Competitors in the ARR Craib MSA Scottish Rally Championship are readying themselves for the only tarmac event in the eight-round series – the Jim Clark Reivers Rally on Sunday June 2nd.
Last year’s winner Euan Thorburn will have local support as he attempts to kick-start his Scottish campaign on the fast Berwickshire stages after a non-finish in his Ford Focus WRC on last month’s Granite City Rally. The Duns’ driver received a confidence boost in the run-up to his home event with a win on the Plains Rally in Wales alongside co-driver Paul Beaton from Inverness.
Reigning Scottish champion David Bogie, meanwhile, is targeting a fourth Reivers victory behind the wheel of his ex-Colin McRae Focus WRC. The Dumfries-based driver, co-driven by Kevin Rae from Hawick, leads the championship by one point from Quintin Milne after a dominant display on the Granite.
On last year’s Reivers, the gearbox of Bogie’s MG Metro 6R4 failed on the opening test, but twelve months on the 25-year-old believes he has a car which could win him back the Reivers crown:
“It was great to get back to winning ways in Aberdeen”, said Bogie: “Up until then we hadn’t been able to assess the full potential of the Focus. Also with it being left-hand drive, we needed more time in the car. We’ve now had that and I’m sure the pace can increase as the season unfolds. I’m really looking forward to the Jim Clark. Obviously, the likes of Euan, Mike Faulkner (Reivers’ runner-up in 2012), and Jock Armstrong (third in 2010 and 2011) are always a threat, but I’d like to think we can battle it out with the guys at the front”.
With just seven points separating Bogie from sixth-placed Donnie MacDonald after two rounds, the high standard of competition in this year’s SRC means a number of drivers could be in with a chance of a podium at the finish in Duns.
Among them, Faulkner and co-driver Peter Foy, whose second-place last year was preceded by a fourth overall in 2011. Faulkner was happy with the performance of his recently-acquired Mitsubishi EVO 9 on the Granite, where he finished third, but admitted he would have liked more time with the car before heading to Duns:
“We’ve still got quite a lot of work to do to get it right on the gravel. We could have done with another couple of events to sort it out properly, and then think about tackling the tarmac. The encouraging thing is that we know there’s more to come from the car. I like the Jim Clark roads and it’s another challenge to get the car set up for it and to get it right. As always on the Reivers, the weather will be a big factor in deciding tyre choice – you can easily get caught out from one stage to the next”.
Castle Douglas crew Jock Armstrong and Kirsty Riddick have still to finish an event this year in their Subaru Impreza. They were on course for a podium place on the Granite, before their challenge ended abruptly with a blown engine.
Fifth seed Milne, winner of the Border Counties, and fourth on the Granite alongside navigator Martin Forrest, was in line for a big points haul on last year’s Reivers, before his EVO 9 succumbed to mechanical problems.
Fellow Aberdeenshire-based driver Barry Groundwater goes into the Jim Clark weekend third in the championship – three points behind Milne. The Stonehaven competitor, with Neil Shanks of Elgin on the notes, took the final podium spot on last year’s Reivers in his EVO 9.
Two local drivers – Dom Buckley and Dale Robertson – finished fourth and fifth respectively last year, and will be looking for another strong showing in front of home support. Buckley will again have Doug Redpath alongside him in his Subaru Impreza, while Robertson, driving an EVO 9, will be co-driven – as in 2012 – by Paul McGuire from Tranent.
Aberdeen’s Chris Collie, with navigator Lisa Watson from Alford, heads to Duns off the back of a second-place finish on the Granite – his best ever SRC result – in his Mitsubishi EVO 6. The pair start one place in front of Donnie Macdonald and fellow Invernessian Andrew Falconer in an EVO 9.
Malton’s Steve Bannister, with Louise Sutherland of Hawick on the notes, is the leading rear-wheel drive entry in his historic class Ford Escort Mk2 – one of eighteen Escorts entered for the rally – while John McClory and David Hood return to the fray in their Group N Subaru Impreza following, what was for them, a rare “off” on the Granite.
Among the 2WD entries, Ian Haining and Mairi Riddick (Vauxhall Nova) will be aiming to keep the momentum going after their Class 3 victory in Aberdeen, while in the 1600cc category, current joint leader Kieran Renton from Coldstream, co-driven by Kelso’s Carin Logan, in a Ford Fiesta R2, will look to get his nose in front, ahead of, among others, Dalbeattie’s Iain Wilson and Keith Fremantle in a Vauxhall Nova; Dumfriesshire duo James Robertson and Ian Crosbie in a Citreon C2R2; and Lanarkshire’s Graeme Smith, with Laura Marshall navigating, in a Honda Civic.
