Just 4 weeks removed from the Beatson’s Jim Clark Reivers Rally the Asset Alliance Group Scottish Rally Championship descends upon Argyll for the 2nd all tarmac round of the season, the Dunoon Presents… Argyll Rally.
One of the trickiest rallies in the championship, challenging stages normally combine with adverse weather conditions to properly test the competitors’ skills.
The 1st big headline is the late entry of the championship leaders, Euan Thorburn & Paul Beaton. The Polo crew making their 1st tarmac start at Argyll but with the likes of David Bogie, Finlay Retson & Jock Armstrong missing from the entry list, it’s a great chance for them to strengthen their position at the top.
That won’t be easy because headline number 2 is the return to the SRC of former Mull and Grampian winner John MacCrone. The Rally 2 Fiesta pilot is joined in the car by former Scottish Champion Kirsty Riddick and should be right on the pace on these roads.
There are plenty of other threats too. Hugh Brunton & Drew Sturrock have had a year of rapid pace but absolutely no luck in Scotland. The Fabia lead Argyll last year before an accident put them out.
Top scorers in Argyll last year, Rory Young & Allan Cathers retired at the same point as Brunton & Sturrock on the Reivers. They guided their Citroen C3 to the top spot on the 2023 Argyll and will be looking to replicate that in their Polo this year.
Michael Binnie & Claire Mole were one of the closest challengers to Young & Cathers in 2023, sticking their Evo 9 on the podium. 2024 has not been their year so far in their Fiesta, having issues at the Speyside and not seeing the start of the Jim Clark. Hopefullt they can turn things around in Argyll.
Mark McCulloch & Michael Hendry were also on the podium at this event in 2023 and repeated that feat on this year’s Reivers. The Proton Satria Evo a weapon on tarmac, particularly when things are wet which should bode well for the Argyll stages.
Greg McKnight & Harry Marchbank top the G&M Mechanical Services 2wds, the MK2 Escort crew have already taken a win at the opening round and pushed David Bogie & John Rowan all the way at the Reivers.
Johnnie Mackay & Rachel Matheson just headed the yellow MK2 at the end of the Jim Clark, the Evo 7 seeded 1st of the Albyn Garage Challengers. Johnnie traditionally goes very well in Argyll and the Mitsubishi man could definitely upset some R5s.
Gordon Murray & Peter Carstairs have taken top honours in the Haddo Energy Super Seniors on both the opening rounds of the season in their big Escort. Richard Stewart lines up to challenge them in his 208 R4, navigated on this occasion by Owen Paterson.
