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Bogie and Rae win RSAC Scottish Rally |
 David Bogie and Kevin Rae were fastest through the forests of Dumfries and Galloway on Saturday, winning the 2010 RSAC Scottish Rally. Dumfries junior Bogie and Hawick co-driver Rae took the spoils in the fifth round of the Hankook MSA Scottish Rally Championship after a closely fought battle that raged over forty-five miles and took in six challenging forest stages. Piloting a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9, Bogie and Rae edged out the older Mitsubishi of last year’s winners Mike Faulkner and Peter Foy to secure the win on David’s home rally. The Mitsubishi of Highland hotshot David Wilson and co-driver Drew Sturrock snatched the final podium position at the death from Subaru driver and fellow shooting star Alick Kerr. The Grampian crew of Barry Groundwater and Daniel Paterson rounded out the top five in yet another Mitsubishi.
Competitors were faced with hot, dry and dusty conditions as they made their way between the trees, with the plumes of dust kicked up by preceding cars adding another challenge for drivers to negotiate. The local crew of Jock Armstrong and Kirsty Riddick were expected to feature strongly, but were forced to retire early on after suffering a puncture and becoming irretrievably stuck in soft ground.
Aberdeen’s Calum MacKenzie finished first two-wheel drive car with Glasgow co-driver Alan Clark in the Mark 2 Ford Escort, over half a minute ahead of nearest rivals Malcolm Buchanan and Ian Nicoll in a similar car. In the one-make Brick and Steel Ecosse Challenge series, Borderers Ross Hunter and Eildon Hall finished first in the category for Honda Civic cars, with Clydesdale’s Steven Smith and Russell Fair fastest in the Peugeot 205 section. Englishmen Robin Shuttleworth and Ronnie Roughead won the historic rally in a Mark 1 Ford Escort.
“A very good day, the pace was very quick and I was pushing hard all the way to the finish,” admits Bogie, the defending Scottish Rally Champion. “The conditions were very challenging and this is a tough rally on the car, so I was very pleased that the car ran faultlessly all day.”
“As always, the support we received from Dumfries and Galloway Council in every step of the rally planning process was tremendous,” commented Clerk of the Course Jonathan Lord. “This year, rally headquarters were for the first time located at Barony Agricultural College, and we wish to extend our sincere thanks to all those associated with the Barony for providing a first-class venue and making us feel right at home.” RSAC Scottish Rally – Saturday 26 June – Leading finishers 1. David Bogie (Dumfries) / Kevin Rae (Hawick) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 44 minutes 20.8 seconds; 2. Mike Faulkner (Lockerbie) / Peter Foy (Bingley) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 44.40.0; 3. David Wilson (Alness) / Drew Sturrock (Marykirk) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 45.36.6; 4. Alick Kerr (Bothwell) / Neil Shanks (Elgin) Subaru Impreza 45.38.4; 5. Barry Groundwater (Stonehaven) / Daniel Paterson (Stonehaven) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 45.59.7; 6. Andy Horne (Inverness) / Jim Howie (Kilmarnock) DAM 4100 GTi 46.11.9; 7. Shaun Sinclair (Oban) / Chris Hamill (Kilmore) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 46.13.1; 8. Donnie MacDonald (Culloden) / Keir Beaton (Inverness) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 46.21.5; 9. Wayne Sisson (Burton in Kendal) / David MacFadyen (Inverness) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 46.28.8; 10. Rory Young (Dumfries) / Allan Cathers (Carlisle) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5 46.42.6. |
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It's the end of June, the sun is (hopefully) shining and it's midway through the Scottish rally season. That means it's time for the rally circus to head to Dumfries for the RSAC Scottish Rally, which is taking place on Saturday 26 June. Apparently there's another sporting event taking place at the moment, but you can be certain there will be no vuvuzelas anywhere near the forests of Dumfries and Galloway!
