Rally - The 3 Amigos

(L to R) Johnnie, Iain and Andrew

After last weekend's Memorial Garden Stages Rally and with 2 rounds remaining for the Junior 1000 Ecosse Challenge there are just three drivers in the running for this year's national title. Johnnie Mackay still leads but Lewis Haining's win at Condor has pitched him back into the title fight while Andrew Blackwood's impressive runner-up position between Haining and championship points leader Mackay has put him in title contention too.

There's little more than a lick of paint between the 3 of them, so the next round of the 3 way fecht, plus full supporting cast, is not to be missed this Sunday (23rd Sept) at Kames. So come along and cheer the youngsters on - and bring a hankie, as all of us auld gits remind ourselves what it was like to be young, carefree and rally-daft.

David Barlow's report on proceedings is now in the digital on-line mag:

http://www.jaggybunnet.co.uk/2018/09/20-sep-juniors-at-rm-condor/

Rally - Wales Rally GB

There's quite a few of our lot heading south to Wales in a couple of weeks' time for the National event within Wales Rally GB. Bruce McCombie was 2nd last year having won it the year before but he's not entered this time although Andrew Gallacher and John Wink are the top Scottish seeds. There's a full entry list with 'persons of interest' highlighted in the on-line mag, also a brief timetable. 

If I've missed anyone, no doubt you'll let me know. It is rumoured that a certain Mr Bunnet has been granted permission to attend this event so you might even get more news and information during the rally.

http://www.jaggybunnet.co.uk/2018/09/19-sep-rally-gb-nat-entry-list/

Rally - Albar Kames Rally

The penultimate round of the Junior 1000 Ecosse Rally Challenge takes to the stages at Kames, Muirkirk in Ayrshire this weekend on Sunday 23rd September for the Albar Kames Trophy Rally supported by ISS (Aberdeen) Ltd with the first car away at 09.31 Hrs.

There will also be a few 'senior' entries supporting the youngsters in bigger and faster cars but amongst them lurks a rallying revolution. This event will witness the competition debut in Scotland of the UK's first electrically powered special stage rally car.

The fully electric Renault Zoe rally car is the result of an extensive development programme orchestrated by Jean Hay and Ellya Gold. The car is powered by a 65Kw electric motor driving the front wheels and has been fitted with an approved MSA rollcage, seats and harnesses.

So if you fancy a day out and seeing (but not hearing!) something different, come along for a look.

(P.S. Thanks to Eddie Kelly for the pics)

Full preview in the on-line mag here:

http://www.jaggybunnet.co.uk/2018/09/18-sep-albar-kames-rally-preview/

Rally - Galloway classes

That's the full roundup of all the classes (well nearly everyone!) in the digital mag now. Just the News & Blethers to come.

http://www.jaggybunnet.co.uk/2018/09/18-sep-galloway-hills-class-roundup/

Rally - Teams take a basting

It looks as though Rally Turkey started with a bang and then built up to a crescendo as top seeds wilted in the sunshine.

On day one, Ott Tänak realised he didn't have the speed to match his rivals so opted for a more canny approach to the event. From 9th on the opening Leg to first overall by the finish. His third victory on the trot, and it now puts him into serious contention for the WRC title.

Toyota Yaris team mate, Jari-Matti Latvala finished just 22.3 seconds behind and ahead of 3rd placed Hayden Paddon in a Hyundai. For everyone else, Rally Turkey was a horror story.

Leg one leader Neuville retired when the front left suspension punched though his Hyundai i20’s bonnet on Leg 2’s opening test. He limped to the finish and tried swapping suspension parts from the rear to the front but the damage was too great.

Sebastien Ogier thereafter had a 22.5sec lead but he broke a front right wishbone on his Ford Fiesta. He tried to install an ill-fitting replacement, helped by team-mate Elfyn Evans who stopped to relay advice from team engineers in the service park by telephone.

That dropped Ogier to fourth but he slid wide in the afternoon’s opening stage, swiped a tree and got stuck on the outside of the corner. Ogier took a solitary point for 10th after team-mate Evans deliberately incurred time penalties to drop behind the Frenchman, while Neuville salvaged something from a horrific weekend when he claimed maximum bonus points in the live TV Power Stage. 

It was a disastrous day for Citroën’s Craig Breen and Mads Østberg. Breen’s C3 caught fire and burned out while Østberg stopped with a broken turbo. Esapekka Lappi retired his Yaris from sixth when he crashed. 

That sets everything up nicely for the Dayinsure Wales Rally GB next month with Neuville leading the World series on 177 points from Tanak on 164 and Ogier on 154. On that basis we can expect fireworks day to come a month early in Wales, eh?

Leading positions: 
1. O Tänak / M Järveoja (Toyota Yaris) 3hr 59min 24.5sec

2. J-M Latvala / M Anttila (Toyota Yaris) + 22.3sec

3. H Paddon / S Marshall (Hyundai i20) + 1min 46.3sec

4. T Suninen / M Markkula (Ford Fiesta) + 4min 10.9sec

5. A Mikkelsen / A Jaeger (Hyundai i20) + 7min 11.7sec

6. H Solberg / I Minor (Skoda Fabia R5) + 13min 40.6sec