Scots impress on Wales Rally GB posted in WRC29 | 10 | 2017
WELSHMAN ELFYN EVANS became the first Brit to win Britain’s round of the World Rally Championship for 17 years when he dominated the Wales Rally GB. But while Evans followed in the footsteps of the late Colin McRae, four other Scots impressed in the glaur of the Welsh forest stages. (Related: Elfyn Evans wins Wales Rally GB)
Five-times Scottish rally champ David Bogie narrowly missed out on a WRC2 podium in his Skoda Fabia R5. The 30-year-old from Dumfries finished fourth in class, just 32.8secs behind the Ford Fiesta R5 of Welshman Tom Cave, and 14th overall.
“It’s been a really good weekend,” Bogie admitted, as he waited to cross the finish ramp in Llandudno with his co-driver, Hawick’s Kevin Rae, today, “and I’m really pleased with the result.
“We stayed on the safe side of fast right through the four days. and to be so close to a WRC2 podium is a terrific result for the two of us.”
Mull’s John MacCrone (pictured in action), meanwhile, making his return to rallying after a 14-month break, delivered another impressive drive, finishing 10th in WRC2, and 21st overall.
“If someone had offered me a top 10 finish before the event, in what is the strongest WRC2 field assembled this season, I’d have bitten their hand off,” the 28-year-old said, as he leant against his Fiesta R5 prepared by Kelso’s Dom Buckley.
“I know where I could have gone faster, but this event was all about me easing myself back into top class rallying, so I’ve got to be happy with what we’ve achieved.
“I know, with a little bit more seat time, we could’ve been faster, but honestly, I’m delighted, and hopefully this will lead to a full-time return to rallying in 2018.”
So impressive was MacCrone’s return, co-driven again by US-based Australia Rhianon Gelsomino, that over the 21 stages and 190-miles of the event, he was just 1sec per kilometre slower than the Skoda R5 of runaway WRC2 champ and Rally GB winner, Swede Pontus Tidemand.
And while 2017 Scottish rally champ Euan Thorburn, from Duns, finished 27th overall and 15th in WRC2, 20-year-old Ally Currie from Mull won the 1600cc two-wheel drive class in the WRGB National Rally behind the wheel of his Ford Fiesta R2.
Related: John MacCrone returns to tackle Wales Rally GB
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Jim McGill