Round 1 of the 2016 ARR Craib Scottish Rally Championship, the Arnold Clark Jury’s Inn Snowman Rally, saw Inverness crew Donnie MacDonald and Andrew Falconer claim their maiden SRC win on their home event. Their Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX finished a mere seven seconds quicker than the similar machine of Dale Robertson and Stuart Loudon.
Just after winning the rally Donnie remarked that it felt “like winning the Champions League,” and after having had over a week to reflect, it still means just as much.
“It feels superb!” He said: “If I only win one this was the one for me. The support I’ve had from non-rallying people is amazing!”
“I’m delighted for my co-driver also, I think it meant more to him. He will go on to win plenty more times I’m sure.”
The Snowman Rally was as third place finisher Quintin Milne put it “a complete lottery”, with challenging conditions varying from flowing gravel to treacherous ice and snow in the stages. This meant road positioning and tyre choice played a large influence on the outcome.
Therefore despite winning the rally, MacDonald is aware that he won’t have it easy if he is to win more SRC rounds.
“We made some right [tyre] choices on the day and got some good luck for once. There are six people I believe that can win any round or even the championship.”
For the next round of the SRC, the Brick & Steel Border Counties Rally, Donnie is aiming for the same as he was on the Snowman, a top three finish.
Before that though, he is travelling to Wales to do the Mid Wales Stages, the first round of the 2016 British Rally Championship.
He said: “I’m setting out to do the whole BRC championship, so we will see how it goes and if the car holds up to all these events. I’ll be trying my hardest for a top three down there. It’s going to be tough though!”
MacDonald and the rest of the Scottish Rally Championship contingent are next in action on March 19th, on the Border Counties Rally based in Jedburgh.
