed off a little bit on the last one - I was hoping to preserve my second place and I just knew that the risk that I would have to take would probably end in disaster. Fair play to Mike, though, he drove really well today".

Wayne Sisson was also happy to have made it on to the podium on only his fourth SRC outing of the season: "It's been one of our better days. I think luck has been on our side, but if someone had told me last night that I would finish third, I'd certainly have taken it. Obviously some of the regular guys aren't here, but it's quite refreshing to see some different faces at the top end of the leaderboard".

For Thorburn it was a case of damage limitation ("we lost so much time on the first stage we knew we'd never get it back") but the result ensures that the fight for second place in the SRC is carried through to the final round, the Colin McRae Forest Stages.

Kilmarnock's Andrew Gallacher, with Phil Sandam on the notes, finished a fine fifth overall, in his Subaru Impreza. The former saloon car champion notched up a fifth equal fastest time with Irishman Liam Regan on the final stage, after earlier sharing the spoils for sixth quickest on the fourth test with Donnie Macdonald and Mark McCulloch, and again on the penultimate test with Chris Collie and David Newall.

Collie and navigator Lisa Watson from Aberdeenshire recorded their best result of the season, ending the day sixth overall - just five seconds adrift of Gallacher - in their Subaru Impreza. It followed their tenth overall on both the RSAC Scottish and Speyside Stages.

Jonny Greer's challenge for overall honours ended when he was hit by a puncture a few miles from the finish, dropping him down to seventh. However, he was pleased with his pace on the gravel ahead of Rally Yorkshire, where he will revert to his Fabia S2000 for the resumption of the BRC where he sits third behind David Bogie and Elfyn Evans.

Liam Regan was just four seconds shy of his fellow countryman at the finish to secure eighth overall on his first visit to the famed Glentrool stages. His 4-wheel drive Mitsubishi-powered Peugeot 206 proved to be one of the "stars cars" of the event. "We made some improvements to the car today and it's just nice to get to the finish of a really well-organised and friendly rally", said Regan.

SRC regular Jim Carty, co-driven by Ian Fraser, brought his Subaru Impreza WRC home in ninth place - despite a brief excursion into a ditch on the opening stage.

The top ten was rounded off by event sponsor Mark McCulloch and co-driver Craig Wallace in their ex-Sara Williams Impreza.

"It's been an unbelievable day for us, given this is our first gravel event in the car", said McCulloch: "We were onto the pace really quickly, and to have achieved four top-eight stage times - fifth quickest on stage five - is way beyond what we'd hoped for at the start of the day.

Nineteen-year-old Cumbrian Peter Taylor, co-driven by Andrew Roughead, emerged as the leading 2-wheel drive crew in their Renault Clio R3 - the pair recording a fine eleventh overall.

Quintin Milne and Martin Forrest led home the Escort Mk 2 competitors in the main field to finish fifteen overall - pipping the Duns crew of Mike Horne and Robbie Mitchell by fifteen seconds. Both crews won their respective classes.

Meanwhile, in the historic category, Andy Kelly - returning to competition after a five year lay off - celebrated a famous victory in his pristine Escort Mk1, co-driven by Roger Herron.

The pair had trailed Steve Bannister's Mk2 for much of the day, but moved into the top spot after the Yorkshireman, with Louise Sutherland on the notes, punctured on both the penultimate and final stages.

"First time out in the car, first time in a rally car in five years, first time rear-wheel drive, it's been a day to remember. This is where it's at!" enthused Kelly, who, as event sponsor, won what was then the Park Systems Forest Stages in 2006 in a Mitsubishi Evo.

Overall honours in the 1600 category went to John Boyd and Chris Williamson in a Ford Fiesta R2, but it was second-placed Graeme Schoneville and Michael Hendry who took maximum championship points in their Honda Civic.

Iain Haining from Dumfries and Castle Douglas navigator Mairi Riddick in a Vauxhall Nova clinched their fourth Class 3 victory of the season. Ayrshire's Blair and Alex McCulloch, also in a Nova, took second spot, with Sean and Ian Robson from Melrose third in a Peugeot 205 Gti.

Alex Pirie from Keith, co-driven by Huntly's David Law, wrapped up the Class 2 championship in fine style with a fourth win of the season in a Vauxhall Corsa. Craig Smith, with Jack Morton on the notes, was second in class in a Nova.

Among the fifteen crews who failed to make it to the end were Donnie Macdonald and Keir Beaton from Inverness - their first non-finish of the season. Fifth going into the championship, their "Merrick" challenge ended when they went off the road into a ditch on the penultimate Glentrool South stage.

The final round of the MSA Scottish Rally Championship is the Colin McRae Forest Stages, based in Aberfeldy, on October 1^st.

Merrick Stages Rally - Top Ten Finishers with total times:

1 Mike Faulkner (Kirtlebridge)/Peter Foy (Bingley) Mitsubishi Evo 6 42m13s

2 Robbie Head (Cartland)/Claire Mole (Kelso) Mitsubishi Evo 9 42.58

3 Wayne Sisson (Burton In Kendal)/David Macfadyen (Inverness) 44.00

4 Euan Thorburn (Duns)/Paul Beaton (Inverness) Mitsubishi Evo 9 44.00

5 Andrew Gallacher (Kilmarnock)/Phil Sandham (Carnforth) Subaru Impreza 45.22

6 Chris Collie (Aberdeen)/Lisa Watson (Alford) Subaru Impreza 45.27

7 Jonathan Greer (Carryduff)/Dai Roberts (Abergavenny) 45.32

8 Liam Regan (Belfast)/Francis Regan (Cushendall) Peugeot 206 45.36

9 Jim Carty (Elderslie)/Ian Fraser (Isle of Mull) Subaru Impreza WRC 45.37

10 Mark McCulloch(Newton Stewart)/Craig Wallace(Kirriemuir)Subaru Impreza N10 45.45

Podium chase continues on Merrick

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 27 Aug 2011, 16:44:19 G8T

The overall Scottish title has been decided for another year, but there is still plenty at stake on Saturday's ProTune Remapping Merrick Stages - the penultimate round of the MSA Scottish Rally Championship.

The battle will resume for the runners-up spot - with top seeds Mike Faulkner and Euan Thorburn, who are both equal in the points, locking horns again after their "nail-biter" on the "Speyside" earlier this month where they set the same times on four of the stages.

They will face strong competition for overall victory from, among others, Robbie Head, who sits fourth in the points, and two non-SRC registered entries - BRC front-runner Jonny Greer and fellow Northern Ireland competitor Phillip Morrow, who was in line for a top five finish on the Speyside before a time penalty put paid to his challenge.

The fight for 2-wheel drive supremacy on the Wigtown-based event will also be something to savour, with the historic Ford Escort Mk2 of Steve Bannister up against the Mk2's of Malcolm Buchanan, Mike Horne, Quintin Milne and Liam Harkness.

There are some close-fought tussles across various categories and classes in the championship, including Class 10; DMACK Group N; the Clubmans 2-Wheel Drive; the Scottish Junior Championship; and the Red Bull Junior Challenge.

With champion David Bogie sitting out this round as he prepares for the Trackrod Rally Yorkshire in his quest to add the British title to his three Scottish crowns, all eyes will be on the fight for the No 2 spot in the SRC.

Faulkner will have Peter Foy back in the co-driver's seat of his Mitsubishi Evo 6, as the pair target victory on the classic Galloway Forest stages.

"I really like the Merrick stages. In my opinion, they are some of the best in the country", said Faulkner: "They are very quick and reward the committed driver".

"I expect the battle with Euan to be tight again, after we set exactly the same times for four stages on the Speyside. We are tied in the championship, so I expect the battle to be just as close on the Merrick. Peter and I will just be concentrating on trying to win".

For his part, Thorburn, co-driven by Paul Beaton, comes off the back of a strong second-place finish in Elgin in his Mitsubishi Evo 9.

The Duns based driver got the better of Faulkner after the Evo 6 pilot overshot on the final stage.

Robbie Head, with Claire Mole on the notes, is still seeking his first podium after returning to regular competition in the Scottish championship at the start of the season.

However, in six rounds, the Lanark man has only posted one result outside the top ten and will be fancying his chances of a podium finish this time out in his Station Garage/H-Logistics-backed Evo 9.

Greer, co-driven by Dai Roberts, and Morrow, with brother Simon the notes, could spoil the party for the SRC regulars in their respective Evo 9's.

Greer, currently lying third in the BRC , finished third behind Bogie and Jock Armstrong on the "Merrick" twelve months ago, following a second place to Armstrong in 2009.

Rally preparation expert Wayne Sisson from Lancashire returns to the fray in his Evo 9, alongside David Macfadyen from Inverness. Sisson has only contested three rounds this season - his best result being a sixth place on the RSAC Scottish in June.

Seventh seeds Liam and Francis Regan are another Northern Ireland crew who could be fighting for honours at the sharp end of the leaderboard. Twenty-two-year-old Liam's Peugeot 206 is powered by an engine from a Mitsubishi Evo 6, which means he will compete in the "open" class on his foray into south-west of Scotland.

Invernessian Donnie Macdonald will be hoping to build on what has been a very successful 2011 SRC campaign - he currently sits fifth in the overall drivers' points, twenty adrift of Head, and leads the Class 10 rankings by three points from John McLory. Macdonald will be looking to better his eighth place finish on last year's "Merrick".

Meanwhile, McLory, co-driven by David Hood, will be at the wheel of the Subaru Impreza N15 in which he has finished seventh and twelfth overall on the two previous rounds.

Elderslie's Jim Carty is back in action in his Subaru Impreza WRC alongside Ian Fraser from Mull - the pair aiming to make amends for a non-finish on the "Speyside" because of gear-box problems - while John Morrison and Peter Carstairs will also be looking for a strong finish in their Evo 9; the Conon Bridge man currently ninth in the drivers' points.

Stephen and Kevin Lockhart from Oban have also had a solid season and will be aiming to better their fine seventh place finish last time out in their Evo 7.

Calum and Claudia MacLeod again make the journey over from Germany to compete in the Bill Gwynne Motorsport-prepared MG ZR S2000 in which they claimed a class win and top thirty finish on last year's "Merrick" - Claudia's first forest rally outing.

While Steve Bannister, co-driven by Louise Sutherland, will run ahead of the main field in the historic class, his main Mk2 rivals - Buchanan, Horne and Milne - are seeded 19th, 25th and 26th respectively. Another to watch out for is Thornhill's Liam Harkness who leads Class 8 in his Mk 2.

Also entered in the historic class in his recently acquired Mk1 is Andy Kelly, who in 2006 won what was then the Park Systems Rally as event sponsor. He will be co-driven on Saturday by former BRC navigator Roger Herron.

There's a strong entry in the 1600 category, with Gareth White, co-driven by Mike Dickson, hoping to maintain his advantage over fellow Citreon C2 R2 competitor and erstwhile points leader James Robertson - the Thornhill man being forced to retire early on the "Speyside".

Then there is the Vauxhall Corsa of Paisley's Alasdair Graham, who has three class wins to his name this season, and the Honda Civics of Graeme Smith and Graeme Schoneville, who were first and second respectively on the "Speyside".

Tom and Sue Hynd have stamped their mark on Class 3 this season - apart from the last round, when they rolled on the final stage in their Peugeot 205. Behind them, a single point separates Blair McCulloch and Iain Haining who will be going head to head in their Vauxhall Novas. Borders crew Sean and Iain Robson will also be back in action in their Peugeot 205 - fresh from their class victory in Elgin.

The Class 2 entry is led by north-east of Scotland duo Alex Pirie and David Law, who have notched up three wins and two second-place finishes in their Vauxhall Nova in 2011.

There is still plenty to play for In the Scottish Junior Championship, where Gareth White has a two point advantage over Liam Harkness, whereas the positions are reversed in the coveted Red Bull Junior Challenge.

Competitors will tackle six stages totalling 44 miles in the Black Loch and Glentrool forests with two stops at the central service area at Glencaird. The Rally HQ will again be based at the Town Hall in Wigtown.

The first historic car will set off from outside the Town Hall at 0830 on Saturday, with the first of the 4-wheel drives at 0910.

