Faulkner takes Scottish Rally

Jul 1 2009 by Craig Robertson, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

KIRTLEBRIDGE driver Mike Faulkner battled the dust and the forestry of Dumfries and Galloway to come out top in Saturday’s Scottish Rally.

The 34-year-old and navigator Peter Foy of West Yorkshire, finished first place overall in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6.

The pair stacked up an impressive four fastest times over the six stages.

Many hopes were pinned on Dumfries race ace David Bogie but he crashed out in his Evo 9 on the fourth stage with handling problems.

Current champion, Jimmy Girvan, also went out after he rolled his Subaru on the Ae East stage.

Even a delay on the third stage – when Faulkner admitted he was looking out his side window at 100mph because of the dust coming from the car in front – couldn’t stop him moving into second place for the Hankook Scottish Rally Championships on 103 points behind Castle Douglas’ Jock Armstrong on 131.

Faulkner said: “The win is special, with four fastest times we are setting a great pace, it’s a shame both Jimmy Girvan and earlier David Bogie left the road but we were in front of them at the time. It’s good to know it’s our pace that won today particularly as we had to fight back following the earlier delay.”

In second place, 13 seconds behind Faulkner, was Wayne Sisson of Burton in Kendal in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 which was co-driven by Daniel Stone of Bristol.

Third place was taken by Stephen Whitford of Larne in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 co-driven by Jonny Hart of Moneyrea.

The other local drivers in the top 10 were fifth placed Jock Armstrong and Kirsty Riddick of Castle Douglas in their Subaru Impreza (third place SRC) and sixth place went to brother and sister team Steven Clark of Holywell and Alison Clark of Lockerbie in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4.

Hundreds of people turned out in the mild weather on Saturday to watch more than 130 entries compete over the six stages.

The most popular route was at Heathhall where spectators were able to mingle with the drivers and technicians as the vehicles were prepared.

And the crowds also followed the rally to the Ae Forest where drivers competed through more than 21 miles of tracks in two stages.

It was the 13th successive year the Scottish Rally has been held in Dumfries and Galloway.

The 45-miles were played out over routes at Kinharvie near New Abbey; Heathhall; Castle O’er and Twiglees at Eskdalemuir; and the Ae Forest.

RSAC Scottish Rally top ten

1. Mike Faulkner (Lockerbie)/Peter Foy (Bingley) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 44 minutes 23 seconds;

2. Wayne Sisson (Burton in Kendal)/Daniel Stone (Bristol) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 44:36;

3. Stephen Whitford (Larne)/Jonny Hart (Moneyrea) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 44:46;

4. Euan Thorburn (Duns)/Campbell Roy (Howwood) Subaru Impreza 44:46;

5. Jock Armstrong (Castle Douglas)/Kirsty Riddick (Castle Douglas) Subaru Impreza 44:54;

6. Steven Clark (Holywell)/Alison Clark (Lockerbie) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4 45:08;

7. Alick Kerr (Bothwell)/Drew Sturrock (Marykirk) Subaru Impreza 45:20;

8. Barry Groundwater (Stonehaven)/Jude Wylie (Jedburgh) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 45:36

9. Donnie MacDonald (Culloden)/Paul Beaton (Inverness) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 46:20;

10. Steve Bannister (Malton)/Louise Sutherland (Hawick) Ford Escort Mark 2 46:30.