Colin McRae Forest Stages - 3 Oct 09

Event Report:
SRC: BOGIE SEALS SCOTTISH TITLE

Posted: October 21, 2009 11:09 AM

Two years on from his maiden SRC win, David Bogie clinched the 2009 Hankook MSA Scottish Rally Championship on the final round, the Colin McRae Forest Stages, after what he admitted had been a nerve-wracking and stressful day.

That victory in 2007 came just weeks after the death of his friend and mentor, and Saturday's achievement, on an event full of incident and drama, was no less emotional.

The 22-year-old Dumfries driver became the youngest champion since McRae himself won the crown in 1988 at the age of 20.

"The Scottish championship is something I've aimed for since I started in rallying, it's been a box I've wanted to tick, and I've been so close these past two years", said Bogie, whose seventh-place points finish, alongside co-driver Kevin Rae, was enough to secure them the title.

"You only have to look at some of the names on the trophy - among them Colin and Jimmy McRae – and that says it all. I'm over the moon".

Indeed the moon was well up by the time the 4-wheel drive cars started arriving back at Perth Racecourse in the gathering dusk, after what had been a day of attrition for many competitors.

The cancellation of the first stage, cars sliding off in treacherous conditions, and fallen trees all resulted in lengthy delays

Overall victory went to Mark Higgins who was fulfilling a promise to compete on the rally after missing last year's star-studded event.

The three-times British champion, and co-driver Rory Kennedy, turned in a consummate display, winning all four completed stages at the wheel of an ex-Carlos Sainz Subaru Impreza – the sister car to McRae's 1995 world title-winning machine.

Higgins and Kennedy finished 40 seconds ahead of 2008 BTRDA champions Hugh Hunter and Andy Marchbank, the pair making their second appearance on a Scottish round in their ex-McRae Ford Focus WRC 01.

Mike Faulkner and Peter Foy were third overall and first of the SRC-registered competitors in their Mitsubishi Evo 6 – the Kirtlebridge-based driver ruing the broken driveshaft which had led to an early exit on the previous round and effectively put paid to any championship ambitions.

“Merrick” winners Jock Armstrong and Kirsty Riddick finished second in the points and fourth overall in their Subaru Impreza, while Calum Mackenzie, with Alan Clark on the notes, powered his Escort Mk2 to a hugely impressive final SRC podium spot, and top two-wheel drive honours.

The Oban duo of Shaun Sinclair and Chris Hamill consolidated their second place in the Group N championship in a Mitsubishi Evo 9, finishing nine seconds ahead of the Subaru Impreza of Euan Thorburn, who had already secured the GpN title.

Like Faulkner, Thorburn, who was co-driven by Doug Redpath, had gone into the McRae with a mathematical chance of winning the championship, should Bogie hit problems.

Barry Groundwater and David Wilson both ended in the top ten in their respective Evos – the latter one of the six finalists shortlisted for the Hankook Junior Prize Drive..

Heavy squally showers greeted the crews as they drove north from Perth to the first stage, the 10.70 mile Craigvinean – the 2WD contenders leading the field.

Word soon filtered out of a major accident involving Fraser Wilson and Steven Broll – their Vauxhall Nova ramming a tree head-on before flipping over and landing heavily.

There followed a delicate operation to remove Broll from the wreckage before both were taken to hospital. It later transpired that they'd both had miraculously escaped injury, apart from sprains and bruising.

With SS1 cancelled, crews returned to service, collectively drew breath and headed out to what for most was the first competitive test of the day – the daunting Drummond Hill.

Motherwell's John Crawford – second into the stage - crashed out heavily in his Mk2 Escort, resulting in sixteen competitors following behind being awarded notional times, based on Mackenzie's benchmark.

Another notable retirement on SS2 was newly-crowned IRC champion Kris Meeke who was forced to call it a day when the engine of his Peugeot 207 S2000 expired.

It was a somewhat depleted and bewildered field which arrived back at second service with even the most experienced drivers describing the 8.40 stage miles as being among the most difficult they had ever encountered.

"It was absolutely horrendous, very muddy and slippery, big rocks all over the place, cars off left and right, I thought we were going to get caught ourselves", said Higgins.

"I didn't think you could get ice in October", mused Mackenzie, while Bogie opined: "At least you know where you are with ice".

Armstrong was also caught out: "Second corner in, we went wide and clipped a log pile – there was just no grippy line".

Of the front runners, Sinclair seemed to fare better than most: "It must suit my driving style, if I knew why, I'd bottle it and take it every morning!".

The remaining stages also posed problems for organisers, with several fallen trees having to be removed ahead of the cars, leading to further delays.

Hunter, Armstrong and Faulkner were second fastest to Higgins respectively through SS3 Allean, SS4 Kindrogan Wood and SS5 Blackcraig.

Bogie, meanwhile, had just one target in mind, his grip on the crown tightening with every completed stage mile.