Full details can be found at www.merrickstages.co.uk

ProTune Remapping Merrick Stages - Top Twenty seeds

1 Mike Faulkner (Kirtlebridge)/Peter Foy (Bingley) Mitsubishi Evo 6

2 Euan Thorburn (Duns)/Paul Beaton (Inverness) Mitsubishi Evo 9

3 Robbie Head (Cartland)/Claire Mole (Kelso) Mitsubishi Evo 9

4 Jonny Greer (Castleduff)/Dai Roberts (Carmarthen) Mitsubishi Evo 9

5 Phillip Morrow (Lisburn)/Simon Morrow (Lisburn) Mitsubishi Evo 9

6 Wayne Sisson (Burton In Kendal)/David Macfadyen (Inverness) Mitsubishi Evo 9

7 Liam Regan (Belfast)/Francis Regan (Bushendall) Peugeot 206

8 Donnie Macdonald (Culloden)/tba Mitsubishi Evo 9

9 John McLory (Strathblane)/David Hood (Elderslie) Subaru Impreza N15

10 Jim Carty (Elderslie)/Ian Fraser (Isle of Mull) Subaru Impreza WRC

11 John Morrison (Conon Bridge)/Peter Carstairs (St Andrews) Mitsubishi Evo 9

12 Stephen Lockhart (Oban)/Kevin Lockhart (Oban) Mitsubishi Evo 7

14 Craig McMiken (Newton Stewart)/tba Mitsubishi Evo 9

15 Chris Collie (Aberdeen)/Lisa Watson (Alford) Subaru Impreza

16 Matthew Calderwood (Helensburgh)/Ali Campbell (Cairndow) Mitsubishi Evo 7

17 Dougal Brown (Inverness)/Lewis Rochford (Inverness) Mitsubishi Evo 4

18 Douglas Gilbert (Dalry)/Brian Anderson (Beith) Mitsubishi Evo 8

19 Malcolm Buchanan (Uig)/Ian Nicoll (Forfar) Ford Escort Mk2

20 David Newall (Mid Calder)/Peter McLean (Edinburgh) Mitsubishi Evo

Historics - Class 6 - Top Seeds (run ahead of main field)

101 Steve Bannister (Malton)/Louise Sutherland (Hawick) Ford Escort Mk2

102 Andy Kelly (Greenock)/Roger Herron (Dumfries) Ford Escort Mk1

103 George Bryson (Catrine)/Jacqueline Bryson (Catrine) Ford Escort TC

104 David Killin (Glasgow)/Clive Black (Glasgow) Opal Kadette

Bogie/Rae clinch 3rd Scottish title

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 06 Aug 2011, 22:40:29 G8T

David Bogie and co-driver Kevin Rae sealed their third straight MSA Scottish Rally Championship with a fourth consecutive victory on the Gleaner Oil and Gas Speyside Stages.

The winning partnership finished more than half a minute ahead of the rest to cap a notable 2011 championship campaign with two rounds remaining.

Behind them, Euan Thorburn and Mike Faulkner slugged it out in a gripping fight for the remaining podium places.

They shared equal times on three of the eight Morayshire stages, but it was Thorburn, co-driven by Paul Beaton, who emerged as runner-up after Faulkner overshot on the final test.

Bogie, who was fastest through four of the stages, finished with a total time of 43 minutes 42 seconds - 37 seconds ahead of Thorburn, with Faulkner a further 14 seconds adrift.

The Dumfries triple champion was clearly delighted - and relieved - as he was applauded by fellow competitors and spectators alike as the champagne was sprayed at the finish outside Elgin town hall.

"It's just awesome and hard to sum up really, said Bogie: " I never thought too much about the championship. We just came here to win the rally, and to be honest, all season I've never given it much thought. We just went to each round to do the best job we could. But to come away with a win and take the championship, well, it's going to take time to sink in. It also makes things easier going to the next round of the British Championship, so that's really good".

Co-driver Rae from Hawick was "chuffed to bits" with the result: "Everything has gone so well on this event. They were great stages - we just eased off a wee bit towards the finish once we knew we were OK.. We've been thoroughly enjoying our rallying all season and even with the pressure today it's been enjoyable. It's another one ticked off, so we can now concentrate on the British".

As is traditional on the Speyside, the event got underway with two blasts through the special spectator stage at Cooper Park in the centre of Elgin.

Jock Armstrong and Kirsty Riddick took top honours in their Subaru Impreza, resulting in the Castle Douglas pair being a second up on the Evo 9 of Northern Ireland''s Phillip Morrow going into the first 2.79 mile forest stage, Rosarie.

Bogie pipped Armstrong by a second to take the stage win but the Impreza pilot, winner of the RSAC Scottish Rally in June, still had a three second advantage overall over his younger rival.

However, the challenge was short-lived when, on SS4 Craigend Hill, the Subaru clipped a culvert, span round and ended up on its side - resulting in what Armstrong described as "pretty brutal damage when you add it all up".

While Bogie consolidated his lead with two successive quickest times - on Craigend, and the 5 miles of Gartly Moor ("that was an awesome stage!") - a battle royale was developing between Thorburn and Faulkner.

They posted equal times behind Bogie on Gartly Moor, and again on the eight and a half miles of Balloch Wood, before sharing top honours - one second quicker than Bogie - on the penultimate test, Backstripes.

"It's been a really hard battle with Mike all day - I couldn't believe how close it was", said Thorburn who also pipped Bogie by two seconds on the final stage: "It was a shame the two of us couldn't have carried it on until the end, but Mike lost time with an overshoot - it was a difficult last stage with all the chicanes. We came to win the event, but we're pleased with second".

Faulkner, co-driven by Louise Sutherland in place of the holidaying Peter Foy, also enjoyed the tussle: "It was a case of staying with Euan and matching him on stage times. When we got to the last stage we both had to go for it. The surface was really muddy and grassy and I was losing traction and tried to make it up on braking and ended up overshooting. I've had some close battles over the years, but three stage times on the trot with the same person is something special".

Emerging from Cooper Park eighth overall in their Mitsubishi Evo 9, Lanark's Robbie Head and navigator Claire Mole from Paxton had moved into fifth at the end of the first forest test and were up to fourth on the completion of Gartly Moor.

They held station through the remaining three stages, posting the third quickest time on the final test, two seconds shy of second-placed Bogie.

Inverurie's Calum Mackenzie justified his late entry to the event with a fine fifth overall at the wheel of his Mitsubishi Evo 8. Co-driven by Alan Clark, it was Mackenzie's best SRC result in the 4-wheel drive car, following a switch from his more familiar Escort Mk2.

Fellow Aberdeenshire-based competitor Barry Groundwater, with Daniel Paterson on the notes, bettered his 2010 Speyside result by one place to finish sixth overall, two seconds adrift of Mackenzie.

Stephen and Kevin Lockhart from Oban were a further eight seconds back in their Evo 7 - posting their third and best Scottish Championship top ten finish of the season, following two ninth places on the Border Counties and Jim Clark Reivers.

County Durham's Tristan Pye, with three-times Scottish Co-drivers' champion Stewart Merry on the notes, was eighth in his self-prepared Subaru Impreza N15, while Invernessian Donnie Macdonald - sixth in the points going into the Speyside - was well satisfied with his second successive ninth-place overall alongside Keir Beaton.

It was also a case of deja vu for Chris Collie and Lisa Watson with the pair recording their second consecutive tenth place finish in their Subaru Impreza - the only difference being that the gap to Macdonald had increased to 4 seconds from the 1.5 seconds on the RSAC Scottish!

For the record, the top seven places were occupied by Mitsubishi Lancers of varying ages, prompting Station Garage Mitsubishi boss Bob Shephard to dub them "The Magnificent Seven".

The battle for 2-wheel drive supremacy, and 1600 category honours, was won by Graeme Smith in a Honda Civic after a day spent trading times with fellow Lanarkshire competitor and Civic pilot Graeme Schoneville.

Co-driven by Stuart Loudon, Smith was trailing Schoneville by six seconds after the first short forest stage, but kept the pressure on and had a two second advantage overall on the completion of SS5 Gartly Moor. Schoneville and navigator Michael Hendry were back in front at the end of SS6 Balloch Wood, but lost time on the penultimate test with Smith and Loudon eventually winning the dog-fight by nine seconds.

Banchory's Quintin Milne and Aberdeen-based co-driver Martin Forrest led home the Escort Mk2 contingent, with Thornhill's Liam Harkness and Kenneth Marchbank second.

Following three previous retirements this season, Sean and Iain Robson from St Boswells were surprised and delighted with their Class 3 win in their Peugeot 205 Gti. They took top honours after Tom and Sue Hynd, who led the class for much of the day, crashed out heavily in their 205 on the penultimate test.

Among the notable retirements were Andy Horne/Jim Howie who were forced to call it a day on stage four when their DAM 4100GTi developed mechanical problems, and Reay Mackay and Robert Macdonald, who were running as high as fourth overall in their Subaru Impreza WRC before it developed a gearbox fault.

There were 69 classified finishers from a start list of 101 cars.

The seventh and penultimate round of the MSA Scottish Rally Championship is the ProTune Remapping Merrick Stages - based in Wigtown - on Saturday, September 3rd.

SPEYSIDE STAGES - TOP TEN FINISHERS WITH TOTAL TIMES

1 David Bogie (Dumfries)/Kevin Rae (Hawick) Mitsubishi Evo 9 43 mins 42 secs

2 Euan Thorburn (Duns)/Paul Beaton (Inverness) Mitsubishi Evo 9 44.19

3 Mike Faulkner (Kirtlebridge)/Louise Sutherland (Hawick) Mitsubishi Evo 6 44.33

4 Robbie Head (Lanark)/Claire Mole (Paxton) Mitsubishi Evo 9 45.18

5 Calum Mackenzie (Inverurie)/Alan Clark (Glasgow) Mitsubishi Evo 8 46.27

6 Barry Groundwater (Stonehaven)/Daniel Paterson (Stonehaven) Mitsubishi Evo 9 46.29

7 Stephen Lockhart (Oban)/Kevin Lockhart (Oban) Mitsubishi Evo 7 46.37

8 Tristan Pye (Durham)/Stewart Merry (Bishop Auckland) Subaru Impreza N15 46.45

9 Donnie Macdonald (Inverness)/Keir Beaton (Inverness) Mitsubishi Evo 9 46.58

10 Chris Collie (Aberdeen)/Lisa Watson (Alford) Subaru Impreza 47.02

TWO-WHEEL DRIVE CLASS WINNERS

Class 2 Colin Grant/Michael Cruickshank (Skoda Estelle)

Class 3 Sean Robson/Iain Robson (Peugeot 205 Gti)

Class 4 Graeme Smith/Stuart Loudon (Honda Civic)

Class 5 Duncan MacDonald/Neil Ross (Ford Escort)

Class 6 David Killin/Clive A. Black (Opel Kadette Coupe)

Class 7 Stuart McLeod/Gavin Riley (Peugeot 309 Gti)

Class 8 Quintin Milne/Martin Forrest (Ford Escort Mk2)

Class 9 Ken Wood/Gordon Wood (Triumph Dolomite Sprint)

Class 10 Stephen Lockhart/Kevin Lockhart (Mitsubishi Evo 7)

Class 11 Douglas Gilbert/Brian Anderson (Mitsubishi Evo 8)

Class 12 David Bogie/Kevin Rae (Mitsubishi Evo 9)

Speyside Stages Preview

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 31 Jul 2011, 07:16:06 G7T

BOGIE TARGETS FOURTH SPEYSIDE WIN

Defending Scottish champions David Bogie and navigator Kevin Rae head a field of around a hundred crews for next Saturday's Gleaner Oil & Gas Speyside Stages - an event they have won for the past three years.

The duo have an eleven point lead in the drivers' and co-drivers' standings respectively going into the Elgin-based event, as they look to seal their third straight MSA Scottish Rally Championship with three rounds remaining.

"We've reached an important point in the season and the plan is to go to Elgin and come away with another win", said Bogie: "It's another very strong field so nothing can be taken for granted, but we feel up to the challenge".

"The stages around Elgin and Huntly are tricky in that they can be quite slippy and loose in places - but it's also a high speed rally, so you need to be absolutely sure of your braking points. Late braking is rewarded with good stage times", said Bogie, who will be at the wheel of his Mitsubishi Evo 9.

As in previous years, competitors will again have two blasts through the special spectator stage in Elgin's Cooper Park before heading out to the forests.

Bogie will be followed off the start-line by last year's runners-up Jock Armstrong and Kirsty Riddick in a Subaru Impreza.

The Castle Douglas duo triumphed on the last round, the RSAC Scottish Rally in Dumfries, and Armstrong is keen to keep up the momentum.

"We've had mixed results so far this season and the win on the Scottish really gave us a boost", said Armstrong, who currently sits fifth in the standings - thirty-eight points adrift of Bogie: "We'll be looking to push again on the Speyside after finishing second last year, so we'll see what happens".

Third seed Euan Thorburn was hit by problems on last year's Speyside but has had a consistent season so far in 2011. He has been runner-up twice, and has also posted a third, a fourth and a sixth place finish at the wheel of his Mitsubishi Evo 9. The Duns competitor will again be co-driven by Paul Beaton from Inverness.

