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Scottish Rally - 10-11 Jun 05

Posted: June 13, 2005 9:43 PM - 8188 Hits

Round 3 - 2005 British Rally Championship

  • GALLIGAN SCORES SECOND PRODUCTION CLASS VICTORY FOR MITSUBISHI
  • Higgins wins again
  • Galligan/Shinnors dominate Group N

Posted: June 13, 2005 9:43 PM

GALLIGAN SCORES SECOND PRODUCTION CLASS VICTORY FOR MITSUBISHI
  • Galligan wins the Class having held overall rally lead
  • Higgins crashes out on stage three

    Mitsubishi Motors UK works driver, Rory Galligan (from Oldcastle), together with his co-driver, Greg Shinnors (from Limerick), scored a convincing Production Class victory in this weekend's round three of the Kwik-Fit Pirelli British Rally Championship, the RSAC Scottish Rally.



    In contrast, for Mitsubishi team mates David Higgins (from Trefeglwys) and Daniel Barritt (from Burnley), it was a rally they would rather forget, after rolling their Lancer Evolution VIII MR off the road and into retirement.

    The event featured three stages on Friday evening, two of them a short run through Heathhall where spectators could see the action, the other a seven-mile test through the Forest of Ae, just west of the rally's host town of Dumfries.

    After the first two spectator stages the Mitsubishi team was pleased to see its cars first and second in the Production Class, with Higgins holding an impressive second position overall, just behind his brother Mark, in a Focus WRC car.

    However, Higgins' fortunes were about to change. As he approached a right hander in SS3 he felt the car turn-in quicker than he had anticipated and the off side front wheel clipped a rock hidden in the grass. The impact threw the car into the air and off the road on the outside of the corner, the Mitsubishi rolling a number of times over a series of tree stumps before coming to rest having dropped 60 feet to the bottom of a bank.

    Thankfully both Higgins and Barritt emerged from the wrecked car relatively unscathed, although Higgins was later taken to hospital and detained overnight having sustained mild concussion.

    With a further seven stages on Saturday it was down to Galligan to carry the Mitsubishi baton, the Irishman now determined to deliver the best result he could for the team. Straight away he responded by taking fastest time on the first of Saturday's stages, a performance good enough see him emerge from the nine-mile Clatteringshaws Forest test in first place overall, 18 seconds ahead!

    Unfortunately Galligan's rally lead was short-lived. As he blasted through the following infamous Black Loch stage he felt the offside front tyre deflating after traversing one of the forest's stoney and rough sections. With Higgins sidelined in Wales when the rubber coming off the tyre after a similar puncture damaged the car's oil cooler, Galligan drove through the rest of the stage at a steady pace, losing around 20 seconds in the process. Although now fourth overall, albeit less than four seconds behind the leader, Galligan was most importantly still heading the Production Class, now by a respectable margin of nearly a minute.

    With the team's focus firmly fixed on achieving a Class win, Galligan got on with the job and such was his pace he snatched second place overall on the very next stage.

    Then, just when it was looking like a Class win and an overall podium finish was on the cards, with two stages to go Galligan suffered a second puncture following another of the event's rough sections. Being just six miles into the 18 mile Glentrool Forest stage, Galligan decided to stop, he and Shinnors changing the wheel at the side fo the road.

    Although losing around three minutes they had amassed such a margin in the Production Category they retained the Class lead, but the delay had caused them to drop to fifth place in the overall standings.

    Keeping out of trouble for the final two stages saw Galligan and Shinnors maintain position and they crossed the line back in Dumfries delighted to take their second Production Class win of the season by a significant two-and-a-half minute margin.

    Having lost one car early in the event this result was a real boost for the Mitsubishi team, who now prepare for round four, the Kelso based Jim Clark Memorial Rally. This event takes place on 8th & 9th July and sees the first asphalt event in the British Rally Championship calendar.

    Due to their rallying commitments in Turkey, it looks unlikely that Higgins and Barritt will contest this event, Mitsubishi honours resting with Galligan and Shinnors.

    The two Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MRs are prepared by ADR Motorsport of Chesterfield on behalf of Cirencester based Mitsubishi Motors UK. The team is sponsored by: Pirelli, Shell Racing Fuels, Rampage Performance Motorparts, Speedline Corse, PIAA and ADR Motorsport.

    Following this weekend's result, the Mitsubishi Motors UK Rally Team has extended its lead in the BRC Teams Championship.

    Team Quotes
    Rory Galligan - Driver
    "I have to commiserate with David and Daniel and say how relieved I am that they are alright. After they had their accident I'm pleased we were able to take such a convincing win in the Production Category for the team."

