The pair only had to finish the event – the final round of the County Saab Scottish Championship - to make sure of the junior title.
At the end of the four completed stages they were lying comfortably third in class and 49th overall in their Peugeot 205 Gti - a result which also saw them take second spot in the 1.6 class in the Ecosse 205 Challenge.
However, with the final stage cancelled following an accident, the clutch and starter motor of McCulloch's Peugeot failed on the way back into Perth city centre - and with the formality of handing in time-cards uppermost in their minds - the duo were forced to push their ailing car to the final control.
Elsewhere, it proved a day of mixed fortunes for Dumfries and Galloway crews as they tackled the famed Perthshire stages in front of huge crowds who had turned out to witness a host of rallying "legends" compete the event in memory of the late Colin McRae.
Dumfries driver David Bogie endured a difficult day to clinch fifth overall at the wheel of his first left-hand drive car - an 05 Ford Focus WRC.
Although he quickly adapted to the change in driving position, he was far from happy with the set-up of the car.
Bogie had switched to the hired Focus after crashing his Toyota Corolla WRC - the car in which he won last year's "McRae" - on the Merrick Forest Stages Rally.
Mike Faulkner powered his BSW-Timber backed Mitsubishi Evo 6 to sixth place – despite a puncture on the fourth stage - to consolidate second place in the championship: the Gretna-based driver and navigator Peter Foy having already won the Group A title.
Once again, Faulkner traded stage times with team-mate Steven Clark with just one second separating them at the finish.
Dumfries-born Clark, now based in Elgin, secured the Scottish Championship Group N category for showroom-specification cars in his Evo 4, following what he, and co-dirver Michelle Falconer, described as a "trouble free day".
Not so for Steven's dad Ivor - the Gretna veteran retiring his Hillman Avenger with a broken wheel at the finish of the second 12.40 mile Errochty stage.
Castle Douglas father and son Ian and Callum Bendall were also among the award-winners - Ian and navigator Richard Barbar-Fleming taking third spot in Class 4 in their Vauxhall Corsa, while three cars further back, Callum and co-driver Jim Haugh achieved top honours in Class 2 in their Ford Ka.
Dumfries and Galloway finishers – with total times (mins/secs)
5th overall David Bogie (Dumfries)/Kevin Rae (Hawick) Ford Focus WRC 34.58
6th Mike Faulkner (Gretna)/Peter Foy (Bingley) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 35.13
7th Steven Clark (Gretna)/Michelle Falconer (Inverness) Mitsubishi Evo 4
35.14
49th Mark McCulloch(Newton Stewart)/Craig Wallace(Kirriemuir) Peugeot 205 39.30
80th Ian Bendall/Richard Barbar-Fleming (Castle Douglas) Vauxhall Corsa43.41
83rd Callum Bendall/James Haugh (Castle Douglas) Ford Ka 43.58
For full results, go to www.flyingfinish.co.uk
Details of all SRC rounds can be found at www.scottishrallychampionship.co.uk