… AW Autotech Granite Stages at Leuchars, Sat 4th May …
This weekend’s AW Autotech Granite Stages at Leuchars is a counter in both the Cobble Shop Scottish Tarmack Rally Championship and the AS Performance North East England Tarmac Rally Championship, hence a number of ‘furrin’ competitors making the trip north to add a bit more spice to an already impressive entry. Added to that, there are ten Juniors in the 14-17 year old Ecosse Challenge. The only drawback to such a tantalising spectatorial prospect? This is a NON-spectator event!
A great pity that, but it is to be hoped that once these events become more established on MOD property up here that some form of spectator access may be granted in future. As long as everyone behaves again this weekend, as they have in the past, then sooner rather than later, hopefully! It might even provide an additional income stream for the Base Commander for other welfare projects.
Anyway, if Messrs Marshall, Inglis and Kirkaldy think there will be a three way fight for victory, they all need to keep one eye on the pursuit which will be led by Frank Bird in his Focus WRC. John Rintoul and Tom Morris are still getting to grips with their respective Fiesta and Fabia machines and both have made progress over recent events. Given a clean run what can they manage this Saturday?
Ex racing driver Kirkaldy continues to make rapid progress and is regarded as the 2WD pacesetter but Colin Gemmell might just give him a run for his money this weekend as he was getting the Mk2 better sorted last time out at Condor and Willie Paterson continues to improve too following his long period of ‘semi-retirement’! Rounding off the top ten is Des Campbell who reminded us of his ‘Dangerous Des’ moniker last time out when he sideswiped the wee Peugeot but Steven Hay is running a few cars behind him in his Corsa so will be able to keep an eye on the Peugeot’s times. Running at number 10 is Alan Wallace who has been getting quicker in his revitalised Lancer.
Outside the top ten there should be more fun and games to keep the top seeds on their toes with young Greg Inglis getting a bit handy these days in his Lotus. Michael Harbour has replaced his Citroen with a 2 litre Escort and Kyle Adam is getting seriously quick in his 1600 Escort now that he has found the source of its lack of power! And there’s more, a surprise entry from one Andy Horne Esq. Everyone thought he was building a Metro or some other such exotica, but the sneaky sod has entered a Darrian. Now there’s a thought.
The fun gets underway at 08.30 Hrs on Saturday morning with the first of 10 Stages (53 miles) for the Seniors and 9 Stages (43 miles) for the Juniors.
Entry List
1, John Marshall/Scott Crawford (Subaru Impreza) 2000, Class 5
2, Alistair Inglis/Colin Inglis (Lotus Exige) 2150, 4
3, Andrew Kirkaldy/Peter Carstairs (Ford Escort) 2500, 4,
4, Frank Bird/Jack Morton (Ford Focus 07 WRC) 1997, 5,
5, John Rintoul/Ross Hynd (Ford Fiesta) 2000, 5,
6, Colin Gemmell/Derek Keir (Ford Escort Mk2) 2500, 4,
7, Tom Morris/Russell Smith (Skoda Fabia) 2500, 5,
8, Willie Paterson/Euan O’Neill (Ford Escort Mk2) 2500, 4,
9, Des Campbell/Craig Forsyth (Peugeot 206) 1600, 2,
10, Alan Wallace/Darren Robertson (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo6) 1998, 5,
11, Greg Inglis/Ian Parker (Lotus Exige) 2000, 3,