Declared the jubilant new champion: "That last stage was butterflies the whole way. It's all been very tricky. We've had a burst exhaust, then a puncture on stage three. It's been such a stressful day, but it makes it all the better in the end".

Results

Posted: October 21, 2009 11:08 AM

1st Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Subaru Impreza 555) 34 mins 38 secs
2nd Hugh Hunter/Andy Marchbank (Ford Focus WRC) 35.18
3rd Mike Faulkner/Peter Foy (Mitsubishi Evo 6) 35.33
4th Jock Armstrong/Kirsty Riddick (Subaru Impreza WRX) 35.36
5th Calum Mackenzie/Alan Clark (Ford Escort Mk2) 35.45
6th Shaun Sinclair/Chris Hamill (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) 35.50
7th Euan Thorburn/Doug Redpath (Subaru Impreza N12B) 35.59
8th Barry Groundwater/Jude Wylie (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) 36.09
9th David Bogie/Kevin Rae (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) 36.40
10th David Wilson/Keir Beaton (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4) 37.06d

Class Winners
Class 1 – Peter Taylor/Paul Hughes (Ford Ka)
Class 2 – Craig Rutherford/Derek Forsyth (Vauxhall Nova)
Class 3 – Charlie Munro/Michael Baird (Ford Escort Mk2)
Class 4 – Alasdair Graham/Kenny McGuire (Vauxhall Corsa)
Class 5 – Rhona Mackin/Christine Brown (Ford Escort Mk2)
Class 6 – Colin Wilkinson/Ailie Donaldson (Hillman Avenger)
Class 7 – John Boyd/Fred Bell (Ford Fiesta ST)
Class 8 - Calum Mackenzie/Alan Clark (Ford Escort Mk2)
Class 9 – Ian Gwynne/Stan Quirk (Ford Escort Mk2)
Class 10 – Shaun Sinclair/Chris Hamill (Mitsubishi Evo 9)
Class 11 – No finishers
Class 12 – Jock Armstrong/Kirsty Riddick (Subaru Impreza)

Full Results:

flyingfinish.co.uk

Meeke / Nagle to compete on McRae Stages in 207 S2000

Posted: October 2, 2009 1:58 PM

Originally planning a "00" run as a test session for November's Rally of Scotland, IRC Champions Kris Meeke & Paul Nagle will now be competing on tomorrow's McRae Stages in the Peugeot 207 S2000

Also Competing will be Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy in Callum McLeod's ex Carlos Sainz Subaru Impreza 555 (L555 REP)

SRC: SCENE SET FOR MCRAE TITLE DECIDER

Posted: October 2, 2009 1:55 PM

After seven rounds, five different winners, and more than 300 stage miles, the 2009 Hankook MSA Scottish Rally Championship is set for a thrilling finale on the Colin McRae Forest Stages in Perthshire next Saturday (Oct 3rd).

Dumfries ace David Bogie is close to securing the overall title on the event which saw his maiden SRC win in 2007 – but knows that any errors could put paid to his ambitions.

Euan Thorburn – who has already won the Group N category - is waiting in the wings should Bogie slip up on the classic forest stages, and Mike Faulkner still has a chance of snatching the crown, after a non-finish on the penultimate round.

However, it is Bogie who holds the strongest hand going into the Perth-based event, and the 22-year-old, alongside co-driver Kevin Rae, will be looking at the bigger picture rather than outright victory.

"We plan to win the championship and not bother too much about times on the way", said Bogie: "But there's no doubt it's going to be a hard weekend".

Thorburn has moved quietly up the points table as the season has progressed, and now finds himself in with a fighting chance of snatching the title.

The Duns-based competitor, who will again be accompanied by co-driver Campbell Roy, said winning the Group N title was the main target for this year, and now that has been achieved, anything else will be a bonus.

"I think for us to have a chance of winning the title, David would have to have problems and we'd need to finish within at least 3 places of Mike", said Thorburn: "There are obviously lots of other permutations, but that's the one we are looking at as being the most likely".

He continued: "We'll try and do our own thing on the “McRae” as we don't really have the pressure of going for the overall title, as we never thought it would be possible given we are in a GpN car and everybody else is using quicker cars. We'll still give it a go though".

Mike Faulkner and navigator Peter Foy were both bitterly disappointed after their Mitsubishi Evo 6 crashed out on the first stage of the "Merrick" with a broken driveshaft.

The Kirtlebridge-based driver admitted that it had been "hard to pick themselves up" for the “McRae”, but that they were "now fired up to win".

Said Faulkner of their title chances: "First or second would do, so long as David doesn't finish in the top thirteen. But if David doesn't finish and we win, Euan would need to only finish third to take the title, so it could easily be one of the three of us".

He went on: "Realistically though, the championship has gone, so we are just going to put all that behind us and go out and enjoy ourselves and try to be the only crew to win three events this year. The Hankook championship has been fantastic this year and whatever happens, we want to finish on a high".

