Photo Credit: Lindsay Photo Sport Firstly, I do realise this isn't a BRC article and it has been published in my BRC section, but this is the most relevant category for me to discuss the 2016 ARR Craib MSA Scottish Rally Championship which concluded in dramatic fashion last weekend in Castle Douglas. I have been lucky enough to work as the Press Officer for the SRC this year, and I have to say it has been a dream come true. Everything I have heard about the series - the friendly nature, the fierce competition and fantastic spirit and camaraderie - is absolutely true and I believe it is one of if not the greatest national championship around. Heading into the season, the favourites to succeed throughout the season were the establishment; Jock Armstrong (Subaru Impreza), Mike Faulkner (Mitsubishi Evo IX), Bruce McCombie (Mitsubishi Evo IX) and Donnie MacDonald (Mitsubishi Evo IX). However, the championship had seen some new and returning faces join the ranks, with the R5 Fiesta remaining in the series despite multiple champion David Bogie's departure to the BRC. Duns driver Garry Pearson and Tobermory's John MacCrone both showed up in Inverness on the opening round in the popular M-Sport machine, on the back of differing circumstances. MacCrone was looking to increase his confidence after an accident on the previous year's Mull Rally, while Pearson launched into the season with next to no experience of a four wheel drive rally car. Mark McCulloch was also another to watch in a newer Evo IX, with usual suspects Barry Groundwater and the returning Dale Robertson joining the fray. The Snowman Rally, round 1, was by no means a reflection on true form but was an absolute thriller. Conditions were incredibly treacherous, with ice and snow making tyre choice and indeed the rally a complete lottery. Local man Donnie MacDonald, who went on to solely focus on the BRC National Cup after his SRC season curtailed, grabbed his maiden SRC win coming out of the final test seven seconds ahead of Dale Robertson in another Mitusbishi. However, we arguably should have seen another debut winner in Mark McCulloch. The Newton Stewart driver had opened up a huge lead after an impressive display in the tricky conditions, only for a puncture for ruin his hopes and drop him to third. Defending champion Armstrong, Faulkner and MacCrone all languished outside the top 10 as they struggled with inadequate tyres for the conditions, diminishing any of their confidence. Garry Pearson took a solid fifth on his R5 debut, setting a fastest stage time in the process. Onto round 2 and Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders and it was the predicted pace setters that hit back in the Tweed Valley forests. The rally was all about the close battle between Armstrong, Pearson and Shaun Sinclair in a Focus WRC. In the end, Jock's Subaru and Garry's Fiesta could not be separated for overall time after the six special stages, with Armstrong taking his first win of the year on the tiebreak after setting the quickest time on the opening stage. At the time, this was seen as tremendously exciting and impressive from young Pearson who had launched himself into an early championship lead. But this result would prove to be more crucial than we all realised. Sinclair took third while Mike Faulkner could only grab fourth despite pushing his car to its limits. The Speyside Stages replaced the Granite City Rally, now reformed as the Grampian Stages, as the third round on the calendar, and the SRC contingent had a benchmark to compare themselves to: the Peugoet 208 T16 R5 of previous Scottish Champion Euan Thorburn. Thorburn was indeed the man to beat up in Elgin, right up until the penultimate stage where his French R5 decided enough was enough and let the Duns man down. This meant the hot battle ensuing behind him was now definitely fighting for first, even though they never lost touch with Euan all day. Pearson continued to impress, and despite a hairy final stage spin, he took his maiden Scottish Rally Championship win to extend his championship lead. Jock Armstrong was once again his closest challenger, something of a theme for the 2016 season, and took second with Mike Faulkner grabbing his first podium of what was a slightly frustrating season for the Wigton driver. John MacCrone, whose turbo clamp ended his Border Counties, was right in the mix and getting his confidence back with co-driver Rhiannon Gelsomino. However, a driveshaft broke mid-way through the day meaning he had to settle for fourth, but only just. The finishing gap was encouraging though, as had his Ford not hit trouble he could have been the victor. Photo Credit: Lindsay Photo Sport Round 4 of the season became the RSAC Scottish Rally after the Kielder forest version of the Jim Clark Rally had to be pulled due to lack of entries, and it was a big test for the SRC contingent who faced an extra 20 competitive stage miles and were sharing the stages with the British Rally Championship crews.
