NO DRAMAS FOR KERR OR HEDLEY ON COUNTIES


Alick Kerr once again proved the old adage that to finish first, first you have to finish, taking 1.9 honours in the Brick and Steel 205 Ecosse Challenge on the Brick and Steel Border Counties Rally. The win came in spite of co-driver Tom Hynd using reverse psychology on his young driver, declaring that Kerr was “driving like a little old lady” and issuing his driver with the stark warning that “if he drives another stage like that last one, I’m getting out the car!”

Although Kerr did enjoy an easy run to his class win as a result of Douglas Brydon suffering driveshaft problems early on and Euan Thorburn withdrawing at the end of Stage 1, the teenager from Bothwell set some highly respectable stage times on his way to twentieth outright in the event as he continues to get to grips with the more powerful of the 205 Ecosse Challenge cars.

In the 1.6 section, Ryan Hedley and Eildon Hall converted the promise they showed on their debut into a home win, landing them the top 1.6 and top 205 Junior gongs. The Borders teenagers kept out of trouble for the entirety of the 45-mile event, and was never far from the top of the timesheets before they inherited the lead from fellow youngster Jonathan Smith, who went off on Stage 3. “I’m sorry - there were no dramas at all to report today,” joked Hedley at the finish. “Just a good, clean tidy run from us that went without a hitch!”

Blair Atholl’s Jamie Stewart recorded his one of his best Challenge finishes to date, coming home second 1.6 on his first gravel outing since the McRae Stages in September of last year and confirming the son of former Scottish Rally Championship ace Forbes Stewart is just as capable on gravel as he is on tarmac. “We’ve had great fun today,” declared Jamie, who had usual Chief Mechanic Chris McCrone calling the pacenotes for him with regular navigator Simon Bailey unavailable. “An excellent result for us and we’re very pleased with our performance.”

Nonetheless, Jonathan Smith had another chance to demonstrate his ever-improving pace before the off. “We picked up a puncture coming into a slippy, tight corner, so when Jonathan turned in the car went straight on” explained co-driver Drew Sturrock. “We were beached on stones and gravel, and broke a driveshaft trying to get out.”

Not far behind Stewart, Inverness plant manager Dave Retson finished as third 1600 205, with fellow Highlander Ross Chalmers coming home second Junior in only his second ever stage rally. Dumfries youngster Mark McCulloch – who had sixteen year-old Stuart Cant in the passenger seat on his co-driving debut – was the third and final Junior to reach the finishing ramp in Jedburgh.

The 205 Ecosse Challenge heroes now have a month to recover from their Kielder ordeal before they head north for the Multiwage Granite City Rally on Saturday, 28 April. And without the prospect of a trip across the Border on their minds, you can expect to see even more of the series’ stars out in action in the Aberdeenshire forests this time next month.

FURTHER DETAILS: David Barlow on 01738 850142 or 07768 837927 or Leslie Mabon on 07919 501343. Photographs will be available throughout the season from www.rally-photo.com. For more information visit www.ecosse205challenge.co.uk.

 

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