Rally - Keith Cronin wins Grampian

After a long hot and very stoory day in the Aberdeenshire forests, Keith Cronin won the Voyonic Grampian Forest Rally by 21 seconds from Osian Pryce. Rhuairi Bell, James Williams and Jason Tauber completed the top five British Championship contenders with the first of the KNC Groundworks Scottish crews in 6^th place, the Fiesta Rally2 of David Bogie. David Henderson was only 17 seconds behind him at the finish with Hugh Brunton scoring an excellent result in 8^th place. Alan Carmichael was 9^th with John Wink taking a superb 10^th overall just hanging on when the Hyundai’s turbo boost failed in the final stage.

Mark McCulloch was 11^th with Angus Lawrie scoring top Challenger points in 12^th place, although it has to be said that the BRC crews were allowed to recce the stages on Friday and the Scottish Championship crews were not. On that basis our lot did remarkably well.

The day was marred by a nasty accident to Willie Paterson and Tom Hynd who rolled the Lancer on a long right hander which tightened, the car coming to rest almost out of sight of the road down a banking. Both crew members were taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for a precautionary check. Apart from cracked ribs (safety harness) they both appear be OK. Tom was released this afternoon and Willie is being released this evening.

Slightly better off were Michael Binnie and Claire Mole when the red Lancer took them for a wild ride through the shrubbery and trees on the first stage of the day coming to rest parked on a steep banking. Both crew members OK.

Garry Pearson’s title hopes also took a dive when the Fiesta left the road on the 5^th stage out of six and Jock Armstrong retired the Subaru with no oil pressure.

( Just a quick rundown just now, more tomorrow )