… Dunoon presents Argyll Rally, Sat 22 June …
With the 2WD brigade running at the front, Mark McCulloch will be first car on the road, but it will be interesting to see what he is driving. Last weekend at Crail, the wheel studs ripped out of the BMW’s hub (not young Haining’s fault either!) and the escaping wheel caused quite a bit of damage to the ‘shell as it bounded off into the wild blue yonder. So will it be fit for action this weekend or will he drive his ‘new’ 2 litre red top engined Mk2 which has just been acquired? With local rival Iain Wilson running second on the road in his Mk2, the two of them could be egging each other on which will be fine for the third car on the road, the Mk2 of Paul McErlean who might just benefit from the other two’s excesses!
Could any of the 2WD lot win, given the better surface conditions? It’s still a tall order, especially with the likes of Euan Thorburn heading up the heavy mob. With two wins this year from 3 rounds so far Thorburn must start as favourite, but Dunoon marks the start of the second half of the season and the title chase is still very much on.
Remember it was a Ford Focus WRC which won here last year albeit in Andrew Gallacher’s hands. Carrying the fight to Thorburn will be the Fiesta R5 of Garry Pearson. It might handle and stop better than the Focus WRC but lacks the grunt so the two will be pretty evenly matched and just like Paul McErlean in the 2WD fight, Jock Armstrong will keep a watching brief on the two title rivals ahead. The Subaru lacks the pace and agility of the Fords but it has a ‘Jock’ behind the wheel and that is unquantifiable quantity!
John Wink runs at four in the Hyundai ahead of last year’s 3rd placed finisher here, Bruce McCombie. This year, Bruce has a Focus WRC as opposed to last year’s Evo so the hills won’t feel quite as steep this year and the corners might come up a little quicker! Rounding off the top six is Michael Binnie who has been setting some surprising times and earning some decent results this past few events, so don’t discount a Lancer victory quite yet.
SPECTATOR INFO
Saturday 22 June,
08:49 Hrs, Rally Start, Dunoon Stadium, Argyll Rd, Kirn, Dunoon PA23 7RL
09:00 Hrs, Ceremonial Start, Dunoon Pier on the Esplanade
Spectator Area 1 – Glenbranter
First car due 09:37hrs, and again at 13:23hrs
On the A815 north from Dunoon look for the entrance to Glenbranter village which is well sign posted, drive into Glenbranter village and look for the green arrows directing you into the car park, please drive slowly and considerately in the village. Walk out of the back corner of the Car park (Clearly signed) and follow the trail along the avenue. At the end of the avenue turn Right and follow forest road past wildlife hide to road end. Turn Left down steps and follow track to Spectator area. Return via same route.
Route will be sign posted. Please do not wander out of this area and listen to the marshals at all times.
Spectator Area 2 – Bishop’s Glen
First car due 11:43hrs, and again at 15:35hrs
Head south out of Dunoon on A815, a short distance out of town at the West Bay you pass a swing park on your left, take the next right into the Car Park across the road from the swing park. Park up and follow the green arrows along Kilbride Road, you will be directed into the forest and the spectator area is about half a mile from the tarmac road, it will be arrowed all the way. The spectator area offers good viewing of a fast downhill section just after the start into a sweeping right hand bend before heading back uphill, the spectator area has been increased in size from last year and will have toilets and a food van, tee shirts and programmes are also available here.
16:00 Hrs (Approx), Rally Finish, Dunoon Stadium
Detailed maps are on the Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally website:
http://argyllrally.co.uk/spectators/
Entry List
1, Euan Thorburn/Paul Beaton (Duns/Inverness) Ford Focus WRC, Class 11
2, Garry Pearson/Dale Bowen (Duns/??) Ford Fiesta R5, 11
3, Jock Armstrong/Cameron Fair (Castle Douglas/Stewarton) Subaru Impreza, 10
4, John Wink/Neil Shanks (Huntly/Elgin) Hyundai i20 R5, 11
5, Bruce McCombie/Michael Coutts (Banchory/Torphins) Ford Focus WRC , 11
6, Michael Binnie/Claire Mole (Cornhill-on Tweed/Duns) Mitsubishi Evo9, 9
7, Simon Hay/Calum Jaffray (Aberdeen/Torphins) Mitsubishi Evo6, 9
8, Alan Dickson/Martin Forrest (Glasgow/Bridge of Don) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9, 10
9, Ian Baumgart/Sinclair Young (Hawick/Lairg) Subaru Impreza, 9
10, Keith Morris/Terry Mallin (Aberdeen/Motherwell) Mitsibushi Evo9, 10
11, Thomas Gray/Harry Marchbank (Tore/Thornhill) Mitsubishi Evo9, 9
12, John Rintoul/Ross Hynd (Lower Largo/Inverbervie) Skoda Fabia, 10
14, Kevin Crawford/Andrew Stevenson (Alford/Elgin) Mitsubishi Evo9, 10
15, Alun Pearson/Terry Martin (Stokesley/Blackburn) ??
