… Armstrong Galloway Hills Rally … Sat. 10 Sept…
ARR Craib MSA Scottish Rally Championship leader Garry Pearson heads the entry for this weekend’s Armstrong Galloway Hills Rally and must therefore start as pre-rally favourite and top bet to win the title. There’s just one wee problem. Seven times winner of this event, Jock Armstrong, runs right in his wheeltracks at Number 2.
Jock’s Subaru lacks the pace of Garry’s Ford, but that won’t stop the wily Gallowegian giving the young Borderer a run for his money. A couple of mistakes and mechanical niggles on the recent Grampian and Scottish rallies cost Jock dear allowing the hard charging Garry to put some daylight between them, but a clean run this weekend should see a real head to head battle being waged over 6 stages in the Galloway forests.
On the other hand, if those two strike trouble, then Mark McCulloch could nip in and snatch the national crown at the last gasp. Adding to the mix is the Championship points system with other drivers having the chance to affect the final result by denying the rivals valuable points.
Speedsters like John MacCrone and Mike Faulkner may yet have an impact on the outcome. John has been building up pace all year in the Fiesta and if Mike gets a fair roll of the dice, he has the talent and the speed, if the car can keep up with him.
The organisers will publish Spectator Information shortly but as last year, they have worked closely with the Forestry Commission to create some mid-forest clearings where spectators can gather and watch in safety. So please, adhere to the instructions and guidance.
09.00 Hrs: Rally Start, Market Yard, Castle Douglas
SS2/5: Cairn Edward 1 & 2. 10:07 Hrs & 13:03 Hrs.
Spectator Car Park just off the A762, about 4 miles south of New Galloway, with short walk through the woods to Spectator area. Car Park is small, so if parking on the public road verges be sure to leave room for passing tractors – they are a bit bigger than you! Look for the green Spectator arrows
SS3/6: Glengap 1 & 2. 10:42 Hrs & 13:38 Hrs.
Access to Spectator car parking off the unclassified road that runs from Gatehouse of Fleet to Laurieston. Look for the green arrows.
SS4: Black Loch. 12.28 Hrs.
Forestry road parking is available just off the A712, about 4 miles south west of Clatteringshaws Dam and reservoir.
14.30 Hrs: Rally Finish approx., in New Market Street, Castle Douglas at the top end (north eastern edge) of the town.
( There are Spectator Maps and full Info on the Galloway Hills website: http://www.gallowayhillsrally.co.uk/uploads/docs/2016%20GHR%20-%20Spectator%20Information.pdf )
Entry List:
1, Garry Pearson/Robbie Mitchell (Duns/Duns) Ford Fiesta R5, Class 13
2, Jock Armstrong/Paula Swinscoe (Castle Douglas/Withnell) Subaru Impreza, 12
3, John MacCrone/Stuart Loudon (Dervaig/Bothwell) Ford Fiesta R5, 13
4, Mike Faulkner/Peter Foy (Wigton/Bingley) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, 11
5, Mark McCulloch/Michael Hendry (Dumfries/Archiestown) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, 12
6, Bruce McCombie/Michael Coutts (Banchory/Torphins) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, 12