Three local drivers head the entry list for the Scottish, which is the fifth round of the Hankook MSA Scottish Rally Championship. Defending champion David Bogie of Dumfries will lead the field away in his Mitsubishi Lancer, partnered as usual by Hawick's Kevin Rae. Right behind are the Castle Douglas crew of Jock Armstrong and Kirsty Riddick in a Subaru Impreza, with last year's winners Mike Faulkner of Lockerbie and Peter Foy of Bingley third away in another Mitsubishi Lancer.
As last year's Scottish proved, however, any one of a number of crews could take the win in one of Scotland's oldest motor sport events. Junior driver Alick Kerr of Lanarkshire and Elgin co-driver Neil Shanks have been challenging for wins all season long in a Subaru Impreza, whereas Lancashire’s Wayne Sisson will be hoping to top last year's second place in the Mitsubishi Lancer with Invernesian David MacFadyen on the notes. Argyll Mitsubishi crew Shaun Sinclair and Chris Hamill are another who won't be far away from an outright win, and what's to say current Scottish championship leader Andy Horne and co-driver Jim Howie won't spring a surprise in the DAM 4100 GTi?
Yorkshireman Steve Bannister and Hawick navigator Louise Sutherland are leading two-wheel drive entrants in the historic-specification Mark 2 Ford Escort, but they could have company in the form of Escort specialists Calum MacKenzie and Alan Clark. Mackenzie and Clark have acquired a new Mitsubishi to complement their Ford Escort, but have still to confirm whether they'll take to the forests in the Ford or the four-wheel drive Mitsubishi.
In the Brick and Steel Ecosse Challenge, Euan Duncan and Peter MacInnes lead the Honda Civic section from Graeme Schoneville and Phil Coulby, with Grant Inglis and Robert Gray hot on their heels. Garry Pearson is out in front in the Peugeot 205 category, but is coming under pressure from Sean Robson/Iain Robson, Steven Smith/Russell Fair and Jamie Watson/Stephen Williamson to name but a few. 2008 Scottish junior champion Mark McCulloch of Newton Stewart is also set to return to the 205 fold for one of his home rallies with regular navigator Craig Wallace.
Meanwhile, it is with great disappointment that rally announces the Armed Forces Rally Team will not be participating in the 2010 RSAC Scottish Rally. The team have been an integral part of the rally since its earliest years, establishing themselves as fearsome competitors in their own right in the Land Rovers as well as being a welcome sight for crews of smaller cars stuck in ditches! The highly professional yet friendly approach of the Armed Forces team symbolises everything the RSAC Scottish Rally strives to stand for, and the loss is met with great sorrow by rally organisers. The rally is, however, keen to keep the association with the armed forces alive and will once again be donating half of the proceeds from the event tombola and silent auction to the Help for Heroes charity. All those involved with the RSAC Scottish Rally wish the Armed Forces Rally Team every success in their future endeavours and hope they will return to the forests of Scotland soon. |
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Scottish Rally gathers momentum |
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The RSAC Scottish Rally takes place on Saturday 26 June, but there will be plenty of activity in the Dumfries area in the days and weeks leading up to the event. Rally organisers have announced an expanded programme of buildup activities as they look to build support for the fifth round of the Hankook Scottish Rally Championship.
Things kick off with a Preview Day in Dumfries Town Centre on Saturday 12 June, where a range of competing cars will be on display and there will be the chance to win rally prizes in a charity raffle. This year the rally will support two charities - the Children's Ward at Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary and Help for Heroes. So come along, buy a ticket, hopefully win some rally goodies, and help two very worthwhile causes. A forum will also be held at the Preview Day, where a number of competitors hoping for success in the upcoming rally will answer questions about their season and the sport in general. Programmes detailing the route, and time schedule for the rally, will be on sale at £2.50.
The following Saturday (19 June), the rally will take part in the Guid Nychburris Parade. A rally car will join the rest of the floats and marchers for the parade through Dumfries.
The following Saturday is, of course, the rally itself! Rally headquarters this year will be based at the Barony Agricultural College, with competing cars being scrutineered and the rally helpdesk located in the Barony – just a few miles out of Dumfries at Parkgate. Rally day sees the usual ceremonial start and finish in front of the Mid Steeple, with cars hitting the ever-popular Heathhall Spectator Stage at about 9.30am.
