October 06, 2011

Mike secures podium position on the Colin McRae Forest Rally

The Colin McRae Forest Stages Rally was the final round of the 2011 MSA Scottish Rally Championship and provided competitors with real challenging conditions.

Mike Faulkner and Peter Foy brought their BSW Timber Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 to the finish in 3rd place following an event that was run in atrocious conditions through the Perthshire forests around Aberfeldy.

The opening test was through Auchtar Gate (Drummond Hill), the stage was very slippery and caught out many crews, and Mike was third quickest. The second stage was 13.5 miles through Errochty Mike was fastest, 2.3 seconds ahead of Euan Thorburn and 9 ahead of Sean Sinclair to move into 2nd place.

The weather was appalling, heavy rain and low lying fog reducing visibility as crews headed into the 4th test, 13 miles through Craigvinean Mike was 3rd fastest.

The final test was 6 miles through Griffen, the SupplyUK supported crew were determined to close the gap on leader Euan Thorburn but disaster struck after half a mile. A large rock damaged a rear brake pipe leaving the Evo 6 to limp through without brakes, relying on engine braking to make the end of the stage, following emergency road side repairs Mike returned to the Aberfeldy finish to claim the final podium position

Mike and Euan finished the championship tied on points for second in the championship. Based on the best six rounds from eight, they also shared the same number of first, second, and third place finishes after one of the closest-fought campaigns in recent years.

However, the count back only uses the 6 scoring rounds if it had gone to 7 Mike would have taken 2nd. Euan was adjudged to have secured the runners-up spot thanks to his second place on the opening Snowman round, where Mike finished fourth.

Mike rued what might have been but was relieved just to get to the finish at a sodden and muddy service area based at Aberfeldy showground.

"We weren't even a quarter of a mile into the last stage when we lost the brakes altogether so it's been an eventful end to an eventful day to say the least. Obviously, we're disappointed not to have taken second in the championship, but it's been so close with Euan all year, it could have gone either way"

Colin McRae Forest Stages – Top Ten finishers with total times:

MSA Scottish Rally Championship final standings

1st David Bogie 175
2nd Euan Thorburn 167
3rd Mike Faulkner 167 *
4th Robbie Head 152

News and live results via the event website - www.coltnesscarclub.com/mcrae