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 a cut-out switch between the bonnet and the windscreen of their Mitsubishi Evo 9. The Duns ace managed to get the car going thanks to help from some spectators, but admitted "it had been downhill from then on". However, he did have the satisfaction of taking Group N honours.
It was 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, alongside experienced Hawick navigator Louise Sutherland, who is normally to be found on the notes for Mk 2 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 he 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.
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.
Defending champion and current points leader David Bogie is targeting a
hat-trick of Scottish victories as he prepares for the CARS Recovery
Granite City Rally on Saturday, <16th April>
The Dumfries ace is favourite to win the Aberdeen-based event for the
second year running, alongside Hawick co-driver Kevin Rae, after
dominating the first two rounds of the 2011 MSA Scottish Rally
Championship in his Mitsubishi Evo 9. They also hold a two point lead in
the BRC.
The pair will face fierce competition this weekend from a strong field,
including late entry Jonny Greer from Carryduff, who has been contesting
the British series in a Skoda Fabia S2000.
"We're certainly aiming for another win, it won't be through lack of
trying", said Bogie: "The Granite is a great event – the stages are quite
technical, there is a lot of loose stuff on top and braking points are
crucial. You've got to be 100 percent committed".
While Bogie has had a perfect start to his SRC campaign, Jock Armstrong's
challenge was dented when he was forced to retire his Subaru Impreza with
a broken gear-stick on last month's Border Counties.
Runner-up on last year's "Granite" alongside former Scottish champion
navigator Kirsty Riddick, the Castle Douglas competitor is aiming to get
his campaign back on track next weekend.
With a second and third place so far this season, Euan Thorburn, co-driven
by Paul Beaton, will also be pushing for a top podium spot in his
Mitsubishi Evo 9. The Duns-based competitor struggled with traction
problems on the Border Counties, but was satisfied with the outcome.
Fourth seeds Andy Horne and Jim Howie – who won the Granite in 1997 and
2007 – have also had a strong start to the season in their DAM 4100GTi. A
fifth place finish on the Snowman, was followed by fourth overall in
Jedburgh, with Horne declaring it a "very good day for us".
Mike Faulkner and navigator Peter Foy celebrated a famous maiden SRC
victory on the "Granite" in 2009. Most recently, they finished as
runners-up on the Border Counties, and is aiming to go one better in his
Mitsubishi Evo 6.
"We were pleased with second on the Border Counties, but the target for
the Granite has to be to prevent David getting his "hat-trick". If we're
going to stop him running away with the championship we can't afford for
him to win again", said Faulkner: "However, the talent and depth in the
Scottish series is at an amazing level and there will be a dozen people
targeting, and capable of, the win.
Former Scottish champion Dave Weston from Aberdeen, co-driven by Swansea's
Aled Davies will be back at the wheel of a Ford Focus WRC - the car in
which he won his home event in 2006. It will be Weston's second SRC event
of the year – his outing on the Snowman ending with an "off" on the
opening stage.
Shaun Sinclair, meanwhile, will be in action on Scottish gravel for the
first time this season in his Mitsubishi Evo 9. The Oban-based competitor
– a Group N front-runner in 2010 - will be looking for a clean run after
rolling his car on the Fetteresso stage twelve months ago.
Lancashire-based rally preparation expert Wayne Sisson endured a difficult
day on the Border Counties in his Mitsubishi Evo 9, and will be aiming to
better his ninth overall on last year's Granite, alongside David Macfadyen
from Inverness.
Ex-works driver turned rally commentator Robbie Head felt his fifth place
overall on the second round "showed improvement" as he continues to ease
himself back into regular
competition in his Station Garage/DMACK Tyres backed Mitsubishi Evo 9.
The Lanark star will again be accompanied by experienced navigator Claire
Mole.
The top ten is rounded off by David Wilson from Alness - another driver
determined to get his SRC campaign back on track after non-finishes on
both the Snowman and the Border Counties because of transmission and
engine problems. Co-driven by Dave Robson, he will be pushing for a podium
in Aberdeen after taking fourth overall last year.
Stonehaven's Barry Groundwater, who will have Neil Shanks on the notes
next weekend, has a good record on his home event – runner up in 2009, and
eighth overall last year in his Mitsubishi Evo 9. Having sat out the
Snowman, Groundwater was well pleased with his seventh-place finish on the
Border Counties.
He starts one car ahead of Calum Mackenzie who made the switch from a Mk2
Escort to a Mitsubishi Evo at the start of the 2011 season. The Inverurie
driver admits to being in a "serious love/hate relationship" with the car.
"I'd love to get more time in it to get up to pace, but hate the money
it's costing which is taking the fun out of it!! It's much dearer to run
than the Escort,"said Mackenzie, adding:
"I'll most likely use it on the Granite, but there is a 45 percent chance
I'll quit while I'm ahead and sell it on, which'll get us out in the
Escort".
Amongst the Escort drivers, Malcolm Buchanan – seeded 25th - is looking
forward to returning to action after crashing out heavily on the final
stage of the Border Counties".
"I'm happy to say the car and crew are fine and raring to go. However,
both Keith Robathan and Quintin Milne are both very quick, and it'll be a
battle for class honours".
Two-wheel drive cars in Classes 1 to 5, along with the "Historics", will
run at the front of the rally - headed by Graeme Schoneville, co-driven by
Michael Hendry, in a Honda Civic.
The Carluke driver currently lies second in the fiercely contested 1600
category – three points adrift of Thornhill's James Robertson, co-driven
by George Myatt, in a Citreon C2R2.
Iain Haining from Dumfries, alongside Mairi Riddick , has had an excellent
start to the season in his Vauxhall Nova with wins in Class 3 – and
currently has a four-point advantage over Inverbervie's Tom Hynd in a
Peugeot 205.
Alex Pirie of Keith, with David Law on the notes, has the opportunity to
increase his lead in the SRC Junior rankings in his Vauxhall Nova, and in
Class 2 will lock horns with Borderers Craig and Colin Smith, also in a
Nova, who lead by a single point going into the third round.
The first car will leave from outside Rally HQ - the Thistle Hotel, Altens
- at 0800 on Saturday, April 16th.
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