Mike Faulkner sits second in the overall drivers' standings - one point ahead of Thorburn - and will be looking to put pressure on the leading pair.

"We'll just be concentrating on going for the win", said Faulkner, who will be co-driven by Louise Sutherland in place of the holidaying Peter Foy: "The Speyside is a very enjoyable event with a great mix of stages from the tarmac of Cooper Park to loose and technical sections, but there are also some very fast and committed ones. There's certainly no margin for error".

Andy Horne - winner of the Speyside in 1998 - was well pleased with his fifth place finish on the "Scottish" and will be looking for an equally strong result this coming weekend in his DAM 4100GTi, alongside Jim Howie.

Twelve months ago, the pair were lying second overall - 23 seconds adrift of Bogie and Rae - going into the penultimate Clashindarroch stage but were forced to retire with mechanical problems.

Ex-works driver Robbie Head currently sits fourth in the overall standings in his DMACK Tyres/Station Garage Mitsubishi Evo 9. A problematical day on the Scottish, which started with fuel pressure problems, resulted in his first finish outside the top ten since returning to regular competition at the start of the season. The Lanark-based driver will again have Borderer Claire Mole on the notes.

Another former BRC works driver, Phillip Morrow, makes a welcome return to the Scottish championship, and, although not eligibile for SRC points, will be one to watch in the fight for top honours on the day

The Northern Ireland ace will have brother Simon in the navigator's seat for their second competitive outing on an SRC event this season. In March they picked up a class award on the Border Counties after making a last minute switch from their more familiar Evo 9 to a hired Ford Escort.

Donnie Macdonald, co-driven by fellow Invernessian Keir Beaton, finished ninth overall on the Scottish in his Evo 9 to consolidate sixth place in the drivers' standings.

The pair start eighth in Elgin, one ahead of Stonehaven's Barry Groundwater and Daniel Paterson, also in an Evo 9, who will be targeting another strong result after a seventh overall on the Speyside in 2010.

The top ten seeds are rounded off by Reay Mackay and Robert MacDonald from Fort Augustus in a Subaru Impreza WRC. Their last SRC outing was on the Granite City in April when they were forced to retire with brake problems.

The leading 2-wheel drive crew on the Speyside entry list are Banchory's Quintin Milne and highly-experienced navigator Martin Forrest from Aberdeen in a Ford Escort Mk2.

Suspension problems ended their "Scottish" challenge on the opening stage but they preceded that with a fine eleventh overall on the Jim Clark Reivers tarmac round.

The Thornhill crew of Liam Harkness and Kenneth Marchbank will be targeting another strong finish in their Ford Escort Mk2 after taking top honours in Class 8 on their home event last time out in June.

Harkness also leads the coveted Red Bull Junior Challenge, and sits second in the race for the SRC Junior title.

As always, the Class 4 1600 category looks certain to throw up an intriguing battle - with the Honda Civics of John MacCrone and Graeme Schoneville up against the Vauxhall Corsa of Alasdair Graham, who, despite gearbox problems, took his third class win of the season in Dumfries. Jim Robertson, driving a Citreon C2R2, still leads the overall standings by three points from Graham after five rounds.

In Class 3, Tom and Sue Hynd will be targeting their third consecutive win in their Peugeot 205 Gti, while Alex Pirie from Keith and Huntly navigator David Law will be aiming to continue their domination of Class 2 in a Vauxhall Corsa.

As well as the two Cooper Park stages, competitors will tackle six tests in the forests around Elgin and Huntly, namely: Rosarie, Craigend Hill, Gartly Moor, Balloch, Backstripes and Monaughty.

There will be two service stops at Huntly Auction Mart.

Full details can be found at www.speyside-stages.co.uk

Gleaner Oil & Gas Speyside Stages: Top Ten Seeds

1 David Bogie (Dumfries)/Kevin Rae (Hawick) Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9

2 Jock Armstrong (Castle Douglas)/Kirsty Riddick (Haugh Of Urr) Subaru Impreza

3 Euan Thorburn (Duns)/Paul Beaton (Inverness) Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9

4 Mike Faulkner (Kirtlebridge)/Louise Sutherland (Hawick) Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 6

5 Andy Horne (Inverness)/Jim Howie (Kilmarnock) DAM 4100 Gti

6 Robbie Head (Lanark)/Claire Mole (Kelso) Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9

7 Phillip Morrow (Hillsborough)/Simon Morrow (Lisburn) Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9

8 Donnie MacDonald (Inverness)/Keir Beaton (Inverness) Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9

9 Barry Groundwater (Stonehaven)/Daniel Paterson (Stonehaven) Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9

10 Reay MacKay (Fort Augustus)/ Robert MacDonald (Fort Augustus) Subaru Impreza WRC

Jock fulfils "Scottish" dream

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 26 Jun 2011, 10:56:45 G6T

Jock Armstrong celebrated a dramatic victory on Saturday's RSAC Scottish Rally, after David Bogie was hit by a puncture just a few miles from the finish.

It was the Castle Douglas driver's first win on the "Scottish" - and his first victory in the MSA Scottish Rally Championship since the Snowman in 2010.

Bogie had looked set to take top honours on his home event for the second successive year in his Mitsubishi Evo 9 after building up a seventeen second lead over Armstrong going into the final stage.

However, the front puncture knocked the Dumfries driver back to third, with Mike Faulkner securing the runner-up spot in his Mitsubishi Evo 6.

Armstrong, co-driven by Kirsty Riddick, completed the six stages in a total time of 43 minutes 16.1 seconds in his Subaru Impreza to finish 12.8 seconds ahead of Faulkner and Peter Foy. Bogie, with Kevin Rae on the notes, was a further 11.6 seconds adrift.

The result has not affected Bogie's lead in the MSA Scottish Championship. He has an eleven point advantage over Faulkner after five rounds, with Euan Thorburn, who finished fourth in Dumfries in his Evo 9,a further point behind.

At the finish, a delighted Armstrong said he had long dreamed of a "Scottish" win: "I remember doing it years and years ago and I came away fourteenth overall, and then I was thirteenth overall and I thought if I do this for the next fifteen years I might win it one day!"

He went on: "We've always been there or thereabouts but it's been a perfect result for us today. It's been a good battle with three local drivers making it onto the podium and for once I've made it to the top step. We've had mixed results this season, but hopefully this will be the start of a rolling streak and we'll persevere and see what happens".

Co-driver Riddick, meanwhile, became the first female competitor to win the event since 1961 when John and Anne Melvin triumphed in a Sunbeam Alpine.

From the outset, Armstrong and Bogie set the tone for a hard-fought tussle on the unusually slippery Dumfriesshire stages with both drivers beating the bogey time on the opening 14-miles of Ae East.

Bogie was clearly frustrated at the outcome as he came into first service, declaring that he hoped it wasn't going to be "the story of the day", while Armstrong put his team to work repairing a broken exhaust.

Faulkner was 2.8 seconds further back, ahead of Wayne Sisson (Mitsubishi Evo 9, Thorburn, and Andy Horne (DAM 4100Gti) .

Bogie pipped Horne by a second on the first of two runs through the special spectator stage at Heathhall, and was fastest again - five seconds up on Armstrong - on the third test, Twiglees.

After taking another quickest time on SS4 Castle O'er, Bogie's lead over Armstrong had extended to 15.1 seconds, while Faulkner was snapping at their heals a further 4.5 seconds back. Horne, co-driven by Jim Howie, was clearly enjoying his day and sitting fourth as the crews came into second service.

There was a bit of drama when the starter-motor of Bogie's Evo jammed and his crew had to push the car the length of the service area to his bay. Once fixed, the double champion was on his way with a second straight "Scottish" victory in his sights.

Horne just got the better of Thorburn and Bogie by half a second through the second Heathhall run ("if all stages were a mile long I might win a few rallies", quipped the Highlander) while Armstrong was thirteenth quickest, 2.8 seconds back.

All was set then for a final push through the fourteen miles of Ae West. Bogie ("I'm just keeping a nice consistent steady pace") was on course to pick up his fourth win of the 2011 SRC. Armstrong was sitting 17.4 seconds further back, with a hard-charging Faulkner just 2.5 seconds behind.

However, as the crowds and officials gathered at the finish to welcome the 4-wheel-drive competitors, word filtered back that the top three positions had changed in dramatic fashion.

A rueful Bogie explained: "We went into the last stage with a comfortable lead and then five miles from the end there was a left hand corner that tightened slightly over a bump. The bump was bigger than we thought it would be and it just pushed the car slightly off line and we went through a kind of shale ditch and that was just enough to cut the tyre. We drove the last five miles with a front puncture so we lost far more time than we would have liked. It's just one of those things, but to get third overall is a good result for us - and we still stay ahead in the championship".

For his part, Faulkner was happy with a second place which keeps him in the hunt in the championship, with three rounds remaining.

"We pushed really hard, we couldn't have given anything more to be honest. We were a little disappointed not to beat Jock on the last stage but we certainly had a go. Two or three miles from the end we thought we had a rear puncture, we were struggling for traction and it was loose at the back, but it looks as though it's been a suspension problem. We're certainly happy with second. It's good for the championship and set's us up well for the Speyside in August".

Thorburn, co-driven by Paul Beaton, was relieved to have secured fourth overall and first in class after a difficult day on the Dumfriesshire stages.

"We went off about two-thirds into the first stage and got stuck in a ditch - wrong tyre choice I'm afraid - and also had two over-shoots at junctions and had to reverse. We were getting too much understeer followed by masses of oversteer. The last stage was better but it was not a great day for us, I'm afraid", said the Duns' driver.

In contrast, Horne was well satisfied with his fifth overall, 27.8 seconds behind Thorburn: "It's been a really good day with no real dramas to speak of. A good steady run. We went off the road briefly on the last stage - it was very slippery - as it was on the first run through Ae. The two stages to the east, Twiglees and Castle O'er, were far better for us - there was more grip there and it showed in our times".

Wayne Sisson claimed sixth place alongside navigator Andy Bull to better his ninth overall in 2010.

"I think we've come away pretty lucky to be honest. We had a puncture on Twiglees and dropped 25 seconds and then on the last stage we went off and down into a ditch for about fifty yards and stalled it at a hairpin. We dropped some time there. So, I think we're lucky to end up where we are".

Seventh overall and Class 10 honours went to John McLory and David Hood - the Brick & Steel construction boss clearly delighted with his best ever result in the SRC at the wheel of his Subaru Impreza:

"I'm really happy, it's an excellent result. On the first stage we caught the car in front half-way through but other than that it's been a fairly quiet event for us with no "moments" to speak of. It was universally slippy but then it was the same for everyone so I've no complaints".

Local farmer Rory Young, with Doug Redpath sitting in for regular co-driver Allan Cathers, maintained his solid record on his home event in his Mitsubishi Evo 5 with an eighth place finish, just 1.1 seconds behind McLory.

"We didn't have an intercom on the first stage so there were some interesting hand signals between navigator and driver", said Young: "We also had a wee misfire on the third stage but other than that it's been great fun".

Donnie Macdonald and Keir Beaton from Inverness were a further 5.9 seconds back in their Mitsubishi Evo 9 to take ninth overall.

"I came down here for dry, hot conditions as with previous years on the "Scottish" but it turned out to be wet and cloggy and I just couldn't get going. But we picked up the pace throughout the day and I'm happy enough to have finished in the top ten".

The Aberdeenshire crew of Chris Collie and Lisa Watson brought their Subaru Impreza home in tenth overall to make up for crashing out on the previous gravel round, the Granite City, in April.

"I kept the rubber side down this time, so it's been a much better run for us. We've both had a really good day - an excellent event", said Collie.

The leading 2-wheel drive competitor was 2008 Scottish Junior champion Mark McCulloch in the Ford Fiesta ST in which he's contesting this year's BRC Challenge alongside navigator Craig Wallace. McCulloch had been seeded one ahead of 2010 Junior champion Peter Stewart in his Fiesta. However, the much anticipated battle for bragging rights between the two ended when Stewart suffered engine failure on the fourth stage.

The local Thornhill crew of Liam Harkness and Kenneth Marchbank were the clear winners of Class 8 in their Ford Escort Mk2, ending the day 26th overall.

Alasdair S Graham from Paisley, co-driven by Kenny McGuire, picked up his third Class 4 win of the season in his Vauxhall Corsa but could not quite believe it at the finish after struggling with gearbox problems for most of the day.

"I think it's been the hardest rally we've ever done", said Graham: "I had to hold the car in gear and drive it one handed for four stages. We also hit a really bad bump on the first stage and knocked the tracking out so it was driving kind of sideways for the rest of the stage. It's a great result, but I'm shattered".