    "The car was fantastic, the stage times prove that. To lead a British Rally Championship round in a Group N car says a lot about the Mitsubishi and if it wasn't for the rough parts of the stages which contributed to the punctures, I'm sure we would have been able to claim and overall podium position."

    David Higgins - Driver
    "I couldn't believe it when we went off. I rarely roll cars. It's been a long time since I've had an accident like that. When the car turned-in quicker than I expected it looked okay to cut the corner, but there was a rock hidden in the grass and it just launched us off the road on the outside and down a bank. The car stood up to the impact well. It is a testimony to its strength and the way it was built."

    "It was such a shame because the car felt so good up until then and it also hasn't done Daniel and my Championship hopes any favours, especially as I am scheduled to be rallying in Turkey when the next round takes place. But the season's not over yet and there is still time to make an impression on the Class and Overall Championship standings."

    Paul Brigden - General Manager, Mitsubishi Motors UK Ralliart
    "Needless to say we are disappointed for David and Daniel, but just pleased that they are both okay. Following their accident Rory and Greg drove an excellent rally for the team and delivered the result we were looking for. I was also pleased with the performance of the cars and I'm sure we will achieve the Production Class one-two result we are looking for before the end of the season."
    Results
    1 Mark Higgins/Bryan Thomas (Ford Focus WRC) 1.14.18.9
    2 Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Ford Focus WRC) 1.16.29.5
    3 Sebastian Ling/David Moynihan (Hyundai Accent WRC) 1.17.25.9
    4 Barry Johnson/Stewart Merry (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1.17.49.3
    5 Rory Galligan/Greg Shinnors (Mit. Lancer Evo 8.5) 1.19.47.6
    6 Richard Gower/Aled Davies (Hyundai Accent WRC) 1.23.35.6
    7 Robert Swann/Ken Bowman (Subaru Impreza N) 1.23.39.4
    8 Brian O’Mahony/John Higgins (Ford Puma S1600) 1.23.43.1
    9 Andrew Leece/Robbie Durant (Renault Clio) 1.24.25.9
    10 Shaun Woffinden/Imbal Edry (Fiat Stilo) 1.24.47.1

    Leaders after:
    SS1-4 Mark Higgins/Bryan Thomas (Ford Focus WRC)
    SS5 Rory Galligan/Greg Shinnors (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8.5)
    SS6 Barry Johnson/Stewart Merry (Subaru Impreza WRC)
    SS7-12 Mark Higgins/Bryan Thomas (Ford Focus WRC)

    Fastest Times
    SS1 Mark Higgins/Bryan Thomas (Ford Focus WRC)
    SS2 Mark Higgins/Bryan Thomas (Ford Focus WRC)
    SS3 Mark Higgins/Bryan Thomas (Ford Focus WRC)
    SS4 Cancelled
    SS5 Rory Galligan/Greg Shinnors (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8.5)
    SS6 Mark Higgins/Bryan Thomas (Ford Focus WRC)
    SS7 Mark Higgins/Bryan Thomas (Ford Focus WRC)
    SS8 Mark Higgins/Bryan Thomas (Ford Focus WRC)
    SS9 Mark Higgins/Bryan Thomas (Ford Focus WRC)
    SS10 Mark Higgins/Bryan Thomas (Ford Focus WRC)
    SS11 Mark Higgins/Bryan Thomas (Ford Focus WRC)
    SS12 Cancelled
    PRE EVENT NEWS
    • MITSUBISHI TARGET PRODUCTION CATEGORY ONE-TWO
    • Entry Lists available including Irish entries
    • 3 McRaes in 3 Mk IIs for Sunday National Rally!
    • CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES EXTENDED
    • 2WD AND IRISH VISITORS WELCOME
    • NEWS FROM THE RSAC SCOTTISH RALLY
    • Regulations available
    • MARSHALS
    08/06/06
    MITSUBISHI TARGET PRODUCTION CATEGORY ONE-TWO
  • Team has high hopes for the Highlands
  • Recent testing improves gear selection

    The Mitsubishi Motors UK works rally team heads across the border next weekend for round three of the Kwik-Fit Pirelli British Rally Championship, the RSAC Scottish Rally.



    Drivers Rory Galligan and David Higgins see this event as an opportunity to achieve the team's target of a Production Category one-two, a result which has alluded them so far this season.

