The big guns were out from West Cumbria Motorsport Club when four crews took part in the Colin McRae Stages over the border in Dunns, writes WHEELSPIN.

It was Escort heaven for anyone who made the trip up there with the Mk1 and 2's making up the majority of the field.

Our club was well represented. Peter Foy, who was going for a good position in the overall category, as he was lying  3rd O/A and leading his class in the SAAB Scottish Rally Championship going into this round, didn't falter coming in 6th O/A and 3rd in Class, after a scare when he got a puncture.

Edwin Cook had not only swapped cars but also drivers for this Rally and was sitting along side the 1990 FIA Ladies World Rally Champion and MBE,  Louise Aitken Walker. 

Edwin knows Louise, after staying with her when Richard and him do the Jim Clark Rally, and in the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus they held their own. With a clean run and a  very enjoyable day they came home 43rd O/A.

We also had  Club president Malcolm Wilson taking time out of his busy schedule to go and have a play in the forest in his recently built Mk2, and his son Matthew Wilson in a Focus WRC. 

These were not the only big names taking part in honour of Colin McRae as there was also his long time navigator, Nicky Grist who sat along side Hannu Mikkola in a MK 2. They finished 21st, fourth in class.

Colin’s brother Alister, also in a MK 2 had been first away at car two - they didn't run a car one in honour of Colin.

Alister came home 4th O/A and won his Class, while Ari Vatanen/Dave Richards also in a MK 2 came in at 30th O/A 5th in Class.

Dereck Ringer, who was in a Mk 1 Escort, finished 36th O/A and 7th in Class and our very own Malcolm Wilson who was navigated by Peter Martin came in 64th O/A and 13th in Class. After recovering from a puncture, and with the last stage cancelled, he couldn't claw any time back.

But the winner of the Rally was Matthew Wilson and Scott Martin in the Focus WRC, who not only won but got the fastest time on all the Stages, beating the nearest Focus of David Bogie who was fifth overall by over two minutes. 

---

Bookmark with: what are these?