Alex Pirie from Keith, with David Law of Huntly co-driving, again dominated Class 2 in his Vauxhall Corsa, finishing 26 seconds ahead of second-placed Castle Douglas crew Callum Bendall and James Aldridge in a Ford Ka.

For the second consecutive event, Class 3 honours went to husband and wife team Tom and Sue Hynd who had flown back from holiday in France the previous day to compete on Dumfries event in their Peugeot 205 Gti. The couple finished more than a minute and a half ahead of Borderers Sean and Iain Robson, also in a 205.

Aberdeenshire duo Ken and Gordon Wood secured maximum SRC points in Class 9 in their Triumph Dolomite Sprint, finishing 35th overall.

Of the 95 starters, there were 71 classified finishers with a number of notable retirements, including Evo 9 pilots Sean Sinclair, who shredded a tyre of his Evo 9 and went over the time limit; David Wilson, who ran into a boggy ditch on the first stage; and Barry Groundwater, who experienced transmission problems.

Former SRC front-runner Steven Clark had undertaken a three-day journey from an oil-rig off China to be back in time to compete in his Mitsubishi Evo 4, alongside Steve Bannister's regular navigator Louise Sutherland. The pair had a strong run through the opening Ae East stage - recording an eighth quickest time - but gearbox problems forced them to call it a day at first service.

Crews now have a break of 6 weeks before the sixth round of the MSA Scottish Rally Championship - the Gleaner Oil & Gas Speyside Stages in Elgin on 6th August.

RSAC Scottish Rally - Top Ten finishers with total times:

1 Jock Armstrong(Castle Douglas)/Kirsty Riddick(Haugh of Urr) Subaru Impreza 43 mins 16.1 secs

2 Mike Faulkner (Kirtlebridge)/Peter Foy (Bingley) Mitsubishi Evo 9 43.28.9

3 David Bogie (Dumfries)/Kevin Rae (Hawick) Mitsubishi Evo 9 43.40.5

4 Euan Thorburn (Duns)/Paul Beaton (Inverness) Mitsubishi Evo 9 44.03.2

5 Andy Horne (Inverness)/Jim Howie (Kilmarnock) DAM 4100GTi 44.31.0

6 Wayne Sisson (Carnforth)/Andy Bull (Birmingham) Mitsubishi Evo 9 45.13.5

7 John McLory (Glasgow)/David Hood (Paisley) Subaru Impreza N15 45.44.5

8 Rory Young (Kirkgunzeon)/Doug Redpath (Duns) Mitsubishi Evo 5 45.45.6

9 Donnie Macdonald (Inverness)/Keir Beaton (Inverness) Mitsubishi Evo 9 45.51.5

10 Chris Collie (Aberdeen)/Lisa Watson (Alford) Subaru Impreza 45.53.0

All set for "Scottish" showdown

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 18 Jun 2011, 07:05:13 G6T

David Bogie is aiming to further tighten his grip on the MSA Scottish Rally Championship with a second successive victory on his home event next weekend.

He goes into the RSAC Scottish Rally next Saturday, June 25th, with an eleven point advantage over Euan Thorburn in the overall drivers' standings, and is odds-on favourite to take his fourth SRC win of 2011.

Bogie and co-driver Kevin Rae head a strong field of more than 100 crews for the fifth round of the series, which will be played out over the classic forest stages to the east of Dumfries.

The defending champion will be back in his more familiar Mitsubishi Evo 9, after a dominant victory on the Jim Clark Reivers Rally at the wheel of his family's MG Metro 6R4.

"We'll be out to win the "Scottish" and take maximum points, that's for sure", said Bogie: "Obviously, when it's your home event, it gives you an extra incentive. It's been a dream first half of the season for us - but we need to keep up the momentum".

Although his name does not appear in the seedings as published, Thorburn has submitted a late entry. The Duns driver, with Paul Beaton on the notes, has been runner-up to Bogie twice this season in his Mitsubishi Evo 9.

"We were happy enough with our second place on the Reivers, despite losing some time with the odd spin here and there. But David was in a class of his own, and we need to push and get another good result in Dumfries to stay in the hunt", said Thorburn.

Mike Faulkner, who won the "Scottish" in 2009, and was second to Bogie on last year's event, currently lies third in the championship, one point behind Thorburn.

The Kirtlebridge-based driver is determined to continue the good form alongside navigator Peter Foy.

"Obviously, David is dominating the sport at the moment, leading both the Scottish and British championships. However, he hasn't won the SRC yet, so all we can do is try to put the pressure on him, and keep going until we can't win it".

"The pace in the Scottish championship is relentless this season. It's not just the top two or three who are quick, the whole top ten has serious pace. It's so close. There's no easing yourself into an event - it's absolute maximum attack from the word go", said Faulkner.

Jock Armstrong bounced back from a disappointing couple of rounds to take a hard-earned third place on the Reivers in his Subaru Impreza, and currently sits sixth in the championship, forty-one points adrift of Bogie.

With navigator Kirsty Riddick, the Castle Douglas driver, will be aiming to make amends for a non-finish twelve months ago, following a mechanical glitch on the opening stage, but admits "he will need some luck" as the championship enters the second half of the season.

The Argyll crew of Shaun Sinclair and Chris Hamill return to the fray as fourth seeds in a Mitsubishi Evo 9. The pair finished seventh place overall on the "Scottish" in 2010, and Sinclair has only competed on one SRC round this year, the Granite City, when he also finished seventh overall.

Fifth seed David Wilson, co-driven by Dave Robson, survived a massive 100mph "off" on the Jim Clark Reivers in his Evo 9, but still managed to regroup and finish in the top 30.

The young Alness driver took the final podium spot on last year's "Scottish" and was also third on the Granite City in April so will be pushing to go even better this time out.

Robbie Head has been "Mr Consistency" since returning to competition this season after a long lay-off, and currently sites fourth in the overall drivers' standings, twenty points shy of Bogie.

The Lanark-based former works driver, co-driven by Claire Mole, opened his account with a seventh place finish on the Snowman, and has since had three sucessive fifth place finishes in his Station Garage/DMack Tyres Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9.

Lancastrian Wayne Sisson has only contested two SRC rounds this season in his Evo 9, the best of which was an eighth-place finish on the Granite City.

The Carnforth-based rally car preparation expert will have Andy Bull on the notes as he attempts to better his ninth overall on the "Scottish" twelve months ago.

Donnie Macdonald will be relieved to get back onto gravel after enduring a tough Reivers' Rally in his Evo 9. Nevertheless, the Inverness driver finds himself fifth in the championship and has a good recent record on the "Scottish" - eighth last year, and ninth in 2009.

Stonehaven's Barry Groundwater has two seventh-place points finishes and one tenth-place to his name this season. With Neil Shanks co-driving, he will be looking to repeat or better his fine fifth overall on the 2010 "Scottish".

Rounding off the top ten seeds is former SRC front-runner Steven Clark, who is flying back from China where he has been working on an oil rig to compete on the "Scottish". Dumfries-born Clark, who now lives in Wales, last contested his "home" event two years ago, finishing sixth in his Mitsubishi Evo 4.

Clark's only outing last year was the Rally of Argyll when he took third overall. The car is the same - albeit with a bit more power since he last drove it - but he hopes to be at the sharp end this weekend.

"I don't get into Manchester airport until Friday morning, so it's going to be touch and go whether I make the pre-rally shakedown - which would help me settle back in", said Clark, who will be co-driven by Louise Sutherland: "If I can adapt to a wee bit more power from the car, and if the first stage goes well, then I'll be disappointed if we can't be on a podium pace. Officially though, I fully expect to be rusty and I'm just going for a run out!".

Banchory's Quintin Milne, co-driven by Martin Forrest of Aberdeen, heads the Escort Mk2 contingent - Milne currently sitting second in Class 8. One to watch will be Thornhill's Liam Harkness who has steered his Mk2 to second in the Junior rankings after four rounds, and leads the Red Junior Challenge. He will again be co-driven by Kenneth Marchbank.

After sitting out the Reivers, 2010 Scottish Junior Champion Peter Stewart and co-driver Phil Shortt (Ford Fiesta ST) will be back in action on their home event. They will aim to consolidate their overall lead in Class 7, with Stewart also topping the Clubmans 2-Wheel Drive rankings.

The fight for honours is just as intense for SRC-registered crews in Classes 1 to 5, who, as is traditional on the "Scottish", will start behind the dozen or so Historic entries, and ahead of the 4-wheel drive competitors.

In Class 4, Thornhill's Jim Robertson and George Myatt from Ae hold a slender two point advantage in the drivers' and co-drivers' standings over fellow Citreon C2R2 pairing of Gareth White (who also leads the SRC Juniors) and Mike Dickson. However, Paisley's Alasdair S.Graham, with Kenny McGuire on the notes, is breathing down their necks, having won the class on the last two rounds in his Vauxhall Corsa, while the Honda Civic crew of Graeme Schoneville/Michael Hendry will also be aiming for a strong result as they push for both class and Brick & Steel Ecosse Challenge honours.

The husband and wife team of Tom and Sue Hynd (Peugeot 205 Gti) are breaking off from a holiday in France to compete on the "Scottish" in the hope of consolidating their lead in both the drivers' and co-drivers' standings in Class 3. However, they will face stiff competition from, among others, the second-placed crew of Iain Haining and Mairi Riddick, who chalked up three class wins in succession over the first three rounds, and will be out to impress in front of home support in their Vauxhall Nova.

In Class 2, the north-east of Scotland crew of Alex Pirie from Keith and David Law, have built up a commanding lead in their Vauxhall Corsa, but will continue to be pushed by second placed Tevor Longhurst from Thirsk, alongside Crieff's Michael Cruickshank in an MG ZR. Local fans will be cheering on Penpont teenager Greg McKnight, who with dad Chris on the notes, took an impressive class win in his Vauxhall Nova on only his second rally, the Border Counties, back in March.

As well as being the fifth round of the SRC, the RSAC Scottish is also a counter in the Brick and Steel Ecosse Challenge; the Borders Rally and Five of Clubs Rally championships; and the Motoscope Northern Historic Rally Championship.

The "Scottish" also marks the return of the British Army Rally Team, who have had a long association with the event. They have entered six Landrovers, for what will be their first competitive outing in more than a year.

The first Historic will be flagged away from Dumfries town centre at 0830 on Saturday, with the first 4-wheel drive at around 1000.

Full details can be found at the event website www.scottishrally.co.uk

RSAC Scottish Rally - Top 10 Seeds

1 David Bogie (Dumfries)/Kevin Rae (Hawick) Mitsubishi Evo 9

2 Mike Faulkner (Kirtlebridge)/Peter Foy (Bingley) Mitsubishi Evo 6

3 Jock Armstrong(Castle Douglas)/KirstyRiddick (Haugh of Urr)Subaru Impreza

4 Shaun Sinclair (Oban)/Chris Hamill (Oban) Mitsubishi Evo 9

5 David Wilson (Alness)/Dave Robson (Jedburgh) Mitsubishi Evo 9

6 Robbie Head (Lanark)/Claire Mole (Paxton) Mitsubishi Evo 9

7 Wayne Sisson (Carnforth)/Andy Bull (Birmingham) Mitsubishi Evo 9

8 Donnie Macdonald (Inverness)/ Keir Beaton (Inverness) Mitsubishi Evo 9

9 Barry Groundwater (Stonehaven)/Neil Shanks (Elgin) Mitsubishi Evo 9

10 Steven Clark (Gretna)/Louise Sutherland (Hawick) Mitsubishi Evo 4

Top 10 Seeds (Classes 1-5)

71 Graeme Schoneville (Carluke)/Michael Hendry (Elgin) Honda Civic

72 Alasdair Graham (Paisley)/Kenny McGuire (Johnstone) Vauxhall Corsa

73 Jim Robertson (Thornhill)/George Myatt (Ae) Citreon C2R2

74 Malcolm Robertson (Roslin)/Katie Stimpson (Aylesbury) Talbot Sunbeam

75 Iain Haining (Dumfries)/Mairi Riddick (Haugh of Urr) Vauxhall Nova

76 Blair McCulloch (Ayr)/Alex McCulloch (Ayr) Vauxhall Nova

77 Tom Hynd (Inverbervie)/Sue Hynd (Inverbervie) Peugeot 205 Gti

78 Sean Robson (St Boswells)/Iain Robson (St Boswells) Peugeot 205 Gti

79 Graeme Smith (Crossford)/Stuart Loudon (Uddingston) Honda Civic

80 Greg McKnight (Dumfries)/Chris McKnight (Dumfries) Vauxhall Nova

Bogie/Rae reign supreme

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 30 May 2011, 06:30:38 G5T

Defending Scottish champions David Bogie and Kevin Rae capped a "perfect" weekend by winning Sunday's Jim Clark Reivers Rally in Berwickshire for the third successive year.

