Posted: July 17, 2014 11:25 PM - 4996 Hits
Round 2 - 2013 Scottish Rally Championship
Posted: July 17, 2014 11:16 PM
Quintin Milne battled "Arctic" conditions to win Saturday's Brick & Steel Border Counties Rally – his second victory in the ARR Craib Scottish Rally Championship.
Co-driven by Martin Forrest from Aberdeen, the Banchory driver was fastest through three of the four special stages (the third stage was cancelled because of snow and access problems) to finish with a total time of 38 mins 27 secs in his Mitsubishi EVO 9.
Fellow Aberdeenshire competitor Barry Groundwater, also in an EVO 9, was runner up, a further 1 min 07 secs back, alongside navigator Neil Shanks from Elgin. The final podium spot went to County Durham's Stephen Petch, co-driven by Michael Wilkinson, who was another nine seconds adrift in his EVO.
However, with Petch not registered for the SRC, it was defending champions and two times Border Counties winners David Bogie and Kevin Rae who took the championship points after bringing their Ford Focus WRC back to Jedburgh in fourth place overall.
With safety concerns uppermost, the rally organisers had decided to switch the running order and put the 4WD cars first, with the smaller engined cars in classes 1-7 following on behind.
Milne, who won the final Colin McRae Stages round in 2012, did not have the best of starts – only managing seventeenth fastest after a spin on the opening Hyndlee stage. It was won by one of the pre-event favourities, Euan Thorburn, in his Ford Focus WRC, while fourth seed Jock Armstrong was an early casualty, going off the road in his Subaru Impreza.
The second test, Wauchope, saw Milne quickest – twenty-seven seconds ahead of Groundwater, who moved into the overall lead. Derbyshire's Oliver Mellors – competing on his fourth event - was sitting third at this point in his Proton Satria Neo S2000, and Dale Robertson from Duns was twenty-three seconds further back in his EVO 9. Malcolm Wilson Rally winner Thorburn, with Paul Beaton on the notes, lost time after a spin and was down in ninth overall.
With the Craik stage cancelled, crews moved on to Bewshaugh, where Milne again posted the fastest time, fourteen seconds quicker than Bogie, who had been regretting wrong tyre choice – a critical factor given the changeable surface conditions. Petch was third fastest, and moved into third overall, while Groundwater – who was also having tyre problems - slipped back to fourth, ahead of the EVO 9's of Donnie Macdonald/Andrew Falconer, and sixth-placed Mike Faulkner/Peter Foy, who had dropped a minute with a puncture on stage one.
The final Riccarton test was about whether Milne could keep his nose in front of the hard-charging Groundwater. In the event, the Banchory driver managed to slip and slide his car through in one piece to take the stage win by four seconds over his Stonehaven rival. At the conclusion, Petch was secure in third place overall, ahead of Bogie, MacDonald and Faulkner.
Event sponsor John McClory, co-driven by David Hood, ended a trying day by taking Group N honours in his Subaru Impreza N15, finishing seventh overall, while Aberdeenshire's Chris Collie and Lisa Watson in a Mitsubishi EVO 6; Dougal Brown and Lewis Rochford in an EVO 9; and Andy Horne and Jim Howie in the DAM 4100gti were each separated by a single second in eighth, ninth and tenth places respectively.
The first 2WD car home was the Ford Escort of Steve Bannister and Louise Sutherland: the Yorkshireman taking the historic class win by more than two minutes from Charlie Taylor and Mick Johnston, also in an Escort.
Alwick's Carl and Robin Tuer made sure of victory in the 1600cc category in their MG ZR S1600, finishing fifty seconds ahead of local crew Kieran Renton and Carin Logan in a Ford Fiesta R2.
Ross Macdonald from Conon Bridge, with Matthew Johnstone of Inverness on the notes, took top honours in Class 2 in their Vauxhall Corsa, while Dumfries and Galloway's Iain Haining and Mairi Riddick, in a Vauxhall Nova, won Class 3 – ending the day with a three minute advantage over Lauder's Callum Atkinson and co-driver Craig Forsyth from Kelso in a Peugeot 205 Gti.