16, Tom Coughtrie/Ian Fraser (Ayr/Isle of Mull) Mitsubishi Galant VR4, 5
17, Matthew Calderwood/Phil Sandham (Rosneath/??) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo7, 10
18, Max Redpath/Callum Redpath (Berwickshire/Duns) Subaru Impreza, 9
19, Mike Moates/Michael Moates (Ellon/Ellon) Subaru Impreza, 9
20, Ron Hall/Phil Spilsted (Brentwood/Hawarden) Subaru Impreza, 9
21, Paul Collins/Robert Wood (Dumbarton/??) Subaru Impreza, 9
22, Stuart Irvine/Marc Irvine (Bishopton/Erskine) Mitsubishi Evo7, 10
23, Aileen Forrest/John Forrest (Inverurie/Inverurie) Mitsubishi Evo5, 9
101, Mark McCulloch/Michael Hendry (Dumfries/Archiestown) BMW E30, 7
102, Iain Wilson/Chris Williams (Dalbeattie/Millom) Ford Escort Mk2, 8
103, Paul McErlean/Niall McKenna (Bellaghy/Draperstown) Ford Escort Mk2, 7
104, Duncan MacDonald/Neil Ross (Portree/Portree) Ford Escort Mk2, 7
105, Angus Lawrie/Paul Gribben (Castle Douglas/Annan) Citroen C2 R2 Max, 3
106, Bobby Mitchell/Craig Wallace (Dunbar/Angus) Ford Fiesta ST, 6
107, Gordon Murray/David O’Brien (Perth/Duns) Ford Escort Mk2, 8
108, Barry Lindsay/Caroline Lodge (Carlisle/Brampton) Peugeot 206 Cup Car, 3
109, Robert Adamson/Jane Nicol (Moscow/Edinburgh) Ford Escort Mk2, 7
110, Carl Tuer/Robin Tuer (Alnwick/Alnwick) Suzuki Swift Maxi, 6
111, Paddy Munro/Keir Beaton (Kyle/Inverness) Ford Escort Mk2, 4
112, James Campbell/Ricky Finlayson (Wick/Inverness) Talbot Sunbeam, 2
113, John O’Kane/Meghan O’Kane (Kyle/Kyle) Ford Escort Mk2, 4
114, Walter Henderson/Jim Kinloch (Carnwath/Steinheim) Ford Escort, 4
115, Douglas Watt/Ian Parker (Inveraray/Lochgilphead) Ford Escort Mk2, 4
116, Linzi Henderson/Tom Hynd (Carnwath/Inverbervie) Ford Fiesta R2T, 6
117, Scott Peacock/Robin Neil (Castle Douglas/Castle Douglas( MG ZR, 1
118, Donald Peacock/Chris Wareham (Castle Douglas/Glenbarr) Peugeot 205 GTI, 2
119, Niall Cowan Jnr/Thomas Bruce (Dumfries/Durham) MG ZR, 1
120, John Brownie/Gordon Ritchie (Kintore/Stonehaven) Opel Kadett C, 7
121, Ali MacLeod/Thomas Jefferson (Stornoway/Stornoway) Ford Escort Mk3, 7
122, Caroline Carslaw/Matt Edwards (Dunlop/Llandudno) Ford Fiesta R2, 3
123, Ernie Lee/Patricia Milligan (Ellon/Ellon) BMW 325i, 5
124, Ian Milne/Dawn Milne (Brechin/Brechin) Ford Escort, 5
125, Johnnie Mackay/Gordon Reid (Newburgh/Stonehaven) Ford Fiesta ST, 6
126, Rhuaridh Campbell/Shaina Archibald (Glenshiel/Invermoriston) Chrysler Sunbeam , 7
127, Fraser Smith/Steven Brown (Johnstone/Fort William) Honda Civic, 3
128, Jude MacDonald/Michael Cruickshank (Inverness/Crieff ) Skoda Fabia R2, 3
129, Nikki Addison/Rachel Matheson (Inverness/Beauly) Peugeot, 3
130, Jamie McIntyre/Damian Greenall (Sorn/London) Ford Escort Mk2, 8
131, David Kirkpatrick/Erick McClurg (New Galloway/Dumfries) BMW Compact, 7
132, Arthur MacMillan/Hugo MacMillan (Langbank/Langbank) Ford Escort Mk1, 5