It was also their third victory of the 2011 MSA Scottish Rally Championship and followed their triumph the previous day in the fourth round of the Dulux Trade British Rally Championship - which they also lead.

The Reivers win was all the more notable in that Bogie had switched from his familiar Mitsubishi Evo 9 - used for the BRC round - to his family's 24-year-old MG Metro 6R4, in which his father John had taken top honours on the tarmac event in 2002.

Bogie and Rae completely dominated the event from the start, finishing the seven completed stages (SS7 was cancelled because of an accident) in a total time of forty-seven minutes and three seconds.

Euan Thorburn, co-driven by Paul Beaton, were runners-up, one minute and eleven seconds adrift, while Jock Armstrong, with navigator Barry McNulty sitting in for Kirsty Riddick , secured the final podium spot, another ten seconds back.

The result means that after four rounds, Bogie now has an eleven point lead over Thorburn. Mike Faulkner is a further one point behind in third.

The Dumfries driver set a blistering pace from the start on Sunday, and already had a twelve second advantage over Thorburn after the opening test, Harehead 1.

With four stages completed, Bogie's advantage had increased to 38 seconds, with Thorburn rueing a spin on some loose gravel which lost him valuable seconds.

Armstrong was up to third and pushing hard after what he admitted had been a slow start, and Faulkner ("I was wrong to got out on intermediates, it's back to slicks") was four seconds back in fourth alongside Peter Foy.

Robbie Head and Claire Mole were holding steady in fifth, with Andy Horne a further four seconds adrift in sixth. He returned to second service with part of a fence post jammed into the right rear wheel guard of his DAM 4100GTi but it had apparently done little to hinder his progress.

Six stages in, and Bogie's lead over Thorburn was now just over a minute, with a hard-charging Armstrong still third, sixteen seconds adrift, while four seconds separated fourth-placed Faulkner from Head in fifth.

The top five held position through the final re-routed eighth stage, following the cancellation of SS7 Fogo 2.

At the finish before an appreciative crowd in Duns town centre, Bogie reflected on a remarkable weekend.

"To come to the Jim Clark, and win the International Rally and the Reivers is just awesome to be honest - it's hard to put into words", said Bogie: "When we came here at the end of last week we were targeting one event at a time. If I'd won one I'd have been delighted. To get both is really something. It also sets us up well for the Donegal Rally next month, when we'll again be using the Metro".

Thorburn pondered on what might have been on his home event, and admitted there had been too many unforced errors to threaten the winning duo. But given he had had to retire his Evo from the previous day's International Rally with throttle problems, he was happy enough.

"We were a bit loose on the high speed stuff, a bit untidy in places, and we had a spin on the last stage coming onto the main road", said Thorburn: "David was in a class of his own, but we held in there and it's good points for the championship".

Armstrong was also satisfied with his day's work, following mixed fortunes over the first three rounds.

"We had a slow start but once into our stride things got a bit better", said Armstrong: "If we were out doing another tarmac rally tomorrow, we might be on the pace. It's always nice to go for the win obviously, but it wasn't to be, and at least we've got our campaign back on track".

It was Faulkner's second successive fourth place finish, and he was satisfied with the day's work: "Compared with previous Jim Clarks, it's a good result for us and I would probably have settled for that at the outset. We tried as hard as we could but couldn't quite catch Jock, but we're equally happy to have kept Robbie behind us. It was certainly a nerve-wracking last stage".

Head, who has now finished fifth on each of the past three rounds, had the distinction of winning the first Jim Clark Rally over closed public roads in 1997. Despite a scare, the Lanark competitor enjoyed his reacquaintance with the Berwickshire lanes ("it takes a while to get dialled back in") and said Faulkner had definitely been in his sights in the final stages.

"Mike had an eight second advantage at one point, then we took four out of him and I thought this is definitely game on. Then we had a big delay because of the stage cancellation, and because we were on medium tyres, we lost the heat in them. That led to our massive moment, in fact I don't know how we got away with it. We were well off the road, and it just unsettled us completely".

The Duns crew of Douglas Brydon and David O'Brien showed their expertise on tarmac with a fine sixth place overall in a Subaru Impreza

"We're very happy with sixth in such a competitive field. We had a good run through the afternoon stages. It's been a busy weekend, having done the National event as well, where we ended up fourth", said Brydon.

Seventh placed Paul Benn and Richard Cooke from Cumbria had put in a later entry - Benn taking to the wheel of his Ford Focus WRC 01, which was originally scheduled to be driven by Granite winner Dave Weston, before he pulled out because of work commitments.

"I think Dave would probably have done better with the car", said Benn: "But we've had a great day, although as Richard and I were saying - as we get older, it all seems to get faster!".

Stonehaven's Barry Groundwater, co-driven by Neil Shanks from Elgin, followed up a sixth place finish on the National Rally the previous day in his Mitsubishi Evo 9, with an eighth overall on the SRC event.

Said Groundwater: "We're happy where we are in such a strong field. I only do the one tarmac event a year, and to get two top ten finishes is really good for us".

Oban-based Stephen and Kevin Lockhart brought their Mitsubishi Evo 7 home in an impressive ninth overall - mirroring their result on their previous SRC outing, the Border Counties, earlier in the year.

The first two-wheel drive car home was the historic-spec Ford Escort Mk2 of Steve Bannister and Louise Sutherland who rounded off the top ten, and took a class win.

Bannister admitted he'd been keeping a close eye on "the young lads" chasing him throughout the day, with particular reference to Quintin Milne, co-driven by Martin Forrest, who took Class 8 honours in his Mk2, finishing eleventh overall, just three seconds adrift of Bannister.

Peter Taylor, with Andrew Roughead on the notes, brought his Renault Clio home first in class, fourteenth overall, on only his third rally in the car.

Alasdair Graham, co-driven by Kenny McGuire, had a "terrible" day plagued with mechanical problems, but still managed to bring his Vauxhall Corsa back to the finish to take top honours in the 1600cc category.

Arguably one of the most remarkable recoveries of the day - on a day of remarkable recoveries - was that of Alness ace David Wilson and navigator Dave Robson from Jedburgh in their Mitsubishi Evo 9. The pair survived a 100 mph crash on the second stage, with the car landing back on the road facing the wrong way ("all I remember is trees and greenery", said Robson), and went on to finish 26th overall.

"There was a stunned silence for about ten minutes after we came out of the stage!", recalled Wilson: "Things started to go a bit better towards the end of the day, and our stage times were amongst the top five, but we had a bent arm from the earlier incident, so the car was all over the place, which made it rather uncomfortable".

Of the 100 starters, there were 67 classified finishers.

Competitors will now prepare for a return to gravel stages on the Dumfries-based RSAC Scottish Rally - the fifth round of the SRC - which takes place on Saturday 25th June.

TOP TEN FINISHERS - WITH TOTAL TIMES:

1 David Bogie (Dumfries)/Kevin Rae (Hawick) MG Metro 6R4 47 mins 03.2 secs

2 Euan Thorburn (Duns)/Paul Beaton (Inverness) Mitsubishi Evo 9 48.14.5

3 Jock Armstrong (Castle Douglas)/Barry McNulty (Enniskillen) Subaru Impreza 48.24.9

4 Mike Faulkner (Kirtlebridge)/Peter Foy (Bingley) Mitsubishi Evo 6 48.39.2

5 Robbie Head (Lanark)/Claire Mole (Paxton) Mitsubishi Evo 9 48.54.6

6 Douglas Brydon (Duns)/David O'Brien (Duns) Subaru Impreza 49.05.3

7 Paul Benn (Cockermouth)/Richard Cooke (Keswick) Ford Focus WRC 01 49.41.7

8 Barry Groundwater (Stonehaven)/Neil Shanks (Elgin) Mitsubishi Evo 9 49.56.9

9 Stephen Lockhart (Oban)/Kevin Lockhart (Oban) Mitsubishi Evo 7 50.57.9

10 Steve Bannister (Malton)/Louise Sutherland (Hawick) Ford Escort Mk2 51.07.8

CLASS WINNERS

Class 2 - David Martin/Michael Simmonds (Vauxhall Astra)

Class 3 - Malcolm Davey/Paul Slingsby (Ford Escort Mk1)

Class 4 - Alasdair S.Graham/Kenny McGuire (Vauxhall Corsa)

Class 5 - Martine M.Torode/Natalie Cook (Peugeot 205 Gti)

Class 6 - Steve Bannister/Louise Sutherland (Ford Escort Mk 2)

Class 7 - Peter Taylor/Andrew Roughead (Renault Clio)

Class 8 - Quintin Milne/Martin Forrest (Ford Escort)

Class 9 - Alan Gardiner/Robin Nicolson (Ford Escort Mk1)

Class 10- Stephen Lockhart/Kevin Lockhart (Mitsubishi Evo 7)

Class 11- Douglas Brydon/David O'Brien (Subaru Impreza)

Class 12- David Bogie/Kevin Rae (MG Metro 6R4)

Weston snatches dramatic Granite win

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 16 Apr 2011, 22:17:11 G4T

The 2006 Scottish champion Dave Weston pipped current title-holder David Bogie by a single second to win his home event, the CARS Recovery Granite City Rally in Aberdeen.

The result denied Bogie his third straight Scottish championship win of the season, and ended a remarkable run of eight successive victories in the SRC stretching back to the Granite of 2010.

However, the Dumfries driver still leads the series by eight points after three rounds.

In what was one of the closest fought rallies in recent years, David Wilson of Alness took the final podium spot on a tie-break, after he and 2009 Granite winner Mike Faulkner finished with an identical total time, following 44 stage miles in the Kincardineshire forests.

Bogie, co-driven by Kevin Rae of Hawick, was fastest out of the blocks in his Mitsubishi Evo 9 - and was seven seconds up on Weston at the end of the opening Fetteresso stage.

Weston, with Aled Davies from Swansea on the notes, hit back with two successive fastest times through the second and third stages in his hired Ford Focus WRC, and had a six second lead over his young adversary going into the only service break of the day. Jock Armstrong was third overall, a further 25 seconds adrift, in his Subaru Impreza.

Bogie was quickest through the fourth, short, Blackhall stage - seven seconds ahead of Weston - which gave him a one second advantage with two tests remaining. Robbie Head in a Mitsubishi Evo 9 moved into third overall, after Armstrong slipped back following a puncture.

As the rally reached its climax, it was nip and tuck between the two front runners: Weston two seconds quicker than Bogie on SS5 Durris, and the pair posting identical times for the fastest run through the final Fetteresso test. Wilson was a further five seconds back in his Mitsubishi Evo 9, with a resurgent Armstrong fourth equal fastest with Faulkner.

Weston, who had sat out the Border Counties after a first stage retirement on the season-opening Snowman, was delighted to be back on the top step of the podium with a hard-earned victory.

"We started really cautiously, and had no brakes for most of the second stage, and then had a rough run through the third test", said Weston: "David had a real flyer through the fourth stage - but we managed to claw it back and it was a really exciting finish. It's been a great event and really good day for us".

For his part Bogie was more than satisfied with his day's work - although frustrated to have lost by such a slim margin:

"We pushed on right to the end, and ultimately it was so close - just one second - sometimes it's better to lose by ten, perhaps fifteen seconds", said Bogie: "But all credit to Dave - he drove very well, and we still lead the championship, so I'm happy".

David Wilson, co-driven by Dave Robson, was delighted with his third place finish, which he secured under tiebreak rules thanks to a quicker time than Faulkner through the first stage. The taste of champagne was all the sweeter following non-finishes on the Snowman and Border Counties.

"We said we wanted a steady day, and that's what we did in the morning - not fantastically quick but a good pace. The car has run brilliantly and on the last two stages we decided to turn up the wick a bit. In fact we went off on the very last corner and just got out of the ditch but apart from that it's been a fantastic day"

Faulkner, co-driven by Peter Foy, rued what might have been, but his fourth place elevates him to second in the drivers' points in the championship, eight points behind Bogie, and one ahead of Euan Thorburn.

"The first three stages weren't great, but we had a better afternoon after making some changes to the suspension and brake bias at service. We tried really hard and came so close to a podium - but that first stage time made the difference. However, we'll take the positives from it - we're second in the championship - and come out fighting on the Jim Clark Reivers next month".

Robbie Head, with Claire Mole navigating, picked up his second successive fifth-place finish, and was frustrated at what he perceived to be a lack of raw pace.

"It was looking quite encouraging and I pushed really hard on the fifth and sixth stages but still couldn't find any extra speed. In fact I was probably over-driving on the final stage", said Head: "We were pushing hard, and I was happy with the car, so we'll need to go and scratch our heads a bit. But it's onto tarmac next for the Jim Clark, and that's a favourite of mine, so we'll see".

