Just 3 weeks removed from the RSAC Scottish Rally the Asset Alliance Group Scottish Rally Championship roadshow heads north-east to Milton of Crathes for round 5 of the 2023 season, the Voyonic Grampian Forest Rally. The best the SRC can offer will square off with the top drivers in the UK as they welcome the Probite British Rally Championship contenders to the Scottish forests.
Championship leader Euan Thorburn tops the SRC seeding, partnered once again by Keir Beaton, and it’s lining up to be a big weekend for the Polo pilot. A maximum score on this round would guarantee him another Scottish title, but if he slips up there are plenty of drivers who can still snatch the championship win.
Finlay Retson & Paul Beaton line up 2nd in the 2nd Volkswagen Polo. They narrowly missed out on 2nd at the Scottish, losing out to Euan & Keir by just 1 second. They will be looking for revenge on Finlay’s home event and Paul will hoping to maintain his co-driver’s points lead, lying 9 points clear of brother Keir after 4 rounds.
Jock Armstrong & Owen Paterson are the 3rd SRC seed, looking to bounce back after a disappointing 1st stage retirement in their home forests last time out.
The Huntly/Elgin team of John Wink & Neil Shanks and Scott Beattie & Welsh co-driver Peredur Davies entertained everyone at the Scottish with a cracking battle for 4th. Scott & Peredur eventually coming out on top. Both will be looking for more of the same this weekend on Scott’s home event.
Mark McCulloch & Michael Hendry continue their development of their unique Evo powered Proton. They head up a string of rapid Pro 4 cars of Stephen Petch & Michael Wilkinson (Fiesta Rally2), local stars Bruce McCombie & Michael Coutts (Fiesta R5), Hugh Brunton & Terry Mallin (Skoda Fabia) and Ian Forgan & Chris Lees (Fiesta Rally2).
Having missed the Scottish, Willie Paterson returns in the Asset Alliance Skoda, with Tom Hynd in the hotseat as usual. They’ll be chased down by another local man, Chris Collie. Chris another looking to bounce back from a Scottish retirement in the Fiesta R5 with regular navigator Ricky Finlayson alongside.
Scott Peacock & Craig Wallace top the Evo entries, they’ll be rekindling their private Mitsubishi battle with top Albyn Garage Challengers seed Johnnie Mackay. Johnnie played 2nd fiddle to Scott & Craig at the Scottish and is joined by Michael Cruickshank for his home event.
Greg McKnight & Harry Marchbank top the G&M Mechanical Services 2wd seeding, the big Escort will be looking to upset the BRC Juniors in their legions of Rally 4 208s, including Scottish 2wd and Challengers winners Robert Proudlock & Steven Brown.
Paddy Munro & Andrew Stevenson head the field chasing the yellow MK2. They’re followed by G&M teammates Craig Rutherford & Ashleigh Will. Craig & Ashleigh making their 1st start of the year in another Peugeot 208 after damaging their Escort at the last round.
Former 2wd champions Dougal Brown & Lewis Rochford return to the championship for the 1st time since the Speyside, still rebuilding their pace after a long layoff from rallying. They’re followed by fellow Mk2 crews Ross Jarrett & Dave Robson, Gordon Morrison & Ian Parker and Fraser Smith & Nikki Addison.
Gordon Murray & Peter Carstairs start the Grampian looking for a 5th Haddo Energy Super Seniors win in a row. Walter Henderson & Jim Kinloch and Ernie & Patricia Lee will be doing their best to stop that happening.
Ernie & Patricia are also part of the ever-growing Historic contingent, with 5 historic specification cars in attendance. They’re headed by the rapid Donald Peacock & Mairi Riddick’s Mk2. Keith Robathan returns in his Firenza with Andrew Brown alongside for this round. Robin Shuttleworth & Malcolm Smithson are back in their MK1 Escort and David McLeod & Eamonn Boyle continue to get to grips with their new Avenger.
4 crews will contest the Groundwater Lift Trucks Subaru Cup. Rob Cotton & Ethan Kidd make the long trip North to take on Moates Offshore Juniors sponsor Mike Moates & Gary McDonald who always go well in these forests. Kevin Jeffray & Iain Macleod and Mike Grant & Graham Kelman will look to make it a 4-way battle.
Justin Gunning & Michael Moates top the Moates Offshore Juniors entry, the Clio crew looking to finally kickstart their year after a very difficult 2024 season. Points leader Meghan O’Kane needs a good run to strengthen that lead, her closest rival Christopher Smith not in attendance for this round. MG3 pilot Thomas Milne makes his 2nd start, competing on his home event as part of his J1000 MG3 Prize Drive.
Meghan also tops the points in the Lady drivers’ contest. The R2 Fiesta pilot squaring off once again with her long-time rival Aileen Forrest. Aileen is out as always in her lovely Mitsubishi and is rejoined by the experienced Paul Gribben who guided her to a Ladies win on the Jim Clark Reivers.
2 stages kick off the event on the Friday evening with a further 7 on the Saturday. As always keep an eye on the Scottish Rally Championship Facebook Page and Youtube channel for live coverage and updates throughout the day.
images courtesy of AF Motorsport Media / Becksport Media