Posted: July 17, 2014 11:13 PM
1 Quintin Milne (Banchory)/Martin Forrest (Aberdeen) Mitsubishi EVO 9 38m 27s
2 Barry Groundwater (Stonehaven)/Neil Shanks (Elgin) Mitsubishi EVO 9 39.34
3 Stephen Petch (Bishop Auckland)/Michael Wilkinson (Tow Law) Mitsubishi EVO 9 39.43
4 David Bogie (Dumfries)/Kevin Rae (Hawick) Ford Focus WRC 40.08
5 Donnie MacDonald (Inverness)/Andrew Falconer (Inverness) Mitsubishi EVO 9 41.05
6 Mike Faulkner (Aspatria)/Peter Foy (Bingley) Mitsubishi EVO 9 41.30
7 John McClory (Strathblane)/David Hood (Elderslie) Subaru Impreza N15 41.55
8 Chris Collie (Aberdeen)/Lisa Watson (Alford) Mitsubishi EVO 6 42.05
9 Dougal Brown (Inverness)/Lewis Rochford (Inverness) Mitsubishi EVO 9 42.06
10 Andy Horne (Inverness)/Jim Howie (Kilmarnock) DAM 4100Gti 42.27
Posted: March 17, 2013 6:20 PM
Four times Scottish champions David Bogie and co-driver Kevin Rae head a strong field of nearly ninety crews for next Saturday's Brick & Steel Border Counties Rally as they seek a third successive victory on the Jedburgh-based event.
The pair are pushing for an unprecedented fifth straight title in the ARR Craib MSA Scottish Rally Championship.
However, Bogie is still getting to grips with his ex-Colin McRae Ford Focus WRC, and Euan Thorburn - with a year's experience of his Focus behind him, plus an impressive win on the Malcolm Wilson Rally earlier this month - will be keen to build momentum.
Having won last year's Jim Clark Reivers Rally, the Duns driver, with Paul Beaton from Inverness on the notes, is targeting top honours on his other "home" event - five years on from his dad Ali's victory in a Subaru Impreza.
Mike Faulkner and Peter Foy - runners-up twelve months ago - will be eyeing a podium place in their recently-acquired Mitsubishi EVO 9.
"The Kielder stages are fast and flowing and they're great stages to attack, "said Faulkner: "Commitment levels have to be high with fast roads and big ditches which reward the brave. The top ten seems to keep getting stronger and stronger, and while Euan and David will be hard to beat, there are a whole host of drivers now that could come away with a top five result headed up as ever by Jock Armstrong".
Having missed out on the event last year, fourth-seed Armstrong returns to the Border Counties intent on a strong placing in his Subaru Impreza, following two non-finishes in 2010 and 2011. The Castle Douglas driver and navigator Kirsty Riddick only contested three SRC rounds last season, but finished in the top three on each occasion.
Two Aberdeenshire-based championship regulars looking to kick-start their campaigns are Barry Groundwater, co-driven by Neil Shanks, and Quintin Milne, alongside Martin Forrest, both in Mitsubishi EVO 9's. Groundwater and Milne finished fourth and seventh respectively last year.
The Border Counties has attracted a strong "Highland" contingent, led by Donnie Macdonald, co-driven by Andrew Falconer, in an EVO 9. Andy Horne, with Jim Howie navigating, is also seeded in the top ten in his DAM 4100GTi. The pair finished fourth overall in Jedburgh two years ago.
Cumbrians Paul Benn and Richard Cooke could pose a threat in their Ford Focus WRC, while event sponsor John McClory, with David Hood on the notes, will be the man to beat in the Group N category in his Subaru Impreza N15. He finished eighth last year, signalling the start of a consistent run of results which took him to third spot in the drivers' championship.
Slightly further back in the starting order, there's added interest with the entries of Welshman Tom Cave – who finished second in the British championship in 2012 – and fellow BRC regular Desi Henry from Portglenone in County Antrim – both in 1600cc Citreon DS3's. Desi's brother Niall is also making the trip over, and will tackle the Border stages in a Subaru N12.
Duns' Dale Robertson, co-driven by Paul McGuire, will be keen to impress in front of home support in his EVO 9, while international co-driver and former Border Counties winner Claire Mole from Kelso will sit alongside rally preparation expert Wayne Sisson, also in an EVO.
Others to watch include BTRDA "hotshot" Matthew Robinson from Ripon in his 2.5 litre Ford Escort, while Eddie O'Donnell Jnr, in an Escort RS, makes the trip over from the Isle of Mull for the second year running.
Cars in Classes 1-7 will run at the head of the field, led by Kielder "maestro" Steve Bannister, co-driven by Hawick's Louise Sutherland, in his historic-category Ford Escort. The pair come fresh from a class-winning drive on the Malcolm Wilson Rally. Fellow Yorkshireman Charlie Taylor, also in an Escort, starts a further two places behind.
