KNC Groundworks Scottish Rally Championship leaders Jock Armstrong and Hannah McKillop took their 2nd win of the season by just five seconds after a dramatic final stage on the Dalbeattie based RSAC Scottish Rally.
he Impreza crew were immediately in the groove in Jock’s home territory, fastest by four seconds in the opening stage and never out of the top two times over the next three stages.
Speyside winners Finlay Retson and Paul Beaton were the Impreza’s closest challengers in their Ford Fiesta Rally 2.
Third quickest in stage 1 they were speeding up as the day progressed, fastest in stage two and tying with Armstrong and McKillop for fastest in stage three. They headed into 2nd service only eight seconds away from the rally lead.
Out for the final two stages and the drama ramped up. Retson and Beaton absolutely flying through stage five, six seconds quicker than everyone else and crucially eight quicker than Armstrong and McKillop. The top two now tied on time with just one run through Dalbeattie left.
It was to be a dramatic finale, both crews putting their cars off the road – but the difference was their luck. A suspected puncture left the Fiesta crew stuck on some rocks and unable to continue while the Impreza amazingly bounced back onto the road with only cosmetic damage.
Finlay and Paul were still able to take positives from the fact that they were able to run Armstrong so close in his home forests.
Last year’s Scottish winners Michael Binnie and Claire Mole were back in the Ford Fiesta R5 they first campaigned on this year’s Speyside.
They were on the move on the final loop. 2nd quickest in stage five and fastest in six saw the Fiesta close to within five seconds of the win at the finish. A good result and a fitting send off for Claire as she takes a step back from rallying.
The battle for the final podium place ended up being very close. David Henderson and Chris Lees made a wrong tyre choice for the 1st two stages and dropped 43 seconds to the leaders.
Once they were on the right tyre they began to make up time and were on the charge, heading into the final loop 8 seconds behind the Hyundai i20 of John Wink and Neil Shanks. Henderson and Lees jumped past the Hyundai in stage 5 by just one second.
The two crews then set identical 2nd fastest times on the final stage to stay that single second apart. Henderson and Lees completing a successful salvage job after their tyre issues in the morning.
John Crawford and Josh Davison topped the Autoshop two-wheel-drive and Albyn Garage Challengers standings at the end of the 6 stages.
Top front-wheel-drive and Moates Offshore Junior honours went to the flying Opel Adam R2 of Robert Proudlock and Steven Brown. Delighted to be back in the woods, Jim Robertson and Mike Curry took top honours in the Haddo Energy Super Seniors.
John McIlwraith and Heather Grisedale endured a difficult day on the way to the Groundwater Lift Trucks Subaru Cup win. The Ladies contest was an excellent battle between Meghan O’Kane and Aileen Forrest.
PROVISIONAL OVERALL TOP 5 AFTER ROUND 5 – DRIVERS
1. Jock Armstrong 137pts
2. John Wink 130pts
3. Michael Binnie 108pts
4. Mark McCulloch 94pts
5. Stephen Petch 92pts
PROVISIONAL OVERALL TOP 5 AFTER ROUND 5 – CO-DRIVERS
1. Hannah McKillop 135pts
2. Claire Mole 109pts
3. Neil Shanks 101pts
4. Michael Hendry 93pts
5. Michael Wilkinson 92pts