Former championship leader Jock Armstrong was a popular winner of the "Merrick", bringing his Subaru Impreza home 40 seconds ahead of the rest of the field to record his first SRC win.

Although his championship hopes were dashed following exclusion from the “Speyside” for a technical infringement, the Castle Douglas driver is determined to end his season in style alongside co-driver Kirsty Riddick.

Said Armstrong: "The car felt just right on the “Merrick”, so there'll be no changes. I'm always out to win and this time will be no different".

After upgrading to an Evo 9 mid-season, the Oban-based duo of Shaun Sinclair and Chris Hamill have proved to be a force to be reckoned with in this year's SRC, as was apparent by their top-five finish on the “Merrick”.

Said Hamill: "The car is ready for Perth, following a fuel-pump problem on the "Lindisfarne" which was traced to a faulty seal within the pump. We're both looking forward to a "full on rally week" – which includes recce-ing for the Tunnock's Tour of Mull, doing the “McRae”, another Mull recce, and then the event itself! "

Twenty-one-year-old Lanarkshire driver Alick Kerr has shown true championship potential in his Subaru Impreza, putting together a string of impressive results in his first season in a 4WD car , while navigator Drew Sturrock is on course to finish in the top three in the co-drivers' standings.

Andy Horne powered his DAM 4100 Gti to second overall on last year's star-studded “McRae”, and the Inverness-based engineer would dearly love to repeat that result next weekend.

It would make up for a very disappointing season for Horne and co-driver Jim Howie, with a non-finish on every round so far.

Fellow Highland competitors Donnie MacDonald and co-driver Paul Beaton are also looking for a strong finish to the season, following their tenth place overall on the “Merrick” in their Evo 9.

Calum Mackenzie led home the 2-wheel drive contingent 12 months ago in his Ford Escort Mk2, finishing just eight seconds behind Horne.

Having sat out the last two rounds, the Inverurie-based driver returns to the fray next weekend with navigator Alan Clark, and says they will be more than happy with a clean run.

“We don't expect to be so competitive, as we have not done enough mileage this year”, said Mackenzie, adding: “We're not going out to prove anything, but will just enjoy the stages, and the craic!”

Nevertheless, it promises to be another fascinating tussle among the Mk2 crews, with Mackenzie and Clark up against Steve Bannister/Louise Sutherland, who have already secured this year's 2-wheel drive title, as well as the likes of John Crawford/Dick Wardle, Mike Horne/Robbie Mitchell and Michael Buchanan/Peter Carstairs.

Elsewhere, there are still class honours to be decided, not least in the 1600 category - where Mark McCulloch of Newton Stewart leads Paisley's Alasdair Graham by just three points – both in Vauxhall Corsa's.

Before a wheel is turned on the “McRae”, there will be an action packed programme on the eve of the rally at Perth Racecourse.

IRC contender Kris Meeke will go head to head with Subaru America star Ken Block during a demonstration of Dirt 2 - the new Colin McRae off-road racing game – which features Block.

The public will have the opportunity to take part in a challenge to see if anyone can beat the times set by the two star drivers.

Taking centre stage on the night will be the launch of Corgi's new "Colin McRae Tribute Collection", which, when complete, will comprise fourteen 1:43 scale die-cast models of the most important competition cars to feature in the career of the 1995 World Champion.

The launch will be followed by the unveiling of an exact full-scale replica of the Mini Cooper in which McRae won his first ever title - aged 16 - in the West of Scotland Autotest Championship.

Ken Block will also wow the crowds with a demonstration of stunt driving in his "gymkhana" Subaru Impreza on the tarmac area in front of the racecourse grandstand.

Another highlight will be a presentation by iconic motorsport artist Jim Bamber – the man behind the new "Heroes" collection, featuring Colin McRae's 1995 world championship winning Subaru, and the Ford Focus in which he took his first win for Ford in 1999.

An informal question and answer session is also planned, with Meeke, Block, Jimmy McRae , and former F1 pundit and rally competitor Tony Jardine among participating.

Seeded Entry List

Posted: October 1, 2009 4:13 PM

Coltness Car Club

Unseeded List of Entries

Posted: September 28, 2009 11:15 AM

Coltness Car Club

Regulations / Details

Posted: January 1, 2009 12:01 AM

It is now only a few weeks till the 2009 Colin McRae Forest stages rally. The rally will be held this year on Saturday 3rd of October. The event will once again start and finish in the city of Perth, with scruitineering and Rally HQ in Perth Race course.

The rally will have approx 45 stage miles spread over 5 stages including the famous Errochty, Drummondhill and Craigvinean stages and a couple of new stages to be revealed later. As normal for this event all 2 wheel drive cars will lead the way.

The organising team along with the McRaes and the Vision trust are trying to put some finishing touches to rally add-ons to make it another event not to be missed. All will be revealed and more news about the 2009 event will be posted here as it becomes available.

Regulations:

Coltness Car Club