7, Wayne Sisson/Neil Shanks (Burton in Kendal/Elgin) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X R4+, 12
8, Andrew Gallacher/Jane Nicol (Hurlford/Edinburgh) Ford Focus WRC, 13
9, Greg McKnight/Laura Marshall (Thornhill/Newton Stewart) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, 12
10, Scott McCombie/Mark Fisher (Banchory/Workington) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, 12
11, Seamus O’Connell/Sean Magee (Dungiven/Castledawson) Ford Escort Mk2, 9
12, Steve Bannister/Callum Atkinson (Malton/Lauder) Ford Escort Mk2, 6
14, Quintin Milne/Sean Donnelly (Banchory/Elgin) Ford Escort Mk2, 8
15, Richard Dickson/Roger Alcorn (New Abbey/Castle Douglas) Subaru Impreza,11
16, John Wink/John Forrest (Huntly/Inverurie) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, 11
17, Alasdair S Graham/Laura Stuart (Paisley/Alford) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX,10
18, Fraser Wilson/Craig Wallace (Port William/Kirriemuir) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, 10
19, Iain Wilson/Keith Riddick (Dalbeattie/Haugh of Urr) Subaru Impreza, 11
20, Ross MacDonald/Matthew Johnstone (Conon Bridge/Aberdeen) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII, 12
21, John Rintoul/Ross Hynd (Lower Largo/Edinburgh) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, 12
22, Robin Phillips/Laura Phillips (Saintfield/Saintfield) Subaru Impreza WRC S10, 13
23, Ian Baumgart/Mike Dickson (Hawick/Galashiels) Subaru Impreza, 11
24, Nigel Feeney/Abi Louden (Monkton/Aberdeen) Subaru Impreza, 12
25, Michael Binnie/Claire Mole (Cornhill/Duns) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V, 11
26, Stephen McKenna/Mark Donnelly (Draperstown/Draperstown) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI,12
27, Fraser MacNicol/Aaron Johnston (Ullapool/Fintona) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI, 12
28, James Gibb/Charley Sayer-Payne (Kilmarnock/Glasgow) Ford Fiesta, 12
29, Michael McDaid/Daire Maguire (Newtownbutler/Lisnaskea) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, 10
30, Simon Hay/Calum Jaffray (Aberdeen/Torphins) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI, 11
31, Keith Morris/Martin Forrest (Aberdeen/Aberdeen) Mitsibushi Lancer Evo VI, 12
32, Duncan Campbell/Gavin Chisholm (Mauchline/Kilmarnock) Subaru Impreza, 11
33, Duncan MacDonald/Neil Ross (Portree/Portree) Ford Escort Mk2, 8
34, Gordon Murray/David O’Brien (Perth/Duns) Ford Escort Mk2, 9
35, Allan McDowall/Gavin Heseltine (Tarbolton/Gilberdyke) Ford Escort RS1800, 6
36, Grant Inglis/Robert Gray (Glasgow/Glasgow) Ford Escort Mk2, 8
37, Thomas O’Connell/Emmet Sherry (Dungiven/Monaghan) Ford Escort Mk2, 8
38, Robert Thomson/Kyle MacKintosh (Auldearn/Auldearn) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII, 12
39, Scott Beattie/Cammy Fair (Alford/Stewarton) Talbot Sunbeam, 4
40, Angus Lawrie/Paul Gribben (Castle Douglas/Annan) Vauxhall Corsa, 2
41, Alexander Curran/Susan Shanks (Kirkcowan/Elgin) Vauxhall Corsa, 4
42, Thomas Gray/Dave Robson (Tore/Ancrum) Ford Fiesta, 4
43, Paul McErlean/Niall McKenna (Bellaghy/Draperstown) Ford Escort Mk2, 8
44, Matthew Thomson/Ian Graham (Inverurie/Inverurie) Subaru Impreza Gc8, 11