If you want to get even closer to the action, though, then why not come and join the event’s marshaling team? Chief Marshal Craig Webster and his Deputy, Grahame Douglas, are always looking for new members to join the team that keeps the rally running, and we can guarantee you’ll be well looked after when you’re out in the forests! Contact
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if you’re interested.
RSAC Scottish Rally – Schedule of Events - Saturday 12 June – Preview Day – Dumfries Town Centre – 10 am – 3.30pm
- Saturday 19 June – Guid Nychburris Parade – Dumfries – 6pm
- Friday 25 June – Scrutineering – Barony Agricultural College – from 4pm
- Saturday 26 June – Ceremonial Start – first car 8.00am
- Saturday 26 June – Spectator Special Stage - Heathhall – first car due 9.30am
- Saturday 26 June – Ceremonial Finish – first car due 3.20pm
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Great Success at Rally Preview |
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The Scottish Rally held its preview day in Dumfries on 12th June, giving the people of Dumfries the chance to see the cars that will be in action. The day featured a Charity Tombola which included prizes donated by Phones 4 U, Vodafone, West Sound and the AA. The tombola will benefit the Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary Children’s Ward and Help for Heroes. The Safety Camera Partnership were also on hand to provide details of the dangers of speeding on the open road. Local Rally stars Mark McCulloch, Dave Crozier, Mike Faulkner, Lt Col Donald Urquhart and Kirstie Marshall were on hand to answer questions with their cars, with cars also supplied by local drivers David Hughes and Lee Hastings. The Rally is grateful to David Slater for providing the short film about the Rally Preview day. The Rally will be be represented on Saturday 19th June at the Guid Nychburris parade in Dumfries. |
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The Brick and Steel Ecosse Challenge is back for 2010 - and bigger than ever! In addition to the ever-popular 205 Ecosse Challenge, this year sees the introduction of the Civic Ecosse Challenge for Honda Civic cars. The championship has been expanded to nine rounds for this year, taking in the resurrected Rally of Argyll as well as the usual favourites including the RSAC Scottish Rally.
The season has started with a bang in both the Civic and 205 classes, and each of the one-make championships is likely to go down to the wire thanks to the depth and quality of competition. Aberdeen service engineer Euan Duncan and Maryburgh co-driver Peter MacInnes took the Civic spoils on the season-opening Border Counties Rally, but strong performances from Graeme Schoneville/Phil Coulby, Ross Hunter/Eildon Hall, Grant Inglis/Robert Gray and Ruary MacLeod indicate that Euan won't have it all his own way over the course of the year.
Just as exciting is the potential of the Honda Civic Challenge Car in its own right. Despite being built and run within a tightly controlled environment, the Civics are more than capable of taking the fight to the other cars in the Scottish Rally Championship's Class 4. The class, open to Super 1600 cars and 1600cc 16-valve cars, is regarded as one of the most competitive classes in Scottish rallying and tends to attract highly-developed machinery. Nevertheless, the Civics of Duncan and Schoneville have been topping the class timesheets on every round this year, underlining the potential of the cost-effective Civic.
Meanwhile, the St Boswells son-and-father crew of Sean and Iain Robson drew first blood in the section for the ubiquitous Peugeot 205 GTi, romping to victory on the Border Counties. The Robsons came back to the ground with a crash, however, when they were forced to retire from the Granite City Rally after striking a log. The teenage crew of Garry Pearson and Kirstie Marshall took the spoils on the Granite, seizing the championship lead in the process. But with Jamie Watson - son of 1971 Scottish champion Bob Watson - and East Kilbride student Steven Smith hot on Pearson's heels, this year's 205 series is set to be as close as ever.
The Challenge crews now have a two-month break before the action resumes. It's still too early to guess who's going to win the prestigious one-make titles this season, but now that the markers have been laid down, all the crews will be going flat-out when they hit the forests of Dumfries and Galloway for the RSAC Scottish Rally.
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