Further details can be found at www.jimclarkrally.com
Jim Clark Reivers Rally Entry List
1 Euan Thorburn (Duns) Paul Beaton (Inverness) Ford Focus WRC
2 David Bogie (Dumfries) Kevin Rae (Jedburgh) Ford Focus WRC
3 Mike Faulkner (Kirtlebridge) Peter Foy (Bingley) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9
4 Jock Armstrong (Clarebrand) Kirsty Riddick (Haugh of Urr) Subaru Impreza
5 Quintin Milne (Aberdeen) Martin Forrest (Aberdeen) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9
6 Barry Groundwater (Stonehaven) Neil Shanks (Elgin) Mitsubishi LancerEvo
7 Dom Buckley (Kelso) Doug Redpath (Duns) Subaru Impreza
8 Dale Robertson (Duns) Paul McGuire (Tranent) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9
9 Chris Collie (Aberdeen) Lisa Watson (Alford) Mitsubishi Evo 6
10 Donnie MacDonald (Inverness) Andrew Falconer (Inverness) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9
11 Steve Bannister (Malton) Louise Sutherland (Hawick) Ford Escort MkII
12 Alistair Inglis (Montrose) Colin Inglis (Edzell) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5
14 Rory Young (Dumfries) Allan Cathers (Carlisle) Mitsubishi Lancer
15 Andy Horne (Inverness) Jim Howie (Kimarnock) Dam 4100gti
16 John McClory (Strathblane) David Hood (Elderslie) Subaru Impreza
17 Peter Stephenson (Hartlepool) Ian Windress (Northallerton) Subaru Impreza
18 Karl Simmons (Southwell) Guy Simmons (Newark) Subaru Impreza
19 Dougal Brown ((nverness) Lewis Rochford (Inverness) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9
20 Simon Bowen (Blackpool) Richard Robinson (Blackpool) Subaru Impreza WRC
21 Alan Gardiner (Biggar) Robin Nicolson (Largs) Ford Escort MkI
22 Carl Tuer (Alnwick) Rob Tuer (Alnwick) MG ZR Super 1600
23 John Rintoul (Leven) Jim Rintoul (Ceres) Skoda Fabia R2
24 John Morrison (Conon Bridge) Susan Shanks (Elgin) Mitsubishi Evo 9
25 Mark McCulloch (Newton Stewart) Elliott Edmondson (Milton Keynes) Subaru Impreza
26 Bob Grant (Kirkcaldy) Peter Carstairs (St Andrews) Subaru Impreza
27 Brian Watson (Stonehaven) Jane Nicol (Duns) Mitsubishi Evo 8
28 Ian Paterson (Dumfries) James Haugh (Sandhead) Subaru Impreza
29 Fraser Wilson (Portwilliam) Steven Broll (PortWilliam) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8
30 Stuart Walker (Bathgate) Julie McGuire (Falkirk) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo
31 Barry Renwick (Consett) Ken Bills (Gateshead) Ford Escort
32 Gary Adam (Dollar) Gordon Adam (Tillicoultry) Ford Escort MkII
33 Robert Harkness (Stewarton) Mike Curry (Lockerbie) BMW 316I
34 Bill Lymburn (Corbridge) Helen Lymburn (Corbridge) Ford Escort MkII
35 Gordon Murray (Perth) David O’Brien (Duns) Ford Escort MkII
36 Ian Watson (Kelso) Mike Dickson (Galashiels) Subaru Impreza N11
37 Stuart Ranby (Retford) Ian Bass (Doncaster) Ford Escort MkII
38 Stuart Paterson (Dumfries) Colin Maxwell (Dumfries) Subaru Impreza
39 Stephen Thompson (Kirkcudbright) Darren Thompson (Tobermory) Ford Escort
40 Richard Stewart (Dumfries) Kenneth Marchbank (Thornhill) Subaru Impreza
41 Lee Hastings (Dumfries) Brian Findon (Dumfries) Subaru Impreza
42 Ian Forgan (Lundin Links) Kathryn Forgan (Lundin Links) Ford KA
43 Stephen Hope (Lesmahagow) Craig Bissett (Lesmahagow) Ford Escort
44 Marcus Noble (Penrith) Helen Hall (Penrith) Ford Escort MkII
45 Paul Ballantyne (Peterhead) Graham Bruce (Laurencekirk) Renault Clio
46 Chris Abel (Banchory) Will Philip (Tarland) Renault Clio
47 Alasdair S Graham (Paisley) Laura Stuart (Alford) Vauxhall Corsa
48 Iain Haining (Dumfries) Mairi Riddick (Haugh of Urr) Vauxhall Nova
49 Iain Wilson (Dalbeattie) Keith Fremantle (Dalbeattie) Vauxhall Nova
50 Ross Marshall (Tullibody) Dave Robson (Jedburgh) Ford Escort
