March 28, 2011

Faulkner Flies to second overall in Border Counties Rally

The MSA Scottish Rally Championship moved to Jedburgh for round 2 and the Brick and Steel Border Counties Rally.

Mike Faulkner and Peter Foy brought their BSW Timber Evo 6 to the Jedburgh finish in a fantastic 2nd place overall.

The event sponsors Brick and Steel Construction were celebrating 10 years as title sponsor, a fantastic firework display on Friday evening in front of the Jedburgh Abbey set the tone for the rally weekend were sparks continued to fly during the 45 miles of Kielder's toughest roads.

The BSW Timber supported crew of Carlisle’s Mike Faulkner and Bingley based navigator Peter Foy were determined to improve on their 4th overall on the recent snowman rally, the Kielder roads are always a challenge and a number of crews were in trouble on the pre event shakedown, Tom Cave and Calumn McKenzie both out before the rally got going.

The event would be a sprint over four stages, the first eight mile test through Wauchope would set the scene for the day ahead, Mike was 2nd fastest 5 seconds slower than David Bogie, Ewan Thorburn was 1 second behind Mike with Joc Armstrong a further 6 seconds down.

The 2nd stage was the longest of the day seventeen miles through Broomylinn, a fast flowing Kielder stage, Mike was again 2nd fastest 7 seconds ahead of Joc and 15 seconds ahead of Ewan Thorburn. “that was a quick stage” said Mike “we were really trying, the notes worked well and I’m pleased with the Hankook tyres which worked consistently through the full 17 miles”

Top 4 after SS2

1 David Bogie (Dumfries)/Kevin Rae (Hawick) 24.14 mins
2 Mike Faulkner (Kirtlebridge)/Peter Foy (Bingley) 24.30 mins
3 Euan Thorburn (Duns)/Paul Beaton (Inverness) 24.46 mins

The service crew replaced a damaged driveshaft and fitted new Hankook tyres at the Redesdale camp service before the crews headed for stage three. The Reasdale stage was again fast with the Supply UK Hire Shops supported Mitsubishi Evo 6 reaching speeds at over 120mph. The stage was loose and Mike thought car was unstable in the test, uncertain if they had a broken drive shaft or damper they were determined not to lose too much time, they were again 2nd quickest.

The final stage was a short 6 miles through Hyndlee, “We were pushing hard and had a really big moment in that stage which could have ended our challenge, but thankfully we recovered and made it through", said the Kirtlebridge-based driver: "We just couldn't match David's pace today, but we're still on track, and will give it our all on the Granite City rally next month".

Final results.

1 David Bogie (Dumfries)/Kevin Rae (Hawick) 43.33 mins
2 Mike Faulkner (Kirtlebridge)/Peter Foy (Bingley) 44.07 mins
3 Euan Thorburn (Duns)/Paul Beaton (Inverness) 44.41 mins
4 Andy Horne (Inverness)/Jim Howie (Kilmarnock) 45.01 mins
5 Robbie Head (Lanark)/Claire Mole (Paxton) 45.08 mins

Next event the CARS Recovery Granite City Rally - Saturday April 16th 2011

Web site www.granitecityrally.co.uk

Championship
www.scottishrallychampionship.co.uk

Results
www.flyingfinish.co.uk

Event Web site
www.bordercountiesrally.co.uk/