Peugeot 206 Super Cup Heads to Scotland

Posted: June 6, 2003 10:43 PM

At the head of the pack in Scotland is Irishman Shaun Gallagher who comes to the event fresh from his latest assault on the French 206 Cup. Shaun is one of the favourites for the UK title in 2003 as last years runner up. Although he needs to improve on his third place on last years Scottish if he wants any breathing space.

Currently lying second to Gallagher is a young man from Catalonia who has shown fantastic pace so far. Despite their lack of experience in the UK, Joan Roca and co-driver Dani Guirro are learning very quickly. The former F2 Spanish gravel champion has set some stunning times and promises more to come.

23 year old Welshman Sebastian Ling has surprised many regulars with his pace and maturity, the newcomer to the series holds third place in the points table. Just reward for a fine run on the Borders Rally and consistent speed in the atrocious conditions on the first half of the Pirelli Rally.

Scot Mike Faulkner will be hoping for one place better than his last Scottish Rally outing. Second place in 2002 was enough to move him into the lead of the Championship. A position he would relish now, but he has to make do with a precarious fourth, just half a point clear of fifth placed Richard Sykes.

Sykes had a fabulous start to the year with a second place on the Borders Rally. But all his hard work at the Rally School turned sour when he rolled his car whilst testing before the start of round two. His fifth place is almost as insecure as Faulkners, being a mere 1 points ahead of the Pirelli winner, Moore.

Geordie fireman Chris Moores retirement on round one whilst in the lead shows that he has the pace. He went on to blast the opposition on the Pirelli, winning both days. However, he will need to put Scotland 2002 out of his mind, after he was cruelly robbed of a finish by a broken steering arm following a minor off.

Moores three point cushion from Olly Marshall is safe for the moment at the expense of Marshall. The Yorkshireman has had a run of bad luck, rolling both his Cup cars and having to cancel his entry on the Scottish following a workshop accident which left him with a broken ankle.

Public access to scrutineering is from 4-8pm on Friday at the Dumfries Ice Bowl with the ceremonial start on the High Street at 9am on Saturday. The stages are all to the west of Dumfries with the first 206 blasting through at around 10.30am. Centralised service for both days is at Baldoon airfield to the south of Wigtown and the awards ceremony is on the start/finish ramp at around 2.15pm on Sunday.

• www.peugeot.co.uk/motorsport
• High resolution images available at www.bothwellphoto.com/peugeotsportuk.htm
• www.scottishrally.co.uk