45, Billy Thomson/Sean Duffy (Castle Douglas/Biggar) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, 11
46, Mike Reed/Jim Goodman (Beverley/Filey) Ford Escort RS 2000, 6
47, John McIlwraith/Scott Young (Canonbie/Duns) Ford Escort Mk2, 5
48, Colin Hope/Nick Patrick (Great Heck/Great Heck) Ford Focus ST170, 7
49, Murray Coulthard/Stewart Dodds (Twynholm/Kirkcudbright) Citroen C2R2MAX, 4
50, Peter Ward/Paul Ward (Claudy/Donemana) Ford Escort Mk2, 8
51, Linzi Henderson/Tom Hynd (Carnwath/Montrose) Subaru Impreza, 12
52, Elliot Retalick/Tim Tugwell (Daventry/Market Harborough) Hillman Avenger, 6
53, Bill Davidson/Ashleigh Will (Banchory/Inverurie) Vauxhall Nova, 4
54, Jim Robertson/Colin Maxwell (Penpont/Dumfries) Citroen C2R2, 4
55, Derek Crossen/Mark Faulkener (Comber/Ballygowan) Ford Escort Mk2, 9
56, Andy Jones/Ian Jones (Denbigh/Mold) Ford Escort Mk2, 8
57, Robert Rook/Miles Cartwright (Market Weighton/Scarborough) Ford Escort TC Mk1, 6
58, David Martin/Douglas Humphrey (Belford/Edinburgh) Citroen C2, 4
59, Robbie Ogilvie Beattie/David Findlay (Dundee/Blairgowrie) Peugeot 205 GTi, 3
60, Donald Peacock/Scott Peacock (Bridge of Dee/Bridge of Dee) Peugeot 205 GTi, 3
61, Jan Budge/Chris Pattison (Thatcham/Thirsk) Subaru Impreza, 11
62, Chris McCallum/Keith Fair (Ayr/Stewarton) Subaru Impreza, 11
63, Jim Sharp/TBA (Stranraer/TBA) Subaru Impreza, 11
64, Scott McMinn/Dick Wardle (Kilmarnock/Pickering) Subaru Impreza, 11
65, Ian Archer/Helen Brown (Glenisla/Dumfries) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, 11
66, William Pollock/Christopher Roberston (Cumnock/Glasgow) Ford Escort Mk1, 8
67, Andy Chalmers/Martin MacCabe (Fyvie/Glasgow)Ford Escort Mk2, 5
68, John McDowall/David McLeod (Kilmarnock/Stewarton) Talbot Sunbeam, 3
69, Ross Carbry/Steven Brown (Carluke/Onich) Vauxhall Corsa, 2
70, Ross Hughes/Richard Crozier (Lanark/Stonehaven) Citroen C2 VTS, 4
71, Luke McLaren/Phil Kenny (Blanefield/Sunderland) Ford Fiesta, 7
72, Andy Struthers/Alasdair McIlroy (Libberton/Jedburgh) Citroen C2, 1
73, Niall Cowan Jnr/Thomas Bruce (Dumfries/Newton Aycliffe) MG ZR, 2
74, Caroline Carslaw/Ross Williams (Dunlop/Tobermory) Ford Fiesta ST, 7
75, Gina Walker/Richard Simmonds (Duns/Duns) Citroen C2, 4
76, Colin Baxter/Donald John Campbell (Tain/Invergordon) Subaru Impreza, 11
77, Billy Falconer/Nikki Addison (Inverness/Inverness) Peugeot 205 GTi, 3
78, Kevin Gray/Daniel Christie (Invergordon/Insch) Vauxhall Astra, 7
79, Keith Davison/Henry Richardson (Potto/Ripon) Hillman Avenger, 6
80, Keith Seager/Mark Runciman (Hamilton/East Kilbride) BMW Compact 318Ti, 8
81, Alex I Milne/Alex B Milne (Brechin/Brechin) Ford Escort Mk2, 6
82, David Kirkpatrick/ Colin Johnstone (New Galloway/Minnigaff) BMW Compact 318Ti, 8
83, Grant MacRae/Martin Bruce (Portree/Portree) Peugeot 205 Rallye , 2
84, Tommy A Heard/Greg McCutcheon (Jedburgh/Hawick) Ford Escort Mk2, 8
85, Bill Arbuthnot/Jason McGukin (Maghera/Magherafelt) Subaru Impreza, 11
86, Alan McMorran/Albert Connelly (Castle Douglas/Castle Douglas) Chrysler Avenger, 6
87, Chris Rankin/Michael Sharp (Banbury/Dunlop) BMW Compact 318Ti, 8
88, Ashleigh Morris/John Goff (Whitchurch/Whitchurch) VW Polo, 1
89, John Rowan/Sarah Dale (Mauchline/Elgin) Talbot Sunbeam, 2