51 Ross Hunter (St Boswells) Gary White (St Boswells) Peugeot 205
52 Kieran Renton (Coldstream) Carin Logan (Kelso) Ford Fiesta R2
53 James Robertson (Penpont) Ian Crosbie (PenPont) Citroen C2R2
54 Graeme Smith (Crossford) Laura Marshall, Honda Civic
55 Matthew Kesson (Dublane) Ronnie Roughead (Newcastle) Ford Fiesta R2
56 Tommy Mackay (Culbokie) Eileen MacLennan (Culbokie) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 3
57 Sean Will (Kintore) Ross Hynd (Aberdeen) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5
58 Ken Wood (Insch) Mike Cruickshank (Crieff) Triumph Dolomite Sprint
59 Stuart Loudon (Larkhall) Johnnie Bould (Glasgow) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9
60 Stewart Davidson (Aboyne) Keir Beaton (Inverness) Ford Escort
61 Kevin Charles (Stainburn) Ross Williams (Tobermory) Ford EscortMkII
62 Malcolm Davey (Bradford) Paul Slingsby (Ilkley) Ford Escort MkI
63 Gordon Halley (Crieff) Jeff Horne (Perth) Ford Escort MkII
64 Kenneth Moore (Larkhall) Richard Wardle (Pickering) Hillman Avenger
65 Kev Dunn (Kelso) James Braithwaite (Newton St Boswells) Vauxhall Nova
66 Stuart Glendinning (Glasgow) Craig Robb (Inverness) Ford Puma R2000
67 James Thomson (Melrose) Alison Woodcock (Coldstream) Vauxhall Nova
68 Michael Deans (Berwick Upon Tweed) John Straughan (Branxton) Mitsubishi Colt 1.4 GLi
69 Tony Thompson (Morpeth) Paul Hudson (Darlington) Subaru Impreza N11
70 Kieran O’Kane (Larbert) John Frew (Tarbolton) Opel Ascona 400
71 Robbie Mitchell (Duns) Allan Dobson, Toyota Corolla
72 Douglas Humphrey (Dunbar) Josh Davison, Opel Kadett GTE
73 Ross McSkimming (Hamilton) Tony Graham (Carlisle) Vauxhall Nova
74 Donald McEwan (Wallyford) Ellis Flemming (Duns) Citroen Saxo
75 Jim McDowall (Creetown) Charlotte McDowall (Creetown) Hillman Avenger
76 Norman MacPhail (Salen) Robert Sherry, Ford Escort MkII
77 Gregg Lithgow (Penicuik) Gordon Clark (Maddiston) Talbot Sunbeam
78 Scott Russell (Lauder) Adam Russell (Lauder) Vauxhall Corsa
79 Gordon Stoddart (Penicuik) Gordon Gray (Edinburgh) Subaru Impreza
80 Ian Donaldson (Dumbarton) TBC, Mitsubishi Evo9
81 Craig Whitehead (Northallerton) Mark Casey (York) Peugeot 205 GTI
82 Adrian Stewart (Aberdeen) Richard Simmonds (Duns) Peugeot 205 Gti
83 Callum Atkinson (Lauder) Craig Forsyth (Kelso) Peugeot 205
84 Graeme Sherry (Gartcosh) Peter Weall (Lenzie) Peugeot 205 Gti
85 Thomas Alexander Heard (Jedburgh) Amanda Jane Burney (Kirkcudbright) Volvo S70 T5
86 Gavin Lloyd (?) Kirsten Dallas, Vauxhall Nova
87 Steven Hay (Glenrothes) Lewis MacDougall (Renfrew) Vauxhall Corsa
88 Ross Pringle (Carluke) Cameron Fair (Stewarton) Vauxhall Corsa
89 Matt Reid (Kirkcaldy) Cameron Reid (Stirling) Ford Focus
90 George Miller (Elgin) Libby Miller (Elgin) Peugeot 106 Rallye
91 Iain Stewart (Muir of Ord) TBC, Austin Mini
92 Peter Fleming (Cockburnspath) Martyn Scott (Kelso) Ford Escort MkII
93 Tom Middlemiss (Edinburgh) TBC, Opel Corsa
94 Ian Shiells (Kelso) Greg Inglis (Montrose) BMW 318 Compact
95 Colin Jackson (Beith) TBC, Mitsubishi Evo6
96 Iain Heard (Jedburgh) Alistair Maxwell (Ancrum) Ford Escort MkII
97 John Paterson (Salen) Paul MacFadyen (Salen) Vauxhall Nova
98 Christopher Tancock (Tiverton) Sara Heathcote (Wokingham) Proton Persona Compact
99 Caroline Will (Kintore) Paula Swinscoe (Chorley) Subaru Impreza
100 Sian Beaty (Holmrook) Julianne Antrobus (Southport) Ford Ka
101 Alexander Adams (Kilbarchan) Kenny McGuire, Nissan Micra
401 Alan Paramore/Rachel Foster, Land Rover Wolf
402 Curtis McKerlie/Neal Stevenson, Land Rover Wolf
403 Marc Paynter/Colin Fisher, Land Rover Wolf
404 Gari Hazelby/Mark Roberts, Land Rover Wolf
405 Blair Thomson/Duane Evans, Land Rover Wolf