    Galligan (from Oldcastle), who has just returned from his honeymoon, won the Production Category for Mitsubishi on the opening round of the Championship in Wales. Following a non-finish in round two, he and his co-driver Greg Shinnors (from Limerick) will be out to make up for the dropped score:
    "I hope to get a good clean run next weekend. I like the stages in Scotland, things have always gone well for me when I have competed there before, so I'm really looking forward to the event."

    Fresh from competing in last weekend's Rally of Turkey, Higgins (from Trefeglwys) and his co-driver, Daniel Barritt (from Burnley), are no strangers to the Scottish forests. Higgins is therefore confident both cars will fair well:
    "Provided the stages are dry and in good condition, which will reduce the risk of punctures, I think we are not only in with a chance of securing the Production Class, but also feature well in the overall placings. It would be great if we can make it onto the podium overall."

    Both Galligan and Higgins see each other as their main Production Category rival, especially as they compete at equal status within the team. However, Evolution Challenge front-runner Phillip Morrow is entered and if his current form is anything to go by, he will also be putting up a good fight for Group N honours.

    With the cars' new competition gearboxes undergoing a programme of testing, the team are hopeful that its two Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MRs should run without a hitch in Scotland.
    "There is no doubt that our cars and drivers are capable of delivering us a one-two result", says Paul Brigden, UK General Manager - Ralliart. "Once the gear selection issue is sorted we are confident that it will be either Rory of David that heads the Production Cup field."

    Starting and finishing in Dumfries, the event sees competitors tackle a total of 110 competitive miles in the forests over the Galloway Hills, with four stages on Friday evening and a further eight on Saturday.

    The two Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MRs are prepared by ADR Motorsport of Chesterfield on behalf of Cirencester based Mitsubishi Motors UK. The team is sponsored by: Pirelli, Shell Racing Fuels, Rampage Performance Motorparts, Speedline Corse, PIAA and ADR Motorsport.

    07/06/05

    Scottish International Rally - Friday/Saturday - Top 10 + other Irish Entries
    1 Mark Higgins/Bryan Thomas (Ford Focus WRC)
    2 Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Ford Focus WRC)
    3 Paul Bird/TBA (Ford Focus WRC)
    4 Barry Johnson/Stewart Merry (Subaru Impreza WRC)
    5 Marcus Dodd/Andrew Bargery (Hyundai Accent WRC)
    6 David Higgins/Daniel Barritt (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8.5)
    7 Sebastian Ling/David Moynihan (Hyundai Accent WRC)
    8 Rory Galligan/Greg Shinnors (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8.5)
    9 Dave Weston/Ieuan Thomas (Ford Focus WRC)
    10 Richard Gower/Aled Davies (Hyundai Accent WRC)

    11 Gareth MacHale/Paul Nagle (Toyota Corolla WRC)

    14 Philip Morrow/Simon Morrow (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI)

    20 Brendan Kelly/Derek Brannigan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI)

    32 Brian O'Mahony/John Higgins (Ford Puma S1600)

    Scottish National Rally - Sunday - Top 5
    101 Colin McRae/TBA (Ford Escort MkII)
    102 Alister McRae/Ian Grindrod (Ford Escort Mk II)
    103 Jim McRae/Campbell Roy (Ford Escort MkII)
    104 Steve Bannister/TBA (Ford Escort)
    105 Philip Squires/Michael Squires (Ford Escort RS1800)
    21/05/05
    CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES EXTENDED The closing date for entries for the RSAC Scottish Rally has been extended until Tuesday 31 May. This is to allow competitors to send in their entries after the Pirelli Rally.

    Road Books and other information will now be posted on Friday 3 June.

    These changes will apply to all sections of the event (International, Stars of the Future, Land Rover, Scottish Championship National and Historic) and will be confirmed in a Bulletin in due course.
    21/05/05
    CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES EXTENDED The closing date for entries for the RSAC Scottish Rally has been extended until Tuesday 31 May. This is to allow competitors to send in their entries after the Pirelli Rally.

    Road Books and other information will now be posted on Friday 3 June.

    These changes will apply to all sections of the event (International, Stars of the Future, Land Rover, Scottish Championship National and Historic) and will be confirmed in a Bulletin in due course.

    03/05/05
    NEWS FROM THE RSAC SCOTTISH RALLY
    Regulations available

    Regulations for the 60th Scottish Rally are now available. They can be downloaded from www.scottishrally.co.uk, and printed copies will be posted to all registered competitors in the Kwik-Fit Pirelli British Rally Championship (including Stars of the Future), the County Saab Scottish Rally Championship and the Belmont 205 Ecosse Challenge.

