SRC: FRONT-RUNNERS TARGET “SCOTTISH” HONOURS

SRC: FRONT RUNNERS TARGET “SCOTTISH” HONOURS

2009 RSAC Scottish winners Mike Faulkner and Peter Foy. Photo Credit: LindsayPhotoSport

After four rounds, the Hankook MSA Scottish Rally Championship is finely balanced as more than 100 crews prepare to battle it out on the classic forest stages of south-west Scotland.

Reigning champion David Bogie in a Mitsubishi Evo 9 heads a top class field for next Saturday's RSAC Scottish Rally based in Dumfries.

Fellow title contenders Jock Armstrong (Subaru Impreza) and 2009 "Scottish" winner Mike Faulkner (Mitsubishi Evo 6) are seeded second and third respectively, while current points leader Andy Horne starts fourth in his DAM 4100 Gti.

Fourteen points cover the top five drivers as the Hankook series enters the second half of the season, and, with the best six out of eight rounds deciding the final placings, several front-runners regard the "Scottish" as a critical to their championship hopes.

With two outright wins under his belt this year, including last month's Jim Clark Reivers tarmac round at the wheel of a hired Ford Focus WRC, Bogie is keen to keep up the momentum on his "home" event, alongside co-driver Kevin Rae from Hawick.

"We'll be out to win the rally and take maximum SRC points", that's for sure", said Bogie, who currently sits just one point adrift of Horne in the overall points: "I'd still be happy enough with a top three, but obviously the aim is to go for outright honours".

The 22-year-old Dumfries driver added: "After the damage sustained on the Pirelli International back in April, the car is getting a new engine fitted, and we hope to do a small test prior to next weekend".

Current Hankook Group N leader Jock Armstrong trails Bogie by two points in the overall standings after finishing second of the SRC competitors on the Jim Clark Reivers.

The Castle Douglas ace will have 2008 Scottish Co-drivers' Champion Kirsty Riddick back on the notes for what, for both, is a home SRC round.

"I was very happy with the Reivers result – the car was running well", said Armstrong: "But we need to capitalise this weekend and boost our points tally even more".
Defending RSAC Scottish title holder Mike Faulkner knows the pressure is on if he is to stay in contention for overall honours.

The Kirtlebridge-driver is fifth in the points as he strives to keep his championship campaign on track alongside long-time navigator Peter Foy of Bingley.

"We really like the Dumfries stages - I think they're some of the best in the country", said Faulkner: "We'll be focussed 100 percent on trying to make it two "Scottish" wins in a row, and if we succeed, we're in with as good a shout as anybody to take the championship.
If David or Jock win the Scottish, then we'll be on the back foot for the rest of the season, that's for sure".

With erstwhile championship leader Alick Kerr failing to finish the Reivers, Horne inherited the top spot after finishing fourteenth of the SRC competitors in Berwickshire, to add to his three top ten finishes over the first three events.

With co-driver Jim Howie, the Inverness-based driver will be out to make amends for a non-finish in Dumfries last year, having sat out the event in 2008.

Shaun Sinclair – currently lying second in GpN behind Armstrong - starts fifth on Saturday in his Mitsubishi Evo 9 alongside Chris Hamill.

It has been a mixed season so far for the Oban pair – maximum SRC points on the Border Counties, was followed by a non-finish on the Granite City, and seventh of the registered championship crews on the Reivers.

Said Hamill: "We need to find some consistency and be able to run top five stage times for the whole of the "Scottish. The aim is to score 25 points plus on the remaining rounds to stay in the hunt".

The "Scottish" was Wayne Sisson's only SRC-round last season, and he impressed by finishing runner-up to Faulkner.

This year, Sisson is contesting the full championship, and, like Sinclair, has had mixed results at the wheel of his Evo 9.

Currently two points adrift of Faulkner in the drivers' standings, the Lancashire-based rally preparation expert is targetting nothing less than a podium finish this time around.

"We need some top finishes to keep us in the hunt for what is now likely to be a runners-up spot in the championship at best", said Sisson, who will again have David MacFadyen of Inverness on the notes.

"We can't afford any more dropped scores, so that's in the back of my mind as well as knowing we have to push hard – so it's quite a difficult position".

Following a consistent run over the first three rounds, Alick Kerr's championship aspirations took a knock on the Reivers, when he was forced to retire his Subaru Impreza with two broken drive-shafts.

With repairs completed, the 21-year-old Lanarkshire driver is targetting a trouble-free run alongside navigator Neil Shanks.

"If we are to make an impression on the championship, then we need to be on the podium", said Kerr: "Whoever lifts the crown at the end of the season needs victories, and we're not there yet".

Steve Bannister and co-driver Louise Sutherland led home the 2-wheel drive competitors on last year's Scottish, and, on present form, the "Malton Missile" will again to be the man to beat. He currently lies ninth in the overall drivers' standings – his Ford Escort Mk2 sandwiched amidst a block of eight "Evos".

The top seeded 1600 challenger is Alasdair Graham in his Vauxhall Corsa, but the Paisley competitor is likely to face strong competition from the Honda Civics of leading Scottish Junior Graeme Schoneville, Aberdeen's Euan Duncan, and Ross Hunter of St Boswells.

In Class 3, Garry Pearson of Duns currently shares the points lead with fellow Peugeot 205 Gti driver Steven Smith of East Kilbride, while former Junior Champion Mark McCulloch from Newton Stewart returns to 2-wheel drive competition at the wheel of a "Pug" – having notched up some impressive results in a Subaru Impreza over the first four rounds.

Mike Rae of Inverness, driving a MG ZR, will be aiming to build on his ten point advantage in Class 2 over Port William's Fraser Wilson in a Vauxhall Nova.

Ahead of the main field, David Killin's Opel Kadette will lead off a strong entry of eleven "historics" which also includes seven Escorts of various specifications.

Competitors will tackle 45 miles through the Dumfriesshire forests, and the event will again feature the popular special spectator stage at Heathhall, close to the main service area.

For full details, go to www.scottishrally.co.uk

News of all SRC rounds can be found at www.scottishrallychampionship.co.uk

RSAC Scottish Rally – Top Ten Seeds

1 David Bogie (Dumfries) Kevin Rae (Hawick) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9

2 Jock Armstrong (Castle Douglas) Kirsty Riddick (Haugh of Urr) Subaru Impreza

3 Mike Faulkner (Kirtlebridge)/Peter Foy (Bingley) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6

4 Andy Horne (Inverness) Jim Howie (Kilmarnock) DAM 4100 GTi

5 Shaun Sinclair (Oban)/ Chris Hamill (Kilmore) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9

6 Wayne Sisson (Burton In Kendal) David MacFadyen (Inverness) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9

7 Alick Kerr (Bothwell) Neil Shanks ( Elgin) Subaru Impreza

8 Barry Groundwater (Stonehaven) Daniel Paterson (Stonehaven) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9

9 Calum MacKenzie (Inverurie) Alan Clark (Glasgow) tba