Splitting the two is Irish R3 class champion Joseph McGonigle, with Ciaran Geaney on the notes, in a Renault Clio R3 Maxi.
As always there will be fierce competition across all the SRC classes, not least in the1600 cc category, where there is the usual diverse mix of cars. They include last year's runners-up Malcolm Robertson and Katie Stimpson in a Talbot Sunbeam; Alnwick's Carl and Robin Tuer in their MG ZR S1600; up and coming St Boswells' driver Gareth White, in a Citreon C2 R2 Max; Lanarkshire driver Graeme Smith, co-driven by Laura Marshall in a Honda Civic; and Paisley's Alasdair S.Graham, partnered with Laura Stuart, in a Vauxhall Corsa.
The Border Counties will be a first event for both Elgin-based Stuart Morrison, in a Talbot Sunbeam, and Perthshire's Blair Brown, who will have highly experienced driver and navigator Steven Clark beside him in his Peugeot 205GTi.
Contrast that with two "old hands" who competed on the rally in 1983: the aforementioned Steve Bannister, and Ayrshire's Robert Harkness, who back then was at the wheel of an Avenger GT, and next weekend will field his BMW 316i, alongside co-driver Mike Curry from Lockerbie.
The entry list for 1983 also throws up a family connection with the Border Counties which endures to the present day.
On Saturday, Car No 118 will be driven by Kieran Renton from Coldstream, with cousin Carin Logan of Kelso on the notes. Thirty years ago, Car No 133 was driven by Ian (Ginge) Logan – Carin's father - and co-driven by Keiran's dad Keith!
Posted: March 17, 2013 6:19 PM
No Driver/Co-Driver (Make Model) [Class]
1 David Bogie/Kevin Rae (Ford Focus WRC) [12]
2 Euan Thorburn/Paul Beaton (Ford Focus WRC) [12]
3 Mike Faulkner /Peter Foy (Mitsibushi Lancer Evo 9) [12]
4 Jock Armstrong/Kirsty Riddick (Subaru Impreza WRX) [12]
5 Quintin Milne/Martin Forrest (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [12]
6 Barry Groundwater/Neil Shanks (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [12]
7 Donnie MacDonald/Andrew Falconer (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [12]
8 Andy Horne/Jim Howie (Dam 4100gti) [12]
9 Paul Benn/Richard Cooke (Ford Focus WRC) [12]
10 John McClory/David Hood (Subaru Imprezza N15) [10]
11 Chris Collie/Lisa Watson (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) [12]
12 Peter Stephenson/Ian Windress (Ford Focus) [12]
14 Stephen Petch/Michael Wilkinson (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [11]
15 Alistair Inglis/Colin Inglis (Mitsubshi Lancer Evo 5) [12]
16 Tom Cave/Ieuan Thomas (Citroen DS3 R3) [9]
17 Desi Henry/Phil Clarke (Citroen DS3R3) [9]
18 Wayne Sisson/Claire Mole (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX) [12]
19 Oliver Mellors/Reg Smith (Proton Satria Neo S2000) [10]
20 Dougal Brown/Lewis Rochford (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9 ) [12]
21 John Morrison/Peter Carstairs (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9 ) [10]
22 Matthew Robinson/Nigel Hutchinson (Ford Escort) [9]
23 Niall Henry/John Rowan (Subaru Impreza N12b) []
24 Dale Robertson/Paul Mcguier (Mitsubishi Evo 9) [12]
25 Mark McCulloch/Elliott Edmondson (Subaru Impreza) [12]
26 John Rintoul/Jim Rintoul (Mitsubishi Evo 8) [12]
27 Stephen Baillie/Susan Shanks (Subaru Impreza) [12]
28 Fraser Wilson/Steven Broll (mitsubishi EVO 8 ) [10]