Euan Thorburn and co-driver Paul Beaton from Inverness never really recovered from a freak incident on the first stage when an overhanging branch struck the "kill" switch located on the outside of their Mitsubishi Evo 9 between the top of the bonnet and the windscreen. The Duns ace managed to get the car going thanks to help from some spectators, but admitted "it had been downhill from then on" - a slow puncture and a general lack of pace adding to the frustration. However, he did have the satisfaction of taking Class 10 honours.

It was also a deeply frustrating day for Jock Armstrong, who, with navigator Kirsty Riddick, had been aiming to get their SRC campaign back on track after a non-finish on the Border Counties when the gear-stick snapped on their Subaru Impreza.

"We lost a minute with the puncture on stage four, and on a short rally, any loss of time, and it's game over", said Armstrong: "It wasn't as though we'd clipped or hit anything, it was just very rough along the edges, and when I went to turn into a tight right-hander we knew something was wrong. It was disappointing to say the least".

Wayne Sisson, co-driven by David Macfadyen, was "happy enough" with his eighth overall in his Mitsubishi Evo 9, pointing out that only 28 seconds separated them from third place, such was the level of competition.

Shaun Sinclair marked his return to Scottish championship action with a ninth place overall, and DMACK GpN honours, alongside experienced Hawick navigator Louise Sutherland, who usually sits with Mk2 maestro Steve Bannister.

Said Sinclair: "It got better as the day went on - it was very scrappy in the morning - mainly because we had the wrong tyres. I changed them at service and it completely changed my rally - I had a fourth fastest stage time in the afternoon, which was encouraging".

Barry Groundwater, with Neil Shanks on the notes, rounded off the top ten in his Mitsubishi Evo 9, but it was not without a scare on his "home" event.

"We had a lot of bother with the car stepping out all the time. We went off on the last stage and went down a bank but managed to get out - so at least it's a finish", said the Stonehaven-based driver.

One of the broadest smiles at the finish line belonged to Alasdair Graham, who, with Kenny Maguire on the notes, took top honours in the 1600 category in his Vauxhall Corsa.

For much of the day Graham had been trailing Graeme Schoneville in his Honda Civic, the Carluke-based driver building up a lead of more than half a minute by the end of the fourth stage.

However, when Schoneville was hit by transmission problems, leading to retirement on the penultimate test, Graham inherited the top spot and was "absolutely over the moon" on returning to the finish at the Altens Hotel rally headquarters on the outskirts of Aberdeen.

Graham finished eighteen seconds behind Malcolm Buchanan and Ian Nicoll, who were the first of the 2-wheel drive competitors to finish in their Mk 2 Escort, twenty-fourth overall.

"It's been a pretty good day for us - despite a puncture, which lost us around a minute. But we're happy with the class win", said Buchanan.

Among the other class winners, Iain Haining from Dumfries, with Mairi Riddick of Haugh of Urr on the notes, took their third straight victory in Class 3, with Tom and Sue Hynd second in a Peugeot 205 Gti.

Among the notable retirements were Andy Horne and Jim Howie - who were forced to pull out with mechanical problems to their DAM 4100GTi - and Calum Mackenzie, co-driven by Alan Clark, who called it a day on the penultimate stage in his Mitsubishi Evo 9.

Of the 94 starters, there were 61 classified finishers.

Full results can be found at www.flyingfinish.co.uk

TOP TEN FINISHERS WITH TOTAL TIMES:

1st Dave Weston (Aberdeen)/Aled Davies (Swansea) Ford Focus WRC 44 minutes 10 secs

2nd David Bogie (Dumfries)/Kevin Rae (Hawick) Mitsubishi Evo 9 44.11

3rd Dave Wilson (Alness)/Dave Robson (Jedburgh) Mitsubishi Evo 9 45.30

4th Mike Faulkner (Kirtlebridge)/Peter Foy (Bingley) Mitsubishi Evo 6 45.30

5th Robbie Head (Lanark)/Claire Mole (Paxton) Mitsubishi Evo 9 45.42

6th Euan Thorburn (Duns)/Paul Beaton (Inverness) Mitsubishi Evo 9 45.54

7th Jock Armstrong (Castle Douglas)/Kirsty Riddick (Haugh of Urr) Subaru Impreza 45.58

8th Wayne Sisson (Carnforth)/David Macfadyen (Inverness) Mitsubishi Evo 9 45.58

9th Shaun Sinclair (Oban)/ Louise Sutherland (Hawick) Mitsubishi Evo 9 46. 21

10th Barry Groundwater (Stonehaven)/Neil Shanks (Elgin) Mitsubishi Evo 9 47.25

TOP 5 DRIVERS AFTER 3 ROUNDS

David Bogie 88 points

Mike Faulkner 80

Euan Thorburn 79

Robbie Head 73

Donnie Macdonald 64

DMack support for young Scottish driver

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 03 Apr 2011, 21:36:35 G4T

DMACK TYRES SUPPORT YOUNG SCOTTISH TALENT

DMACK tyres has announced their support of Scottish rally star Stevie Brown as he contests the MSA Scottish Rally Championship behind the wheel of a Subaru Impreza.

The high performance tyre firm, who currently leads the Production WRC after a win in Sweden and a podium in Portugal, are backing the 23 year old driver after an impressive four-wheel-drive debut on the Snowman Rally.

Stevie quickly established himself as one of the UK's hottest talents when he won the 1600 Scottish Rally Championship, and the Colin McRae tribute award in his first full year of rallying. Achievements which lead him to the inclusion of the MSA British Rally Elite scheme, lead by former World Rally Champion Robert Reid.

Making the switch to four-wheel-drive this season, Stevie has put in a series of impressive stage times despite no test time prior to the start of the season, something that has not gone unnoticed by DMACK Tyres motorsport director Dick Cormack.

DMACK tyres were one of the first companies to take advantage of the Speed 8 initiative Stevie and the team rolled out after the Snowman Rally. As part of the scheme, eight investors who each contribute £750 will receive a bespoke branding campaign as Brown and co-driver Andrew Roughead contest the MSA Scottish Rally Championship.

Stevie Brown, DMACK Tyres supported driver, said: "We're really excited to be working with DMACK, and have been very impressed with the performance of the tyres and the technical service available. The DMACK Tyres have made the switch to four-wheel-drive easier for sure; they are very progressive and give you a good level of confidence, even in very slippery conditions."

Copyright © 2011 Stevie Brown. All Rights Reserved
enquiry: info@steviebrown.co.uk
web site: www.steviebrown.co.uk

Bogie keeps on winning

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 20 Mar 2011, 12:40:22 G3T

David Bogie was again in dominant form on Saturday's Brick & Steel Border Counties Rally to take his first win on the event, and his third major victory of the season.

The reigning Scottish champion was quickest through all four Wauchope/Kielder forest stages in his Mitsubishi Evo 9 to finish with a total time of 43 minutes 33 seconds, thirty-four seconds ahead of Mike Faulkner in an Evo 6. Euan Thorburn was third, a further 34 seconds adrift, in his Evo 9.

It completed a "hat-trick" for Bogie and Hawick co-driver Kevin Rae following victories on the opening rounds of both the MSA Scottish and British championships.

The result also means that Bogie has now won each of the eight events which make up the Scottish series.

In perfect weather conditions, the defending double champions set the pace from the start on the Jedburgh-based event, which this year celebrated 10 years of support from Brick & Steel.

They were 5 seconds up on Faulkner and Peter Foy at the end of the first 7-mile Wauchope stage, with Thorburn and navigator Paul Beaton a further one second behind.

Jock Armstrong and Kirsty Riddick were fourth quickest in their Subaru Impreza, but were forced to call it a day when the gear-stick broke. It was their second successive retirement on the event, following gearbox failure on the first stage last year.

The defending champions again set the benchmark on the daunting 17-mile Broomylinn test: eleven seconds quicker than Faulkner and Foy.

Faulkner tried to keep Bogie in his sights through the third Redesdale stage, finishing the 13-miler fifteen seconds adrift, with Cumbrians Paul Benn and Richard Cooke a further seven seconds behind in their Ford Focus.

The final 6-mile Hyndlee test proved to be the tightest of the day with Bogie pipping Andy Horne and Jim Howie in their DAM 4100GTi by a single second. Faulkner/Foy were two seconds behind, while Benn/Cooke and Robbie Head/Claire Mole in an Evo 9 tied for fourth fastest time, another two seconds back.

Bogie was delighted with his second successive SRC win, which puts him five points ahead of Thorburn in the overall Scottish championship drivers' standings, with Faulkner a further point behind in third.

"It's nice to finally tick the box of a rally I've never won before", said the Dumfries ace: "We had a small overshoot on stage two, but other than that it's been a perfect day. It's a very difficult rally, with the gravel at the side of the stages punishing the smallest mistake, so we made sure we kept it clean. The new suspension on the car performed really well, and it sets us up nicely for the next round of the British championship (the Bulldog International) in two weeks time".

As the champagne was sprayed at the finish in the shadow of Jedburgh Abbey, Faulkner explained how he and co-driver Foy were lucky to be on the podium.

"We were pushing hard and had a really big moment on the final stage which could have ended our challenge, but thankfully we recovered and made it through", said the Kirtlebridge-based driver: "We just couldn't match David's pace today, but we're still on track, and will give it our all on the Granite City rally next month".

Thorburn was also satisfied with his Border Counties outing ("it's not been a bad day for us at all, but there was no catching David"), and, like Bogie, the Duns-based driver will now prepare for the BRC second round.

Fourth placed Andy Horne reckoned the dry weather suited his DAM 4100GTi. "It's been a very good day for us. The first stage was very slippery for us and we tweaked a few things on the car, but after that we just stayed consistent and it paid off".

Robbie Head marked his second SRC outing since returning to competition with a fifth-place finish in his Mitsubishi Evo 9 - two places up on his Snowman result.

"We probably didn't have the best tyre choice on stage one, and then we had a bit of a tracking problem on the second stage, which made the car feel strange so I probably wasn't commiting as much as I could", said the Lanark-based Head: "However, after some adjustments, stages three and four went well, so it certainly shows an improvement".

For Paul Benn and Richard Cooke - who finished sixth - the Border Counties was their first SRC outing of the year, as it was for Evo 9 pilot Barry Groundwater ("it's been a good day - not bad after a long winter lay-off") who was co-driven by Neil Shanks.

Donnie Macdonald from Inverness was another driver who survived a major scare before bringing his Evo 9 home in eighth overall - to add to his sixth on the Snowman. While negotiating a corner on the final stage, the car climbed a banking before coming back down and righting itself. However, the incident knocked the wind out of co-driver Keir Beaton and he was briefly unable to call the notes.

The Oban duo of Stephen and Kevin Lockhart - seeded 36th in their Mitsubishi Evo 7 - turned in an impressive performance to finish ninth overall on their first competitive outing in six months.

The top ten was rounded off by Stephen Petch and John Richardson in an Evo 9. Although not eligible for SRC points, the result made up for a non-finish on the event in 2010.

John Morrison from Conon Bridge and co-driver Peter Carstairs of St Andrews were a further 4 seconds behind to finish eleventh overall in their Mitsubishi Evo 9.

"We had a slow start to the day. We had a couple of puncture issues on the first and the second stage. On Stage 3 we put the hammer down and we came back up the field from 21st - so the last two stages were fine. But the competition has been so strong, and if you have even the slightest problem, you've no chance", said Morrison.

Rally Sponsor John McLory, with David Hood on the notes, crowned their day with a 12th place finish in their Subaru Impreza N15.

In the 2-wheel drive category, Kielder specialist Steve Bannister was first on the road in his Mk2 Escort, and by the end of SS3 was well on the way to a comfortable 2WD victory. However, the Yorkshireman made a rare error while negotiating a corner on the final stage. The Escort flipped onto its roof, before spectators managed to right the battered car and send it on its way - minus the windscreen - to complete the course.

"We both knew it was a bad corner - we'd spoken about it before we went in - but we were just carrying too much speed. I think my side took the worst of it, but we're both OK, that's the main thing", said Sutherland.

It meant the pair had to settle for second in the "historic" class behind the Mk1 of Peter Smith and Russ Langthorne.

After a long-lay off, top Northern Ireland competitor Phillip Morrow had to make a last minute switch from a more familiar Evo to a hired Escort, and was rewarded with a Class 8 win alongside brother Simon.

A notable retirement in that class was Malcolm Buchanan, who had been second to Bannister for the first three stages in his Mk2, but crashed out spectacularly on the final test.

