Crews get set for Merrick
RALLY crews are getting set for the weekend's Merrick Rally ahead of an opening 19-mile challenge at Glentrool.
The monster Glentrool stage will be crucial in deciding the outcome of the seventh and penultimate round of the Hankook MSA Scottish Rally Championship, which has attracted nearly 100 entries.
"When you go into that first 19-miler, there's no messing", said 2009 Merrick winner and top seed Jock Armstrong; "You've really got to get to grips with it, and get the feel straight away".
Newton Stewart's Craig McMiken agreed: "The first stage will be the key to the rally and I think a little bit of luck will be required to avoid punctures on such a long section".
With competitors dropping two out of eight rounds before final championship placings are decided, the Wigtown-based "Merrick" is regarded as a "make or break" event.
McMiken, co-driven by Christine Sanderson of Berwick, says there will be no holding back at the wheel of his Mitsubishi Evo 9.
"For me, the tactic will be to go flat out from the start, because the competition is so good. If you slow down and start lifting where you don't need to, it will make your stage time look really poor."
With three class wins so far this year, the Port William crew of Fraser Wilson and Steven Broll are keen to get their championship campaign back on track in their Vauxhall Nova, after a non-finish on the Speyside Stages because of electrical problems.
There was further disappointment on the recent Solway Coast rally, which was traced to a split gearbox. Wilson has since been rebuilding the gearbox in readiness for this weekend.
With two rounds remaining, Wilson is currently second in the Class 2 drivers' rankings, while Broll is equal first in the co-drivers' points.
Meanwhile, Mark McCulloch from Newton Stewart is aiming to have "a bit of fun" on his home event at the wheel of his Peugeot 205 Gti.
"There is really nothing left to battle for this year," said McCulloch: "But I'm looking forward to
the stages down here as they are definitely some of the best in the country. Starting with 19 miles through Glentrool should get the blood pumping early in the day!"
At the top end of the field, Armstrong is in positive mood going into the event he and co-driver Kirsty Riddick dominated last year in their Subaru Impreza.
So far this year, the pair have had one win, three second place points finishes, and two retirements, and are still in the hunt for overall honours.
"I enjoy the Merrick. They're good flowing stages. And obviously being close to home, it's one of the events you want to win", said Armstrong: "As far as the championship is concerned, there's always a chance – it's not done and dusted, but we need consistent results to make it right."
The Castle Douglas driver has the advantage in the Group N standings - with four victories from the four rounds he has successfully completed. "We can just about put that in the bag - so long as we can get the next couple of results".
Defending champion David Bogie starts second, and, with four victories under his belt this season, is moving ever closer to securing a second title.
"Winning the title last year was very, very difficult - a lot of things didn't go in my favour", said the 23-year-old Dumfries driver: "This year it's just all fallen into place - I feel I'm driving well, the car's going well, the team's doing well, so hopefully the Merrick will be no different"."
Third seed Mike Faulkner of Kirtlebridge, who is also third in the overall standings – twenty-one points adrift of Bogie – is looking for a strong finish after a stage one retirement on last year's rally.
"It's a great event, with fast stages that require maximum commitment - they're real driver stages - some of the best in the country", enthused Faulkner: "The championship is difficult for us now, but we're still looking forward to giving 100% and will be attacking from the off."
As well as the Hankook SRC, the "Merrick" – jointly organised by the Machars and Scottish Sporting car clubs - is a round of the Brick & Steel Ecosse Civic and 205 Challenges as well as the Scottish Borders and Five of Clubs Rally Championships.
In the 205 Challenge, Merrick rally manager Allan Marshall's daughter Laura will co-drive for Graeme Smith of Carluke, while cousin Kirstie will be on the notes for David Brown from Neilston.
Completing the family connection, Kirstie's dad Stephen will be navigating for Trevor Longhurst of Thirsk in a Rover 214 SI.
With the re-location of the start/finish and rally headquarters to Wigtown, the route remains one of the most compact in the Scottish calendar, with five classic forest stages totalling 45 miles, and central servicing at Glencaird, close to Glentrool.
The Glentrool Mini Rally will continue to run in conjunction with the main event once again and offers competitors a reduced mileage event of approximately 30 stage miles which forms the counter in the Five of Clubs series.
There will also be a Trophy Rally for those competitors who are forced to retire from the event early, giving them the opportunity of a run through the final two stages.
Several new awards will be presented this year at the post-event prize-giving at the County Buildings in Wigtown.
The John Allan Memorial Quaich will go to the leading "overseas" driver, which includes competitors from Ireland and the Scottish islands.
A stalwart of Scottish rallying, John Allan, who succumbed to cancer in April , was a long-time supporter of the Galloway event, and drove the opening car for a number of years.
Meanwhile, two quaichs, donated by Scottish Sporting Car Club chairman and president Bruce Lyle, will be presented to the leading "Junior" crew on the event.
A group of "historic" cars will run ahead of the main field, including a Lancia Stratos V6 Replica, driven by Andrew Gallacher, son of four times Scottish champion Drew.
The first "historic" will start from outside the County Buildings at 0830 on Saturday, with the main field following from 0910.
Full details can be found at www.merrickstages.co.uk
HANKOOK MERRICK STAGES – DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY COMPETITORS, WITH CAR NO
1 Jock Armstrong (Castle Douglas)/Kirsty Riddick (Castle Douglas) Subaru Impreza
2 David Bogie(Dumfries)/Kevin Rae (Hawick) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9
3 Mike Faulkner (Kirtlebridge)/Peter Foy (Bingley) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6
20 David Hughes (Dumfries)/Bruce Harper (Dumfries) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9
21 Craig McMiken(Newon Stewart)/Christine Sanderson (Berwick) Mitsubishi Evo 9
23 Ian Paterson( Dumfries) /TBA Subaru N10
38 Stuart Paterson (Dumfries)/Colin Maxwell (Dumfries) Subaru Impreza
50 Richard Stewart (Dumfries) /Carin Logan (Kelso) Subaru Impreza
55 James Robertson (Thornhill)/George Myatt (Ae) Citreon C2
56 Peter Stewart (Dumfries)/Phil Shortt (Dumfries) Ford Fiesta ST
57 Iain Haining (Dumfries)/Mairi Riddick (Castle Douglas) Vauxhall Nova
60 Tam Brown (Dumfries)/Mike Curry (Lockerbie) Peugeot 205 Gti
62 Charlie Munro (Dingwall)/Michael Baird (Castle Douglas) Ford Escort Mk2
66 Mark McCulloch (Newton Stewart)/Craig Wallace (Kirriemuir) Peugeot 205 Gti
67 Fraser Wilson (Port William)/Steven Broll (Port William) Vauxhall Nova
79 Graeme Smith (Carluke) /Laura Marshall (Newton Stewart) Peugoet 205
82 David Brown (Neilston)/Kirstie Marshall (Castle Douglas) Peugeot 205
83 Alan McMorran (Castle Douglas)/Albert Connelly (Castle Douglas) Peugeot 205 Gti
84 Mark McCleary (Castle Douglas)/Duncan Hastings Vauxhall Astra
92 Trevor Longhurst (Thirsk)/Stephen Marshall (Newton Stewart) Rover 214 SIarly 19 miles.
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Weather for Newton Stewart
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South