29 Eddie O'Donnell jnr/Matt Ratcliffe (Ford Escort RS) [9]
30 Brian Watson/Jane Nicol (Mitsubishi Evo 8) [12]
31 Ian Paterson/James Haugh (Subaru Impreza) [12]
32 Peter Smith/Patrick Walsh (Mazda RX7) [9]
33 Ian Watson/Mike Dickson (Subaru Impreza N11) [12]
34 Robert Harkness/Mike Curry (BMW 316I) [9]
35 Billy Miller /Ian Imlach (Mitsubishi Evo 8) [12]
36 Geoff Goudie/Calum Jaffray (Subaru Impreza) [12]
37 James Brims/Iain Macdonald (Subaru Impreza) [12]
38 Roland Wessel/Malcolm Vie (Lancia Delta Integrale) [12]
39 Stuart Glendinning/Craig Robb (Ford Puma R2000) [8]
40 Don Murray/Stephen Marshall (Subaru Impreza) [12]
41 Duncan Ferguson/Janice Ferguson (ford escort) [9]
42 David Wallbank/Mike Scrimgour (Escort Mk2) [8]
43 Tony Thompson/Paul Hudson (Subaru Impreza N11) [10]
44 Alasdair Anderson/Richard Sutherland (Subaru Inpreza Wrx ) [12]
45 Darren Martin/Martin Steele (Subaru Impreza N10) [12]
46 Joanna Wickham/Paul Banks (Subaru Impreza) [12]
47 Richard Cook/Edwin Cook (Subaru Impreza) [10]
101 Steve Bannister/Louise Sutherland (Ford Escort MK 11) [6]
102 Joseph McGonigle/Ciaran Geaney (Renault Clio R3 Maxi) [7]
103 Charlie Taylor/Mick Johnson (Ford Escort) [6]
104 Malcolm Robertson/Katie Stimpson (Talbot Sunbeam) [4]
105 Carl Tuer/Robin Tuer (MG ZR S1600) [4]
106 Barry Jordan/James Gratton-Smit (ford escort) [6]
107 Graeme Smith/Laura Marshall (Honda Civic) [4]
108 Timothy Cathcart/Barry McNulty (Ford Fiesta) [4]
109 Alasdair S Graham/Laura Stuart (Vauxhall Corsa) [4]
110 Iain Haining/Mairi Riddick (Vauxhall Nova) [3]
111 Ross Hunter/Josh Davison (Peugeot 205) [1]
112 Grant Inglis/Robert Gray (Honda Civic) [4]
114 Iain Wilson/Keith Fremantle (Vauxhall Nova) [4]
115 Ian Forgan/Kathryn Forgan (Ford Ka) [7]
116 Gareth White/Jack Morton (Citroen C2 R2 Max) [4]
117 James Robertson/Colin Maxwell (Citroen C2R2) [4]
118 Kieran Renton/Carin Logan (Ford Fiesta R2) [4]
119 Stewart Davidson/Keir Beaton (Ford Escort Mk2) [5]
120 Alan James Hughes/Richard Wardle (Ford Escort Mk II) [6]
121 Marcus Noble/Helen Hall (Ford Escort MK2) [6]
122 Duncan Campbell/Gavin Chisholm (Honda Civic) [4]
123 Jordan Black/Alan Todd (Peugeot 205gti ) [3]
124 Charles Blair /Mark Roberts (Peugeot 205 GTI) [3]
125 Matthew Kesson/Ronnie Roughead (Ford Fiesta R 2) [4]
126 Callum Atkinson /Craig Forsyth (PEUGEOT 205 GTI) [3]
127 Scott Peacock/Keith Riddick (Peugeot 205 GTI) [3]
128 Graeme Sherry/Peter Weall (Peugeot 205 Gti) [3]
129 Adrian Stewart/Richard Simmonds (Peugeot 205) [3]
130 Ross Macdonald/Matthew Johnstone (Vauxhall Corsa) [2]
131 Robert Rook/Bernard Nolan (Ford Escort mk1) [6]
132 Dave Forrest/Charlie Carter (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
133 Billy Wood/Mary Wood (FORD FIESTA RWD) [5]
134 Peter Humphrey/Douglas Humphrey (Opel Kadett Coupe) [6]
135 Scott Sloan/David Sloan (Vauxhaul Corsa) [2]
136 Blair Anderson Brown/Steven Clark (Peugeot 205 GTI) [3]
137 Douglas Watt/Donald Munro (Ford Escort ) [3]
138 Caroline Carslaw/John D Duke (Ford Fiesta) [7]
139 Simon Hay/Christopher Robertson (Peugeot 205 GTI) [3]
140 Stuart Morrison/James Ralph (Talbot Sunbeam) [3]
141 M. Thaarique Fazal/Kenny McGuire (Peugeot 205) [3]
142 David Goose/Cameron Fair (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
143 Raymond Frank Imeson/Stuart Imeson (TALBOT LOTUS SUNBEAM) [6]
144 Lachlan Cowan/Stuart Louden (Ford Fiesta) [7]