One of the most impressive results of the day was a Class 2 win for 17-year-old Greg McKnight from Dumfries, who was competing on only his second rally at the wheel of his Vauxhall Nova. With dad Chris on the notes, the youngster finished 35th overall.

There were 66 finishers and 39 retirements.

The third round of the SRC is the CARS Recovery Granite City Rally in Aberdeen on the 16th of April.

Brick & Steel Border Counties Rally - Top Ten results with final times:

1 David Bogie (Dumfries)/Kevin Rae (Hawick) Mitsubishi Evo 9 43 mins 33 secs

2 Mike Faulkner (Kirtlebridge)/Peter Foy (Bingley) Mitsubishi Evo 6 44.07

3 Euan Thorburn (Duns)/Paul Beaton (Inverness) Mitsubishi Evo 9 44.41

4 Andy Horne (Inverness)/Jim Howie (Kilmarnock) DAM 4100GTi 45.01

5 Robbie Head (Lanark)/Claire Mole (Paxton) Mitsubishi Evo 9 45.08

6 Paul Benn (Cockermouth)/Richard Cooke (Keswick) Ford Focus 45.24

7 Barry Groundwater (Stonehaven)/Neil Shanks (Elgin) Mitsubishi Evo 9 46.07

8 Donnie Macdonald(Inverness)/Keir Beaton (Inverness) Mitsubishi Evo 9 46.07

9 Stephen Lockhart (Oban)/Kevin Lockhart (Oban) Mitsubishi Evo 7 46.22

10 Stephen Petch (Hamsterley)/John Richardson (Northallerton) Mitsubishi Evo 9 46.43

CLASS WINNERS

Class 2 - Greg McKnight/Chris McKnight (Vauxhall Nova)

Class 3 - Iain Haining/Mairi Riddick (Vauxhall Nova)

Class 4 - Peter Taylor/Andrew Roughead (Ford Fiesta R2

Class 5 - David Cameron/Douglas Cameron (Ford Escort Mk2)

Class 6 - Peter Smith/Russ Langthorne (Ford Escort Mk1)

Class 7 - Peter Stewart/Phil Shortt (Ford Fiesta ST)

Class 8 - Phillip Morrow/Simon Morrow (Ford Escort)

Class 9 - Ken Wood/Gordon Wood (Triumph Dolomite Sprint)

Class 10 - Donnie Macdonald/Keir Beaton (Mitsubishi Evo 9)

Class 11 - Jim Carty/Ian Fraser (Subaru Impreza WRC)

Class 12 - Paul Benn/Richard Cooke (Ford Focus)

motoGF teams up with the SRC

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 03 Mar 2011, 12:20:34 G3T

motoGF has signed up as an Official Supporter of the Scottish Rally Championship for the 2011 season.

motoGF offers high performance automotive tools and accessories for motor sport professionals and enthusiasts alike - whether its bikes, cars, trucks, or even boats.

In an environment where fractions of a second can be the difference between winning and losing you need equipment you can rely on. We bring you the same items - from leading brands - that are being used by teams at the highest level.

Beta Tools are at the heart of our range. There is simply no other hand tool company in the world that can claim an international racing heritage as strong as Beta. The company, from its home next door to the world famous racing circuit of Monza, has been directly involved in motor sports since the early 1970's.

Originally made famous in 1974 by the bright orange Formula 1 cars of the Beta-March Grand Prix team and driver Vittorio Brambilla, the company has found that the high-pressure environment of racing is perfect for developing technically superior products.

As a company with a genuine interest in motor sports, motoGF is committed to supporting teams and individuals competing at every level to ensure they have the tools necessary to be the best they can be.

We understand the costs and stresses of competing which is why motoGF offers tool supply packages with very competitive pricing and discounts that are exclusively available to competitors.

Remember to try motoGF first when you need new or replacement tools.

Contact us to discuss your needs, any time:

Email: info@motogf.co.uk

Tel: 0845 8720872

Champs power to Snowman win

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 20 Feb 2011, 09:14:09 G2T

Double Scottish champions David Bogie and co-driver Kevin Rae picked up where they left off last season with victory on Saturday's Arnold Clark Thistle Hotel Snowman Rally, the opening round of the 2011 MSA Scottish Rally Championship.

They won three of the five forest stages north of Inverness in their Mitsubishi Evo 9, to finish with a total time of 42 minutes 50 seconds, thirty seconds ahead of runners-up Euan Thorburn and Paul Beaton, also in an Evo 9.

Last year's Snowman winners, Jock Armstrong and Kirsty Riddick, secured the final podium spot, a further 3 seconds adrift in a Subaru Impreza.

There was much pre-event anticipation about the return to competition of former works driver/turned TV presenter Robbie Head, who was contesting his first rally since 2006. Despite a burst rear brake-pipe on the penultimate stage, the Lanark star finished seventh overall in his Station Garage/DMACK Tyres backed Mitsubishi Evo 9.

The day, though, belonged to the defending champions, with Bogie delighted with his first ever Snowman victory.

"First round of the season, a high quality entry, a huge amount of spectator interest, it really was a rally I wanted to win, and I'm very happy with the way the day turned out", declared the 23-year-old, who will now switch his attention to the opening counter in the Dulux Trade British championship next weekend.

Although there was none of the deep snow which dominated last year's event, the stages in and around Tain and Lairg were still very slippery in stretches with a combination of ice and mud - particularly the opening 11.62-mile Strathrory.

Armstrong was one of a number of drivers who arrived at first service having experienced a "big moment" , as a result of which he dropped 5 seconds to Bogie, with Borderer Thorburn breathing down his neck, just two seconds adrift.

The Duns driver took the initiative on the second test - Carbisdale - pipping Bogie by just one second over the 6.48 miles, with Mike Faulker and Peter Foy showing intent, a further one second back.

Thorburn again dominated on the 8.71 mile Dalnessie test, running out a six second advantage over Bogie.

It meant that the two were neck and neck going into the penultimate stage, Dalchork, but try as he might, Thorburn could not repeat his earlier success, as Bogie pushed for victory.

"We were second on the road, and although the start was OK, it then went into a really soft muddy section and we just couldn't find any grip. I lost my confidence after that and we dropped 12 seconds and there was no way we were going to get that back over an 8-mile stage. Going into the last stage we decided just to keep it steady and hold onto second, which I'm pretty pleased about after a five-month lay-off," said Thorburn, who will also contest next weekend's BRC season-opener.

With much fairer conditions, Armstrong knew there would be little chance of dominating the event as he had in the snow and ice twelve months ago.

Nevertheless, the Castle Douglas competitor was satisfied with third place, alongside co-driver Kirsty Riddick.

"We've had some luck, and a bit of bad luck today, but we've stayed on the road and we've got a decent points haul", said Armstrong: "The stages being so slippy and unpredictable, it was harder for me than being on snow and ice, but I'm happy to be on the podium. It gets the season off to a good start".

Faulkner and Foy had also been pushing for a podium spot in their Mitsubishi Evo 6, but had to settle for fourth.

"The first stage was a challenge and it dropped us some time, so I think fourth was the best we could hope for", said the Kirtlebridge-based driver: "But the rest of the day was enjoyable, and the car has performed well, so it's been a positive start to the season for us".

It was an equally positive result for local driver Andy Horne and long-time navigator Jim Howie as they took to the Highland forests once again in their popular DAM 4100 Gti - with newly installed automatic gearbox.

"It's been a brilliant day and the conditions have been very good to us", said Horne, who found himself first on the road on the three middle stages, as other leading crews held back in the hope of gaining an advantage: "The first and last stages were very slippy, but I actually feel it was a benefit to be first on the road on the others - it certainly didn't affect our performance".

Fellow Inverness driver Donnie Macdonald, co-driven by Keir Beaton, bounced back from a very disappointing 2010 season, to end his home rally sixth overall in his Evo 9.

"I've really enjoyed the event - there were lots of things to watch out for - it was really slippy one moment, then loads of grip the next, you really had to concentrate, but I'm delighted with the outcome", said Macdonald.

Despite the broken brake-pipe, Robbie Head declared himself "reasonably happy" with his return to competition, alongside experienced Borders-based navigator Claire Mole, with the pair topping the DMACK Tyres Group N standings.

"That problem on the fourth stage dropped us more than a minute, and put paid to any chance of a better result", said Head: "The pace was OK towards the end and we'll now go on to the Border Counties and see how we get on".

For Calum Mackenzie - usually seen wrestling the wheel of an Escort Mk2 at the sharp end of the 2-wheel drive contingent - the Snowman was the first outing in an unfamiliar Mitsubishi Evo 8.

Although the Inverurie-based finished a creditable eighth overall, alongside navigator Martin Forrest, he had some misgivings about the switch to 4WD.

"It's certainly very different, that's for sure - and the confidence and commitment is not there", said Mackenzie: "But we'll give it another go on the Border Counties, and see if we can improve".

The Inverness crew of Steven Ronaldson and Andrew Falconer were dogged by gearbox and exhaust problems in their distinctive yellow MG Metro 6R4, but Ronaldson ("I had to hold it in gear and steer with one hand") still managed to nurse the car home to ninth overall.

The top ten was rounded off by Peterhead's Stevie Brown, making an impressive 4-wheel drive debut in a Subaru Impreza, co-driven by Andrew Roughead from Newcastle.

In the 2-wheel drive category, Malcolm Buchanan and Ian Nicoll were first home in their Escort Mk 2 in 18th overall, while James Robertson and George Myatt won the 1600 class in a Citreon C2.

There was drama on SS1 when the Evo 9 of Torphichen competitor Stuart Walker caught fire, resulting in the car being reduced to a burnt-out shell. However, the good news was that both Walker and co-driver Caroline Will escaped unharmed. The incident resulted in the closure of the stage and notional times were given to crews further down the order.

Among other notable retirements was former Snowman winner Reay Mackay, who never made it to the first stage after his Metro 6R4 cut out, and ex Scottish champion Dave Weston who became stuck in a ditch on the first stage in his hired Ford Focus WRC. Hotly tipped Alness ace David Wilson was another retiree in his Evo 9.

From a starting list of 98, there were 77 classified finishers.

Crews will now prepare for the SRC second round - the Jedburgh-based Brick & Steel Border Counties Rally - on 19th March.

Snowman Rally - Top Ten Finishers - with total times:

1 David Bogie (Dumfries)/Kevin Rae (Hawick) Mitsubishi Evo 9 42 mins 50 secs

2 Euan Thorburn (Duns)/Paul Beaton (Inverness) Mitsubishi Evo 9 43:20

3 Jock Armstrong (Castle Douglas)/Kirsty Riddick (Castle Douglas) Subaru Impreza 43.23

4 Mike Faulkner (Kirtlebridge)/Peter Foy (Bingley) 44:01

5 Andy Horne (Inverness)/Jim Howie (Kilmarnock) DAM 4100 GTi 44:17

6 Donnie Macdonald (Inverness)/Keir Beaton (Inverness) Mitsubishi Lancer 9 45.07

7 Robbie Head (Lanark)/Claire Mole (Paxton) Mitsubishi Evo 9 45:12

8 Calum Mackenzie (Inverurie)/Martin Forrest () Mitsubishi Evo 8 45:35

9 Steven Ronaldson ()/Andrew Falconer () MG Metro 6R4 45:46

10 Stevie Brown ()/Andrew Roughead () Subaru Impreza 46:14

CLASS WINNERS

CLASS 2 - Craig Smith/Colin Smith (Vauxhall Nova)

CLASS 3 - Iain Haining/Mairi Riddick (Vauxhall Nova)

CLASS 4 - James Robertson/George Myatt (Citreon C2)

CLASS 5 - Duncan MacGregor/Fiona Morgan (Ford Capri)

CLASS 6 - Historic Category - Andrew Morrison/Gavin Whiteside (Ford Escort Holbay)

CLASS 7 - Peter Stewart/Phil Shortt (Ford Fiesta ST)

CLASS 8 - Malcolm Buchanan/Ian Nicoll (Ford Escort Mk2)

CLASS 9 - Charlie Jarrett/Ann Marie Fraser (Ford Escort)

CLASS 10 - Donnie Macdonald/Keir Beaton (Mitsubishi Evo 9)

CLASS 12 - Calum Mackenzie/Martin Forrest (Mitsubishi Evo 8)

Full results can be found at www.flyingfinish.co.uk .......

Scottish Rally Crews To Use DMACKs PWRC Winning Tyre

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 14 Feb 2011, 14:43:13 G2T

After its Production Car WRC win on its debut world rally event in Sweden last weekend, DMACK Tyres now has its sights firmly set on the start of the MSA Scottish Rally Championship this weekend.

The Snowman Rally in Inverness kicks off the new season for the Scottish series and sees DMACK Tyres join as official tyre partner for the next two years.