    The Scottish Rally will be supported for the ninth consecutive year by Dumfries and Galloway Council. Rally HQ will again be based at Dumfries Ice Bowl, and the route will include classic forest stages throughout the region.

    The main service area will again be at Baldoon, near Wigtown, but the organisers will be making full use of the revised BRC remote service regulations to minimise road mileage.

    The Heathhall super special stage, first used in 2004, will host the international field on Friday and the national and historic cars on Sunday. New this year is a double run for the international cars: they will tackle the stage twice at 30 second intervals, beginning at 20:00 on Friday 10 June.

    The successful innovation last year of a separate day?s competition for the County Saab Scottish Rally Championship crews will be repeated. This initiative was rewarded in 2004 by the award of the Chairman?s Cup for the best event in the Championship. Needless to say, the organising team is going all out to make it a double in 2005.

    Sunday will also see the Historic Rally, and we hope that the entry list will be representative of many cars which have taken part in the Scottish Rally over the last sixth events.

    Clerk of the Course Jonathan Lord and Route Co-ordinator Keith Butler have completed their survey of the route and report that the stages are in good condition. Regular competitors will find some new permutations within the forests of Dumfries and Galloway.

    Timetable is as follows:
    Thursday 9 June Media stage and shakedown at Ae, 10:00
    Reconnaissance begins at Clatteringshaws, 15:00


    Friday 10 June Reconnaissance finishes
    Scrutineering at Dumfries, 14:00-18:00
    International rally starts from Dumfries Town Centre, 19:30
    4 special stages north-east of Dumfries
    Super special stage, Heathhall, 20:00
    Overnight halt, Dumfries, 23:00


    Saturday 11 June Restart from Dumfries, 07:00
    8 special stages west of Dumfries
    International rally finish, Dumfries Town Centre, 18:00
    Stars of the Future Rally follows international rally during the day
    National and historic rally scrutineering, Dumfries, 17:00-20:00
    International rally prizegiving, Dumfries Ice Bowl, 22:00


    Sunday 12 June Historic rally starts from Dumfries, 09:30
    National rally starts from Dumfries, 10:00
    5 special stages north-east of Dumfries
    Super special stage, Heathhall, 11:30
    Historic and national rally finish, Dumfries town centre, 16:15
    Historic and national rally prizegiving, Dumfries Ice Bowl, 19:30


    2WD AND IRISH VISITORS WELCOME
    For the national rally on Sunday 12 June, two-wheel-drive cars will run at the front of the field. This follows the successful experiment on the recent Granite City Rally. The organisers are particularly keen to welcome Irish competitors to this part of the event. It's not far from Stranraer, and we can guarantee you a warm welcome. Phone +44 141 887 9905 for more details.


    MARSHALS
    To put the RSAC Scottish Rally on the road takes forests, sponsorship, competitors ? and marshals! Without these hardy volunteers the competitors might as well not turn up, because there would be nobody to time them through the forests and ensure their safety as they face the demanding stages of Dumfries and Galloway.

    We say "hardy volunteers" because marshals take part for the love of the sport. They have to cope with everything the Scottish climate can throw at them, and even in June they can be subjected to rain, wind, brilliant sunshine ? and even snow on one memorable occasion! And even if the weather stays fine, there?s the dreaded midge to contend with.

    Volunteer marshals have been keeping the Scottish Rally safe for 59 rallies so far, and to mark the sixtieth Scottish Rally every marshal will receive a specially-commissioned T shirt, a copy of the BRC magazine which incorporates the official programme for the event, and various other ?goodies?.

    If you'd like to join our team, we'd be pleased to hear from you. Contact Craig Webster on Craig.Webster@scottishrally.co.uk. Telephone: 07766 093871 (+44 7766 093871)

    See you in the forest!

    SPECTATORS
    Spectators will be well catered for on the 2005 Scottish Rally. Every effort has been made to ensure that the stages can be viewed in safety and comfort, not just at the Heathhall super special, but at the other forest stages as well.

    We want you to enjoy your visit to Dumfries and Galloway, and we have done our best to provide a good selection of viewing points. We hope you'll understand if some parts of the route have to be designated as spectator "no-go" areas for PR and safety reasons.

    This year we will be selling spectator packs which will include the following
    - an admission pass to all spectator stage car parks - including some not open to the general public
    - a copy of the latest edition of the BRC Magazine,
    - the official programme for the event, complete with entry list and details of stage locations
    - two souvenir T shirts to mark the 60th Scottish Rally
    - souvenir stickers


    More details on rally website, or from the Rally Office on 0141 887 9905. (+44 141 887 9905)

    • Topics: Scottish Rally 

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