Racing: Chase for Scottish title in top gear

Aug 15 2008 by Our Correspondent, Dumfries Standard Friday

A SPRIG of white heather proved a lucky charm for Dumfries driver David Bogie as he powered to victory on Saturday's Gleaner Oil & Gas Speyside Stages Rally – the sixth round of the County Saab Scottish Championship.

The 21-year-old declared himself “chuffed to bits” after taking his third maximum SRC points haul of the season in his Toyota Corolla WRC.

Bogie, and Hawick co-driver Kevin Rae, finished the eight Moray stages in a total time of 43 minutes 27 seconds – ten seconds ahead of runner-up Jimmy Girvan and Haugh of Urr co-driver Kirsty Riddick - the current series leaders - in their Subaru Impreza.

Following his full points score on the previous round, the “Scottish”, at the end of June, Bogie knew that with the championship decided on the best six scores out of eight, he had to repeat the feat in the forests of Moray if he was to keep his title hopes alive.

“The championship is back on track,” said Bogie, as he celebrated his win at the finish in Elgin town centre, adding: “We picked some white heather from the roadside on the way up which I had with me in the car – and I'll be taking it to the next round, the Merrick Stages, as well!”

The heather might well have been dispensed with early on, after Bogie stalled the Oakbank Services-sponsored Corolla at the start of the second short spectator stage on the tarmac of Elgin’s Cooper Park – but once out into the forests, he was well into his stride.

Overall victory was not Bogie's priority on the day – but he took full advantage after British Champion Guy Wilks – standing in for Aberdeen's Dave Weston who pulled out with a back problem – was forced to retire with transmission problems.

Wilks had quickly mastered Weston's Ford Focus WRC and had built up a 36-second lead over Bogie, before trouble struck on the sixth stage.

Kirtlebridge's Mike Faulkner, and co-driver Peter Foy, went into the “Speyside” aiming for a top three finish to keep their championship campaign on track – and that's exactly what they achieved, taking the final podium place and class honours in their Group A Mitsubishi Evo 6.

The result was achieved despite the discovery of a broken oil pipe at the end of the penultimate stage, which required the service crew to work flat out with the minutes ticking by to get it repaired.

Said Faulkner: “Finishing on the podium is a fantastic result. We had real challenges at the beginning of the day - a couple of visits to the undergrowth and the drama of fixing the oil pipe,” and he added: “The guys did a great job - with four minutes to go the car was still in pieces and I wasn’t sure we would make the stage on time - but we did.”

The result moves the BSW Timber-backed crew up to third overall in the SRC points and they now have a commanding lead in the “group A” championship with two rounds remaining.

It was a successful day too for Newton Stewart farmer Craig McMiken, and co-driver Christine Sanderson of Berwick, who scored their best finish of the season so far - 12th overall - in their Mitsubishi Evo 9.

“On the first gravel stage we really struggled for grip, going from one side of the road to the other, but amazingly we set a pretty good time,” said McMiken.

He went on: “Grip improved from that stage on, and on the sixth test, Balloch, which was fast and flowing, we were seventh equal overall, only beaten by one car in our class, which we were really pleased about.”

Ivor “The Driver” Clark of Gretna was again in action – sitting in for son Steven who was unable to get back in time for the Speyside after taking part in an epic charity drive to Cameroon.

Clark, at the wheel of his son’s Mitsubishi Evo 4, and co-driver Sean Donnelly, finished a creditable 25th overall, two places ahead of Kirkgunzeon farmer Rory Young, and navigator Allan Cathers.

The pair had a difficult day in the Moray forests, after a previously strong campaign which had taken Young to fourth in the drivers' championship.

Newton Stewart competitor Mark McCulloch, with navigator Craig Wallace, was again the man to beat in the fiercely fought Ecosse 205 Challenge, powering his Peugeot 205 to 34th overall.

“The Speyside was a great event for us,” said McCulloch, “It took a lot of work just to get there because of an engine change at the last minute, but the result made it worth while.”

He added: “We now look forward to our home event, the Merrick – because we need a good finish there if we are to keep our hopes of Class 3 and the Scottish Junior title alive.”

Other local competitors who made it back to the finish line in Elgin were James Robertson of Penpont and George Myatt of Ae in James’s Ford Fiesta ST – who took second in class 6 - and the Castle Douglas duo of Ian Bendall and Richard Barbar-Fleming in their Vauxhall Corsa, who were third in Class 4.

Local crews now have three weeks to prepare for the Newton Stewart-based Merrick Forest Stages – the penultimate round of the County Saab Championship – on September 6.

Speyside Stages - Dumfries and Galloway finishers – final positions/total times : 1 David Bogie (Dumfries)/Kevin Rae (Hawick) Toyota Corolla WRC 43 min 27 sec; 2 Jimmy Girvan (Inverness)/Kirsty Riddick (Castle Douglas) Subaru Impreza 43.37; 3 Mike Faulkner (Gretna)/Peter Foy (Shipley) Mitsubishi Evo 6 44.58; 9 John Crawford (Motherwell)/Ian Simpson (Dumfries) Ford Escort Mk2 46.40; 12 Craig McMiken (Newton Stewart)/Christine Sanderson (Berwick) Evo 9 46.56; 25 Ivor Clark (Gretna)/Sean Donnelly (Elgin) Mitsubishi Evo 4 49.08; 27 Rory Young (Kirkgunzeon)/Allan Cathers (Carlisle) Mitsubishi Evo 5 49.42; 34 Mark McCulloch (Newton Stewart)/Craig Wallace (Kirriemuir) Peugeot 205 51.50; 43 James Robertson (Penpont)/ George Myatt (Ae) Ford Fiesta ST 53.14; 67 Ian Bendall/Richard Barbar-Fleming (Castle Douglas) Vauxhall Corsa 59.11.