Competitors will be able to use the same DMG-ICE snow tyre that took Martin Semerad to victory in the PWRC on Rally Sweden. The newly-designed tyre allowed Semerad to score three fastest PWRC times, and Martin Prokop four in the S2000 class, in what was a dream debut for DMACK.

The results confirmed that, although the tyre range has been manufactured as a cost-effective option, it has the performance and durability to match leading global motorsport brands.

Snowman crews will have the option of the DMG-ICE snow tyre and the more traditional DMG2 gravel tyre for this weekend's event.

DMACK's support of the SRC will see it offer free tyres to winning crews. The winners of the DMACK Group N and DMACK Rear-Wheel-Drive championships, open to eligible competitors running on DMACK tyres, will receive free tyres for the entire 2012 SRC.

In addition, any SRC registered driver, exclusively using DMACK tyres, who wins a championship round overall will receive six free tyres – with second place netting them four tyres and third place two tyres.

Dick Cormack, DMACK Tyres motorsport director, said: "The Rally Sweden victory was a dream result for us. We were quietly confident regarding the performance and durability of the tyres but now it has been proven on the world stage and during some of the toughest winter conditions. Crews on the Snowman Rally this weekend can use the same tyre, technology and experience from WRC Sweden. We are really looking forward to this event and to kicking off our partnership with the SRC."

Crews poised for season-opener

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 09 Feb 2011, 10:18:33 G2T

A high quality field headed by last year's winner Jock Armstrong and reigning champion Davie Bogie will line up in Inverness for the opening round of the MSA Scottish Rally Championship on Saturday February 19th.

Some 100 crews have entered for the ever-popular Arnold Clark/Thistle Hotel Snowman Rally, which will be played out over 44 miles of forest stages north of the Highland capital.

As well as a roll-call of SRC regulars, the event sees the return to competition of former BRC front-runner/turned TV rally pundit Robbie Head.

As always, conditions will be key to the outcome of the opening round. Twelve months ago Armstrong and co-driver Kirsty Riddick mastered the ice and snow to post an emphatic victory in their Subaru Impreza.

This season, reigning Group N champion Armstrong will compete in the "open" class as he challenges for the Scottish title, after losing out to Bogie in 2010.

For his part, the Dumfries-based champion will use the "Snowman" as a "shake-down" for the following weekend's Rallye Sunseeker, the opening round of the British championship.

The 23-year-old, who will again be partnered by Hawick co-driver Kevin Rae, sat out last year's SRC opener but is targetting a strong finish this time around in his Evo 9.

"I'd like a clean run on the Snowman, and get some points in the bag. I've done it twice before, and it's a fantastic event. However, we missed it last year, and that rather put us on the back foot".

Fellow south-west of Scotland driver and third-seed Mike Faulkner is also on a mission to push for top honours this season in his Evo 6, alongside long-time navigator Peter Foy.

Their 2010 season was dogged by mechanical woes, with Faulkner finishing fourth in the drivers' points.

"As ever you start the season with only one aim and certainly everything we've done over the winter has been about how we can win the championship. We've stripped the car right back and rebuilt it, gone through everything with a fine toothcomb, hopefully to get the reliability as well as the speed", said Faulkner.

The Cumbrian crew of Paul Benn and Richard Cooke return to action in their Ford Focus WRC 01 as fourth seeds, ahead of the Evo 9 of leading Borders driver Euan Thorburn, who will be paired with Paul Beaton from Inverness.

In 2009, Reay Mackay notched up a famous "Snowman" victory in an MG Metro 6R4, alongside fellow Fort Augustus competitor Robert MacDonald. This time out the pair will contest their home event in a Subaru Impreza WRC - the car in which Mackay won the final round of last year's Scottish Tarmack Championship.

Hotly tipped young driver David Wilson from Alness was pushing for podium places throughout last season - taking a well-deserved third place on the RSAC Scottish. He resumes his SRC challenge with top navigator Dave Robson from Jedburgh.

The stages around Tain and Lairg will again resound to the bark of local favourite Andy Horne's Metro-based DAM 4100 Gti, as he and co-driver Jim Howie look to build on successes achieved last year, following a dismal season in 2009.

They are followed off the start line by the respective Evo 9's of SRC regulars Donnie Macdonald/Keir Beaton and Malloch Nichol/Robert Lumgair, who round off the top ten seedings.

There is much anticipation about the return of Robbie Head at the wheel of a Mitsubishi Evo 9, partnered by experienced Borders-based navigator Claire Mole. The Lanark driver last competed in Scotland on the Speyside stages in 2005, finishing fourth.

In the words of Mike Faulkner: "Robbie will bring a new dimension to the championship which can only add to the quality of the series. It's really good to have him in the mix".

Escort Mk2 maestro Calum Mackenzie has made the switch to an Evo 8 for the "Snowman", co-driven by Alan Clark, and the Inverurie-based competitor reckons it will take time to get used to the new car.

"I think it's going to be a case of going backwards in the results initially, and that will hurt, but hopefully with experience we can set some decent times later in the year".

The move means that the only 2-wheel drive competitor seeded in the top 20 is Malcolm Buchanan from Lewis in his Escort Mk2, with Ian Nicoll on the notes.

For several talented young drivers, the "Snowman" will be something of a steep learning curve - among them Aberdeenshire's Stevie Brown, who will make his 4-wheel drive debut in a Subaru Impreza, co-driven by Andrew Roughead.

"I've only ever done the Snowman once in 2007 - my first year of rallying - in a wee Vauxhall Nova", said Brown: "But that was the year we went on to win the 1600 Championship and the Colin McRae 'If In Doubt...Flat Out' award so hopefully it's a good omen!"

Wigtownshire duo Fraser Wilson and Steven Broll are also making the move to 4WD - switching from the Vauxhall Nova in which they won Class 2 in 2010, to a newly acquired Mitsubishi Evo 6.

Graeme Schoneville heads the 1600 contingent in his Honda Civic, while reigning Scottish Junior Champion Peter Stewart from Dumfries will be back out in his Ford Fiesta ST.

There will be plenty to whet the appetite as crews are flagged off from rally HQ at the Thistle Hotel in Inverness.

However, it will also be a time for reflection, as competitors, officials and spectators remember Jimmy Girvan, who lost his life on the McRae Stages last September.

The "course car" will be the distinctive Subaru Impreza in which the popular Invernessian and Highland Car Club stalwart won the second of his two Scottish crowns in 2008.

Details can be found at the event website www.highlandcarclub.co.uk

ARNOLD CLARK/THISTLE SNOWMAN RALLY - TOP 20 SEEDS

1 Jock Armstrong (Castle Douglas)/ Kirsty Riddick (Haugh of Urr) Subaru Impreza

2 David Bogie (Dumfries) Kevin Rae (Hawick) Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9

3 Mike Faulkner (Kirtlebridge)/ Peter Foy (Bingley) Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 6

4 Paul Benn (Cockermouth)/ Richard Cooke (Keswick) Ford Focus WRC 01

5 Euan Thorburn (Duns)/ Paul Beaton (Inverness) Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9

6 Reay MacKay(Fort Augustus)/Robert MacDonald(Fort Augustus)Subaru Impreza WRC

7 David Wilson (Alness)/ Dave Robson (Jedburgh) Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9

8 Andy Horne (Inverness)/ Jim Howie (Kilmarnock) DAM 4100GTi

9 Donnie MacDonald (Inverness)/ Keir Beaton (Inverness) Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9

10 Malloch Nicoll (Dundee)/ Robert Lumgair (Letham) Mitsubishi EVO 9

11 Robbie Head (Lanark)/Claire Mole (Paxton) Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9

12 John Morrison (Conon Bridge)/ Peter Carstairs (St Andrews) Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9

14 Calum MacKenzie (Inverurie)/ Alan Clark (Glasgow) Mitsubishi Evo 8 MR

15 Bruce McCombie (Banchory)/ Michael Coutts (Torphins) Subaru Impreza

16 Dougal Brown (Inverness)/ Lewis Rochford (Inverness) Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 4

17 Malcolm Buchanan (Uig)/ Ian Nicoll (Forfar) Ford Escort Mk2

18 John Rintoul (Leven)/ Jim Rintoul (Ceres) Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 8

19 Steven Campbell (Inverness)/ Ian Arbuthnott (Forres) Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 5

20 David Newall (Mid Calder)/ Peter McLean (Edinburgh) Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 8

...

Robin Wyllie SRC Press Officer

Vital Equipment Launches 'Run to the Sun' Competition

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 01 Feb 2011, 10:02:54 G2T

The distributor for Carless Racing Fuels in the UK and the FIA World Rally Championship and for Eni lubricants, Vital Equipment, has today launched a unique prize in British Rallying. The winning driver and their co-driver in the 'Junior' category of both the 2011 Silverstone Tyres BTRDA Rally Series and MSA Scottish Rally Championships will be the guests of Vital Equipment on this year's RACC Rallye de España, the penultimate round of the 2011 WRC.

Vital Equipment has been distributing the Carless control fuel and providing the re-fuelling service to all cars competing in the FIA World Rally Championship for two years and will continue to do so in 2011.

As it has done in recent years, Vital Equipment will also provide specially-developed Carless motorsport fuels, as well as super unleaded-equivalent to competitors in the BTRDA and the Scottish Rally Championships. This means that not only do competing crews have access to what is widely regarded as the most effective fuel for all specification of rally cars, they are not faced with the obligation to comply with the regulations for transporting hazardous goods or perform the actual re-fuelling process themselves. The company will also supply the full range of Eni lubricants on-event, as well as between rallies via its website.

The 'Run to the Sun' competition is open to competitors in the Junior category of both championships, with cars running a competition decal during the season. The driver who wins the class in each championship, along with their co-driver, will take in everything that Rally Spain has to offer on an all-expenses-paid trip, courtesy of Vital Equipment.

The only aspect of the trip the winners need to arrange themselves is getting to the relevant UK airport; Vital Equipment will take care of everything else. This includes return flights to Salou, base of the rally, as well as accommodation, transfers and on-event transport and meals. And it goes without saying that Vital Equipment's experience in the WRC will give the winners unrivalled opportunities to take in the action on the stages.

Famous for its constant 'fiesta' atmosphere, the winners will travel out to Rally Spain on Thursday 20 October 2011, in time to witness the start of the event. They will take in three days of the high-speed asphalt action before returning to the UK after the finish on Sunday 23 October.

Commenting on the announcement, Vital Equipment Managing Director Alistair Roberts said; "We are delighted to be able to offer this prize to the winning junior drivers and their co-drivers from two of the championships where we provide a re-fuelling service.

"Rally Spain is one of the highlights in the WRC calendar, as the stages are superb, the atmosphere is incredible and it doesn't hurt that the weather is usually warm and sunny, especially when it's taken a turn for the worse in the UK!

"Entrants will carry a competition decal during the season and we'll be following the progress of both championships throughout the year and look forward to celebrating with the champions in Spain."

For more information on the 'Run to the Sun' Competition, as well as its product portfolio, go to the Vital Equipment website, www.vitalequipment.co.uk.

Environmental spill kits

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 24 Jan 2011, 17:10:10 G1T

Environmental spill kits available from New Pig

Championship DVD package available online

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 03 Dec 2010, 17:09:09 G12T

The Championship DVD package compiled by Demus Productions and sold in a presentation tin can be purchased directly from the Colin McRae On-Line Store by clicking on the following link: http://www.colinmcrae.com/store_main.asp?int_catalog_id=1&int_category_id=3&int_subcategory_id=0&int_product_id=121

Thank you to everyone who attended the annual awards

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 28 Nov 2010, 17:08:08 G11T

Thank you to everyone who attended the annual awards evening last Saturday (November 27). Prize-winners can contact me for information on getting pictures sent to them. Go to www.everybodysmile.biz/borggrech/evnts/index.html to view and purchase group photographs taken by independent photographer. Warwick Wilson misplaced his kilt jacket and wonders if anyone has picked up the wrong jacket. Please let me know if you can help. All the best for the New Year. Robert Beck

Aly Beck is offering a personalised DVD service

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 18 Oct 2010, 17:07:07 G10T

Aly Beck is offering a personalised DVD service for anyone looking for a memento of their season or something to give to existing and potential sponsors, using all the available official Demus footage from the year. The DVD also contains additional footage of 2WD's, 4WD's and overall SRC competitors. Contact Aly on 01292 671820 or alasdairbeck@hotmail.com

Tributes to Jimmy Girvan

info@scottishrallychampionship.co.uk (SRC admin) — DDD, 28 Sep 2010, 17:06:06 G9T

Tributes to Jimmy Girvan and donations to charity can be made via his web site: http://www.jimmygirvanrally.co.uk