The Blackwood Plant Hire DCC Stages was a close run event
all day with the rally lead changing on the final stage, plus a tie for the
runner-up position and a tie for 6th place. You can’t get much
closer than that.
The rain commenced just before SS7 started, turning the
Ingliston roads damp and greasy, but by the start of the final stage, it was
raining quite consistently and the roads were now wet.
With rally leader Gary Adam struggling to get his Escort Mk2
to bite and turn in to corners, John Marshall seized the initiative with his
four wheel drive Impreza to take 16 seconds out of Adam on the final stage and
snatch victory at the last gasp. The Lotus Exige of Alistair Inglis also closed
the gap on Adam and the two tied on total times with Adam getting the runner-up
position courtesy of his fastest time on SS1.
Bruce Edwards missed out on that podium fight when he got
the Darrian all crossed up at the bridge and removed some of the bodywork, but
the mechanicals escaped intact and he had to settle for fourth.
Drive of the rally must surely have been young Sean Robson finishing
fifth overall in his Citroen C2, but it was a good day for the wee cars with
Neil Thompson getting 7th in his Corsa, Gareth White was ninth in
his Peugeot 208 and Nick Rintoul rounded off the top ten his Fabia R2. Hamish
Kinloch filled 6th place with his Mk2 and Ian Paterson was 8th,
but perhaps Ian could have been quicker if he was not full of birthday cake. He
was 54 today.
Nigel Feeney who had been in contention all day suffered cruel
luck with a fuel problem on the penultimate stage and top ten runner Nigel
Atkinson dropped out when the diff in his Lancer broke leaving the start line
of SS6.
Top Ten:
1, John Marshall, 69m 59s
2, Gary Adam, 70m 06s
3, Alistair Inglis, 70m 06s
4, Bruce Edwards, 70m 29s
5, Sean Robson, 71m 55s
6, Hamish Kinloch, 72m 11s
7, Neil Thompson, 72m 11s
8, Ian Paterson, 72m 18s
9, Gareth White, 73m 07s
10, Nick Rintoul, 73m 20s
(There will be a full report on the website mag later in the
week)
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