Rally - Bogie Makes it Three

David Bogie clinched his third win on as many events on the Coltel Granite City Rally, but the top two positions were tighter than they looked. Going into the final stage there were just 10 seconds between himself and Euan Thorburn.

"I went off in that last one," said Euan, "I overshot a hairpin and it just slid under the trees. It stalled but once I got it started we just drove out."

Nobody was more relieved than the winner: "I didn't expect the stage surface to be so loose on the last two stages," said David, "and I picked the wrong tyre. The tread pattern was just a bit too 'closed' and we struggled to get it turned in on the corners."

As for Mike Faulkner an already dismal day got worse: "I got a front puncture in the last stage. It was just too rubbly and loose, it was terrible."

Paul Benn therefore finished a surprised third: "It's the first time I've sat in the car for a over year. I thought I was crap on the first stage and I was third quickest!"

Bruce McCombie was delighted with fourth just 2 seconds in front of Donnie MacDonald. "He had 6 seconds on me going into the last stage," said Donnie, "but I only got 4 back. It was a great battle."

Quintin Milne lost out again as did Barry Groundwater. Lying sixth at halfway, Barry got two rear punctures on the final stage, while Quintin slid off into a ditch on the final stage and picked up a puncture.

David Wilson was top 2WD in 13th place in his MkII with John Boyd an excellent 18th in the Fiesta just ahead of Graeme Schoneville in the Honda.

Leaderboard:
1 David Bogie (Lancer) 32m 58s
2 Euan Thorburn (Focus) 34m 31ss
3 Paul Benn (Focus) 35m 49s
4 Bruce McCombie (Impreza) 36m 04s

5 Donnie MacDonald (Lancer) 36m 06s

6 Stephen Lockhart (Lancer) 36m 20s

7 John McClory (Impreza) 36m 30s
8 Quintin Milne (Lancer) 36m 38s
9 Alistair Inglis (Lancer) 36m 43s

10 Dougal Brown (Lancer) 36m 46s