Hectic time for rally
TEAM-MATES Mark McCulloch from Newton Stewart and Fraser Wilson of Port William have been burning the midnight oil - preparing their cars for tomorrow's RSAC Scottish Rally in Dumfries.
The engines of both cars failed on last month's Jim Clark Reivers tarmac event in Berwickshire, and the pressure has been on to get the work completed in time for the fifth round of the Hankook MSA Scottish Championship.
The pair stripped down and totally re-built a new engine for McCulloch's Vauxhall Corsa, and Wilson bought another car to source an engine for his Nova – the settings for which had to be changed from tarmac to forest driving.
Away from the garage, they have been busy studying the route for the Scottish Rally with the help of a DVD, while Wilson's co-driver Steven Broll, also from Port William, has been studying and amending notes from previous rallies.
The event – which has attracted a bumper entry of more than 130 cars - is an important one for both crews.
McCulloch, who will again have Craig Wallace from Angus on the notes, currently leads Class 4 by just two points, while Wilson and Broll lie second in Class 2 in the drivers' and co-drivers' standings.
McCulloch said: "We're really looking forward to the Scottish. Having the Fiesta Championship as part of the rally should make it really good to gauge our pace. We feel we need to go for an all-out attack and set some times similar to the last few on the Granite and the ones at the start of the Jim Clark, before the engine blew."
Among the 4-wheel drive contestants, Newton Stewart farmer Craig McMiken returns to Scottish Championship action behind the wheel of his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9.
He sat out the Jim Clark Reivers, but is keen to get his campaign back on track alongside Berwick co-driver Christine Sanderson.
The pair are seeded 20th for the Dumfries-based event, and McMiken hopes that being back on "home soil" will result in a strong finish.
Meanwhile, Creetown's Jim McDowall and co-driver Colin Johnstone, from Minnigaff, will be competing in their distinctive and beautifully-prepared Mazda 323 Turbo.
Elsewhere, just three points separate Jock Armstrong of Castle Douglas and David Bogie from Dumfries at the top of the Hankook championship.
On last month's Jim Clark Reivers, Bogie turned in a near perfect display of controlled driving in his Mitsubishi Evo 9 to take maximum points.
Armstrong, meanwhile, endured a difficult day on the tarmac at the wheel of his Subaru Impreza N11 – due mainly to problems with the car's engine control unit – but still managed to finish sixth overall and fifth in the points.
In so doing, he kept his nose in front in both the overall drivers'
standings and Group N.
Similiarly, his navigator, and reigning Scottish Co-drivers' Champion, Kirsty Riddick, from Haugh of Urr, leads Bogie's notes-man Kevin Rae by three points.
The significance of the "Scottish" is not lost on either crew, heralding as it does the second half of the season.
Armstrong said: "I think the championship will turn at this point for a lot of people, and we all need a win, so the pace will be fantastic. This home event has always been good to me, so bring it on I say."
Bogie, who is seeded at number one for the event with Armstrong starting third, is equally upbeat.
He said: "The win on the Jim Clark was very important for our campaign", said Bogie, adding: "The aim is to carry it through and take maximum points on the Scottish, and, hopefully, emerge as championship leaders. We're confident."
Mike Faulkner, now based at Kirtlebridge, is another local driver who will be looking for a top three finish at the wheel of his Mitsubishi Evo 6, alongside long-time co-driver Peter Foy.
After taking their maiden SRC victory on the Granite City rally in Aberdeen, the pair were forced to retire early on the last round, after the car suffered brake and gearbox problems.
Faulkner said: "The plan is to forget the Reivers ever happened and pick up where we left off on the Granite. If we can get a good result, it'll leave the Championship very much on, with three events to go."
Faulkner's team-mate, Dumfries-born Steven Clark, returns to the action at the wheel of the Evo 4 in which he took last year's Group N title. Clark, who is now based in North Wales, has enlisted the help of his sister Alison as co-driver for the day.
Farmer Rory Young, of Kirkgunzeon, currently rounds off the championship top ten in his Evo 5, and will again have Allan Cathers of Carlisle on the notes for his home event.
"I'm really looking forward it – especially Kinharvie, which is a great stage," said Young.
"We've not been on the gravel since March, having sat out the Granite, so we might be a little rusty, but by the time we get to the top of the hill in Kinharvie and see the Solway I'm sure we'll be back on it!."
Ian and Scott Bendall, of Castle Douglas, will be aiming for a strong finish in their Vauxhall Corsa – Ian is lying fourth in Class 4, seven points adrift of Mark McCulloch.
Thornhill's James Robertson is second in the points in Class 7, and has swapped his Ford Fiesta for a Citreon C2 for his home event, where he will again be accompanied by Mike Rollo of Dumfries.
For the first time since 2006, the "Scottish" will use stages at Castle O'er and Twiglees in Eskdalemuir, along with the popular Kinharvie test, two stages in Ae forest, and one run through the special spectator stage at Heathhall, close to the service area.
The first of the "historics" will be flagged away from Dumfries town centre on Saturday at 0800, with the first 4-wheel drive car at 0930.
Further details of the event, including a seeded entry list, can be found at www.scottishrally.co.uk
For news of all SRC rounds go to www.scottishrallychampionship.co.uk
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Weather for Newton Stewart
Sunday 05 February 2012
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 4 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 0 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North east