12, Richard Sutherland/Jack Sutherland (Opel Manta) 1998, 3,
14, Michael Harbour/Ian MacDougall (Ford Escort Mk2) 2000, 3,
15, Ross McCallum/James Ralph (MG Maestro) 1998, 3,
16, Andy Horne/Jim Howie (Darrian T90) 2000, 3,
17, Kyle Adam/Fiona Moir (Ford Escort Mk2) 1600, 2,
18, Steven Hay/Steven Brown (Vauxhall Corsa) 1598, 2,
19, Greg Stark/Alan Stark (Mitsubishi Evo9) 1998, 5,
20, Harry Chalmers/Craig MacIvor (Subaru Impreza) 200, 5,
21, Billy Hamilton/Jimmy Addison (Opel Kadett) 2000, 3,
22, Graeme Rintoul/Jim Rintoul (Ford Fiesta) 1999, 3,
23, Tom Hynd/Sue Hynd (BMW Mini Cooper S) 1598, 4,
24, Robert Ness/Julie McGuire (Subaru Impreza) 2495, 5,
25, Graham Bruce/David Aitken (Ford Escort) 2000, 3,
26, Adam Hanner/Wayne Wood (Ford Puma) 1598, 2,
27, Martin Watterston/Kenny Anderson (Subaru Impreza) 1999, 5,
28, James Brims/Iain MacDonald (BMW Compact) 2983, 4,
29, Gregg Lithgow/Alan Todd (Ford Escort Mk2) 1998, 3,
30, Ben Wikinson/Andrew Wilkinson (Citroen Saxo) 1598, 2,
31, James Munro/Nikki Addison (Subaru Impreza) 1994, 5,
32, David McIntyre/Matthew Osinski (Vauxhall Nova) 1598, 2,
33, Stephen Bethwaite/Ann Forster (Vauxhall Nova Sport) 1400, 1,
34, Michael Robertson/Murray Milne (Honda Civic) 1998, 3,
35, Michal John/Alison Horne (Vauxhall Nova) ??, 2,
36, Andrew Blackwood/Richard Stewart (Ford Fiesta) 1998, 3,
37, Eamonn Kilmurray/Derek Cassells (Citroen C2 GT) 1587, 2,
38, James Rae/Louis Ford (Honda S2000) 2000, 3,
39, Andy Scott/Ian Robertson (Ford Escort Mk2) 2371, 4,
41, Johnnie Mackay/Gordon Reid (Ford Fiesta ST) 1999, 3,
42, James Thomson/Sean Douglas (Vauxhall Nova) 1398, 1,
43, Marcus Tinsley/Cameron Dunn (Peugeot 205 Rallye) 1360, 1,
44, Dave Cranston/Shannon Blaney (Opel Astra) 1998, 3,
45, Leonard Jones/Emma Muir (Vauxhall Chevette) 1998, 3,
46, George Fell/Lois Fell (Renault Clio) 1998, 3,
47, Joel Simpson/Shannon Turnbull (Honda Civic) 1595, 2,
48, Allan Watt/Michael Moates (Citroen Saxo) 1600, 2,
49, Mark McMinn/Jane Nicol (Ford Escort Mk2) 2000, 3,
50, Iain Findlay/Ronnie Bowie (Mitsubishi Evo4) 2000, 5,
51, Martin Farquhar/Aiden Henderson (Peugeot 106) 1360, 1,
52, Robert Cumming/Robert Irvine (Vauxhall Astra) 1998, 3,
53, Garry Coutts/TBC (Ford Fiesta) 1596, 2,
54, Stuart Waite/Lisa Demirkoc (Peugeot 206) 1587, 2,
55, Martin Murray/TBA (Ford Escort Mk2) 2000, 3,
56, Robert Wood/Ryan Griffiths (Ford Fiesta) 1596, 2,
57, James Strachan/Louise Strachan (Peugeot 106) ??, 1,
58, Kayleigh Strachan/Jessica Strachan (Citroen Saxo) ??, 2,
59, Colin Blake/Pauline Blake (BMW Mini) 1600, 2,
60, Sandy Coghill/Sandra Coghill (Rover 100) 1800, 3,
61, Paul Orchiston/James Clark (Audi TT) 1800, 5,
62, Phill Hill/Philip Jeffress (Toyota Celica) 1796, 3,
63, Meghan O’Kane/John O’Kane (Vauxhall Nova) 1400, 1,
Junior 1000
1, Fraser Anderson/Sinclair Young (Citroen C1) 998, 1
2, Oliver Hunter/Michael Cruickshanks (Peugeot 107) 1000, 1
3, Cameron Davidson/Ian McRae (VW Mi UP!) 999, 1
4, Jack Hall/Robin Nicolson (Toyota Yaris) 1000, 1
5, Letisha Conn/Ian Crosbie (Peugeot 107) 1000, 1
6, Thomas Johnstone/Ian Shiells (Nissan Micra) 998, 1
7, Aaron Webster/Neil Jeffrey (Nissan Micra) 998, 1
8, Daniel Hurst/Gordon Finnie (Peugeot 107) 1000, 1
9, Erica Winning/Ellya Gold (Nissan Micra) 999, 1
10, Justin Gunning/Tbc (Skoda Citigo) 999, 1