None of this fazed Garry Pearson who went on to take eighth overall and his second SRC win on the bounce, once again ahead of the consistent Jock Armstrong and Mike Faulkner, in what was an exact copy of the podium on the Speyside Stages two months earlier. The Grampian Stages marked the business end of the season, and Pearson the chance to grab the Scottish title if he won the event and other results went his way. However, a rampant John MacCrone, who was forced to miss the Scottish despite entering the event due to budget issues, was one to watch after his impressive pace on the Speyside, and he was well within the now traditional Pearson-Armstrong onslaught right from the off. Jock looked to have almost binned his hopes of recording his second Scottish title according to the time sheets, but it turned out he had only lost 30 seconds with an overshoot rather than the 3-4 minutes initially suspected. Either way, the Subaru man was now out of the fight for the win, leaving the two Fiesta R5's of Pearson and MacCrone to battle it out for SRC honours. Heading into the final test, the non-registered Dave Weston Jr held the lead in his Subaru Impreza WRC ahead of Euan Thorburn, Pearson and MacCrone who were all tied on overall time, creating a thrilling finale. In the end it was MacCrone who aced it, taking a gulf of time out of Pearson in fourth and Thorburn in third, and even reducing the gap to overall winner Weston Jr to just six seconds. It was a fantastic drive that gave John his first SRC win and put Garry Pearson's title hopes on ice. Heading into the season finale, the Galloway Hills Rally, Pearson held a 3 point gap with drop scores considered, with a win or a second behind Armstrong if he won enough to secure him his maiden SRC title. Pearson's chances took an early boost as the man predicted to shake up the battle, John MacCrone, retired his Fiesta R5 in a ditch on SS2, giving Garry a seven second advantage over Jock at midday service. Armstrong through caution to the wind on the final loop of stages, which was about all he could do, but little did he know young Garry Pearson's season was curtailing. The Fiesta R5 had developed a problem diagnosed as an engine manifold issue. Pearson drove the car through SS5 in road mode to try and preserve the engine but smoke filled the R5 as the plastic rocker cover melted, grinding his car to a halt and ending his rally and championship there and then. That left Jock to celebrate his second title back in Castle Douglas in typical exuberant Jock fashion, but back there waiting to congratulate the champion was Garry Pearson; a classy touch, highlighting the camaraderie in the SRC. Nobody could deny either Pearson or Armstrong wasn't deserving of the championship, but unfortunately for Garry his luck ran out with just one stage to go. So what about the importance of the Border Counties? Well if Pearson had gone just one second faster on the final stage and had beaten Armstrong to the win, he would have been Scottish Champion. The championship literally came down to, in effect, one corner. You don't see that in many other places. Personally, I can't wait for 2017. Whether Pearson returns for another shot at glory remains to be seen, but he has a very bright future ahead of him after such an impressive season. Jock Armstrong however is still the wily king of Scottish rallying.
1 Comment
Followers of This Is Rally will be more than aware how much a strong British Rally Championship means to me, and in truth I am most certainly not the only one who adores a strong domestic series in the UK.
After its sabbatical in 2015, the 2016 season was more hyped up a great deal, not least by myself with my constant tweets and feature pieces on here including an interview with championship manager Iain Campbell. However, the hype was certainly not misplaced, with four different manufacturers, three different winners, a more than solid range of car classes and international flavour all creating a fantastic season's rallying, ultimately dominated by one of the sport's most promising young drives Elfyn Evans who really is too good to not be consistently in the world scene. But the question is, where can the championship really go from here? Well firstly it will head to the Isle of Man in just under 2 weeks time, a classic event and a classic line-up. Newly crowned BRC Champion Elfyn Evans will take on former BRC driver and Circuit of Ireland winner Craig Breen in a DS3 R5, with triple BRC Champion and local man Mark Higgins joining Evans in a DMACK Fiesta. There were rumours of potentially Ostberg or Kevin Abbring coming along, but if anything this is even more mouthwatering. The ultimate master of all conditions in the British Championship, versus the rising star who claimed an emphatic podium on the fastest rally of them all: Rally Finland. Then there's the man that's been there, done it all and often won it all. A rallying hero of mine, Mark Higgins may not have driven competitively in a while but he can never ever be discounted, especially on his home turf. Here I go again with my comparisons to the BRC's past (but forgive me it was I grew up watching) but I think it's fascinating that Mark Higgins was battling Elfyn Evans' dad Gwyndaf all those years ago but now the two will face up for a showdown on one of the world's most difficult and unique rallies. The fight for second in the championship is also a hot one between a whole host of drivers. Tom Cave probably deserves a 2016 win and would have done so had he not been up against a WRC driver, whilst Fredrik Ahlin has been the strong international competitor the BRC needs. One man who has failed to make the impact I thought he would is David Bogie, although that has been a lot down to luck in a few cases but his performances show the jump a driver has to make jumping from a regional championship to one as big as the BRC. Now I'll tread carefully as I am the Scottish Rally Championship Press Officer and don't get me wrong I think the SRC is one of the best series around for its competitive nature and camaraderie, but Bogie's 2016 shows the difference between the SRC and BRC. Bogie was ultimately too good for the SRC, but the former British Champ has struggled this year with tougher opposition than he is used to and having to make his own pace notes again. He'll be back next year though make no mistake, and he is proof Scotland still produces great driving talent with Euan Thorburn, John MacCrone and Garry Pearson too looking promising. |
BRITISH RALLYINGArticles covering rally in Britain, looking at the MSA BRC Archives
September 2017
Categories |