The Mitsubishi of Guy Wilks and Phil Pugh was very impressive in the dark, as was Juho Hanninen and Mikko Markkula in the Subaru.
Back at service after the night time stages and I had a walk around to see if I could be of help to any teams with any problems.
It was interesting trying to speak to the PH Sport-Citroen team looking after Simon Jean-Joseph in the new Citroen C2R2-MAX. My limited French and their limited English didn’t help - but we got by. The C2-R2 was the car I had competed in on the Pirelli in 2007.
A not too early start on Saturday saw us get to the second stage of the morning, Archies Rigg, to find that it had been cancelled for the International competitors after Jimmy McRae had an accident near to the end of the stage and needed airlifting to hospital.
We had passed the ambulance on the road section, not a sight you want to see on a rally. We then went passed the air ambulance waiting to take him on our way to the start of stage 7, Pundershaw 1.
I wish Jimmy and his co-driver Andy Richardson a speedy recovery from their injuries.
It was not only our team sidelined for the Pirelli, but we met up with BRC regulars Rob Gill, his family and his co-driver Anders Howard, lacking a budget and with family commitments taking priority.
A long drive next, taking in Kielder Water, saw us return to the stages that had been driven the night before.
Seeing the Pirelli National competitors through the Valley - SS10, was interesting and a few of them needed assistance after visiting the infamous ‘Killer Kielder’ ditches. Richard Parry-Jones was one that was man handled out by at least 15 spectators, including me.
The International cars were next and as the track conditions had altered from when the pace-notes were made the day before I wondered if any of them would visit the same ditch that the National boys had. Some were very close but with the additional power they were able to keep going.
